There’s nothing more satisfying in an action game than parrying an enemy’s attack, turning their momentum into a wonderful moment of gut-stabbing action. If that’s the *Avowed* experience you’re looking for, here’s how to master the art of parrying in the game.
How to Unlock Parry in Avowed
To parry in *Avowed*, you’ll first need to unlock the ability. Start by navigating to the menu, then head to the “Abilities” screen and select the “Ranger” tab. You’ll find the Parry ability in the middle column at the top. To unlock it, you must first invest an Ability point into any of the three core trees. Once that’s done, you can then unlock Parry.
Parry has three ranks, each offering increased efficiency and additional benefits. Here's a breakdown of the ranks in a handy table:
| Rank | Player Level Requirement | Level Description |
| 1 | N/A (1 Point Spent) | Unlocks Parry. |
| 2 | Player Level 5 | Increases Parry efficiency by 25%, dealing greater Stun when Parrying enemies. |
| 3 | Player Level 8 | Increases Parry efficiency by 50%, dealing greater Stun when parrying enemies. |
At level 10, you’ll also unlock “Arrow Deflection,” a separate ability that allows you to block arrows and other projectiles by parrying.
How to Parry Attacks in Avowed
Parrying Isn’t Always an Option
Keep in mind that not all attacks can be parried. When you see a red circle, you’ll need to dodge those attacks instead. Additionally, not all weapons in *Avowed* support parrying. Single-handed and two-handed weapons can generally parry, as long as they’re not in your off-hand. Shields in your off-hand can also be used to parry. However, ranged weapons such as guns, wands, and bows, as well as grimoires, cannot parry, so don't take "the pen is mightier than the sword" literally in this game.
What Parrying Does (& Why You Might Want to Do It)
Parrying in *Avowed* is an excellent way to stun your attacker, causing them to stagger. This gives you the perfect opportunity to unleash a significant amount of damage. It's a crucial technique for avoiding damage while simultaneously increasing your own offensive capabilities.
However, the utility of parrying depends on your character build. It's particularly beneficial for melee characters who engage enemies at close range. If your build focuses on ranged attacks, you might want to skip parrying. The good news is that respecing in *Avowed* is easy and affordable, so if you find that parrying isn't for you, you can always change your abilities later without hassle.
And that’s how to master parrying in *Avowed*.
*Avowed is available now.*
