Mastering Parry Techniques in Avowed

Author : Lucas May 08,2025

There's nothing quite like the thrill of parrying an enemy's attack in an action game, especially when it leads to a satisfying counterstrike. If you're eager to master this technique in *Avowed*, here's a comprehensive guide on how to parry in the game.

How to Unlock Parry in Avowed

An image showing the Parry ability in Avowed as part of a guide on how to parry in the game.

To unlock the Parry ability in *Avowed*, you'll need to navigate to the "Abilities" section of your menu and select the "Ranger" tab. You'll find the Parry ability located in the middle column at the top. To unlock it, you must first allocate an Ability point to any of the three core trees. Once you've done that, you can then unlock Parry.

Parry has three ranks, each with specific requirements and benefits, as outlined in the table below:

RankPlayer Level RequirementLevel Description
1N/A (1 Point Spent)Unlocks Parry.
2Player Level 5Increases Parry efficiency by 25%, dealing greater Stun when Parrying enemies.
3Player Level 8Increases Parry efficiency by 50%, dealing greater Stun when parrying enemies.

At level 10, you'll also have the opportunity to unlock "Arrow Deflection," an ability that allows you to block arrows and other projectiles by parrying.

How to Parry Attacks in Avowed

An image showing the player in Avowed holding up a sword, about to parry a Yellowband outlaw, as part of a guide on how to parry in the game.

To successfully parry in *Avowed*, you must time your block to occur just before an enemy's attack lands. You'll hear a distinct metal clanking sound and see a visual indicator on the screen, signaling a successful parry as your enemy reels back. The timing can vary slightly between different enemies, so practice will be key to mastering this skill. While it may take some time to get the hang of it, parrying in *Avowed* is less challenging than in games like *Dark Souls* or *Elden Ring*.

Parrying Isn’t Always an Option

It's important to note that not all attacks in *Avowed* can be parried. Attacks marked with a red circle require dodging instead. Furthermore, not all weapons are capable of parrying. Single-handed and two-handed weapons can generally parry, but only if they're not in your off-hand. Shields in the off-hand can also be used to parry. However, ranged weapons such as guns, wands, and bows, as well as grimoires, cannot parry.

What Parrying Does (& Why You Might Want to Do It)

Parrying in *Avowed* is a powerful technique that stuns your attacker, causing them to stagger. This provides an excellent opportunity to deal significant damage while avoiding harm. It's particularly advantageous for melee-focused characters who engage enemies up close. However, if your build is more geared towards ranged attacks, you might not find parrying as beneficial. Fortunately, *Avowed* offers easy and affordable respeccing options, allowing you to experiment with different abilities, including Parry, without long-term commitment.

And that's everything you need to know about how to Parry in *Avowed*. Whether you're looking to master this skill or simply understand its mechanics, this guide should set you on the right path.

*Avowed is available now.*