Elden Ring ยท Reforged Mod

Elden Ring Reforged - Combat Guide

Vanilla roll-everything instincts fail in ERR. This guide covers the Gilded Cave tutorial, Deflect/Perfect Deflect, Ducking, Perfect Actions, and why the mod rewards precise timing over raw power.

ERR Mod Deflect / Perfect Deflect Ducking Fortunes System

Core Problem

Elden Ring Reforged fundamentally changes combat. Players who try to play it like vanilla - rolling through everything, relying on spirit ashes, using nerfed builds - die repeatedly and feel lost. The mod rewards precise timing over raw power.

Three new defensive tools define ERR combat: Deflect, Ducking, and Perfect Actions. Learn these first and the mod transforms from punishing to deeply satisfying.

Step-by-Step Combat Guide

1

Complete the Gilded Cave of Knowledge First (Mandatory)

  • Start a new character and go through the revamped tutorial dungeon immediately.
  • Teaches hands-on: crafting, rune pieces, FP regen, stance-breaking, stealth, and all new defensive options.
  • Locks higher difficulty settings until completed.
Do not skip this. Players who skip the Gilded Cave consistently report the most frustration. It is your combat foundation for the entire mod.
2

Master Deflect and Perfect Deflect - The Biggest Game-Changer

When you start blocking (any weapon or shield), there is a brief early-frame window for a Deflect. Stricter timing gives a Perfect Deflect.

Deflect

  • Greatly boosts guard negation
  • Reduces status buildup on block
  • Improves Guard Boost efficiency

Perfect Deflect

  • Fully negates damage and status
  • Massively boosts Guard Boost
  • Brief attack buff on the player
  • Can recoil some enemy attacks
How to practice: Start on weak enemies - early soldiers or the tutorial knight. Time your block input right as the attack lands. Use medium shields or weapons initially for more timing forgiveness.
3

Learn Ducking - Avoids What Rolls Miss

  • Bound to a dedicated input. Avoids high and sweeping attacks that rolls and jumps miss.
  • Use duck specifically against low sweeps and ground stomps.
  • Combine with movement for repositioning. Saves stamina and opens counter windows.
4

Jump, Updated Roll i-Frames, and Perfect Actions

  • Jump over low sweeps and ground stomps specifically.
  • Rolls have rebalanced i-frames - do not rely on vanilla timing.
  • Perfect Actions: After any attack or defense, a timing window opens for a boosted follow-up. Hit these windows consistently for extra damage and stance-break pressure.
5

Offense, Guard Counters, and Fortunes

  • Guard Counters: Rebalanced and stronger with proper timing. Left-hand special attacks (roll/dash/duck/heavy/guard counter) now work without losing block.
  • Fortunes: Optional playstyle modifiers - pick one early. Dancer for deflect-focused play, Artificer for crafting/resource approaches. Each Fortune has trade-offs; not easy mode.
  • Weapons: Many have unique new perks. Powerstancing and multi-weapon combat are heavily improved. Test weapons in the tutorial area before committing.
6

Progression Tips

  • Explore for rune pieces (10 unlocks forging at Roundtable Hold).
  • Craft often - lamp oil, consumables, and resources are essential for dark areas and boss preparation.
  • Use the in-game codex and bestiary to learn new enemy behaviors.
  • Level cap is 200. The scaling favors focused builds over spreading stats broadly.

Key Decision Points

Shield + Deflect vs. Weapon Deflect

Greatshields are viable but normal guarding is nerfed - you must deflect to make shields efficient. Weapon deflects are more mobile but riskier. Test in early game and adapt per boss matchup.

Spirit Ashes Usage

Heavily nerfed compared to vanilla. Spirit ashes need to be "enraged" to perform at a useful level. Do not build your strategy around them carrying you through fights.

Which Fortune to Pick

Commit based on your intended playstyle. Dancer for deflect-heavy combat, Artificer for crafting-heavy approaches. Each Fortune has explicit penalties - pick with a clear direction and stick to it.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Rolling everything like vanilla: Roll i-frames are rebalanced. Adapt to Deflect and Duck instead of trying to dodge all attacks.

Ignoring lamp oil and crafting: Dark caves become impossible and you run out of resources if you skip the crafting system entirely.

Rushing through enemy camps: Enemy aggro and projectile counts are increased. Clear camps fully - getting surrounded by a group while rushing is a fast death.

Forcing broken vanilla builds: Most overpowered vanilla options are nerfed or rebalanced. Adapt rather than trying to replicate the old approach.

Poor stamina management: Deflects and guards drain stamina fast without Perfect timing. Do not spam blocks - time them precisely.

Video References

Gilded Cave walkthrough - deflecting, ducking, guard counters, crafting. Best starting point for ERR.

Live combat examples - deflects, Perfect Actions, new mechanics, and early boss fights in ERR 2.0.