How to Parry and Counter with Melee Weapons and Fists in Cyberpunk 2077

Cyberpunk 2077 offers many different options for combat. These options go beyond gunplay, allowing players to test their skills with a variety of melee moves. One such move is a counterattack that can be done when fighting foes up-close and personal, though it requires a bit of timing to get down. Learning how to parry and counter when using melee weapons and fists will be vital to surviving some battles in Cyberpunk 2077.

How to Parry with Melee Weapons and Counter with Fists in Cyberpunk 2077

When going up against enemies using melee attacks, counters can be performed by hitting the block button as soon as they attack you. You’ll need good timing to get this right, so don’t be afraid to take advantage of the game’s combat tutorial. It helps if you listen for enemy sound cues, as they’ll sometimes give you an “alert” for when you should press the block button. If you get the timing down, you’ll automatically throw a punch that will help you turn the tides of your current encounter.

At first, you can only parry and counter melee attacks for a minimal amount of damage. Players investing in the “Reflexes” perks will be able to improve their abilities in this area greatly. Seeing Double will increase the damage of melee counters, while Lead and Steel level 2 and Bullet Deflect will let you counter bullets. If you go for the Slaughterhouse perk, that will give your counters one final boost by allowing them to apply the Bleeding effect to enemies.

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Even with all of the extra perks, counterattacks won’t make you entirely invincible. Keep an eye on exceptionally tough enemies and don’t rely too much on your blocking abilities. Remember, sometimes bringing a gun to a swordfight can lead to a much simpler battle.