Mastering Saros: Techniques to Parry Enemy Attacks and Deflect Projectiles

The gameplay mechanics of Saros build upon the foundational elements established in Returnal, introducing a more intricate defensive system. Players are encouraged to develop a deep understanding of the defensive mechanics, which revolve around a dynamic interplay of Dash, Shield, and Parry, akin to the strategic decision-making found in rock-paper-scissors.

Unlocking the Parry Mechanic

A character in the game Saros is aiming at a glowing orb in a barren, desolate landscape. — To unlock the Parry feature, venture into the Blighted Marsh biome.

Parry represents the sole defensive capability that must be unlocked prior to usage. To achieve this, players need to navigate to the Blighted Marsh biome and proceed until encountering a member of a former Echelon expedition. Interacting with the nearby terminal will grant Parry as a permanent upgrade.

Mastering Projectile Parrying

A character in an action scene from the game Saros is targeted by a crosshair with a bright explosion and HUD elements visible. — Perfect timing is crucial for successful projectile parrying, but the rewards are significant.

Once the Parry enhancement is unlocked in the Blighted Marsh biome, players can counter both projectiles and melee strikes. It is a common misunderstanding that all projectiles can be reflected in Saros, which is inaccurate:

Nova Projectiles (Red): These projectiles can be effectively parried and reflected back at enemies.
Standard Projectiles (Blue): It is advisable to absorb these with your Shield to accumulate Power.
Corrupted Projectiles (Yellow): These can also be absorbed via Shield, contingent upon a specific upgrade in the Armor Matrix, although they inflict Corruption, negatively impacting total health even upon success.

Moreover, although the method differs slightly, it is feasible to parry blue projectiles. By perfectly timing a melee strike against them, players can absorb these projectiles directly without utilizing the Shield, allowing for the preservation of combat flow.

This technique creates an optimal opportunity for players to parry and absorb blue projectiles seamlessly.

Executing Melee Attack Parries

While most parry functions pertain to projectiles, select melee attacks can also be countered by timing Arjun’s melee strike just before the enemy’s hit lands.

Look for a Red Glint to signal that a melee strike is parryable. These attacks often accompany Nova Projectiles, suggesting that players are effectively parrying the projectiles rather than the melee attack itself.
Given that few organic enemies deliver parryable melee attacks, it’s advisable to refrain from attempting parries until players have a solid understanding of enemy attack patterns. An unsuccessful parry in this context can result in substantial damage.

This guide concludes with an emphasis on mastering these mechanics for a more robust gameplay experience.

This guide is based on a completed playthrough on the standard PlayStation 5, and all screenshots were captured from the same version.

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