Parry Basics: How to Execute
Parrying is a crucial defensive and offensive maneuver in Sonic Frontiers, enabling Sonic to block incoming attacks and create openings against various enemies, including formidable Guardians. To perform a parry, you must simultaneously press the left and right bumper buttons on your controller. For PlayStation users, this means L2 and R2; for Xbox, it’s LT and RT. On Nintendo Switch, use L and R, and for PC players, the default inputs are Q and E.
This move is particularly effective in close-quarters combat, allowing Sonic to maintain an aggressive rhythm without backing down. While it’s a powerful tool, remember that it’s not an invulnerability shield; strategic dodging will still be necessary.
Parry Timing and Guardian Tells
Successful parrying hinges on precise timing. When a Guardian or other enemy is about to launch a melee attack, they will typically wind back their arms. A subtle visual cue, such as a faint string of electricity appearing between Sonic and the enemy, indicates the opportune moment to parry. For larger Guardians like Giganto and Knights, observe when their arms are fully drawn back before they strike. For instance, when Giganto performs its arm-dragging attack, the camera will zoom in just before the impact, signaling the parry window.
Practicing this timing is key, as different Guardians may have slightly varied attack animations. The Wyvern, for example, requires practice to master its parry timing, especially during its rapid double parry sequence.
Strategic Parrying in Combat
Parrying offers several tactical advantages beyond mere defense:
- Creating Openings: A successful parry leaves enemies briefly vulnerable, providing an excellent opportunity for Sonic to launch a counterattack. Skills like Grand Slam are often prompted after a successful parry, delivering significant damage.
- Reflecting Projectiles: Parrying can reflect enemy projectiles back at them. This is not only useful for damaging Guardians but is also a required mechanic in certain Titan boss fights.
- Challenge Completion: Some open-world challenges specifically require you to reflect projectiles back at a pillar multiple times within a time limit, making parrying essential for completion.
- Combo Extension: Against Guardians, parrying allows you to evade a hit and seamlessly continue pummeling the enemy with powerful combos, maintaining your offensive pressure. For instance, using quick Cyloop followed by Stump can quickly damage the first boss, preparing you for a parry in the second half of the fight.
Difficulty Settings and Parry Window
While some players might initially believe difficulty settings do not affect parrying, changing the difficulty can indeed impact the parry window. Specifically, setting the game to “easy” difficulty significantly extends the parry timing window, increasing it from approximately 3 frames to a full 2 seconds. This difference is noticeable and can be observed on the ground before engaging with Guardians like Giganto. If you are struggling with parry timing, adjusting the difficulty to easy can provide a more forgiving window for practice and execution.
FAQ
What buttons do I press to parry? To parry, press the left and right bumper buttons simultaneously: L2 + R2 on PlayStation, LT + RT on Xbox, L + R on Nintendo Switch, or Q + E on PC.
When should I parry against Guardians? Parry when Guardians wind back their arms for a melee attack or when a faint string of electricity appears between Sonic and the enemy. For specific Guardians like Giganto, look for camera zooms or distinct attack wind-ups.
Does changing difficulty affect parrying? Yes, changing the difficulty to “easy” significantly increases the parry window, making it more forgiving.
Can parrying reflect projectiles? Yes, parrying can reflect enemy projectiles, which is sometimes required in Titan boss fights and specific challenges.