Deflection
Disclaimer: The information in this article is currently heavily outdated and should not be thought of as verifiably correct.
Description
Deflection is a hidden value for weapons that have blocking ability, but primarily only concerns shields. This value is not listed in game. It is not the same as the stability value of the shield. Upgrading shields does not affect its deflection value.
If an attack connects with your shield, and your shield's Deflection rate is high enough to overpower it and that attack doesn't break your guard by draining the rest of your stamina, then the attack will be deflected. Your opponent will be in staggered state, allowing for extra damage.
Even though you can block with almost all weapons (by equipping it in left hand or two-handing it), all non-shield weapons (including Dark Hand) have no deflection rate. That means, the enemy won't be staggered and can finish their attack animation if you block with those weapons. Shields that you don't have enough stats to wield in one hand also have no deflection, even if you wield greatshields like Havel's Greatshield.
As a general rule:
- Small shields have light deflection.
- Normal shields have medium deflection.
- Greatshields have heavy deflection.
- Unique shields have light deflection.
Though there are exceptions:
- Cracked Round Shield, a small shield, has no deflection.
- Iron Round Shield, a normal shield, has heavy deflection.
Iron Flesh provides the Deflection of a Greatshield, but only to unblocked attacks.
List of Deflectable Enemy Attacks
Ordered by normal playthrough without the Master Key. Each enemy has different attack which need different level of deflection rating to successfully deflect, some of which can't be deflected at all. The undeflectable attacks, and enemies whose attacks are undeflectable, are not listed here.
| Enemy | Location | Attack Pattern | Needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hollow (sword) | Undead Asylum Undead Burg Undead Parish Painted World of Ariamis |
1-H swing 2-H overhead swing Jump attack |
Light Medium Medium |
| Hollow (torch) | Undead Asylum Lower Undead Burg Undead Parish Depths Painted World of Ariamis |
All except jump attack Jump attack |
Light Medium |
| Armored Hollow (sword) | Undead Burg | 1-H swing 2-H overhead swing Jump attack |
Light Medium Medium |
| Armored Hollow (axe) | Undead Burg | 1-H swing 2-H overhead swing Jump attack |
Medium Heavy Heavy |
| Undead Soldier (sword) | Undead Burg Undead Parish |
1-H swing 2-H overhead swing Jump attack |
Light Medium Medium |
| Undead Soldier (spear) | Undead Burg Undead Parish |
1-H thrust 2-H thrust |
Light Medium |
| Small Undead Rat | Undead Burg Depths |
All attacks | Light |
| Balder Knight (side sword) | Undead Parish Sen's Fortress |
Quick slash Sword & shield bash Running stab |
Medium Heavy Heavy |
| Balder Knight (rapier) | Undead Parish Sen's Fortress |
Stab | Medium |
| Undead Attack Dog | Lower Undead Burg Royal Wood |
Bite Jump attack |
Light Heavy |
| Undead Assassin | Lower Undead Burg | Quick 1-H slash Charged 1-H slash |
Light Medium |
| Large Undead Rat | Depths | All attacks | Light |
| Infested Barbarian (club) | Blighttown | 1-H diagonal swing | Heavy |
| Infested Ghoul (sword) | Blighttown | 1-H horizontal swipe 1-H overhead smash Shoving attack |
Light Light Heavy |
| Infested Ghoul (spear) | Blighttown | 1-H horizontal swipe 1-H overhead smash Shoving attack |
Light Medium Heavy |
| Infested Ghoul (corpse) | Blighttown | 1-H horizontal swipe 1-H overhead smash Shoving attack |
Medium Heavy Heavy |
| Flaming Attack Dog | Blighttown | Bite Jump attack |
Light Heavy |
| Cragspider | Blighttown | Claw swipe | Light |
| Giant Leech | Blighttown | Bite | Medium |
| Egg Carrier | Quelaag's Domain | Larva bite | Light |
| Egg Carrier's larva | Quelaag's Domain | Lunging bite | Light |
| Serpent Soldier | Sen's Fortress The Duke's Archives |
All attack except bite | Medium |
| Serpent Mage | Sen's Fortress The Duke's Archives |
Quick slash Charged slash |
Light Light |
| Painting Guardian | Anor Londo | Right/left 1-H slash Cartwheel slash "1-H strong attack" slash |
Light Light Heavy |
| Silver Knight (sword) | Anor Londo | Quick slash Thrust |
Heavy Heavy |
| Silver Knight (spear) | Anor Londo | Quick stab Horizontal slash |
Heavy Heavy |
| Bat Wing Demon | Anor Londo | Stab Charged stab Horizontal swipe |
Medium Heavy Medium |
| Demonic Foliage | Darkroot Garden | Horizontal swipe Overhead smash Double overhead smash |
Light Medium Heavy |
| Ghost (daggers) | New Londo Ruins | All attacks except grab | Light |
| Darkwraith enemy | New Londo Ruins | 1-H Slash Running thrust |
Heavy Heavy |
| Skeleton (scimitar) | The Catacombs | Quick slash Charged slash Charged spinning slash |
Light Medium Medium |
| Skeleton (falchion) | The Catacombs | 1-H slash 2-H slash |
Light Medium |
| Giant Skeleton (sword) | The Catacombs Tomb of the Giants |
1-H slash | Medium |
| Skeleton Beast | Tomb of the Giants | Quick (non-combo) bite | Heavy |
| Undead Crystal Soldier (sword) | The Duke's Archives | 1-H slash Overhead slash Shoulder bash |
Light Heavy Heavy |
| Man-eater Shell | The Duke's Archives Ash Lake |
Kick | Heavy |
| Minor Capra Demon | Demon Ruins | 1-H slash | Heavy |
| Chaos Eater | Lost Izalith | Tentacle swipe | Heavy |
| Black Knight (sword) | Undead Burg Undead Asylum Kiln of the First Flame |
Quick slash Thrust after shield bash |
Heavy Heavy |
| Black Knight (halberd) | Darkroot Basin Tomb of the Giants Kiln of the First Flame |
Quick stab | Heavy |
| Snow Rat | Painted World of Ariamis | All attacks | Light |
| Crow Demon | Painted World of Ariamis | Wing swipe | Medium |
| Phalanx | Painted World of Ariamis | Stab Swipe |
Light Medium |
| Heavy Knight (sword) | Painted World of Ariamis | 1-H slash | Heavy |
| Scarecrow (pitchfork) | Royal Wood | Swipe Single shove Overhead smash |
Medium Medium Medium |
| Bloathead | Oolacile Township Chasm of the Abyss |
Left/right hand swipe Flail around |
Medium Heavy |
| Bloathead Sorcerer | Oolacile Township Chasm of the Abyss |
Hand swipe | Medium |