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Elden Ring Nightreign

How to Guard (Block)

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Elden Ring Nightreign - How to Guard

This is a guide on how to Guard, also known as Block, in Elden Ring Nightreign. Learn how to Guard, the effects of Guarding, class-specific Guards, Guard Counters, and what cannot be guarded.

Guardian Character Pages
Build Remembrance Skins

List of Contents

How to Guard

Tap or Hold Left Armament Input

Xbox PS PC
XBOX - Left Bumper.png
LB		 PS4 - L1 Button.png
L1		 Right Click
Right Click
ⓘ The character's left-hand armament is used for guarding with the shield. Using a shield on the right-hand armament will cause it to perfrom an attack instead.
ⓘ The same control input is used for guarding during a two-handed state.
ⓘ Guarding will slow down stamina recovery until it is released.

Non-Shield Armaments Only Guard When Two-Handed

Shields allow you to guard on a single hand. In the case of other armaments, however, they must be wielded in a two-handed state before they can be used to guard.

You cannot guard with ranged weapons, specifically Bows, Crossbows, Ballistas, and Greatbows even when two-handed, so you will need a shield on your left hand if you plan to block attacks with a ranged weapon equipped.

How to Two-Hand Weapons

Executor Can Deflect with Cursed Sword

The Executor class has a special type of Guard referred to as Deflect when you wield the class's Cursed Sword from his ability, Suncatcher. This guard is performed by timing your guard as the enemy attack is about to hit. This type of guard also applies during the sheathing and unsheathing animation of the Cursed Sword.

Compared to regular guards, Deflections significantly reduce stamina, fully negate damage, and prevent status buildup for the duration of the deflect.

Executor Best Build, Weapons, and Relics Guide

Guardian Has Steel Guard

The above video demonstrates Steel Guard with the damage reflect Relic passive.

The Guardian has a special type guard called Steel Guard which is done when you dodge while holding your guard up. This decreases guard stamina drain from any attack hitting the shield within the duration of the Steel Guard animation.

The Relic passive 'Reflect a portion of damage received when ability is activated' will allow Steel Guard to also reflect damage, including poise damage, against enemies near it.

Guardian Best Build, Weapons, and Relics Guide

Guard Effects

Guarding Effects and Mechanics
Checkmark Negates Damage and Consumes Stamina
Checkmark Deflects (Bounces) Attacks
Checkmark Ignored by Grab Attacks

Negates Damage and Consumes Stamina

Guarded Damage Negation

Guarding negates damage in exchange for an amount of stamina. Each armament will have a unique set of Guarded Damage Negation attributes which you can view from the Visual Codex in the Roundtable Hold. Physical Damage Negation by default in Elden Ring Nightreign is 100.0 while non-physical stats such as Fire Damage Negation only partially negate damage.

Note that, while guarding does negate damage, it does not completely negate status buildups from attacks coupled with ailments like Bleed and Frost.

Shields have the best of these Guarded Damage Negation attributes, in addition to Guard Boost which reduces stamina drain. You can block with other armament types such as Straight Swords or Colossal Weapons, even Glintstone Staffs, though they will not have as much benefits as shields.

Stamina Drain Depends on Receiving Attack

Certain attacks from enemies will slightly or massively drain your stamina on guard. Powerful attacks, such as large, area-of-effect attacks, or attacks with long wind-ups, usually drain a lot of stamina from the guarding user.

Strikes from weaker enemies will noticebly only chip a small amount of stamina, so it's easier to sustain your guard in this case.

Guard Breaks When Stamina is Emptied During a Guard

If your stamina gauge is emptied when you guard an attack, this will cause a Guard Break, locking you into a short but vulnerable 'stunned animation' during this period. Guard Breaks can also happen on guarding enemies (such as those soldiers with shields).

To prevent Guard Breaks, let your stamina recover by releasing your guard during safe windows. Guard only when needed, since stamina recovery is slowed down when your guard is held.

Deflects (Bounces) Attacks

Attacks that strike your guard will sometimes deflect, bringing the enemy to a temporary 'stunned' posture as they try to recover from their weapon bounce. These are noticeable on shields such as the Greatshield.

Ignored by Grab Attacks

The Nameless King grabs the Guardian with its 'spear stab' attack.

Grab attacks ignore guards, so watch out and prepare to dodge these attacks instead. Grab attacks can be signified by the purple electrical visual and audio sound effect wind-up before the attack, and they don't have to look like they're 'grabbing' a player – these can be attacks that simply suspend the player in place before dealing damage.

When a player is grabbed, enemies can still take damage from attacks. Other fellow Nightfarers can take advantage of this by dealing enough poise damage to free the grabbed player.

How to Guard Counter

Input Guard Counter on Guard Hit

Xbox
XBOX - Left Bumper.png (Hold) → On Guard Hit: XBOX - Right Trigger.png
LB → RT
PS
PS4 - L1 Button.png (Hold) → On Guard Hit: PS4 - R2 Button.png
L1 → R2
PC
Right Click (Hold) → On Guard Hit: Ctrl Button + Left Click
Right Click → Ctrl + Left Click

Guard Counters are counterattacks that can be followed up from a successful guard (upon blocking an attack). These counterattacks deal more poise damage than your average strike, so it is best to take advantage of them.

Only use them on safe windows (such as outside of attack chains or multi-hit attacks) since you can still be interrupted during a Guard Counter by another attack.

Guard Counters can also be buffed by weapon passives or Dormant Powers, making them viable ways to deal damage.

How to Guard Counter

Elden Ring Nightreign Related Guides

Elden Ring Nightreign - Tips and Tricks Partial

Beginner Guide to Nightreign

All Tips and Tricks Guides

Exploration Guides
Rune Farming Guide What to Do on Days 1 and 2
Max Level Guide and How to Level Up Fast How to Add Pins on the Map
Night's Tide (Circle): Blue Flame Explained -
Settings Guides
Best and Recommended Settings List of All Controls
Online / Matchmaking Guides
Matchmaking Guide: How to Join Party How to Play Solo
Can You Play Duos? How to Play Offline
Tips and Tricks
How to Change Characters (Classes) How to Get Legendary Weapons
How to Upgrade Weapons How to Recover and Increase FP
How to Charge Your Ultimate Gauge How to Farm and Get Relics
How to Kill Skeletons How to Get More Flasks
How to Change Weapons How to Get Murk
How to Revive and Rescue Allies Should You Buy Scenic Flatstones?
How to Dual Wield How to Lock On
How to Dash and Sprint How to Wall Jump and Climb Walls
How to Two-Hand Weapons How to Pick Up and Use Items
How to Heal and Increase Health Weight and Item Carry Limits Explained
Combat Tips How to Get Legendary Weapons
List of All Character Skills List of All Ultimate Arts
How to Get Critical Hits How to Find the Oldest Gaol
Small Jar Bazaar Best Items to Buy How to Unlock Dark Souls Skins
How to Parry How to Guard Counter
Raid Events Guide List of Random Map Events
How to Duplicate Weapons How to Dodge Roll
How to Get Memory Fragments Attack Affinities and Element Guide
How to Guard (Block) How to Find Sacred Seals and Incantations
Are Boluses Permanent? List of Unlockables
How to Get Sovereign Sigils -
Stat Guides
All Stats Explained Buffs and Status Effects
What Does Dexterity Do? What Does Vigor Do?
What Does Mind Do? What Does Endurance Do?
What Does Strength Do? What Does Intelligence Do?
What Does Faith Do? What Does Arcane Do?
What is Poise? Effects of Resistances
Character Skill Guides
What Does Restage Do? What Does Retaliate Do?
What Does Totem Stela Do? What Does Cursed Sword Do?
What Does Magic Cocktail Do? -
Roundtable Hold Guides
Roundtable Hold Guide How to Unlock the Dresser
Sparring Grounds Collector Signboard
FAQs
Leave Penalty Death Penalty: What Happens When You Die?
Is There Character Customization? Is There PC Controller Support?
Are Loots and Drops Shared? Can You Play the Same Class?
Can You Pause the Game? Does Nightreign Have Fall Damage?
How Long To Beat How to Change Skins
Difficulty Level Explained: Is Elden Ring Too Hard? How to Sell Relics
Can you Sell Items? How to Use the Bed
How to Recover Dropped Runes How to Skip Cutscenes
How to Change Language All Postgame Unlockables
How to Reconnect and Play Online How to Rename Your Character
Where to Find Holy Weapons Weapon Scaling Explained
How to Break Stone Statues How to Quit a Run
Can You Keep Weapons? How to Replay Tutorial
What Does The Items Confer Effect Do? What Are Post-Damage Attacks?
What Is the Initial Standard Attack Effect? What Carries Over?
Is There a New Game Plus? Where Is the Crypt?
Is There Voice Chat? What Is Thrusting Counterattack?

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