How to Parry in Valheim

Many creatures inhabiting the various biomes in Valheimwill attack if they notice a Viking’s presence, so Vikings must learn to block and counter attacks or risk death. When a Viking dies in Valheim, they lose some of their memories, which lowers their Skill level in abilities like Running, Jumping, Fishing, or using Bows. They also lose all their inventory and will need to find the exact spot where they died to recover items after death. As players reach higher-level biomes, they will encounter stronger creatures that can often kill their Viking in just a few hits. They can always try to block some of the damage from an attack, but if they spend too much time blocking, they may struggle to attack.

Easily the best form of defense in Valheim is the parry. Parry is a timed block available to all weapons in Valheim, excluding tower shields. When timed correctly, a parry not only blocks incoming damage, but also staggers the enemy for a few seconds, leaving a window for the Viking to strike back. Parrying also blocks more damage than the standard Block maneuver does, ensuring Vikings take far less damage on hit than they otherwise would. Because parries are all about timing, it’s important for players to practice and get this move just right. Here’s how to parry attacks in Valheim.

How to Time Blocks to Parry in Valheim

When a player sees or hears an enemy attacking, they have approximately one second before the attack hits their character. Blocking at this moment results in a parry, which is indicated by a distinctive noise similar to the sound made when leveling up in a skill. They may also see a circular blast of light to signal they have parried. There is currently no other indication to help players recognize they are parrying, so they may have been using this defensive maneuver without even realizing it.

When parrying, the weapon’s block power is multiplied by its parry bonus to get the amount of damage absorbed. Timed correctly, parries block more damage than either a weapon or shield could block alone, and often will knock back an enemy, leaving it stunned and vulnerable to attack as well. After a parry, enemies take double the damage they normally would from a Viking’s attack for a short time.

Players can improve their Blocking Skill to increase the block power of weapons and shields. They earn about 0.5% more blocking power per skill level they reach, rounded to the nearest whole number. To block, players will use the Right Mouse Button. The more they use this technique, the more quickly their skill will improve. Like all skills, the Blocking Skill can be maxed at level 99.

Any weapon and shield can be used to block and to parry, and each comes with its own Parry bonus multiplier. Most shields in Valheim give a 1.5x Parry Bonus, except the Bronze Buckler, which offers a 2x bonus. All bows also give a 1.5x bonus, and melee weapons range from a 2x bonus for swords to 4x bonus for most knives. It’s a good idea for players to use a melee weapon and shield to get the most from their parry bonus. This way, they can parry an attack and immediately counterattack with the weapon in their other hand.

It is possible to parry arrows and thrown objects, but the timing becomes more difficult due to issues with depth perception. If not timed perfectly, a block won’t result in a parry or parrying bonus. Parrying works best in melee combat.

Players should also note that large enemies, including Trolls, Stone Golems, Fenrings, and even Lox, recover quickly from parries. As a general rule, the larger the creature, the less they will stagger after a parry, and the harder it becomes to make a successful counterattack. The five Valheim bosses also do not stagger following a parry, and it is usually advisable to fight them from range.

Blocking requires stamina, so it is not a good idea to hold a block for too long to avoid depleting stamina quickly. As players practice this move with the many aggressive creatures they will encounter across Valheim, they will be able to perfect the timing and use only as much stamina as necessary to pull off a successful parry, saving the rest for subsequent counterattacks.

Valheimis in Steam Early Access and is available for PC.

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