Instability is a gameplay mechanic in Dark Souls III.
Description[]
A player/entity that is in Instability will take an additional 40-50% damage from attacks. Note that this is different from Counter Attack, which only applies to Thrust damage incurred during attack frames. Generally, Instability occurs when the player is in an animation where they are off-balance, and damage taken while suffering from Instability is denoted by a deeper impact sound.
Sources of Instability[]
Instability can occur in the following situations:
- Standing up after a long drop (regardless of whether Silvercat Ring is equipped)
- Countering momentum from suddenly reversing direction while sprinting
- Recovery after the dodge frames of Quickstep
- Recovery after parrying with a Fist or Claw weapon
- Staggering from attempting to roll while above 100% Equip Load, or when inflicted by the wax debuff from Grand Archives Scholars
- Recoil after hitting a solid object with a weapon (wall, powerful shield, enemy player buffed by Iron Flesh or Perseverance)
- Stagger from forced re-positioning (shield bash or shove attack by enemies, being landed on by an entity, being kicked by an enemy player, being hit by Flame Fan)
- Getting up after falling off a ladder due to depletion of stamina (applies to entire animation, player is not invulnerable)
- Recoil from running out of stamina while blocking with a shield (e.g., getting guard broken)
- Stagger immediately after getting parried
- While casting Gentle Prayer using a Sacred Chime
- While casting Steady Chant using a staff
- During the attacking animation of jump attacks
- During the attacking animation of running attacks
Certain enemies and bosses, when staggered due to taking enough Poise damage from attacks, are also vulnerable to Instability damage for a short time. Examples include Giant Man Serpents and Soul of Cinder. This also applies to enemies that have been parried (Peasant Hollows, Man Serpents, Ringed Knights) and shield-carrying enemies that have their guard broken (Lothric Knights, Darkwraiths, Pontiff Knights, Consumed King's Knights), assuming that the riposte is not immediately taken.