Lords of the Fallen combat guide: Dodging enemy attacks

Lords of the Fallen is the brand new Soulslike video game developed by Polish developer CI Games. This AAA title has been in the works for quite some time, raising anticipation among players. Lords of the Fallen is a remake of the 2014 game of the same name that features an improved combat system, linear-level design similar to the Souls series, and the Umbral Realm, this game's spirit world.

The original Lords of the Fallen was criticized for various reasons, most notably its combat system, which has been completely overhauled in the remake. Like other games of its kind, fight mechanics can get complicated as players venture through the story. However, since it sticks to traditional Souls tropes fans who engage with it will tend to enjoy it.

This article takes a look at the simplest yet, arguably, the hardest to master technique in Lords of the Fallen: the dodge roll.

---

Combat Guide in Lords of the Fallen: I-Frame Dodges and Backsteps

Similar UI and Combat design to the Souls games (image by CI)

Enemies in Soulslike games are generally considered challenging and hard. While the statement stands true, enemies are usually telegraphed enough for players to pick up on their moves and learn on the fly. The easiest way to get out of harm's way while enemies swing their weapons is the dodge roll.

This genre is notorious for this mechanic, which grants Invincibility frames (I-frames) throughout their duration. Lords of the Fallen is no different and follows similar rules for dodge rolling, and it is one of the first skills it teaches players as they embark on their journey.

The original Lords of the Fallen did not excite fans (image by CI Games)

There are three kinds of dodge-rolls - Light, Medium, and Heavy. Experienced Souls veterans will immediately understand the meaning of these terms, but explained plainly, these rolls depend on the type of armor and weapons the player has equipped.

Light rolls, which utilize lighter armor and smaller weapons, provide a longer leap for the dodge and, in turn, allow players to cover a considerable distance with their dodges. There are also more I-frames present in Light rolls, and the value for these I-frames diminishes as the player equips heavier items.

Medium rolls are generally what most players use throughout their initial playthrough. As light armor doesn't provide the benefit of tanking a lot of attacks, players naturally opt for heavier armor and balance out the weight so as to not become encumbered. This provides relatively less dodge-distance and fewer I-Frames than Light rolls.

Heavy rolls are completely unviable for any build. Reaching the threshold of heavy load encumbers the player character, and their dodging becomes incredibly slow. Alongside this, players also receive a penalty to their stamina bar. Having few to no I-frames at all, heavy rolls are only suited for challenge runs and not in a conventional playthrough.

Venturing into darkness (image by CI Games)

As players avoid these telegraphed attacks, there is also a huge emphasis on landing counterblows. Lords of the Fallen also features a backstep mechanic similar to the Souls titles and is a skill that has a gentle learning curve. Compared to parries, backstep attacks are not as difficult but still require timing as players aren't fully dodging an attack, just stepping away from the weapon's reach.

Counter-attacking after a successful backstep not only provides vindication and style points but also makes the attack come out faster, catching enemies off-guard. A valuable skill to add to a player's arsenal.

Dodging is the most consistent way to avoid damage in Lords of the Fallen. While the mechanic may be simple, it is one that players must learn in order to not only avoid enemy attacks but also learn to exploit openings. Learning how to dodge and counter-attack is the bread and butter of all good Soulslike games, and this new title by CI Games manages to implement it with style.

---

Lords of the Fallen is available to play on PlayStation 5, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X and Series S, and Microsoft Windows.