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11 Overview
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33 Parry is a defense skill in Crimson Desert, available to all three playable characters (Kliff, Damiane, and Oongka). It belongs to the Spirit (Green) branch of the skill tree. Parry is the first defensive technique unlocked through the Keen Senses progression. When timed correctly, a Parry negates all incoming damage from an enemy attack and briefly staggers the attacker, creating an opening for follow-up combos.
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66 Skill Details
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88 DetailInfoCharactersKliff, Damiane, OongkaSkill TreeSpirit (Green)CategoryDefenseResource CostNo resource costInputGuard right before being hitHow to UnlockAuto-unlockPrerequisitesKeen Senses Lv. 1
99 How Parry Works
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1111 To execute a Parry, press the Guard button (L1/LB/Ctrl) at the precise moment before an enemy attack connects. The timing window is tighter than a standard block but more forgiving than a Counter. On success, the Parry completely negates all damage from the attack and pushes the enemy back slightly, freezing them in a brief stagger state.
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1313 If the timing is slightly off, the input defaults to a standard block instead, which still reduces damage but does not stagger the enemy. This fallback makes Parry a relatively safe technique to attempt. You can parry with any melee weapon that supports guarding, including one-handed swords, two-handed weapons, and even while dual wielding or fighting unarmed.
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1515 What Can Be Parried
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1717 Most melee attacks from enemies, including weapon strikes that show a red glint, can be parried.Grab attacks cannot be parried. Grabs must be dodged to avoid damage. Grab attacks sometimes display a red glint but have a distinctly different animation; learn to recognize the difference.Projectiles generally cannot be parried with this skill. Use Nature's Retribution to reflect projectiles instead.
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1919 Benefits of Parrying
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2121 Parrying is one of the most rewarding defensive mechanics in Crimson Desert. Successful parries provide three significant advantages:
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2323 Stagger Meter: Parrying fills the enemy's stagger meter more effectively than blocking. Against bosses, repeated parries can fill the stagger gauge, leaving the boss stunned for a long duration and open to devastating combo strings.Stamina Recovery: A successful parry restores a portion of the player's Stamina. This is especially valuable in extreme climate zones where stamina regeneration is penalized.Combo Follow-Ups: The brief stagger from a parry guarantees that the next attack will connect. Chain immediately into Turning Slash or other high-damage skills for punishing combos.
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2525 Advanced Parry Techniques
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2727 Hold-then-Parry: Hold the block button while anticipating attacks. If the parry timing is missed, the block still absorbs partial damage. This strategy is useful against fast combo strings.Mid-combo Parry: Parry between individual hits in an enemy's combo string. After blocking the first hit normally, time a parry on the second or third strike in the sequence.Parry into Turning Slash: This is the core defensive combo recommended in the Kliff Longsword Build. Parry an attack, then immediately input Turning Slash while the enemy is staggered.
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2929 Keen Senses Progression
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3131 Parry is the first ability in the Keen Senses progression chain. Investing more Abyss Artifacts into Keen Senses unlocks additional defensive techniques:
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3333 LevelAbilityEffectLv. 1ParryBlock incoming attack with zero damage; staggers the attackerLv. 2Dodge (Backstep)Step out of attack range with precise timing; avoids damage completelyLv. 3CounterBlock and deal damage simultaneously with the tightest timing window
3434 Tips
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3636 Parry is one of the best skills to invest in early. The stamina recovery and stagger benefits make it valuable from the moment you unlock it through the entire game.A shield is not required to parry. Any melee weapon, dual-wield setup, or even your bare fists can execute a parry.Practice parry timing against bandits and other common enemies before attempting it against bosses. Their attack telegraphs are slower and easier to read.In Stamina-heavy builds, Parry's stamina recovery effect becomes critical. It allows aggressive play without running out of Stamina for dodges and skills.Parry is universally useful across all three characters. Prioritize Keen Senses early for whichever character you are currently playing.
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3838 See Also
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4040 Keen SensesCounterSkillsCombat SystemStagger SystemBest Skills to Get First