[2022] Breakout roll/free roll nowhere to be found in any official information source related to New World

Hey @Laxx thanks for noticing this mechanic. I can confirm its in the game and intentional. The goal is to try to help you get out of those situations where you are pinned by AI.

You were close on how it works, but its a bit more complex. Every time an attack staggers you, it increments a hidden number by some value (varying from 0.5 to 1 depending on attack type). If that hidden number hits 2 before you exit a stagger animation, you get a free dodge roll (regardless of equip type). Note there is no character to character collision on this special dodge roll to let you roll past the enemies that are pinning you in.