In Dark Souls 2, mastering defensive techniques is crucial for survival and success against the game’s relentless enemies. Each defensive maneuver—blocking, parrying, and dodging—offers unique advantages and requires distinct skills and strategies. Here’s a detailed breakdown of effective techniques for each:

Blocking
1. Choose the Right Equipment:
– Opt for a shield with high stability and excellent damage reduction tailored to the type of damage you expect to encounter (physical, magical, elemental).
– Shields like the Heater Shield or Tower Shield provide good coverage and stability.

2. Timing and Positioning:
– Raise your shield before an attack lands to minimize damage. Shield up should be a reflex during combat.
– Maintain lock-on targeting to keep your shield aligned with the enemy’s strike direction.
– Be cautious of your stamina; blocking consumes stamina, and depleting it can result in a guard break. Always keep an eye on your stamina bar to remain active in defense.

3. Use of Environment:
– Utilize environmental structures, doorways, and walls to provide additional cover, reducing the need to block.

Parrying
1. Know Your Target:
– Parrying is primarily effective against humanoid enemies that wield weapons. Identifying these foes is crucial for successful counters.

2. Proximity and Timing:
– Position yourself very close to the enemy; this distance allows you to parry melee attacks effectively.
– The timing of your parry is critical—execute it just as the enemy’s attack animation reaches its peak. Practicing with different enemies may help refine your timing.

3. Understanding Parry Mechanics:
– Be aware of the risk involved in parrying; failing to successfully parry exposes you to enemy attacks.
– On PC, parrying can often be executed by double-clicking and holding the left mouse button, a technique needing precision.

4. Utilize Parrying Shields:
– Shields like the Target Shield, Buckler, and Mannequin Shield have unique animations or faster response times that facilitate successful parries.

Dodging
1. Learn Attack Patterns:
– Familiarize yourself with the attack patterns of different enemies to anticipate movements and find the right moments to dodge.

2. Effective Use of Invincibility Frames:
– Take advantage of the invincibility frames (i-frames) during your rolls. Timing your rolls so that you roll directly into or through attacks will allow you to avoid damage while maintaining pressure.

3. Engage in Tactical Movement:
– Use lock-on targeting to effectively dodge side-to-side, which can help avoid linear attack paths and also keep you in a favorable position relative to your enemy.

4. Low Stamina Situations:
– Prioritize dodging over blocking when your stamina is low or you face enemies whose attacks cannot be effectively blocked or parried.

Additional Tips
– Mix Defensive Moves: Rotate between blocking, dodging, and parrying to remain unpredictable and protect against various attack types.
– Use Your Environment: Positioning yourself behind environmental objects can provide strategic advantages, allowing you to reposition or heal without exposure.
– Have a Backup Plan: Always keep a melee attack option available as ranged attacks might falter in tight spaces or against agile enemies.

Conclusion
To excel in combat within Dark Souls 2, the effective use of blocking, parrying, and dodging is essential. Each technique must be employed according to the specific enemy type and situation. With practice and careful attention to timing and positioning, players can enhance their defensive capabilities, leading to greater survivability and success in the treacherous world of Dark Souls 2.