dunno if this has been mentioned/discussed, but i've recently discovered that you can parry an attack and "riposte" with sorcery. there's no special animation, but you still get the crit bonus.
i tested on silver knights where a CSS did 703 damage normally, but 1072 after parrying. this is NG+++ish with bellowing dragoncrest and dusk crown with 50 int, so results may vary. also works with pyro, or at least combustion/great combustion, but not as spectacular as CSS.
i tested on silver knights where a CSS did 703 damage normally, but 1072 after parrying. this is NG+++ish with bellowing dragoncrest and dusk crown with 50 int, so results may vary. also works with pyro, or at least combustion/great combustion, but not as spectacular as CSS.