Elden Ring: How to Avoid Carian Retaliation

Carian Retaliation is one of the trickiest defensive tools in Elden Ring, not because it deals huge raw damage by itself, but because it can instantly punish spellcasters with Elden Ring Runes summoned Glintblade sorceries the moment their spell connects with a shield infused with the Ash of War. Whether you're fighting a PvP opponent using the skill or dealing with an enemy build that has access to it, understanding how Carian Retaliation works-and how to avoid triggering it-is essential.

Carian Retaliation is an Ash of War that can be applied to small, medium, and great shields. When activated properly, it allows the user to parry incoming sorceries and incantations. Instead of simply negating the spell, it converts the energy into floating Glintblades that automatically fire at the caster after a short delay. These blades hit surprisingly hard, track well, and can easily turn the tide of a duel. This means that players who rely heavily on ranged magic can feel completely shut down if they don't adapt their approach.

Understand What Triggers It

The first step in avoiding Carian Retaliation is knowing exactly what it counters. The skill only triggers when the opponent correctly times a parry against a magical projectile or a spell with a parryable hitbox. Standard sorceries like Glintstone Pebble, Stars of Ruin, or Comet are the easiest to trigger. Some incantations also count, depending on whether they produce a projectile-like hit. But non-projectile magic, such as buffs, weapon enchantments, and ground-placed spells, cannot be parried and therefore cannot be retaliated against.

This means your safest spell choices against a Retaliation user are those that don't directly collide with their shield-or those that hit from an angle where the parry window is unreliable.

Mix Up Your Spell Timing

Most players using Carian Retaliation anticipate traditional cast patterns. If you throw magic predictably, they will wait for the shimmer of your cast animation and time the parry. The easiest adjustment is to delay your casting, fake-outs, or early rolls to disrupt their rhythm. Mix instant-cast spells, held spells, and cancelable animations so that your opponent cannot simply react to your body language.

In PvP, timing is everything. By desyncing your rhythm, you force the Carian Retaliation user to either guess-and potentially waste their Ash activation-or drop their defensive stance.

Use Melee Pressure or Hybrid Builds

One of the best ways to deal with Carian Retaliation is to stop feeding it spells. Switching temporarily to melee or a hybrid playstyle denies your opponent the trigger they're waiting for. Even basic weapons can force them to play differently. Once they're pressured in close quarters, they have fewer chances to set up their shield and parry.

Weapons that apply continuous pressure-curved swords, katanas, fists, and spears-are particularly effective. Jump attacks can break their concentration, and weapons with guard break potential can punish them for turtling behind a shield.

Use Summons, Ashes, or Minions to Distract

Carian Retaliation only triggers when you hit the shield with a parryable spell. Spirit Ashes, weapon arts, and minion-style damage sources do not provide their shield with the magical charge. Using distractions or alternate damage sources allows you to keep pressure high without fueling their Glintblade counterattack.

Bait the Retaliation Activation

Carian Retaliation has a specific activation animation and a short cooldown. If you bait them into activating it early, you can punish them during or after the animation. A simple fake cast, or even casting a non-projectile spell, can trigger their panic response. Once their Retaliation fails, you get a window for safe aggression.

Use Environmental and Angle Manipulation

Many spells, especially area-based ones like Night Shard, Night Comet, or magma incantations, can hit from angles or through terrain where parrying is impossible. Even projectiles that curve or fall from above can bypass the shield's parry hitbox. Using elevation changes, pillars, or uneven terrain prevents the user from timing their parry correctly.

In short, avoiding Carian Retaliation in Elden Ring is about breaking predictability, diversifying your toolkit, and cheap Elden Ring Runes​ refusing to cast directly into a waiting shield. Once you stop feeding the counter, the entire strategy collapses-and you regain control of the fight.

Elden Ring: How to Explore Abyssal Woods Efficiently

The Abyssal Woods in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree is one of the expansion’s most mysterious and Elden Ring Runes dangerous areas. Cloaked in perpetual twilight and filled with distorted wildlife, it’s a zone designed to test both your curiosity and your caution. Players who wander in unprepared often find themselves lost in the dark or ambushed by the forest’s horrors. This guide will teach you how to explore the Abyssal Woods efficiently — from reaching the area safely to navigating its deadly shadows and uncovering every secret it hides.

What Makes the Abyssal Woods Unique

The Abyssal Woods are a late-game area within the Shadow Realm, located southeast of the Scadu Altus. It’s an eerie, fog-drenched forest where natural light is almost nonexistent, and enemies rely on stealth and illusion rather than brute force. Unlike many regions in Elden Ring, combat isn’t always the best solution here — stealth, observation, and patience are often the keys to survival.

Exploring efficiently requires understanding that this isn’t a zone to sprint through. The area is built as a labyrinth of interconnected clearings, narrow trails, and hidden passages. Many of its best treasures lie off the beaten path, and a single misstep can alert enemies that will chase you relentlessly.

Step 1: How to Reach the Abyssal Woods

Before you can explore, you need to reach the Abyssal Woods — and the path isn’t straightforward.

Start at Scadu Altus: Travel to the Highroad Cross Site of Grace in the southern region.

Locate the Cathedral of Manus Metyr: Head east and complete any side objectives connected to Count Ymir or the Cathedral questline. This opens the Ruins of Unte.

Find the Hidden Path: In the Ruins of Unte, drop into the well that leads into a long, pitch-black tunnel. Bring a Lantern or Torch of Night — visibility is essential.

Defeat the Guardian Enemy: You’ll encounter a hidden boss-like foe guarding the entrance to the Abyssal Woods — defeating it unlocks the forest proper.

Once you step through, you’ll arrive at the Abyssal Woods Site of Grace, your central checkpoint.

Step 2: Prepare Your Loadout

Because the Abyssal Woods emphasize stealth and endurance over raw power, efficient explorers prepare specialized gear:

Lantern or Torch of Night: Keep one equipped at all times. The woods are nearly pitch black, and many enemies rely on hiding in darkness.

Light Armor: You’ll need speed and quiet movement. Heavy armor increases detection risk.

Stealth Talismans: Equip Crepus’s Vial or the Concealing Veil to reduce noise and visibility.

Bow or Crossbow: Long-range weapons let you pick off threats without drawing attention.

Status Resistance Gear: Many creatures here inflict Madness or Death Blight, so consider the Clarifying Horn Charm and Mottled Necklace.

Keep a few Starlight Shards or Glowstones on hand as breadcrumbs — these help you mark paths when the forest’s maze-like design becomes disorienting.

Step 3: Learn the Enemy Patterns

Efficient exploration in the Abyssal Woods means avoiding unnecessary combat. The area’s enemies are designed to punish aggression. Here are the key types to look out for:

Mad Shadows: Shadowy humanoids that blend into the fog. They move silently and strike when you turn your back. Use Beast-Repellent Torch to keep them at bay.

Dappled Deer and Wolves: Seem passive but can turn aggressive if you attack or sprint nearby. Move slowly and observe their paths.

Mindflayer-like Horrors: They inflict rapid Madness buildup. Use terrain and cover to break line of sight — they can’t attack through obstacles.

Abyssal Spirits: Invisible until you’re very close. Throw Glowstones or cast Revealing Order to reveal them early.

By watching these patterns, you can chart routes that bypass most fights, saving time and resources.

Step 4: Map Out Your Exploration Route

The Abyssal Woods are divided into three main regions:

1. Western Thicket (Entrance Area)

Home to several Mad Shadow patrols.

Contains early loot such as Smithing Stones (7–8) and Madness-resistant talismans.

Best approach: Move along the left-hand cliffs to avoid patrol routes.

2. Central Grove (Mid-Zone)

A fog-filled basin with collapsed ruins and spectral wildlife.

Hidden Cave of Offerings contains high-tier crafting mats and spirit ashes.

Tip: Drop Glowstones to mark your path — it’s easy to get turned around here.

3. Eastern Hollow (Boss Approach)

Home to elite Abyssal Horrors and a massive tree where the zone’s boss, the Watcher in the Dark, lurks.

You’ll find Abyssal Spirit Ashes, one of the strongest summons in the DLC, inside a chest guarded by an invisible spirit.

Recommended approach: Move via elevated ridges to avoid triggering multiple enemy spawns at once.

By progressing methodically — one sub-area at a time — you can explore the entire woods in under two hours while minimizing risk.

Step 5: Manage Light and Sound

Light plays a dual role in the Abyssal Woods: it helps you see, but it also reveals you. Efficient explorers toggle their Lantern off when sneaking near enemies and rely on Glowstones or Starlight spells to illuminate without detection.

Sound is equally important. Running, rolling, or breaking branches alerts nearby enemies. Use crouch movement as your default. Only sprint in open terrain when you’re confident it’s clear.

Step 6: Collect Rewards Without Backtracking

To save time, plan your route so you don’t revisit cleared zones. Focus on these key pickups:

Abyssal Spirit Ashes – Summon of a spectral knight found near the eastern tree.

Talisman of the Deep Night – Boosts stealth and damage in low-light areas. Found in the central ruins.

Memory Stone – Hidden behind an illusory wall in the Cave of Offerings.

Watcher’s Rune Fragment – Needed to unlock a secret ending related to the Abyssal questline.

Completing the full exploration nets not just these treasures but also a deeper lore understanding of the Abyss itself.

Step 7: Escape or Reset Safely

Once you’ve cleared the zone or found all major items, return to the Abyssal Woods Site of Grace and rest. Avoid fast-traveling mid-combat — it’s easy to get trapped if enemies are still chasing you. If you die deep in the woods, your Runes can be hard to retrieve due to disorientation. Drop Glowstones near key turns so you can retrace your steps if needed.

Final Tips

Don’t rush. The Abyssal Woods reward patience more than aggression.

Use Night Comet or Ambush Shard spells — they blend into darkness and allow for silent kills.

Rest frequently at discovered Sites of Grace to avoid long corpse runs.

If you get lost, follow the sound of whispering spirits — they often guide toward exits or hidden loot.

Conclusion

Efficient exploration of the Abyssal Woods in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree is about more than just surviving — it’s about mastering the rhythm of darkness. Move with intent, observe your surroundings, and cheap Elden Ring Runes​ use stealth as your greatest weapon. With preparation, patience, and a keen eye for light and shadow, you’ll uncover every secret this haunting forest guards — and walk out of the Abyssal Woods not as prey, but as a hunter of the dark.