Parry and Riposte (Dark Souls II)

For other uses, see Parry and Riposte and Parry and Riposte (Dark Souls III).

Parry and Riposte are gameplay mechanics in Dark Souls II.

Parries are an action most weapon can do either 1 handed or 2 handed, by pressing the Strong Attack button of either the hand they are in when 1 handed or the opposite one when 2 handed.

Ripostes are special attacks that deal critical damage to enemies, they become available after Parrying an attack or Guard Breaking an enemy that has their shield up. Bosses cannot be Riposted.

Note that riposte and backstabs are not considered counter attacks, thus they are not affected by the weapon's counter damage modifier and are not boosted by such effects as Old Leo Ring.

New features

Listed below are some minor differences found in Dark Souls II, which may be slightly confusing to those who mastered these techniques in the original Dark Souls game.

• In Dark Souls II, there is no temporary invincibility when parrying or riposting, but any damage received while performing these moves will be considerably less than normal (about 90% reduction).
• The timing of a parry in Dark Souls II is different: it must be initiated when the enemy's attack animation begins, if parrying fast and medium weapons (daggers, straight swords, curved swords, etc.) or mid-swing, if parrying slow weapons (ultra greatswords, great hammers, etc.). In Dark Souls, parry had to be performed near the end of the animation (this difference, however, may not be very noticeable, it's more of a matter of personal preference).
• There are three (3) types of ripostes in Dark Souls II, versus just one (1) in Dark Souls (see below).
• In Dark Souls II, whips can be used to riposte. This was not possible in Dark Souls.

Parry

Parrying is performed by pressing or holding the left-hand strong attack button (LT/L2) when using a Small Shield, Medium Shield, or 2-handed weapon. When a left-hand weapon is wielded with both hands, its right-handed moveset is reversed and the parry move must be activated using RT/R2 (instead of LT/L2). A parry can not be performed when using a power stance, but it is still possible to parry while using a power stance when the right hand weapon can parry 1 handed.

A parried enemy will become staggered, causing them to fall to the ground. There are two possible riposte moves that can be triggered after parrying an attack: a standing riposte and a ground riposte (see below).

In most cases, all weapon's attacks can be parried, except jumping attacks (excluding Reapers). Most humanoid enemies can be parried and are also vulnerable to guard break. There are rare examples of enemies that can only be parried; The Pursuer being one such enemy. All hostile phantoms can be parried and riposted (AI and PvP).

Parries in PvP must have their active frames line up with the attack's active frames on the attacker's screen.

Parry Frame Tables

These tables are written in consideration of being at 60 fps on the last patch of the Scholar of the First Sin release of the game (v1.03).

Startup is the time after starting the animation that must happen before you can parry an attack. Combo Startup is used when the move is used after another move. Stand Startup is what happens if it is not done after another action.

Active is the time in which you can Parry an attack.

Recovery you must wait afterwards before you can input other actions.

Total assumes Standing Startup, Combo Total assumes Combo Startup.

Here is a table with proper visualization of all the data.

1 Handed Parries

Weapon	Stand Startup	Combo Startup	Active	Recovery	Standing Total	Combo Total
Parrying Dagger	10	5	10	42	62	57
Rapier	14	6	14	43	71	63
Espada Ropera	16	8	12	43	71	63
Chaos Rapier	18	10	10	43	71	63
Monastery Scimitar	12	3	6	50	68	59
Eleum Loyce	14	5	4	50	68	59
Falchion	14	5	4	50	68	59
Manikin Sabre	14	5	4	50	68	59
Melu Scimitar	14	5	4	50	68	59
Red Rust Scimitar	14	5	4	50	68	59
Scimitar	14	5	4	50	68	59
Shotel	14	5	4	50	68	59
Spider Fang	14	5	4	50	68	59
Warped Sword	14	5	4	50	68	59
Shotel	16	7	4	49	69	60
Bone Fist	16	12	8	56	80	76
Caestus	16	12	8	56	80	76
Vanquisher's Seal	18	13	10	51	79	74
Fists	18	14	6	56	80	76
Buckler	14	9	14	51	79	74
Target Shield	14	9	14	51	79	74
Magic Shield	16	11	12	51	79	74
Manikin Shield	16	11	12	51	79	74
Phoenix Parma	16	11	12	51	79	74
Transgressor's Leather Shield	16	11	12	51	79	74
Blue Wooden Shield	14	9	10	35	59	54
Large Leather Shield	14	9	10	35	59	54
Silver Eagle Kite Shield	14	9	10	35	59	54
Archdrake Shield	14	9	10	39	63	58
Bell Keeper Shield	14	9	10	39	63	58
Black Dragon Shield	14	9	10	39	63	58
Black Flamestone Parma	14	9	10	39	63	58
Blossom Kite Shield	14	9	10	39	63	58
Bone Shield	14	9	10	39	63	58
Bound Wooden Shield	14	9	10	39	63	58
Chaos Shield	14	9	10	39	63	58
Charred Loyce Shield	14	9	10	39	63	58
Defender's Shield	14	9	10	39	63	58
Drakekeeper's Shield	14	9	10	39	63	58
Drangleic Shield	14	9	10	39	63	58
Golden Wing Shield	14	9	10	39	63	58
Grand Spirit Tree Shield	14	9	10	39	63	58
Hollow Soldier Shield	14	9	10	39	63	58
Homunculus Wooden Shield	14	9	10	39	63	58
King's Shield	14	9	10	39	63	58
Lion Clan Shield	14	9	10	39	63	58
Loyce Shield	14	9	10	39	63	58
Mirrah Shield	14	9	10	39	63	58
Moon Butterfly Shield	14	9	10	39	63	58
Old Knight's Shield	14	9	10	39	63	58
Porcine Shield	14	9	10	39	63	58
Rampart Golem Shield	14	9	10	39	63	58
Red Rust Shield	14	9	10	39	63	58
Royal Kite Shield	14	9	10	39	63	58
Shield of the Insolent	14	9	10	39	63	58
Silverblack Shield	14	9	10	39	63	58
Slumbering Dragon Shield	14	9	10	39	63	58
Spirit Tree Shield	14	9	10	39	63	58
Stone Parma	14	9	10	39	63	58
Vessel Shield	14	9	10	39	63	58
Watchdragon Parma	14	9	10	39	63	58
Wooden Shield	14	9	10	39	63	58
Yellow Quartz Shield	14	9	10	39	63	58
Benhart's Parma	12	7	12	35	59	54
Cleric's Parma	12	7	12	35	59	54
Cleric's Small Shield	12	7	12	35	59	54
Crimson Parma	12	7	12	35	59	54
Cursed Bone Shield	12	7	12	35	59	54
Foot Soldier Shield	12	7	12	35	59	54
Golden Falcon Shield	12	7	12	35	59	54
Iron Parma	12	7	12	35	59	54
Llewellyn Shield	12	7	12	35	59	54
Small Leather Shield	12	7	12	35	59	54
Sunlight Parma	12	7	12	35	59	54
Watcher's Shield	12	7	12	35	59	54

2 Handed Table

Weapon	Stand Startup	Combo Startup	Active	Recovery	Total	Combo Total
Mytha's Bent Blade	12	7	8	39	59	54
Umbral Dagger	12	7	8	39	59	54
Bandit's Knife	12	7	8	42	62	57
Black Flamestone Dagger	12	7	8	42	62	57
Blue Dagger	12	7	8	42	62	57
Broken Thief Sword	12	7	8	42	62	57
Dagger	12	7	8	42	62	57
Manikin Knife	12	7	8	42	62	57
Retainer's Short Sword	12	7	8	42	62	57
Royal Dirk	12	7	8	42	62	57
Shadow Dagger	12	7	8	42	62	57
Thief Dagger	12	7	8	42	62	57
Black Scorpion Stinger	18	10	10	43	71	63
Estoc	18	10	10	43	71	63
Ice Rapier	18	10	10	43	71	63
Mail Breaker	18	10	10	43	71	63
Ricard's Rapier	18	10	10	43	71	63
Spider's Silk	18	10	10	43	71	63
Gyrm Axe	30	21	10	39	79	70
Arced Sword	24	15	12	40	76	67
Curved Dragon Greatsword	24	15	12	40	76	67
Murakumo	24	15	12	40	76	67
Bandit Greataxe	30	21	10	39	79	70
Black Dragon Greataxe	30	21	10	39	79	70
Drakekeeper's Greataxe	30	21	10	39	79	70
Giant Stone Axe	30	21	10	39	79	70
Greataxe	30	21	10	39	79	70
Gyrm Greataxe	30	21	10	39	79	70
Lion Greataxe	30	21	10	39	79	70
Dragon Tooth	30	21	10	39	79	70
Demon's Great Hammer	38	26	10	49	97	85
Drakekeeper's Great Hammer	38	26	10	49	97	85
Giant Warrior Club	38	26	10	49	97	85
Great Club	38	26	10	49	97	85
Gyrm Great Hammer	38	26	10	49	97	85
Iron King Hammer	38	26	10	49	97	85
Large Club	38	26	10	49	97	85
Malformed Shell	38	26	10	49	97	85
Malformed Skull	38	26	10	49	97	85
Old Knight Hammer	38	26	10	49	97	85
Pickaxe	38	26	10	49	97	85
Sacred Chime Hammer	38	26	10	49	97	85
Sanctum Mace	38	26	10	49	97	85
Loyce Greatsword	28	19	12	39	79	70
Bastard Sword	30	21	10	39	79	70
Black Dragon Greatsword	30	21	10	39	79	70
Black Knight Greatsword	30	21	10	39	79	70
Bluemoon Greatsword	30	21	10	39	79	70
Charred Loyce Greatsword	30	21	10	39	79	70
Claymore	30	21	10	39	79	70
Drakeblood Greatsword	30	21	10	39	79	70
Drangleic Sword	30	21	10	39	79	70
Flamberge	30	21	10	39	79	70
Greatsword of the Forlorn	30	21	10	39	79	70
Key to the Embedded	30	21	10	39	79	70
Majestic Greatsword R	30	21	10	39	79	70
Mastodon Greatsword	30	21	10	39	79	70
Mirrah Greatsword	30	21	10	39	79	70
Moonlight Greatsword	30	21	10	39	79	70
Old Knight Greatsword	30	21	10	39	79	70
Old Mirrah Greatsword	30	21	10	39	79	70
Royal Greatsword	30	21	10	39	79	70
Ruler's Sword	30	21	10	39	79	70
Thorned Greatsword	30	21	10	39	79	70
Lost Sinner's Sword	30	21	10	39	79	70
Aged Smelter Sword	38	26	10	49	97	85
Black Knight Ultra Greatsword	38	26	10	49	97	85
Crypt Blacksword	38	26	10	49	97	85
Drakekeeper's Ultra Greatsword	38	26	10	49	97	85
Drakewing Ultra Greatsword	38	26	10	49	97	85
Greatsword	38	26	10	49	97	85
Ivory King Ultra Greatsword	38	26	10	49	97	85
King's Ultra Greatsword	38	26	10	49	97	85
Old Knight Ultra Greatsword	38	26	10	49	97	85
Pursuer's Ultra Greatsword	38	26	10	49	97	85
Smelter Sword	38	26	10	49	97	85
Zweihander	38	26	10	49	97	85
Claws	20	15	8	51	79	74
Malformed Claws	20	15	8	51	79	74
Manikin Claws	20	15	8	51	79	74
Work Hook	20	15	8	51	79	74
Bandit Axe	18	13	6	35	59	54
Battle Axe	18	13	6	35	59	54
Bound Hand Axe	18	13	6	35	59	54
Butcher's Knife	18	13	6	35	59	54
Dragonslayer's Crescent Axe	18	13	6	35	59	54
Hand Axe	18	13	6	35	59	54
Infantry Axe	18	13	6	35	59	54
Black Knight Greataxe	18	13	6	35	59	54
Crescent Axe	18	13	6	35	59	54
Aldia Hammer	18	13	6	35	59	54
Barbed Club	18	13	6	35	59	54
Black Dragon Warpick	18	13	6	35	59	54
Blacksmith's Hammer	18	13	6	35	59	54
Club	18	13	6	35	59	54
Craftsman's Hammer	18	13	6	35	59	54
Handmaid's Ladle	18	13	6	35	59	54
Homunculus Mace	18	13	6	35	59	54
Mace	18	13	6	35	59	54
Mace of the Insolent	18	13	6	35	59	54
Morning Star	18	13	6	35	59	54
Reinforced Club	18	13	6	35	59	54
Berserker Blade	18	13	6	35	59	54
Blacksteel Katana	18	13	6	35	59	54
Chaos Blade	18	13	6	35	59	54
Darkdrift	18	13	6	35	59	54
Manslayer	18	13	6	35	59	54
Uchigatana	18	13	6	35	59	54
Washing Pole	18	13	6	35	59	54
Silverblack Sickle	18	13	6	35	59	54
Broken Straight Sword	14	9	10	35	59	54
Ashen Warrior Sword	18	13	6	35	59	54
Black Dragon Sword	18	13	6	35	59	54
Blue Flame	18	13	6	35	59	54
Broadsword	18	13	6	35	59	54
Drakekeeper's Sword	18	13	6	35	59	54
Foot Soldier Sword	18	13	6	35	59	54
Fume Sword	18	13	6	35	59	54
Heide Knight Sword	18	13	6	35	59	54
Ivory Straight Sword	18	13	6	35	59	54
Longsword	18	13	6	35	59	54
Puzzling Stone Sword	18	13	6	35	59	54
Red Rust Sword	18	13	6	35	59	54
Shortsword	18	13	6	35	59	54
Sun Sword	18	13	6	35	59	54
Varangian Sword	18	13	6	35	59	54
Yellow Quartz Longsword	18	13	6	35	59	54
Bloodied Whip	18	13	6	35	59	54
Notched Whip	18	13	6	35	59	54
Old Whip	18	13	6	35	59	54
Spotted Whip	18	13	6	35	59	54
Whip	18	13	6	35	59	54
Blue Wooden Shield	14	11	10	49	73	70
Large Leather Shield	14	11	10	49	73	70
Silver Eagle Kite Shield	14	11	10	49	73	70
Archdrake Shield	16	12	10	49	75	71
Bell Keeper Shield	16	12	10	49	75	71
Black Dragon Shield	16	12	10	49	75	71
Black Flamestone Parma	16	12	10	49	75	71
Blossom Kite Shield	16	12	10	49	75	71
Bone Shield	16	12	10	49	75	71
Bound Wooden Shield	16	12	10	49	75	71
Chaos Shield	16	12	10	49	75	71
Charred Loyce Shield	16	12	10	49	75	71
Defender's Shield	16	12	10	49	75	71
Drakekeeper's Shield	16	12	10	49	75	71
Drangleic Shield	16	12	10	49	75	71
Golden Wing Shield	16	12	10	49	75	71
Grand Spirit Tree Shield	16	12	10	49	75	71
Hollow Soldier Shield	16	12	10	49	75	71
Homunculus Wooden Shield	16	12	10	49	75	71
King's Shield	16	12	10	49	75	71
Lion Clan Shield	16	12	10	49	75	71
Loyce Shield	16	12	10	49	75	71
Mirrah Shield	16	12	10	49	75	71
Moon Butterfly Shield	16	12	10	49	75	71
Old Knight's Shield	16	12	10	49	75	71
Porcine Shield	16	12	10	49	75	71
Rampart Golem Shield	16	12	10	49	75	71
Red Rust Shield	16	12	10	49	75	71
Royal Kite Shield	16	12	10	49	75	71
Shield of the Insolent	16	12	10	49	75	71
Silverblack Shield	16	12	10	49	75	71
Slumbering Dragon Shield	16	12	10	49	75	71
Spirit Tree Shield	16	12	10	49	75	71
Stone Parma	16	12	10	49	75	71
Vessel Shield	16	12	10	49	75	71
Watchdragon Parma	16	12	10	49	75	71
Wooden Shield	16	12	10	49	75	71
Yellow Quartz Shield	16	12	10	49	75	71
Benhart's Parma	14	11	10	49	73	70
Buckler	14	11	10	49	73	70
Cleric's Parma	14	11	10	49	73	70
Cleric's Small Shield	14	11	10	49	73	70
Crimson Parma	14	11	10	49	73	70
Cursed Bone Shield	14	11	10	49	73	70
Foot Soldier Shield	14	11	10	49	73	70
Golden Falcon Shield	14	11	10	49	73	70
Iron Parma	14	11	10	49	73	70
Llewellyn Shield	14	11	10	49	73	70
Magic Shield	14	11	10	49	73	70
Manikin Shield	14	11	10	49	73	70
Phoenix Parma	14	11	10	49	73	70
Small Leather Shield	14	11	10	49	73	70
Sunlight Parma	14	11	10	49	73	70
Target Shield	14	11	10	49	73	70
Transgressor's Leather Shield	14	11	10	49	73	70
Watcher's Shield	14	11	10	49	73	70
Parrying Dagger	10	5	10	42	62	57
Rapier	14	6	14	43	71	63
Espada Ropera	16	8	12	43	71	63
Chaos Rapier	18	10	10	43	71	63
Monastery Scimitar	12	3	6	50	68	59
Eleum Loyce	14	5	4	50	68	59
Falchion	14	5	4	50	68	59
Manikin Sabre	14	5	4	50	68	59
Melu Scimitar	14	5	4	50	68	59
Red Rust Scimitar	14	5	4	50	68	59
Scimitar	14	5	4	50	68	59
Shotel	14	5	4	50	68	59
Spider Fang	14	5	4	50	68	59
Warped Sword	14	5	4	50	68	59
Shotel	16	7	4	49	69	60
Bone Fist	16	12	8	56	80	76
Caestus	16	12	8	56	80	76
Vanquisher's Seal	18	13	10	51	79	74
Fists	18	14	6	56	80	76

Rules

Can parry

The following weapons can parry when equipped in the left hand:

• Fists
• Curved Swords

The following weapons can parry when equipped to either hand:

• Espada Ropera
• Rapier
• Chaos Rapier
• Parrying Dagger

The following shields can parry both spells and physical attacks, while in either hand:

• Cleric's Small Shield
• Cursed Bone Shield
• Golden Wing Shield
• Grand Spirit Tree Shield
• Magic Shield
• Shield of the Insolent
• Spirit Tree Shield

Note that spells can only be parried, and not riposted.

Cannot parry

The following weapons cannot parry when equipped:

• Bows and Crossbows
• Greatshields
• Reapers, Spears, Halberd, Lances and Twinblades
• Staves, Sacred Chimes, Pyromancy Flames
• Weapons and shields with a special function bound to the left-hand strong attack (e.g. Defender Greatsword augmentation or Sanctum Shield spellcasting)

The following attacks cannot be parried:

• whip attacks
• Standing two-handed light attacks from a halberd
• Two-handed heavy attack of the Syan's Halberd
• Standing two-handed light and heavy attacks from greataxes, great hammers, ultra greatswords, and curved greatswords

Special exceptions

The following weapons use movesets of a different class, but can still be parried:

• The broken Santier's Spear behaves like a Halberd, but the two-handed light attack is the same as a Twinblade, and thus can be parried.
• The Crescent Axe is a Greataxe, but all of its attacks (except the jumping attack) can be parried.
• Both the Drakekeeper's Warpick and the Archdrake Mace are great hammers, but behave like a halberd, thus their two-handed heavy attack can be parried.

Riposte

A riposte is a critical damage attack that can be executed after a successful parry (types 1 and 2) or a guard break (type 3). The exact calculations of riposte damage are not entirely clear. The riposte damage is not related to the weapon's counter damage modifier (that one only affects counter attacks).

There are three (3) types of ripostes in Dark Souls II:

1. Standing Riposte - This riposte is similar to the Dark Souls version. It is performed immediately after a parry, while the enemy is staggered (before the enemy falls to the ground). If performed unsuccessfully, a regular attack will be used which may cancel the enemy's staggered-state (it seems it only happens with weapons with high poise damage, smaller weapons may attack but still not break the stagger); because of this, many players prefer to safely perform the ground riposte.
2. Ground Riposte (Knockdown Riposte) - This riposte is used after an enemy has been staggered and falls to the ground. It can only be executed when standing in front of the enemy. The ground riposte is easy to execute and is most widely used by players. It arguably deals less damage than standing riposte (although tests with the Chaos Rapier showed a negligible difference of about 10-20 points of damage).
3. Frontal Riposte (Guard Break Riposte) - This riposte can be performed after using Guard Break on an enemy. It's a very powerful attack using similar animation to the standing riposte.

Rules

Cannot riposte

• Bows
• Crossbows
• Staves
• Sacred Chimes
• Pyromancy Flames
• Shields

Notes

As with most attacks, performing a riposte or backstab with a broken weapon that has no AR will deal no damage.

Videos

DS2 Parry and Riposte Tutorial (UPDATED)

General info with Standing Riposte and Ground Riposte demonstrations

Dark Souls 2- Parrying Guide

Extensive demonstration parrying most weapons