Melee sweeps me off my feet

I am looking for suggestions to counter or avoid knockdowns. When I go against melee types I end up on my back so fast and so often that it makes my head spin.

If I don't get better at resisting, I am totally going to get a reputation.

 

Resist knock down:
Heavy armor armor and shields

Avoid knockdown:
Light armor and water tree

 

Well I WAS about to suggest this.. otherwise only other obvious option is.. don't get hit.

 

Or perhaps more specifics.. ?

Light Armor - Dodge & Evasion.. can't knock you down if they can't hit you..
Shields - Bolster Stance.. Deflect and maybe Redirect?
Heavy Armor - Hard Headed & Knight's Grace..

Oh and Parry I believe..

And it's always good to remember one of the primary rules of any combat situation: Move first.. block second.

 

@Bowen Bloodgood that's awesome thanks! I'll totally check those out tonight.

I try to be super blinky so that I don't lose my stillness bonus but maybe I just need to play hard to get and run away more often.

 

One problem with moving to avoid melee is that once the attack animation starts, they are guaranteed to hit you (or not if you avoid). This means that you could night step, blink and chaotic teleport (whatever) away right when you see that melee skeleton start to swing, and even at 60 range, that melee guy will still hit you.

Have you tried soothing salts to get up faster?

 

No! I will definitely give that a try! Thanks Kor <3

 

Hmm...so THAT is why Athanil suggested I train Dodge and Evasion (plus Shield of Ice ) I can attest to the fact that they really help against halberd wielding bandits...no knockdowns (so far...) since I leveled them to 66


EDIT: Fortify Defenses also helps too In fact, I now venture forth with this, Dodge, and Shield of Ice all locked on my combat bar

 

Great stuff here. I am looking for ways to calm the beast while taming. Root gives me a few seconds but not the entire taming attempt.

 

I totally love this community. Everyone is super helpful. <3

 

Doesn't STR help you resist KD?? I am almost positive it does. Having strength for a mage is very useful. Helps out obsidian arrow, earthquake, carrying items.

 

@LiquidSky it's possible that you are the inspiration for this thread. Fair warning that I am practicing <3

 

Stop hanging around dark knights in tarnished armor?

 

I assume that Str aides in resisting KD and stuns and that Dex plays a part in dodge etc.. but it's hard to know to what degree without knowing the math.

 

I can't help myself. I just love those bad boys.