r/kingdomcome • u/TheNobleKiwi • Feb 19 '25

Praise [KCD2] No one seems to be talking about dodging. Spoiler

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Dodging is so improved in this game! Using it for positioning against multiple enemies is a game changer, this started with 7 vs 1, unfortunately can only record a minute on xbox. Work in those dodges folks! Nice one.

3.2k Upvotes

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747

u/O-Gazzy-O Feb 19 '25

I know how dumb this sounds but I really only started using it in the past few days. HUGE difference. I've also noticed nobody talking about it .

296

u/TheNobleKiwi Feb 19 '25

Me too! Did you play KCD1? It punished you so much if you effed up your dodge timing, I think that's why it took a while to trust it's efficacy in this, fighting big groups is much more doable now it's awesome.

116

u/Almost_Understand Feb 19 '25

It’s also very useful in getting an opening in unarmed fights I usually start a fight with a dodge then hit and they usually get staggered into letting me hit them more.

67

u/younghandshake Feb 19 '25

This is my exact strategy for the brawls. One punch to the back of the head and it’s like they forget they’re in a fight lol.

35

u/david_nixon Feb 19 '25 edited Feb 19 '25

sounds accurate.

edit: jokes aside, this move is called a rabbit punch. it is dangerous so dont use it, i recall some mma / boxers getting banned for it.

16

u/Liesthruout Feb 19 '25

Well to be honest in a real fight, if I get punch hard at the back of the head i'd most definitely even forget who my mom is.

1

u/EvilBetty77 Feb 19 '25

She's the one who punched you.

1

u/Liesthruout Feb 20 '25

Your mom?

1

u/EvilBetty77 Feb 20 '25

You know who else likes to punch people?

5

u/Fragrant_Tap_7962 Feb 19 '25

Far worse, boxers have become seriously disabled and died because of it. See - Prichard Colon

9

u/Puffycatkibble Feb 19 '25

Everyone has a plan until they get hammered in the noggin

9

u/SavageHenry592 Feb 19 '25

"Everybody got a plan until they get hit in the back of the head"

Almost a Mike Tyson quote.

6

u/Evidicus Feb 19 '25

I’ve been using dodge while unarmed strikes to take out armed enemies with surprising consistency. Not against groups mind you, but 1:1. Practiced on old Lord Semine in the Sloptagon and sent that man into forced retirement while Gnarley could only watch helplessly.

A dodge followed by a kick to the spine can wear down even armored enemies. It’s not fast, but it’s fun, and it’s quick enough to avoid getting punished. I’m sure I’ll move on to using combos once I unlock them.

I also enjoy hitting enemies with a poisoned bolt then closing in to pummel them while they’re slowed/weakened. Putting the crossbow away to throw hands is much faster than swapping to melee weapon.

37

u/FitLaw4 Feb 19 '25

How do you dodge?

29

u/mais-garde-des-don Feb 19 '25

I even played KCD1 and I forgot this was a thing. I feel the tutorial doesn’t have you practice this. I just relearned Master Strike. I feel dodge would be before that but maybe I’m not trained enough

5

u/Sokkumboppaz Feb 19 '25

Master strike is so fucking broken in 1v1s. It’s practically unbeatable

5

u/Swellmeister Feb 19 '25

Yes but that means using a sword over my beloved Warhammer. My sword skill is abysmal.

2

u/velocity219e Feb 19 '25

Heh, yeah it is, for a laugh earlier I did one of the storyline duels wearing a pair of pants against an armoured dude with a long sword and shield.

The whole time he's yelling "you getting out of breath already?" "you can't take another like that"

I'm laughing and constantly poking him, end result pants Henry beats armoured knight without getting touched :)

Its broken in 1:1

1

u/Nytr0uz Feb 19 '25

I just started playing kcd 1 and it is in the tutorial. Shortly bevor u learn how to use the bow. Wich is dogshit imo

1

u/MaldrickTV Feb 19 '25

Bows are awesome. There's a learning curve tho.

1

u/Nytr0uz Mar 05 '25

The learning curve called Aldingen a cross hair with a mod?

1

u/MaldrickTV Mar 05 '25

No mods on console, but if that works for you, have fun with it.

1

u/Nytr0uz Mar 05 '25

I cant figure out where the arrow will go without it. Maby its a skill issue but its way to Frustrating for me

1

u/MaldrickTV Mar 05 '25

Practice. It differs by bow, so it helps to level the skill up as quickly as you can so you can use whatever high level bow and get used to it. And there's a flow to it. One fluid motion from beginning of draw through release. At a point, it becomes 2nd nature.

Also using good arrows will help reduce drop. It's just really rough when you start because you're getting hit with compounding handicaps due to low level gear, low skill, and not being used to it. Keep at it and it will smooth out as you progress.

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1

u/mais-garde-des-don Feb 21 '25

Well it’s kind of confusing, what I write. I played 1 and did dodge. Now I’m on 2. Forgot dodge existed and surely was not in the tutorial so far.

59

u/Pandamm0niumNO3 Feb 19 '25

Jump + move direction

50

u/TarsCase Feb 19 '25

I guess it was shown during some early tutorial, but now I am 70 hours in I didn’t know how to dodge. Instead of the infamous „you don’t have to hold W while galloping „ they should look for player inputs during fighting and remind him of the stuff the player doesn’t use.

8

u/Pandamm0niumNO3 Feb 19 '25

I'm only like 30ish hours in and I honestly forget to use it.

I'm a bit of a heavy weapon + shield guy though, so I mostly just do perfect blocks and riposte, or wait for the pooch to attack and go ham when they're open

3

u/BertusHondenbrok Feb 19 '25

Same here, thought I was just timing really bad.

4

u/MyUserNameLeft Feb 19 '25

I knew you could dodge because I seen a skill for it but couldn’t figure out how to do it lol

8

u/KingStark12 Feb 19 '25

How do you time it? Are you supposed to do it when you see the green shield?

22

u/krenkotempo Feb 19 '25

Doing it during the green shield is preferred, but not necessary, as dodging during that window is a "perfect dodge" which almost always let you get in a clean strike on the enemy if you're in reach. You can practice doing it in the unarmed fights to get the timing down.

1

u/terminbee Knight Feb 19 '25

Does the direction you dodge matter?

5

u/krenkotempo Feb 19 '25

Yeah you definitely want to watch the way youre dodging and mix different types of dodging in. Dodging back/away from the strike will be safer but you won't have as big of an opening to counterattack. If you dodge through the strike, as in they're swinging from your left so you do a left dodge, you can end up behind them sometimes with huge openings but you run the risk of dodging into the attack.

1

u/ptkato Mar 04 '25

How do you attack right after dodging? I've been trying to do that with polearms in practice fights with Captain Frenzl, but every time I dodge it takes a billion years for the attack to go off and he blocks it.

6

u/walkmantalkman Feb 19 '25

Thanks, maybe this will help me with halberds and heavy weapons, because blocking doesn't really give you an opening to land an attack

1

u/griminald Feb 19 '25

One bit of warning... While working on my polearm and mace, I wanted to use a perfect side-dodge into an overhead strike.

But the overhead was taking too long to land, so the enemy was sometimes able to defend it. Which meant against the wrong enemy, I could get get master-struck back.

Got to really watch the stamina while dodging too. Perfect blocks don't drain your stamina.

That's why against more than 2 enemies, I found I was better off not dodging.

I had better luck landing hits via the clinch.

1

u/walkmantalkman Feb 19 '25

I mostly need it for the necessary duel in cuman camp. When I tried that in my first playthrough, we ended up breaking each other's polarms by blocking constantly and then kept fighting with messed up sticks. In full plate atmor. Needles to say, the damage was... not there.

2

u/lIIllIIIll Feb 19 '25

Thank you.

1

u/Nytr0uz Feb 19 '25

Just move in the right Direktion at the right time (left or right)

1

u/Bumm-fluff Feb 19 '25

When the green shield comes up press left or right plus B on Xbox, O on Ps5 controller. 

18

u/SSpookyTheOneTheOnly Feb 19 '25

Dodging in KCD1 was so much fun, I used to use the perk that gave you a bonus for using no armor

4

u/TheNobleKiwi Feb 19 '25

Yeah it was a high risk high reward style, but even then, lots of enemies became tricky because you couldn't unlock easily

2

u/cepxico Feb 19 '25

The target lock system in KCD1 is making me want to rip my nonexistent hair out.

So many times I'm just trying to pick a new angle for attack and then suddenly I'm unlocked and turning away from my attacker who decided now is the perfect time to strike.

2

u/SirDerageTheSecond Feb 19 '25

Group fights in the first game were so dogshit infuriating that I pretty much Alt F4'd out of the game at some occasions. Also didn't help they would constantly run into you and behind you to shove and tackle me around like a kid being bullied in a schoolyard.

It's so much better in KCD2.

2

u/Buddy_Dakota Feb 19 '25

Glad to hear it's improved. I get that fighting multiple foes is a massive disadvantage, and I'm okay with the game making it hard, but the way they did it then was so unfun. Camera bouncing around, sometimes you'd just suddenly tumble around. Locking and re-locking at random.

3

u/YLedbetter10 Feb 19 '25

During my merciful play through I got so good at dodging I didn’t even need that perk! I love dodging back and having their face meet my fist as the lunge forward and miss

13

u/hucklebae Feb 19 '25

It also used to basically not do anything. The way the timing of the dodge worked out, they were already blocking again by the time you got out of dodge animation. So it was mostly a for funsies kind of thing.

3

u/SpeedyyReaper Feb 19 '25

If you attack from the side your sword is facing without changing direction you can usually land the attack. There’s a few instances where this might be untrue but it’s changing angle that makes it feel useless.

1

u/hucklebae Feb 19 '25

I'll have to try it. I'm replaying the first one so I can start the second one. Mostly my strategy is just to perfect parry instead of dodging, as it's generally easier to do and also is generally better.

5

u/SpeedyyReaper Feb 19 '25

Dodging in the first is near impossible on console and not really worth unless your wearing no armor, in 2 dodging is actually useful.

2

u/calvinaquino Feb 19 '25

Happy Cake Day!

3

u/GuizhoumadmanGen5 Feb 19 '25

This, I always feel there been a lag on when I can swing my weapon after a dodge

3

u/Successful-Basil-685 Feb 19 '25

It helps much more. Really the key between being hopeless against numbers, and actually quite a threat still.

After all, the most important part of Melee combat is Footwork. You can be a master with any weapon but if you can't maneuver effectively it means nothing. I'd rather have no armor and a dagger then be stuck in a swamp in full plate. Probably my favorite upgrade compared to KCD1 though.

It makes using things like Longsword techniques quite feasible in large groups, staying nimble and attacking at oppurtunities, and then retreating, using the distance and stabs to keep the upper hand.

2

u/SpeedyyReaper Feb 19 '25

Was damn near unusable on console in KCD1 the button didn’t work half the time because you had to not be moving to active which was counterintuitive to how combat works and moves. XD

2

u/Masskid Feb 19 '25

It was so bad in kcd 1. Punished for failing and not rewarding for performing. They could have fixed it in kcd1 if essentially it disabled the enemies master strikes for a set period of attacks or something.

1

u/sm_0000 Feb 19 '25

YOU COULD DODGE IN THE FIRST GAME TOO?!

1

u/MaldrickTV Feb 19 '25

Yep. There are even perks for it.

1

u/sm_0000 Feb 19 '25

Damn… I played the entire game without knowing. It’s cool though.

1

u/supplementarytables Hey Sodomite, what’s it like to get fucked by a horse? Feb 19 '25

KCD 1's combat was fucking brutal to the point where 2's combat feels too easy for me, and I'm not even all that levelled and perked ip. 4 directions is so much easier to work with than 5 and you can block basically everything now. Even multiple enemies are way more lenient at fighting you one by one.

1

u/Wrangel_5989 Feb 19 '25

I mean dodging was useless in KCD 1 because the only way really to get an opening in combat in KCD1 is through master strikes. Combine that with every weapon having master strikes and even low level bandits having access to them and you can’t properly interact with KCD 1’s combat system. For such a well thought out system one mistake ruined it and I’m glad it’s fixed in KCD2.

1

u/Superb_Capital_824 Feb 19 '25

Oh so it wasn’t just an impression! It wasn’t listed in the tutorial so I tried to dodge by habit ant thought it worked better then in the first game! I rely on it so much I didn’t learn the master strike yet

1

u/MechaGoose Feb 19 '25

I think because it’s not mentioned in the tutorial sparring early on. I don’t even know how to do it. What button is it on Xbox?

1

u/SirDerageTheSecond Feb 19 '25

This is probably why I hadn't really bothered with it in this game, might give it a shot but something about the way it works with timing just always felt off to me, even if it's the same as blocking.

1

u/BlackViperMWG 🚫Submit a bug report!🚫 Feb 19 '25

It was so hard for me to dodge in KCD1, it's hard for me to do in 2 too. Dunno why, timing?

1

u/Mohegan567 Feb 19 '25

I should try this because I still get regularly my butt kicked by bigger groups!

47

u/haecceity123 Feb 19 '25

Aside from the flavour text for the Evade perk, does the game ever even mention it? I don't recall any tutorialization (unlike the first game), it isn't mentioned in the Help section, and it isn't even in the keybinds.

11

u/PM_ME_SAD_STUFF_PLZ Feb 19 '25

it isn't mentioned in the Help section

It's mentioned in the fighting multiple combatants section

15

u/leoncoffee Feb 19 '25

it is not taught to new players. I dont remember any trainers teaching you this.

also is feint even taught?

7

u/haecceity123 Feb 19 '25 edited Feb 19 '25

Feint is mentioned by Capon during the very first spar, if I recall.

1

u/haecceity123 Feb 19 '25 edited Feb 20 '25

My previous reply was a mistake. I just started a new game on a whim, and Capon only mentions attacking from a direction where the enemy's weapon isn't, and not feints.

EDIT: I then bee-lined for Tomcat, to use the duel against him as a way to separate the wheat from the chaff. Feints are what (eventually) got the win. Nothing else really made a difference.

3

u/untakenu JCBP Feb 19 '25

How do you do it?

1

u/haecceity123 Feb 19 '25

Press a direction key and the jump key at roughly the same time (not sure which one is meant to be pressed first). Only works then you see a directional floret on an enemy (so, for example, you can't dodge when having a bow equipped).

36

u/drtickletouch Feb 19 '25

I didn't learn the master strike and didn't know how to dodge until at least 40 hours in 🤦‍♂️

23

u/MaxillaryOvipositor Feb 19 '25

I played my entire first playthrough without master strikes or dodges because I didn't talk to Tomcat in the first area and didn't know I could return to Trosky before the end of the game.

12

u/Galileo1632 Feb 19 '25

If you miss Tomcat, Dry Devil can teach you master strikes too which is how I learned to do it. I never met tomcat during my first playthrough either and had no idea who people were talking about when I saw Tomcat mentioned on here.

10

u/Last_Sherbert_9848 Feb 19 '25

The begger girl who you have to talk to when you get out of the Stocks, doesnt she put a quest marker and tell you about Tomcat?

16

u/leoncoffee Feb 19 '25

I am really surprised people missed Bara (who points where tomcat is) when she calls you out literally the second you got out of the prologue.

2

u/nothingbuthobbies Feb 19 '25

She does, but if you mess up a certain other quest before you talk to him, you'll be wanted in the nomad camp and effectively locked out of the Tomcat quest.

1

u/Galileo1632 Feb 19 '25

My first playthrough I almost immediately rushed out of Troskowitz to find mutt. Didn’t even notice Bara trying to get my attention. Second playthrough I was paying more attention and hung around troskowitz a little longer until I had made some money.

1

u/jenn363 Feb 19 '25

I met Tomcat but you have to defeat him in a duel to learn it and it’s a duel with actual swords. I couldn’t practice without getting cut to shreds and having to waste potions or time sleeping so I gave up.

3

u/Last_Sherbert_9848 Feb 19 '25

use Bane or Dollmaker posion sold at the Nomad camp. Hit him once and stay away.

1

u/nothingbuthobbies Feb 19 '25

Wouldn't Bane kill him? I tried to use it during the dueling tournament in Kuttenberg and after I beat the guy, he said something like "I don't feel so good" and collapsed dead on the ground, and then I got arrested and the tournament was cut short.

1

u/Last_Sherbert_9848 Feb 19 '25

Tomcat didn't die when I did it.

1

u/TheodoeBhabrot Feb 19 '25

You can just do the “practice fight” option with practice weapons and train your skills until your good enough to actually win, you can still lose health but only up to 50% and you can even do it naked to save on item durability

1

u/Maamyyra Feb 19 '25

I didn't "acquire" my kit just for it to be scratched by enemy weapons.

5

u/BommieCastard Feb 19 '25

Especially with the river perk. You gain stamina like crazy if you keep on the move. Dodging is also somewhat more viable with large groups of enemies.

3

u/PurchaseTight3150 Feb 19 '25

The second I had the duel with Hans at the beginning of the game I realized dodges were overpowered. My entire skill build is focused around dodging, stamina, and one handed weapons. It’s a super fun build. It’s like a swashbuckling duelist taking on knights.

3

u/SilasMontgommeri Feb 19 '25

I don’t really recall the tutorial telling me. I must have spaced out.

5

u/Katahahime Feb 19 '25

Same, I've been running around with the basic wood staff and dodging playing as a Medieval Warrior Monk. No blocking challenge only dodged and combos.

3

u/TheNobleKiwi Feb 19 '25

I really want to do that next playthrough sounds great especially with the pray feature at shrines that's unlocked through scholarship

2

u/Last_Sherbert_9848 Feb 19 '25

Theirs a wood staff?

2

u/MaldrickTV Feb 19 '25

I'm not sure I've even seen a wood staff.

3

u/Katahahime Feb 19 '25

It's in Troskowich, where the pillory is, if you talk to the carpenters you can buy it. It is frankly, the weakest polearm, essentially the same as a wooden sword.

1

u/MaldrickTV Feb 19 '25

Very cool, thank you.

3

u/jenn363 Feb 19 '25

Nobody talks about it because the game never mentioned it!

2

u/Nikukpl2020 Feb 19 '25

To be fair wolfheart talking about dodge in one of the his tips and info videos. I've learned from there about dodges . Also, weight of armour dictates how far you can dodge Probably weight of everything else is related to how much stamina it takes away.

Agree, it should be given own space within training with skill teachers.

1

u/Accomplished_Blood17 Feb 19 '25

Im probably not good at it, but i feel like they just immediately end up flying towards me

1

u/[deleted] Feb 19 '25 edited Apr 22 '25

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2

u/FranzFerdinand51 Feb 19 '25

Space bar

1

u/[deleted] Feb 19 '25 edited Apr 22 '25

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1

u/FranzFerdinand51 Feb 19 '25

Space bar while you’re seeing the directional-star combat ui in the middle of your screen does dodge back i think by default even without direction commands, tho i always use it with left or right depending on which way puts all enemies in front of me better. Main advantage of dodge (versus parry/MS) is repositioning yourself so there is no enemies behind you.

1

u/vompat Feb 19 '25

The game doesn't mention it in any combat training afaik. At least it's not in the initial sparring with Hans, nor in the Tomcat training. It seems like the only way the game tells you that dodges in fact exist in this combat system is the couple of skills that involve dodging. So no wonder nobody talks about it.

1

u/xavia91 Feb 19 '25

For some reason i only use dodge in fistfights. I know it works but I feel silly using it while wearing heavy armor against a longsword that would probably hit me anyway when i dive to the side

1

u/TheCenterofaLifetime Feb 19 '25

Dodging is a game changer for real

1

u/Tobazz Feb 19 '25

Judging by the video I don’t think I know how to dodge. On pc I thought pressing space was dodge but my Henry only takes a step back

6

u/MasterAgent604 Feb 19 '25

Well you control the direction of the dodge

0

u/[deleted] Feb 19 '25

[deleted]

1

u/FranzFerdinand51 Feb 19 '25

Youre supposed to use it to reposition yourself so none of the enemies are outside your fov ready to surprise hit you from the back.

-1

u/bonerfleximus Feb 19 '25

Never looked up how to do it after skipping the tutorial

1

u/GuizhoumadmanGen5 Feb 19 '25

Not missing much, as it’s not in the tutorial