Unleash Your Inner Guts: A Guide to Critical Hitting in Elden Ring (PS5)
Feeling a little underpowered in the Lands Between? Tired of chip-damaging enemies like a rusty butter knife? Well, fret no more, Tarnished traveler! This guide will turn you from a feeble fool to a critical-hitting connoisseur.
The Art of Breaking Stance: Turning Enemies into Stunned Vegetables
Imagine an enemy's poise as a hidden bar. Every hit you land chips away at it. Once it's depleted (think smashing a watermelon with your bare fists), they'll enter a vulnerable state, perfect for a critical hit. Here's how to break that poise:
- Go full whack-a-mole: Two-handed weapons like colossal swords are poise-breakers extraordinaire. Think of them as giant poise-removal toothpicks.
- Don't be shy, unleash the heavy attacks: Heavy attacks (R2/RT) pack a bigger punch and drain poise faster than light attacks. Just be mindful of the slower swing speed.
- Find the enemy's weak spot: Some enemies have areas that take more poise damage, like the giant's luscious glutes (don't judge, everyone has a weakness).
Pro Tip: Listen for a distinctive sound effect when an enemy's poise breaks. It'll sound like someone dropped a sack of potatoes – a glorious (and slightly terrifying) sound.
The Critical Moment: From Flailing to Fabulous
Now that the enemy is stunned like a fly caught in honey, it's critical hit time! Here's how to land the glorious blow:
- Get up close and personal: You need to be right next to the enemy for the critical hit to land. Think of it as a critical cuddle.
- A well-timed tap is all you need: No fancy combos necessary. Just press the R1/RB button once for a satisfying critical hit animation.
- Location, location, location: For some larger enemies, there might be a specific glowing spot for a critical hit. If you're unsure, experiment! Just don't get too close and become a tasty bug lunch.
Remember: Not all enemies can be critically hit. Some are just bad posture role models.
Bonus Round: Alternative Critical Hitting Techniques
- The Backstabber's Delight: Sneak up behind unsuspecting enemies and hit R1/RB for a guaranteed critical hit (unless they have eyes in the back of their head, those cheaters).
- Parry and Punish: Master the art of parrying (blocking just before an enemy attack) and you'll not only negate damage, but also open them up for a critical hit. Feels good, doesn't it?
Word to the Wise: Mastering these techniques takes practice. Don't get discouraged if you whiff a few critical hits at first. Just think of it as involuntary enemy air guitar – they might even appreciate the show.
Elden Ring Critical Hitting FAQ (PS5)
Q: How to know when an enemy's poise is broken?
A: Listen for a loud sound effect (think: potatoes) and look for the enemy to stumble or fall to their knees.
Q: Can I critically hit every enemy?
A: Nope! Some enemies are immune to your glorious critical cuddles.
Q: My critical hit animation looks different depending on the enemy. Why?
A: Different enemies have different critical hit animations, adding a bit of flair to your combat repertoire.
Q: Backstabbing is too risky! Is there a safer way to critically hit?
A: Focus on breaking enemy poise. It's a more reliable way to land critical hits, even if it's less sneaky.
Q: I keep getting hit while trying to land a critical hit. Help!
A: Patience, Tarnished! Learn the enemy's attack patterns and wait for an opening before going in for the critical hit.
