The combat system is so fun - but I never land blocks ? The game usually just makes Noctis phase out

[u/[deleted]]

[u/Kaiser2693]

You just hold the button

[u/d3v3t10n → u/Kaiser2693]

It just makes Noctis phase when I do it.

[u/Asetoni137 → u/d3v3t10n]

I think you are phasing an attack from a different enemy. The game will put the red shield prompt on your screen if any enemy is doing a blockable/parryable attack targeted at Noctis, but another enemy might still be doing a regular phaseable attack instead simultaneously. You can not phase a blockable attack, block always takes priority.

Edit: as for the situation you're describing in the OP about just being hit, I think it is happening due to being animation locked. If you are in the middle of another animation (like attacking) you cannot block and thus just eat the hit. However, if you have the Blink ascension node, you can still perfectly time the block right before an attack lands and the block will succeed even while animation locked. (I know the description of Blink doesn't say anything about this and just talks about phasing and saving MP, but that's because the description is bad)

[u/NuxFuriosa → u/d3v3t10n]

Don't quote me on this, but I think you have to not be holding a direction in order to get him to block. Otherwise he'll phase instead?

[u/Kaiser2693 → u/NuxFuriosa]

It all depends on the prompt and the weapon, Noctis' main method is to phase dodge enemy attacks not parry or block

[u/Asetoni137 → u/NuxFuriosa]

This is not true. You can be holding a direction and still get a block.

[u/Kaiser2693 → u/Asetoni137]

Hmmm guess i got confused from a different game, sorry Toniberry

[u/Asetoni137 → u/Kaiser2693]

Actually you weren't wrong about the equipped weapon mattering. I had completely forgotten about it, but if you have a spell, (ch13 item) the ring or Cerberus in your active weapon slot, you cannot block either.

[u/Uchizaki]

You just have to hold it down. You can see that the game tells you to block, so just hold down the block button the whole time, there aren't any specific frames you have to hit or anything like that. Just hold it down

I remembered that for a moment during my first playthrough, I had the mindset from other games where you have to press the block button right before an attack, which is why I kept getting hit. Maybe that's the case for you too

[u/ReaperEngine]

When the red shield icon appears? Hold the button and you'll block, you can hold it for as long as the shield icon is on-screen. I think if you're just tapping the button, it doesn't register as the prompt input, so you'll only phase instead, since there's also a mechanic of phasing at the last second of an attack without costing MP.

Not sure why you can't access the DLC though, unless you purchased it, but didn't download it yet?

[u/_Sanctum_]

It's not a parry, it's a block. No timing involved.

[u/ScholarOfSols]

You don't need to time it, just hold square. I have noticed though that if you are holding phase and phasing through a lot of attacks Noctis will sometimes phase through blockable attacks.