no one understands parrying in hollow knight

Summary

In this video, the Unknown Gamer delves into the misunderstood and often overlooked Parry mechanic in *Hollow Knight*. Despite its complexity, few players fully understand its nuances. The video breaks down the three main types of parries—Defensive, Regular, and Perfect Parry—explaining their strategic applications in boss fights. It also explores advanced parrying techniques and how certain charms affect parrying. The video highlights how mastering the Perfect Parry can significantly enhance damage output and survival in challenging encounters, offering a high-reward system for skilled players willing to learn its intricacies.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Parry system in *Hollow Knight* is one of the most misunderstood mechanics in the game, with few players truly grasping its depth.
• 😀 Only a handful of video creators have made comprehensive content about the Parry mechanic, with most videos being short clips rather than detailed analysis.
• 😀 The speaker critiques a specific YouTuber, Soulin, for suggesting that the Parry mechanic is primarily for beginners and serves as a 'get-out-of-jail-free' card.
• 😀 There are three primary types of Parry in *Hollow Knight*: Defensive Parry, Regular Parry, and Perfect Parry, each with unique uses and effects.
• 😀 The Defensive Parry is most effective against bosses like Pure Vessel, stopping lower-tier bosses and slowing higher-tier bosses, but with exceptions.
• 😀 The Regular Parry is a simple mechanic that doesn't offer significant benefits but can provide invincibility frames (i-frames) during certain boss fights.
• 😀 The Perfect Parry is the most complex and rewarding mechanic, with each boss having its own unique Perfect Parry that can result in higher damage or useful effects.
• 😀 Mastering the Perfect Parry against bosses like Nightmare King Grim and Pure Vessel can drastically improve a player's performance in combat.
• 😀 Certain charms, like Sharp Shadow, work well with the Perfect Parry mechanic, providing additional damage or effects, such as hitting multiple times in one parry.
• 😀 The speaker mentions less commonly known variations like pseudo-perfect parries, backwards parries, and light parries, though these don’t offer practical advantages in most cases.
• 😀 The speaker plans to release a comprehensive guide on Parrying, which will include in-depth tutorials for each boss and how to maximize the effectiveness of Parrying in *Hollow Knight*.

Q & A

What is the primary focus of this video regarding *Hollow Knight*?

The primary focus of the video is to explain the parry mechanic in *Hollow Knight*, specifically its complexity and the different types of parries, such as the defensive, regular, and perfect parries, and how they interact with bosses.

Why is the parry mechanic in *Hollow Knight* so poorly understood by players?

The parry mechanic is poorly understood because it is a complex system, with no comprehensive guide or in-depth video analysis available. Many players struggle to grasp its purpose, particularly in higher-level gameplay, despite its potential to significantly impact boss fights.

What are the three primary types of parries in *Hollow Knight*?

The three primary types of parries are the defensive parry, the regular parry, and the perfect parry. Each has its own distinct use and benefits in combat.

How does the defensive parry function in *Hollow Knight*?

The defensive parry is used to stop or slow down enemy attacks, particularly in battles against bosses like Pure Vessel. It can be a recovery tool, allowing the player to quickly reorient themselves and save resources.

What distinguishes a perfect parry from a regular parry?

A perfect parry is a precise timing mechanic where the player deflects an attack at the exact right moment. It often results in additional benefits, like maximizing damage or gaining invincibility frames, unlike a regular parry, which offers no significant advantages.

What is the 'pseudo perfect parry' mentioned in the video?

The 'pseudo perfect parry' is a term used for a parry that sounds different but behaves almost identically to a regular parry. It has no discernible impact on gameplay, and its only difference seems to be a slightly higher-pitched sound when executed.

Can you describe the 'backwards parry' and its use in *Hollow Knight*?

The 'backwards parry' is a glitch-based mechanic where the player moves in one direction and swings their nail while flicking the controller in the opposite direction, causing the character to swing while moving in the opposite direction. It has no strategic benefit but is used mostly for style.

How do charms like 'Sharp Shadow' interact with the perfect parry?

'Sharp Shadow' interacts well with the perfect parry, as it effectively boosts the damage output of the parry. When performing a perfect parry, it allows the player to deal more damage, similar to getting multiple nail swings for the cost of one, enhancing the effectiveness of the parry.

Why does the video suggest using the perfect parry against certain bosses like Nightmare King Grim and Pure Vessel?

The perfect parry is recommended for bosses like Nightmare King Grim and Pure Vessel because it offers substantial rewards. By mastering these parries, players can minimize damage taken and maximize damage output, particularly against these tough, high-tier bosses.

What is the significance of parrying in high-level *Hollow Knight* gameplay?

Parrying plays a crucial role in high-level gameplay because it allows players to nullify attacks, gain invincibility frames, and even increase their damage output. Mastering parrying, especially with the perfect parry, can be a game-changing strategy against difficult bosses.