Shield Dash

When to use it

First skill in the parry build. The tooltip settles the name — one guide’s captions render it "shield bash" — and explains why it is safe to lead with: the dash itself blocks, and it can be started from inside a block.

Builds using this

• Mercenary — Parry Sword & Shield, solo — Master Deemo explains it at 18:30
  The build’s engine: the dash animation itself is a block, so it doubles as an approach and a defensive window.
• Mercenary — Hammer — Mr Loony Lemon explains it at 05:00
  The shield is carried for exactly two skills, and this is the first: the dash grants increased movement speed for a few seconds afterwards, which is what lets the hammer actually reach people.
• Mercenary — Sword & Shield, Chaos — Firebox explains it at 01:30
  Half of the mobility pair. With Rising to the Challenge, blocking during the dash stuns the enemy — an engage that punishes the counter-swing.
• Mercenary — Skullcrusher hammer, PvP — Firebox explains it at 01:53
  The block and the gap closer in one. Taken with Rising to the Challenge so blocking with it opens the Rock Throw window.

Where this comes from

Opens at 14:35, where the skill is explained. Full citation below.

Other Mercenary Sword & Shield skills

• Sword Tip — Core resource
• Stonebreaker Slash — Secondary parry
• Momentum — Granted counter