Hi,

So I was wondering how you are supposed to block in skyrim. I hope you can block/parry when you are not holding a shield!

So far I have not seen the player character block when NOT holding a shield in the game.

How does combat remain interesting or immersive if you cannot block/parry while dual wielding or using two handed weapons?

If someone could clear this up I will be happy. Otherwise the videos look great.

Cheers.

There is no blocking/parrying with dual wield, I thought I saw something that said you cannot block with a one handed weapon (but that could be wrong), and I have no idea about blocking with a two handed weapon.

You can't block when dual wielding or when wielding a weapon + spell.
You can block when wielding just one weapon and have the other hand free.

Can't.

WHAT?! Why would they remove a feature that worked fine in oblivion. Claymores and single handed weapons with no sheild should still be able to parry. THAT IS HALF THE PURPOSE OF A SWORD!

Letalone two handed weapons, I mean, block with one, attack with the other. Makes complete sense.

I don't want to rely on armour or kyting to win battles. That's stupid.

I believe the confirmed info is that you can block with:

Shield + 1H weapon
2H weapon
1H weapon and empty off-hand

Other than that you can't block.

you can block while using 2 handed and one handed but not one handed + spell or dual wield :mohawk:

See, I knew someone who has been paying more attention would come along.

Conditions of blocking with a 1-handed weapon and 1 hand free are still unknown.

It's confirmed that you can't block if the one weapon is a dagger, but speculated that you can if it's a sword or axe, etc.

I believe it's because of two reasons:

1. To make different combat styles more tactical.

2. Because RT controls the right hand and LT controls the left hand. Your hands are already occupied when having dual weapons or a spell + weapon. If there would be blocking with those, Bethesda would have to add a new blocking button for two combat styles, while the rest of the combat styles didn't use that blocking button. It would become messy and confusing.

I'm still confused, how the hell should a spell effect your ability to block?

Lame.

Also, dual wield kinda is the point for blocking goodness. I mean, sure its extra attack, but it is also extra defense.

...And to balance out the increased damage output for dual-wielders, sword+spellcasters, and the fact that torches can now be used offensively.

SO for people with those weapon setups, combat will become a spam and kyte fest.

That svcks. majorly.

Seriously guys, if I want to staff and sword the game, I want to be able to block, how stupid you can't bloody block. How unrealistic is that.

this is another example of game design pretense getting in the way of logic.

you can always DODGE

And if it is about "logic and realism", why can't we kick, why can't we throw our weapon...

It breaks my immershun!

Can someone tweet somebody to confirm once and for all whether blocking with one hand is possible?

Look at Bukee's avatar.

You can't block with magic but there is a block spell I believe that you can use or at least I heard that somewhere.

It has been confirmed 100% sure before. It's also even shown on a screenshot.
:facepalm:

Blocking is for chumps.

I think it's mainly to move away from Oblivions combat method. Oblivion relied heavily on blocking which made most melee characters use the block skill whether they wanted to or not.

In Skyrim there is much greater emphasis on staggering and catching open enemies with blows is much more likely to knock them back, leaving them open for a power attack/attack spam follow up.

Then there's also the fact you can quickly switch between weapon styles with favourites. One style Pete confirmed was using a one-hander to attack/block but keep a dual style favourited right next to it. When the enemy gets staggered or you have an opening pull out your other weapon to go full offense then switch back to a single one-hander to go back to defense. If they are favourited next to each other it's just a case of press up/down once and press 'A' (or whatever system equivalent you are using) which will become very quick and natural after a bit of playing.

I personally quite like the changes as it makes each style feel unique. Daggers for example cannot block even with only one equipped, which fits Skyrim as they are now considered assassin/back-up weapons, more tailored for stealth kills (with dagger perks) than actual combat. If they kept it like Oblivion, then every melee style would break down into: block, reflect, attack back, repeat.

That's the way it is and complaining won't change it...I suggest you think of ways you can defeat your opponent without spamming the block skill. Think about it, dual-wielding and block at the same time, that would be a little OP don't you think. Don't feed me with that immersion crap because that' a load of bull and you know it!

I am hoping this will be modded in. Thus far meele combat looks like taking turns slapping each other with a sword till the one with less health falls dead.


Dodge? I havent seen any dodging in the videos.


Thankfully we have a great modding team who will undoubtedly add blocking with dual wield, 1 handed with other hand occupied, and a dodge animation as well.

If you could block while dual wielding, although logically and practically feasible, it would pretty much negate any other combination. Why would anyone ever have a shield if you could block AND attack with a sword instead? And why would you use a 2 handed weapon when the damage output per second is higher for dual wielding and you still have the option to block.

So while it doesn't make sense logically, I'm glad they did it like this so all combat styles are a viable option.

How should they mod 2 handed weapons then to make up for all the added benefits of dual wielding?