Parrying is a fundamental combat mechanic in Mortal Shell 2, offering a high-risk, high-reward alternative to guarding. While similar to the parry systems found in other Soulslike titles, its integration with the game's Seal system presents a unique approach.
To unlock the parry ability, players must first acquire the Infinite Seal. This is achieved by progressing past the Prologue and reaching the Marrow Keep. From the Marrow Keep Beacon, navigate to a cavern containing an arena with stone coffins. Within this arena, players will find Sester Genessa, a character who serves as a combat trainer. Speaking with her will initiate a tutorial covering both guarding and the Perfect Guard. By successfully guarding three of Sester Genessa's attacks, players will be rewarded with the Infinite Seal.
Once the Infinite Seal is obtained, players can equip it to enable parrying. Practicing this new skill can be done by speaking with Sester Genessa again and selecting the parry option from her menu. She will resume her attacks, allowing players to practice the parry input by pressing LB at the correct moment.
It is important to note that the parry window is considerably tighter than that for a standard guard, demanding greater precision. However, a successful parry inflicts more Break damage on enemies than a Perfect Guard. This increased Break damage is the primary advantage of the Infinite Seal's parry over other Seals, such as the Untarnished Seal or Vatra's Seal. Crucially, equipping the Infinite Seal means players cannot perform a standard guard or use the Harden ability, which is tied to Vatra's Seal.
Understanding the distinction between parrying and guarding is essential. A guard simply blocks an incoming attack, preventing damage but potentially causing the player to incur Break damage if mistimed. A Perfect Guard, achieved with precise timing, can also block attacks and deals some Break damage. A parry, however, involves using the weapon with exact timing to deflect an enemy's strike, dealing significant Break damage.
Break damage affects an opponent's poise, indicated by a yellow bar beneath their health meter. Filling this bar, or bringing it close to full, will cause the enemy to glow with a red dot, signifying an opening for a Riposte. A general rule of thumb is that an enemy requiring two Perfect Guards to break may only need a single parry to create a Riposte opportunity. This makes parrying a high-risk, high-reward maneuver.
The Seal system in Mortal Shell 2 allows for dynamic shifts in playstyle. By equipping different Seals, players can adapt their combat approach, choosing between parrying, guarding, and hardening to suit different enemy encounters and personal preferences.