Summary
The most anticipated game FromSoftware has ever made, speculation ran rampant beforeElden Ring’s release in early 2022. Being the first fully open-world FromSoftware game, many fans expected a swathe of new mechanics and features from the game, and FromSoftware went above and beyond in this regard.Elden Ringintroduced a plethora of intricate, interweaving systems and features that fans had never seen before, and its Crystal Tear system was one of its most intriguing additions.
Fairly early inElden Ring’s runtime, players will discoverthe Flask of Wondrous Physick. A consumable that refills upon rest like the Flask of Crimson or Cerulean Tears, the Flask of Wondrous Physick allows players to temporarily buff themselves with two unique effects or abilities known as Crystal Tears. These Crystal Tears range from helpful boosts to maximum HP like the Crimsonpill Hardtear, to special abilities like the Twiggy Cracked Tear’s power to stop Rune loss on death.Elden Ring’s recently released Shadow of the Erdtree DLC adds another handful of new Crystal Tears to the game, including one that channels a beloved element ofSekiro: Shadows Die Twice.
Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree’s Deflecting Hardtear Feels Like a Mix of Dark Souls and Sekiro
How Shadow of the Erdtree’s Deflecting Hardtear Captures Sekiro’s Combat
Obtained bydefeating the Furnace Golempatrolling the main pathway near the Scorched Ruins, theDeflecting Hardtearessentially turnsElden RingintoSekiro: Shadows Die Twice, at least for a few minutes at a time. In typical FromSoftware fashion, Deflecting Hardtear’s in-game description is a tad obtuse, but its mechanics are relatively easy to understand.
The Deflecting Hardtear enhances the player’s spontaneous guard. This means that if the player performs a perfect block (blocks just as the enemy’s attack is about to land), then they’ll negate the damage of the oncoming blow. Performing a perfect block while usingthe Deflecting Hardtearwill also drastically reduce the amount of poise stagger the player takes from a hit, meaning their guard won’t be broken easily. The cherry on the cake here is that the Deflecting Hardtear also increases the amount of damage that the player’s guard counter will do, which is when the player immediately follows up a perfect block with a heavy attack. This Crystal Tear works shockingly well throughoutElden Ringand its DLC, working with even the game’s toughest bosses.
Perfect blocking through Deflecting Hardtear in Shadow of the Erdtree is a homage to Sekiro’s combat!
Those who have playedSekirowill likely find this Deflecting Hardtear’s abilities quite familiar.Sekiro’s combatheavily relies on players blocking their enemy’s attacks perfectly so that they can build their foe’s stagger meter and eventually land an all-powerful Deathblow. Perfectly blocking inSekirowill result in the player losing no health and negating any chance of being staggered by the enemy’s attack.
Shadow of the Erdtree’s Deflecting Hardtear Has Its Limitations
However,Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree’s Deflecting Hardtear doesn’t suddenly reskin the game to make it feel like aSekirosequel. The Deflecting Hardtear only lasts for five minutes, and while that’s enough time to use it effectively against some difficult bosses with lengthy attack chains, it isn’t long enough for it to effectively inform any new playstyles. Similarly,Elden Ringdoesn’t featureSekiro’s posture system, so players can’t rely on their perfect blocks to eventually stagger their enemy.
Elden Ring
WHERE TO PLAY
ELDEN RING, developed by FromSoftware, Inc. and BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc., is a fantasy action-RPG adventure set within a world created by Hidetaka Miyazaki and George R.R. Martin. Danger and discovery lurk around every corner in FromSoftware’s largest game to date. Hidetaka Miyazaki - President and Game Director of FromSoftware Inc. Known for directing critically-acclaimed games in beloved franchises including Armored Core and Dark Souls.George R.R. Martin is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of many novels, including the acclaimed series A Song of Ice and Fire - A Game of Thrones, A Clash of Kings, A Storm of Swords, A Feast For Crows, and A Dance with Dragons. As a writer-producer, he has worked on The Twilight Zone, Beauty and the Beast, and various feature films and pilots that were never made. He lives with the lovely Parris in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
