Yeah the perfect block counter move is way better than the combos for being actually achievable - especially as a lower levelled character. I do really like the combos when you git gud and can pull them off they’re super satisfying. KCD is weird because it feels like it should be a pure player skill game like dark souls or something timing blocks and strikes, but it actually isn’t, its actually secretly like xcom or something where everything has percentage chance dependant on yours and your opponents levels and how accurately you hit the timing windows. So it can be super frustrating as a new player because you try to block / strike / combo and you can do everything correctly but because you’re playing a peasant boy fighting an experienced mercenary solider you don’t pull it off and get stomped - but the game doesn’t feed that back to you. It’s a bit off putting. Then later when you’re high leveled fighting a low level bandit you can lazily mash whatever button you want and miss the timing window by miles and you’ll still make mincemeat of your foes regardless.

Also yeah mace>>than sword for anyone in armour.