Parry Attack

Parry Attack is a powerful Sword technique in The Wind Waker.^[1]

Uses

Parry Attacks can be performed by targeting an enemy and then hitting the A Button when its icon and Link's Sword flashes green as the enemy is about to perform an attack, lasting only a split-second.^[1] This will make the Hero of Winds perform an automatic counterstrike while evading his foe's attack. They cannot be performed while raising the Shield. Although usually used for regular enemies, it is effective on bosses as well.

Parry Attacks depend on the enemy and the attack they are attempting to use. When evading a vertical strike, Link rolls sideways to reach the enemy's back, he then jumps and slashes with his Sword. When evading a horizontal strike, Link leaps over the enemy while slashing its head. These techniques are particularly effective against Darknuts, as they can remove their protective armor and expose them to other attacks. When fighting against Magtails and Floor Masters, Link can leap into the air and perform a Down Thrust at their weak point. A special Parry Attack can be performed at the end of the final battle against Ganondorf for the finishing blow, in which Link swiftly rolls out of the way to avoid the main antagonist's attack (dropping his Mirror Shield on the process), slices Ganondorf from behind, and then leaps into the air to deal a final strike directly to his forehead with a mighty Down Thrust, which would ultimately turn him into stone and killing him.

Trivia

The Parry Attack, like the Jump Strike, is an upgraded variant of the Jump Attack technique.
Three of the Hidden Skills featured in Twilight Princess bear a strong resemblance to Link's Parry Attacks. These are the Ending Blow, the Back Slice, and the Helm Splitter. Ironically, the Ending Blow is used in a nearly identical manner as the The Wind Waker's special Parry Attack on Ganondorf for the final blow, but instead impales him on his gaping wound chest.
The final blow on Ganondorf is essentially two Parry Attack strikes combined into one; it first uses the jump slice followed by the downward thrust attack.

Nomenclature

Names in other regions
Language		Name
This table was generated using translation pages.

Gallery

Link performing a Parry Attack to remove the helmet of a Darknut
The final blow on Ganondorf with a special Parry Attack
The full animation of Link's famous Parry Attack to defeat Ganondorf

References

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 "Next is harder! This is a parry attack. Target with until you see , and then quickly press to perform a defensive strike!" — Orca (The Wind Waker HD)

[Orca-1] 1.0 ^1.1 "Next is harder! This is a parry attack. Target with until you see , and then quickly press to perform a defensive strike!" — Orca (The Wind Waker HD)

[1]