The core idea with blocking is holding down Q on PC (or LB/L1 on controller) when attacks come in, but that'll drain your stamina pretty quick. Way better to watch for that green shield icon and tap block right as it appears, which gives you a perfect parry and doesn't use any stamina. Once you nail the parry timing, you'll see crossed swords pop up and that's your chance to strike back from whatever angle they're not covering.

For bigger fights or when you're getting overwhelmed, dodging with spacebar and a direction key helps create some breathing room, just keep an eye on your stamina. The real key is mixing things up - maybe land a perfect parry, then dodge the next hit, then go for a counter when they're not expecting it.

Something interesting - enemies tend to telegraph their attacks pretty clearly, so if you're patient and let them come to you first, those parry windows become way easier to spot. Stamina management is crucial here since getting caught with an empty bar usually means taking a nasty hit. Against groups, try to keep moving and use those perfect parries when you can, since they'll interrupt enemy combos and give you breathing room to reposition.