How to backstab?

[bopjo1]

I have a Dragon +5 longsword. Can I back-stab with it and how exactly does one execute a back-stab in this game? I could not find instructions in the skimpy manual or the wiki.

[Spine-Fist]

You can backstab with any weapon wielded in the right hand, except maybe shields, though I'm not sure TBH.

Just get behind an enemy and execute an R1 attack. It's pretty finicky, though. You have to be behind their facing direction, not behind their back. I.E., if something twists their torso or something like that for an attack, attacking its back will not get a backstab, because the game recognizes that as it's side.

From my experience, the game counts facing angle more than positioning. That is to say, if you are a foot behind and to the left of an enemy, but facing the same angle as them, you are more likely to get a backstab with your attack than being directly behind them and facing their facing angle +/- 40 degrees. Also, changes in height will completely #### backstabs, so if you're on a staircase and your enemy is a few steps lower/higher than you, it won't work.

As an enemy gets up, they will rotate towards you. If follow this rotation and get behind them, you can chain together backstabs. It takes really good timing, however, as you can't backstab them while they're getting up.

[Ippiki Okami]

You need to sneak up on your target and get as close to their back and hit the attack button. You should get a zoom in like effect as you put your weapon into the targets back and then you give them a satisfying kick to get them off your weapon:D

Good practice is the 1-1 dreglings and the world 2 lizard men:devil:

[bopjo1]

Thanks. I was watching this video and the guy has a very high ratio of (awesome) back-stabs. I guess it's something you just have to have a feel for.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egJ1tDte8-M

[Ippiki Okami]

Yeah it just takes practice. I didn't even know how to do it or what it was when I was playing the game for the first time. I heard alot about it from the wiki though. Then one day I got behind a dregling that did its leap attack and attacked it. My character went into the back stab animation I was like,"OMG what was dat?! that was so cool!".....I been doin' back stabs in NG+ ever since :tongue:

[Frilly_Bits]

doesn't the journey to the nexus cover backstabbing? i think the notes in the lowest part of the nexus explain it too. i could be mistaken though

[Oceanborn]

Thanks. I was watching this video and the guy has a very high ratio of (awesome) back-stabs. I guess it's something you just have to have a feel for.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egJ1tDte8-M
He's also using a dagger. Some weapons are better for backstabbing than others.

Btw, simply putting 'backstab' into the search fields will give you the 'controls' articles on both wikis and both will describe the backstab ;)

[bopjo1]

Thanks Ocean...the wiki says you need to have your shield lowered so I guess that's key.

"...done with shield lowered while close behind a bipedal human-sized enemy..."

[Ippiki Okami]

doesn't the journey to the nexus cover backstabbing? i think the notes in the lowest part of the nexus explain it too. i could be mistaken though

I don't remember at all really. I didn't even look at all the messages in the nexus to be honest. Looking at the instruction booklet they just mentioned you can do critical attacks from behind or when you parry block. I do remember they went over the reposte attack in the tutorial level though!:D

[Jingseng]

if you have your shield out blocking (assuming default layout - this means walking forward with L1 pressed) you cannot backstab. It's the tradeoff.

And remember, endurance is key =p