Derelict Roblox How to Parry: Shields, Timing, and Combat Guide

To parry in Derelict on Roblox, you must have a shield equipped in your offhand slot and press your block input (Right Mouse Button on PC by default) just before an incoming strike hits you. Derelict does not allow barehanded or two-handed weapon parrying. Successfully deflecting an attack completely negates incoming damage, briefly stuns the opponent, and inflicts massive stance damage to set up high-damage ripostes.

Because Derelict is an action RPG developed by Scrambledly Studios with unforgiving combat mechanics, mastering your defensive timing is mandatory for progressing through early encampments and endgame boss encounters.

How the Shield Requirement Works

In Derelict, defensive offhands dictate your ability to guard. If you do not have a shield equipped, your secondary input charges heavy attacks instead of raising your guard.

• Equipping any shield replaces your Charge Attack with the ability to block and parry.
• If you want to use heavy attacks, charge attacks, or offhand tomes and quivers, you must unequip your shield.
• You can rebind your block key in the game settings if you prefer using a keyboard key like F over the Right Mouse Button.

Early and Mid-Game Shields

During the introductory questline in Gideon's Camp (Monte Sant'Angelo), Sir Wilhelm gives you an Old Shield inside the crooked cave well dungeon, where he walks you through the fundamentals of blocking and parrying. As you raise your Defense attribute, you can craft or loot stronger shields that offer superior mitigation and bonus stamina.

Parry Timing and Active Frames

Parrying in Derelict operates on a tight windup window rather than an instant frame snap. Because the parry animation takes roughly half a second to complete its startup, pressing parry when the weapon is already hitting your character model will result in failure.

• Proper Timing: Trigger your parry right as the enemy begins their forward swing animation. Parrying slightly early catches the strike inside your active parry frames, which last within tenths of a second.
• Mistiming Late: If you press the input too late into the enemy swing, the game registers a standard block instead. Blocking prevents hit flinching and absorbs a large percentage of damage, but you still absorb stance damage.
• Mistiming Early: If you initiate the parry before the windup starts, the active frames expire before the hit lands. Your character becomes completely exposed and absorbs the full, unmitigated damage of the blow.

Stance Breaking and Ripostes

Every successful parry deals 100 stance damage to the attacker. Because standard enemies and humanoid elites have limited stance bars, connecting 2 to 3 consecutive parries will completely drain their posture.

1. Deplete the Stance Bar: Chain light attacks or successfully land parries until the target's posture meter empties.
2. Inflict Stagger: Once the stance bar breaks, the opponent enters the Staggered status effect and freezes in place.
3. Execute the Riposte: Step close with any melee weapon equipped (such as a sword, dagger, or greatsword) and press your attack button to execute a Riposte.

Riposting deals True Damage proportional to the enemy's total maximum health. Note that certain mechanical constructs, such as the boss NR-02, possess an innate immunity to status effects like Stagger and cannot be riposted under any circumstances.

Parriable vs. Unparriable Attacks

Not every hostile ability in Derelict can be deflected with a shield. Attempting to parry unparriable boss mechanics will bypass your active frames entirely and deal lethal damage.

• Parriable Attacks: Standard melee swings, basic combo strings from bandits and humanoid bosses, and single-target projectile strikes can all be parried. For example, during The Veiled Paladin boss fight, hammer swings belonging to Basic Attack Combos 1, 2, and 3 are fully parriable.
• Unparriable Attacks: Wide-area explosions, abilities that cause heavy screen-shake effects, special command grabs (such as Umbra grab mechanics), and downward ground slams (such as The Veiled Paladin's Slam and Absolution) cannot be parried. You must roll or quick-step away using your dodge invincibility frames instead.

Co-op Double Parrying

When tackling dungeon encounters in duos or trios, front-line melee players can abuse a tactic known as Double Parrying. By standing directly beside one another in front of a boss, two players can trigger their shield parries at the exact same time. This shared collision box guarantees that if one player's parry timing is slightly off, the partner's active frames will deflect the blow, keeping both players completely safe while dealing immediate stance damage.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why can't I parry at all?

Ensure you have an actual shield equipped in your offhand. Weapons held alone, two-handed setups without offhands, or weapons paired with quivers and spell tomes cannot parry. You can obtain your first basic shield by rescuing Sir Wilhelm from the well in Gideon's Camp.

Why does my character do a heavy attack instead of blocking?

This occurs when your offhand slot is empty or holding an item other than a shield. Heavy charge attacks are tied to the same right-click input on PC when no defensive shield is active.

Can I parry with a bow, staff, or fists?

Shields cannot be paired with two-handed ranged bows. While you can hold a shield alongside one-handed weapons, offhand ability tomes and spell staves utilize their own casting rules and override the weapon art and parry slots.

Can you revisit the parry tutorial?

Yes. If you need to practice without risking your inventory or travel distance, speak with Sir Wilhelm at his camp location in Monte Sant'Angelo. He will run you through a repeatable training sequence covering heavy attacks, parrying, dodging, and stance breaking.