Being able to dodge efficiently in Tears of the Kingdom can make all the difference when it comes to a tricky boss fight.

The combat system in this game is fluid and smooth, but it’s not always immediately obvious how to pull off moves like sneak attacks or dodges. The in-game tutorials are fine, but the moves do take a little practice to get the hang of.

To help you keep Link on his toes during battle, here’s a quick guide on how to dodge in Tears of the Kingdom.

How to Dodge

Dodging in Tears of the Kingdom takes a little practice, but it’s quite a good mechanic once you get the hang of it.

To start, enter combat with an enemy. This could be in a Shrine or dungeon, or simply just out in the open world.

Then, lock onto them by holding down the ZL button. If you’re not a fan of the motion controls that turn on when you do this, it’s quite easy to turn them off.

Once you’re locked on, watch for your enemy’s next attack. If they’re a ranged enemy, get close enough to them that they’re in striking distance.

As soon as they move to attack you, you’ll need to move the left stick and jump (using either X or B, depending on how you’ve got the jump buttons set up) in the opposite direction.

For example, if the enemy lunges towards you, move and jump backwards. Link will automatically flip out of the way. If the enemy attacks from the right, jump to the left.

If you time it just right, you can enter a mode known as Flurry Rush.

In a Flurry Rush, time slows down. You’ll be able to land multiple hits on your enemy in this mode and they won’t be able to block or hit you back until it’s over. It’s very handy, especially when you’re taking down groups of enemies.

This does take a little practice, but it’s worth taking the time to spar with enemies in the open world and practice so you can confidently enter a Flurry Rush against bosses.

Remember to loot your enemies every time you’re done with a battle. Inventory space may be a squeeze at certain points in this game, but it’s worth having as many materials and resources at your disposal as possible.

What to Do Next

Now that you know how to dodge properly, make sure to practice your other combat moves before your next battle. Being able to switch weapons on the fly is very handy, especially if you’re using weapons with lower durability.

Make sure to cook some good food before taking on your next Shrine or boss, too. There are lots of temporary buffs and boosts you can get from food in Tears of the Kingdom, like resistance to cold, increased stamina, or improved attack in hot weather.

Double check your chosen recipes before cooking to make sure that you don’t waste any resources and end up creating something different, though.