Parry times Guard as an attack arrives. Deflect uses held Guard plus a timed additional command in the method covered here. Deflect requires its own skill unlock and focuses on enemy stamina; Parry usually creates an opening. Parries also help charge Blaze once Blazing State is unlocked.
Compare inputs and outcomes
Swipe horizontally to view all columns.
| What changes | Parry | Deflect |
|---|---|---|
Action to time | Press Guard near contact | Keep Guard held; time the additional command near impact |
Prerequisite | Available before Deflect; Blaze gain needs Blazing State | Unlock the Deflect Basic Skill |
Main result | Repels an eligible blow and usually creates an opening | Pressures enemy stamina and can return eligible projectiles |
Limit | Cannot answer every attack | Does not guarantee an immediate opening on every use |
Holding Guard without timing its onset is ordinary blocking. Absorbing eligible hits this way consumes your stamina.
Check your control layout. For the held-Guard method, keep Guard held and time the additional command just before impact. Use the command shown in your current skill description; button labels vary by platform and control layout.
Unlock Deflect at a Spirit Mirror
During The Oni's Apprentice, use a Spirit Mirror and open Enhance Equipment / Abilities → Basic Skills → Deflect. Purchase the skill there. Reaching the mission alone does not mean the skill is already unlocked.
If Deflect will not trigger, check that you purchased it and that your inputs match the current skill description.
Choose by the result you need
For an immediate chance to attack, Parry is worth considering: success usually repels the blow and creates an opening. Its Blaze benefit applies after the Blazing State unlock.
For enemy stamina pressure, consider Deflect. It can help exhaust stamina and create a Break Issen opportunity. That later exhaustion is different from an opening immediately after contact, so do not expect every Deflect to interrupt the enemy in the same way.
Deflect can also send eligible ranged attacks, such as arrows, back to their source. Not every projectile can be returned. Some attacks require dodging instead of either defense; do not assume that every unarmed attack or every red attack follows the same rule.
Issen times Attack
Issen uses Attack just before an incoming hit, rather than either defensive input above. Keep that timed counter separate from Break Issen after enemy stamina exhaustion.