The Elder Scrolls series has never been known for its combat, and 2002's Morrowind is certainly one of the worst offenders. However, a new Morrowind mod for the OpenMW source port might be just what this open-world clunker needs to sing. It introduces a Sekiro-style perfect block parry alongside a cleverly balanced overhaul of the game's most controversial mechanic.
N'Garde: A New Morrowind Mod for Better Combat
Author MrArrean describes his mod, N'Garde, as "What if Bethesda had another year or two to let Morrowind cook?" with a specific goal of creating "more difficult, but more rewarding melee combat." The core of the experience is built around the perfect block. When you hit the correct timing window, you take no damage and stagger your opponent.
If you miss that window, you still receive an imperfect block that doesn't ruin your day like the sluggish shield swings in Dark Souls. This new Morrowind mod is also incredibly modular and lightweight. It works with completely unmodded OpenMW and has been tested alongside a list of 15 mods, including various animation replacers.
The mod is thoughtfully woven into the base systems of the game. Your perfect block window and imperfect block efficiency can be improved by leveling your block skill. Furthermore, if you are blocking with a weapon instead of a shield, your proficiency with that specific weapon type—such as long blades or blunt—will impact effectiveness. MrArrean even tweaked parry windows based on weaponry; while heavier weapons offer advantages, shields remain supreme.
Overhauling the Hit Chance Controversy
One of the biggest filters for prospective Morrowind players is running into a dungeon, swinging at an enemy, and having your weapon pass through them like thin air. The game exists in a mechanical Uncanny Valley; its feedback is too responsive for such an archaic, D&D-adjacent hit system to feel right.
While removing the hit chance system entirely can make combat feel flat, N'Garde introduces "Glancing Blows" as an inspired alternative:
- A missed attack becomes a "glancing blow," dealing a maximum of 20% damage and granting no skill XP to the attacker.
- If 'strength affects h2h damage' is enabled in the launcher, missed unarmed attacks lose their strength bonus but are reduced to 40% damage instead.
- The system takes both normal weapon resistance and armor into account.
- Even during missed attacks, players can still perform a parry or a perfect parry to stagger the opponent.
Better Melee Than Skyrim?
This combination of feedback and functionality could even result in more fun melee combat than Morrowind's successors, Oblivion and Skyrim. Much as I love those games, even their recent melee systems are "booboo," often seeing players simply trading hits like a pair of pugilists who haven't invented ducking or weaving.
Magic remains the most effective way to play Morrowind, but I never enjoy being a pure mage in any RPG. The next time I feel the urge to play an Orc or Dark Elf Nightblade on the scenic island of Vvardenfell, you can bet I'm taking N'Garde for a spin—even with my increasing aversion to modding Bethesda games so heavily.
