Legend of Zelda Skyward Sword HD: How to Block & Parry Attacks

In Skyward Sword HD, combat is tied to the motion of Link’s sword, and certain enemies can only be slashed when their weak point is exposed. For some enemies, it’s much harder to find that weak point than it is for others. One way to make combat much easier is to learn how to use your shield effectively. Here’s everything you need to know about how to block and parry attacks in the Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD.

How to Block & Parry Attacks in Legend of Zelda Skyward Sword HD

After you’ve bought a shield from the Bazaar in Skyloft, you need to equip it. Press and hold R to pull up your adventure pouch, then select your shield. If it is on Link’s back, that means it is properly equipped.

To use your shield to block, the method is different depending on which control scheme you’re using. In handheld mode, Pro Controller, or Joy-Con button controls, press L and L3 simultaneously to bring out your shield in front of you. With Joy-Con motion controls, gently shake the left Joy-Con to bring out your shield.

Having the shield in front of you to block will simply protect you from an enemy attack. If you want to counter an attack, you’ll need to do a parry.

To do a parry, which is also known as shield bash, you need to time it so that you are pulling out your shield immediately against an enemy attack. The timing is absolutely crucial here because if you are too fast or too slow, it won’t work.

A successful parry will either deflect that attack back at the enemy or the enemy will be knocked backward and stunned, leaving it open to be attacked.

Parrying attacks with your shield is required to defeat certain enemies, such as the Sentrobes in the Lanayru Mining Facility that shoot missiles at you. It also makes combat a lot easier for enemies like Lizalfos who try to defend themselves from your sword attacks.

Keep in mind that using your shield to block and parry will damage it. You can see a meter showing the shield’s durability on the top left part of the screen right under your heart meter. If your shield becomes too damaged, you’ll need to take it to the repair shop in the Bazaar in Skyloft before it breaks to avoid buying a new one.

That’s everything you need to know about how to block and parry attacks in the Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD. For more tips and tricks, be sure to check out our Skyward Sword HD guide wiki.