Blocking

Blocking is a gameplay aspect that is used to prevent damage. To block, hold down the right mouse button while holding an axe, stick, or other acceptable item. Blocking will negate an amount of damage dependent on the weapon used. In earlier versions of the game, blocking protected against all forms of damage, such as burning, poisoning, and falling. Blocking no longer protects from the back or sides and also no longer negates all damage.

An extended blocking method is the perfect block. If an attack is blocked at the right time (short time before the attack hits), with just one press of the defend button, the enemy will be pushed away and is more vulnerable to incoming attacks for a few seconds (about x2 the damage; exact data of the multiplier needs further testing). This is most likely used to fight one or maybe two Cannibals at once since you don't block the entire time, just when the opponent hits. In a crowd battle you will be very vulnerable to attacks from multiple Cannibals.

(A perfect block does not work on Mutants in that form that they won't be pushed away!)

Blocking is not possible yet in VR.

Weapon Block
These tests were conducted by Farket using a Painted Mutant equipped with a Tennis Racket while caught in a Noose Trap on Hard Mode.

Key Notes:
 * Without blocking, the damage was 63, which means the health was taken down to 37.
 * Even though the Katana and Machete state they have no block, they are still worth blocking with as negate the damage from 63 to 10.
 * Between 100 and 60 health, block appears to be the weakest. This also happens when health is between 10 and 0.
 * Between 60 health and 10 health, block progressively becomes more effective.
 * Pictures of the weapons/tools have been used in the table as the names make the table look like garbage due to inconsistent sizing of names.