Winter Lantern Elden Ring Parry

2 min read 06-01-2025

The Winter Lantern in Elden Ring, wielded by the formidable Ancient Dragon Lansseax, presents a unique challenge for players attempting to parry its attacks. Unlike many other bosses, the timing and effectiveness of parrying the Winter Lantern are nuanced and require precise execution. This guide aims to break down the intricacies of parrying this colossal weapon, offering insights to improve your success rate.

Understanding the Winter Lantern's Attacks

Before diving into parry techniques, it's crucial to understand the attacks themselves. Lansseax utilizes the Winter Lantern for a variety of sweeping strikes, thrusts, and area-of-effect attacks. Each attack possesses a distinct wind-up and recovery period, creating windows of opportunity for a successful parry. However, not all attacks are equally parryable. Some are designed to be un-parryable or extremely difficult to time correctly.

Key Attacks to Focus On

Sweeping Attacks: These are typically your best bet for a successful parry. The wide arc of the Lantern gives you a larger window to time your parry, allowing for a margin of error.
Thrust Attacks: These are significantly more difficult to parry. The faster speed and narrower hitbox require pinpoint timing and reaction speed. Often, dodging these attacks is a safer strategy.
Area-of-Effect Attacks: These are generally un-parryable. Focus on dodging or using invincibility frames from other actions such as rolling or jumping to avoid taking damage.

Mastering the Parry Timing

The key to successfully parrying the Winter Lantern lies in precise timing. You need to anticipate the attack's culmination and input your parry just as the attack connects with your character. Early or late parries will result in a failed parry and potentially significant damage. Practice is paramount.

Tips for Improving Parry Timing

Listen for Audio Cues: Pay close attention to the audio cues preceding each attack. The unique sound effects can provide valuable timing information, particularly for distinguishing between different attack types.
Observe Visual Cues: Watch Lansseax's body language and the movement of the Winter Lantern. Recognizing subtle changes in posture or weapon positioning can help you anticipate upcoming attacks.
Practice Makes Perfect: Repeatedly engaging with Lansseax, focusing specifically on parrying attempts, is crucial for improving your muscle memory and timing. Don't be discouraged by initial failures; persistence pays off.

Weapon and Shield Considerations

While the effectiveness of the parry is largely dependent on your timing, your choice of equipment can impact your success rate. A shield with a high parry rating will naturally increase your chances of a successful parry, though it's critical to remember that even a well-timed parry with a suboptimal shield can fail.

When to Not Parry

It's equally important to understand when parrying the Winter Lantern is not a viable option. As mentioned, some attacks are simply too quick or too wide-ranging to parry effectively. Don't force a parry if you're unsure; a failed parry can easily lead to death. Prioritize defense and dodging when necessary.

Conclusion: Patience and Persistence

Parrying the Winter Lantern in Elden Ring requires significant patience, practice, and precise timing. While mastering this technique can significantly alter the fight's dynamic, it's important to remember that dodging and other defensive measures remain critical components of a successful strategy. Don't be afraid to experiment, learn from your mistakes, and persist until you achieve mastery.