Overview
The parrying system in Neverness to Everness is a defensive combat mechanic that was added based on player feedback from CBT1 and the Containment Test. It gives players a way to actively counter enemy attacks with precise timing, rewarding skilled play with significant combat advantages.
Timing Mechanic
To execute a parry, players must time their input so that the parry circle aligns with the outer ring indicator that appears during an enemy attack window. Successful timing results in a perfect parry that blocks the incoming attack and provides immediate combat benefits. Mistiming the parry results in a partial block or a missed parry depending on how far off the timing was.
Combat Benefits
A successful parry provides two significant combat benefits simultaneously:
Stagger contribution: Each successful parry fills a substantial portion of the enemy's break meter, accelerating the stagger state that creates damage vulnerability windows.
Esper Cycle charge: A successful parry instantly fills the character's Esper Cycle Meter, allowing immediate elemental attribute application for reactions.
Five Parry Types
The game features five distinct parry types, each triggered through different combat actions:
Parry Type | Description |
|---|---|
Normal Attack Parry | Executed during a normal attack chain. The player parries while continuing their basic combo. |
Plunge Attack Parry | Executed during a plunge (aerial) attack. Allows players to parry while descending from above. |
Skill Parry | Executed during the use of a character's active skill. Combines defensive parrying with offensive skill usage. |
Normal Swap Parry | Executed when swapping to a different character using the normal swap method. Provides a defensive option during character transitions. |
Esper Cycle Swap Parry | Executed when swapping characters through the Esper Cycle swap method. Combines elemental swapping with a defensive parry action. |
Strategic Importance
The parrying system is considered one of the most important mechanics in high-level play. Because a successful parry both fills the Esper Cycle Meter instantly and contributes heavily to the enemy's break meter, players who master parry timing can trigger elemental reactions on demand and accelerate stagger windows simultaneously. This makes parrying far more efficient than simply dodging attacks, which only avoids damage without providing these additional combat benefits.