How to dodge and parry properly in Resident Evil 3

Re3 Jill Knife (Image credit: Windows Central)

While Resident Evil 3 is very similar to Resident Evil 2 (2019), one key difference is the addition of a dodge-and-parry mechanic. This move allows you to avoid taking damage at the last moment possible — if you pull it off right. Try to dodge too early, and you'll simply backstep, which may not be enough to keep you from being grabbed, smashed, clawed, lashed, slashed or shot.

Here's the thing: this new move is extremely important. It's there for a reason. You'll have a much easier time getting it down and it's vital to your survival on difficulties like Hardcore, where almost any attack does a high amount of damage and you have fewer resources to spare. I've put together a guide showing this process in action, which will allow you to hopefully take less damage and become a zombie-dodging survivor with ease.

Note: this guide assumes you are using a controller, but is still useful for visual aid if you're using a keyboard and mouse.

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Resident Evil 3

Get out of the city

Resident Evil 3 takes Jill Valentine's escape from Raccoon City and brings it up to modern standards, with tight gunplay and action merged with tense survival horror.

How to dodge and parry in Resident Evil 3

It's going to be a little different with each enemy, which is why we recommend practicing with basic zombies first. Once you have the pattern down, the bigger bosses and non-zombie enemies will be easier to dodge.

Dodging and countering as Jill

Jill is who you'll be playing as for the majority of the game, so it's absolutely critical you understand how to dodge and counter with her. Jill can dodge out of the way, then immediately aim and fire on the enemy she evaded. This move allows you to avoid taking damage while also deal increased damage and greater critical hits.

Damage done during this counterattack window appears to do far more than it would otherwise and I also noticed that zombie heads would be blown apart more frequently. This makes mastering the dodge absolutely critical for when you're low on ammo.

At the very last moment, press RB.
At the same time, push the left thumbstick in a direction away from the enemy.
If successful, you'll hear a distinct sound while Jill rolls out of the way of damage.
Immediately pull LT and you will have a short window of time to fire on your enemy.
You'll auto-aim for the enemy's head and deal more damage during this time.

Parrying as Carlos

You'll play as Carlos during a couple of sections throughout Resident Evil 3 and while he controls very similarly for the most part, there's one critical difference: Carlos doesn't actually dodge. Instead, successful timing will have Carlos deliver a haymaker, knocking the enemy far back and opening up a window for attack.

This method has some advantages and disadvantages. On the one hand, crowd control is far easier and it'll give you a chance to reload, breathe and fire on your foes with ease. On the other hand, it means you have to stand your ground. Carlos can't do a quick roll to get out of the way. The window to have time slow down when firing is also not quite as generous.

The controls are fairly similar to when dodging as Jill.
At the last moment of an enemy attack, press RB.
Simultaneously pull the thumbstick in a direction away from the enemy.
If successful, you'll deliver a punch sending the enemy back.
You then have a moment to pull LT and fire while time is slowed.

Resident Evil 3 is terrifying and fantastic

Resident Evil 3 is a fantastic horror game, delivering perhaps the best balance of action and tense survival horror gameplay the series has ever had.