Learn How To Mitigate Xenomorph Melee Attacks Without A Shield
 
 

HOW TO PARRY?

Since I couldn’t find any guides about parrying either YouTube or Steam Guides, figured I’ll just make a quick and dirty guide for all you Ultimate Badasses:
 
 

 
 
Parrying is simple. You just have to press the Melee button (Default: V).
 
 
When done right, you will fully mitigate the incoming Xenomorph attack and take ZERO damage.
 
 
However, it is critical that you time your Melee correctly.
 
 
 

WHY PARRY AN ATTACK?

Parrying does not cancel your reload!

 
 
Unlike dodging, pressing the melee button 60-75% into the reload animation will not cancel it.
 
 
There were many incidents where I couldn’t finish reloading before a xenomorph got too close for comfort. So I dodged its attack… only to realise my magazine is still empty.
 
By then, his buddies had caught up to him. So I gotta deal with 4 Xenomorphs with an empty magazine now. Panic-stricken, I’ll mash the [R] button frantically… But they got too close again, forcing me to dodge their attacks… again. Now, there’s 7 Xenomorphs about to hand my a*s back to me.
 
 
This could’ve all been avoided if I had just parried that single Xenomorph attack at the beginning.
 
 
 

TIMING YOUR PARRY

 
 
I found that the easiest way to parry an attack is to wait for the Xenomorph to be in mid-jump before pressing the [V] button. See image above.
 
 
As long as you hit the button after the Xenomorph pounces — and of course before it hits you — you will not take any damage. See image below.
 
 

 
 
 

WHEN TO PARRY AN ATTACK?

You must be wondering, why PARRY when you can just DODGE out of harm’s way?
 
 
Parrying is extremely useful in the following situations:
 

• When you are cornerned and have your back against a wall.
• When you are surrounded, and dodging sideways/backwards is not an option.
• When you know that dodging will only cause you and your team more harm than good.
   
   
   
  (i.e. taking friendly-fire damage from squad members, or breaking formation and putting you out of position, etc).
   
   
   
   
   
  Positioning is extremely important in higher difficulty and a poorly-time dodge can cause a domino effect that leads to your position being overrun.

 
 
 

WHEN NOT TO PARRY AN ATTACK?

Do not attempt to block an attack in the following situations:
 

• When MORE THAN ONE xenomorph is lunging towards you
   
   
   
  While you will still parry the attack of the first xenomorph, the second xenomorph’s attack will connect and damage your character.
• You cannot block a Prowler’s pouncing attack or any Special Xenomorph’s Grapple attacks (The one that leads to a Quick-Time event). But you can block their regular lunge attacks though.

 
 
 

My Mods on NexusMods:

• Technicians with Rifles – [nexusmods.com] 
   
   
   
   
   

  
  
  
  Become PFC Hudson with this mod.
  Be the Ultimate Badass and place sentry turrets while wielding a Pulse Rifle!

• Demolishers with CQW – [nexusmods.com] 
   
   
   
   
   

  
  
  
  Become Pvt. Drake with this mod.
  Cover your team's retreat with a Flamethrower while still having a Smartgun!

• Docs with CQW – [nexusmods.com] 
   
   
   
   
   

  
  
  
  Become CPL. Dietrich with this mod. 
  Be a corpsman armed with a flamethrower, and in a moment of panic, burn Pvt. Frost with it!

• Sentry Guns – Lifespan Extended – [nexusmods.com] 
   
   
   
   
   

  
  
  
  Extends ALL Consumable Sentry Guns' Lifespan duration to 15mins. 
  No more Sentry Guns "getting outta this chicken sh*t outfit" before the battle is over!

 
 

 
 
Hope you enjoy the Guide about Aliens: Fireteam Elite – Tips on How to Parry Melee Attacks w/o Shield in Game, if you think we should add extra information or forget something, please let us know via comment below, and we will do our best to fix or update as soon as possible!