Parry
To parry (in the context of the Evade/Block/Parry system) is to outright prevent a physical attack by intercepting it or knocking it aside with one's weapon, stopping the attack before the attack equation has even come into play. The check to determine whether an attack is parried occurs after the checks to determine whether the attack is evaded or blocked.
With the exception of runestaves, it is not possible to parry ranged (bolt spells, arrows, thrown weapons) attacks. This includes the chance to outright parry an attack as well as the loss of all parry DS.
Parry Defensive Strength (DS)
Parry Defensive Strength is calculated by adding the value of the appropriate Stance Bonus and a weapon bonus formula referred to as the Base Value. The Base Value formula requires 1 rank in the weapon held to be applicable or non-zero. The only exception to the Base Value weapon skill rank activation is the case of a runestaff, which is considered natively to provide 10 ranks in the appropriate skill, even with 0 training.
Parry 'Stance' Bonus
While there are several variations, depending on weapon category (one hand, two-handed, polearm etc.) for calculating parry DS, they each receive the same stance bonuses shown in the table below.
| Stance | DS Bonus |
|---|---|
| Offensive | 0 |
| Advance | 10 |
| Forward | 20 |
| Neutral | 30 |
| Guarded | 40 |
| Defensive | 50 |
Calculating One Hand Parry (OHE/OHB/Brawling/Thrown Weapons) DS
Skill in one hand weapons (specifically: edged weapons, blunt weapons, brawling and thrown weapons) provides a bonus to one's overall defensive strength. There are two steps to calculate this value.
Step 1: Calculate the Base Value
Step 2: Calculate Parry DS
One Hand Parry Stance Modifiers
| Stance | Modifier |
|---|---|
| Offensive | 0.20 |
| Advance | 0.30 |
| Forward | 0.40 |
| Neutral | 0.50 |
| Guarded | 0.60 |
| Defensive | 0.70 |
One Hand Parry DS Example
- Weapon ranks: 60
- STR bonus: 25
- DEX bonus: 25
- Weapon enchant bonus: 20
- Neutral Stance Modifier: 0.50
- Neutral Stance bonus: 30
Base Value:
Parry DS:
Calculating Two-Handed Weapons (THW) Parry DS
Training in two-handed weapons provides a bonus to one's overall defensive strength. There are two steps to calculate this value.
Step 1: Calculate the Base Value
Step 2: Calculate Parry DS
Two-Handed Parry Stance Modifiers
| Stance | Modifier |
|---|---|
| Offensive | 0.30 |
| Advance | 0.45 |
| Forward | 0.60 |
| Neutral | 0.75 |
| Guarded | 0.90 |
| Defensive | 1.05 |
Two-Handed Parry DS Example
- Weapon ranks: 60
- STR bonus: 25
- DEX bonus: 25
- Weapon enchant bonus: 20
- Neutral Stance Modifier: 0.75
- Neutral Stance bonus: 30
Base Value:
Parry DS:
Polearm Parry DS
For polearm parry DS formula and calculations see the Polearms article.
Two Weapon Combat (TWC) Parry DS
For Two Weapon Combat parry DS formula and calculations see the Two Weapon Combat article.
Ranged Weapons (Bow/Crossbow) Parry DS
For Ranged Weapons parry DS formula and calculations see The Art of the Bow (guide) article.
Runestaff Parry DS
For Runestaff parry DS formula and calculations see the Runestaff article.
Chance to Parry
The odds for an outright parry are determined by comparing the defender's weapon skill to the attacker's level. Against a like-level foe, 2x training in the appropriate weapon skill will yield approximately a 5% chance to parry an incoming attack in stance offensive. Other factors that affect the chance to parry include:
- The passive combat maneuver Parry Mastery will increase the chance to parry by 5% per rank known (15% max).
- certain stats (most likely strength and dexterity)
- stance
- certain spells
- positioning: kneeling reduces the chance to parry by 25%, being prone by 50%
A ranged attack can only be parried by bare-handed brawlers who have girded their arms with Brace (1214).
A bolt attack can only be parried with the proper weapon and knowledge of Spell Parry, with Brace, or if you are using a runestaff.
Parry Formula
Parry Base Value
The first step when calculating a character's Parry Chance is to determine the 'Base Value' portion of the formula.
| Parry Base Value = (SKILL RANKS + (Str Bonus / 4) + (Dex Bonus / 4)) + weapon bonus effect |
Where SKILL RANKS = weapon ranks for right [main] hand weapons, or TWC ranks for left [off] hand weapons.
Weapon bonus:
- One-handed weapons get enchant / 2 as a bonus
- Two handed weapons get enchant as a bonus
- Two handed polearms get a 35% bonus to that (Base Value * 135 / 100)
- THW get a 50% bonus (Base Value * 3 / 2) as long as the left hand is empty, otherwise it's (Base Value / 2)
- 25% reduction if left-hand full and it's a hybrid (katana, bastard sword, etc)
- Reductions based on wounds/perception (applies to all EBP)
- 10% reduction per 25% spirit lost (applies to all EBP)
- 5% reduction per 25% hp lost (applies to all EBP)
Example 1: using a OHE with 202 ranks = 202 + 30 /4 + 25 /4 = 217 base + 4x enchant provides a bonus of 20/2 = 227 total.
Example 2: Using 2 handed polearm with 202 ranks = 202 + 30 /4 + 25 /4 = 217 base. Two handed pole arm, so 217 * 1.35 = 292 base + 4x enchant provides a bonus of 20/2 = 302
Parry Base Chance
Next, you can find the base chance to parry.
| Base Parry Chance = (Parry Base Value * (100 - ((4 * (100 - Stance Modifier)) / 5)) / 100) |
| Stance | Stance Parry Modifier |
|---|---|
| Offensive | 0 |
| Advance | 20 |
| Forward | 40 |
| Neutral | 60 |
| Guarded | 80 |
| Defensive | 100 |
Example 1: continued from above, OHE with 202 ranks, forward stance. Parry % = (Parry Base Value * (100 - ((4 * (100 - Stance Modifier)) / 5)) / 100) = (227 * (100- ((4*(100-40))/5))/100 = 118
Example 2: continued from above, 2hand pole with 202 ranks, offensive stance. Parry % = (302 * (100 - ((4 * (100 - 0)) / 5)) / 100) = 60
Parry Chance Modifier
Next, you take the Parry % and modify it based on the attacking and defending weapon base RTs
| Base Parry Reduction = ((Parry % * (100 - (10 * (Attacker Speeder - Defender Speed))) / 100) |
This results in a 10% modifier per 1 base RT difference between attacking and defending weapons.
- Main Gauche and Sai both get a +3 bonus to their speed (meaning bigger/heavier).
Example 1: continued from above, Attacking maul(7) vs defending handaxe(5). ((Parry % * (100 - (10 * (Attacker Speeder - Defender Speed))) / 100) = ((118 * (100 - (10 * (7 - 5))) / 100) = 94
Example 2: continued from above, attacking maul(7) vs defending lance (9) = ((60 * (100 - (10 * (7 - 9))) / 100) = 72
Parry Level Modification
Finally, there is a level modification using the attacker's level. This modification is (Parry * 20) / Attacker Level)
| Parry Level Modiciation = (Parry * 20) / Attacker Level) |
Example 1: continued from above, OHE vs level 100 = 94 *20 /100 = 18.8 % chance to parry
Example 2: continued from above, 2h pole vs level 90 = 72 *20 /90 = 16 % chance to parry
See Also
- Evade
- Block
- Parry Mastery
- Combat Guide: Factors, on Play.net