NOTE: if you don't want to watch the video I will describe the entirety of nudges in text below the video!
READ IF YOU'RE NOT INTERESTED IN WATCHING THE VIDEONudges add a lot of complexity to the game and give you lots of options to support your team in defeating enemies, even if you're a lowly peasant with a knife!
Nudging by default is bound to the "V" key, and when performed has a cooldown of 4 seconds. This cooldown timer prevents you from kicking or rolling.
There are 3 types of nudges:
- The Attack Nudge is performed by holding an attack and tapping your nudge key. There is no reason to use this nudge UNLESS you aim on trying to stun your opponent. This nudge can only be used with 1h weapons, shields, and 2hers in the up direction. This nudge cannot be performed by polearms.
- The Block Nudge is performed by holding a block and nudging a target. It can send them hurling, and the distance is based off of your strength and their agility. This nudge cannot be performed with 2hers unless they are in polearm mode.
-The Standard Nudge is performed by simply tapping your nudge key on a target. It is a quick interrupt and has many uses, I will elaborate further below.
Nudges can stun in THESE scenarios:
-Attack nudging an opponent who is kicking
-Attack nudging an opponent who is throwing a nudge themself
-Attack nudging an opponent who is holding an attack
-Attack nudging an opponent who is recovering from a horsebump or a strike from an enemy
-Attack nudging an opponent who is landing from a jump
Nudges can knockdown an opponent in THESE scenarios:
-Nudging an opponent as they are raising their foot for a kick (advanced, do not try if you're a normie)
-Nudging an opponent who has just jumped, or is landing from a jump (also advanced)
-Attack nudging an opponent who is S-keying and Holding an attack
-Nudging or Attack Nudging an archer, crossbowman, or thrower who has their ranged weapon raised
The stuns from attack nudges that would otherwise give your opponent a free hit on you can be countered by using a regular nudge to bash them while you are stunned. The only actions that can be performed while you are stunned are jumping and counternudging. Use either of these to attempt to counter the stun.
Your stun timer is based off of your armor weight and weapon proficiency as far as I can tell. The exact math I am unsure of. I have always been unable to nudge stun people who are high agility (21 or above) with light armor (less than 20 total armor weight) and have high weapon master. The only reason to nudge these types of opponents is to try and damage them since they are in light armor.
Nudges CAN do damage, with the exception of the block nudge. As far as I can tell, nudge damage is based off of your strength and gauntlet weight, and POSSIBLY your shield weight.
There is a specific animation your character performs when an attack nudge stuns you vs. when it does not stun you. You can easily recognize these and know when NOT to counternudge in order to avoid the timer/cooldown.
Shielders can perform all of the nudges in the same manner with the exception of attack nudge stuns. Due to the animation for attack nudging being longer on the shield, this prevents the possibility of getting a free hit. I'm not sure if it's possible for super agility shielders with light shields to get the free hit, I will have to test further.
If you're interested in seeing some techniques for getting more chances at free hits while in combat, please go to 6:12 in the video above.
If you're new to cRPG and are having a rough time defeating opponents, the best thing you can do is stick to your team and improve your skills; however, nudges allow you to support your team immensely. Try getting into the thick of a fight with a shield or something and just nudging enemies for your team so they can strike them.
If I missed anything in the video or this written guide, please inform me!
