Backstab - Revision history

Aximili: Upcoming changes to backstabbing targets

2026-03-05T14:27:54Z

Upcoming changes to backstabbing targets

Umbire the Phantom: copyedit

2024-11-09T12:27:15Z

copyedit

Umbire the Phantom: follow-up for details, word choice

2024-03-19T04:37:58Z

follow-up for details, word choice

ScienceBall: Link to new dNetHack sneak attack page. Fix refsrc.

2024-03-19T04:05:44Z

Link to new dNetHack sneak attack page. Fix refsrc.

Umbire the Phantom: /* dNetHack */

2022-08-14T14:27:30Z

‎dNetHack

Tomsod: /* Strategy */ a couple more tips

2021-11-16T15:04:46Z

‎Strategy: a couple more tips

Umbire the Phantom: Thank

2021-03-15T01:13:17Z

Thank

Testbutt at 01:10, 15 March 2021

2021-03-15T01:10:18Z

Testbutt: a start

2021-03-15T01:09:26Z

a start

Umbire the Phantom at 23:59, 14 March 2021

2021-03-14T23:59:06Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:27, 5 March 2026
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	In ''[[NetHack]]'', '''backstab''' refers to the extra damage done by [[Rogue]]s in melee against fleeing monsters, and attacks that deal backstab damage are sometimes called '''sneak attacks'''. It is calculated as 1d''xplevel''.{{refsrc\|src/uhitm.c\|652\|nethack=3.6.0}} Only melee attacks count toward backstab damage.		In ''[[NetHack]]'', '''backstab''' refers to the extra damage done by [[Rogue]]s in melee against fleeing monsters, and attacks that deal backstab damage are sometimes called '''sneak attacks'''. It is calculated as 1d''xplevel''.{{refsrc\|src/uhitm.c\|652\|nethack=3.6.0}} Only melee attacks count toward backstab damage.
		+
		+	{{upcoming\|NetHack 3.7.0\|Per {{commit\|78217c3ebd36f6a797158dc121bbdabf796fbe79}}, the criteria for backstabbing a monster has changed. The target monster must not be [[amorphous]], [[whirly]], [[noncorporeal]], a [[blob]], an [[eye or sphere]] or a [[fungus]]. The target monster must be visible to the player, and it may be either fleeing, paralyzed or asleep.}}

	==Strategy==		==Strategy==

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-In ''[[NetHack]]'', '''backstab''' refers to the extra damage done by [[Rogue]]s on fleeing monsters; attacks doing backstab damage are sometimes called '''sneak attacks'''. It is calculated as 1d''xplevel''.{{refsrc|src/uhitm.c|652|nethack=3.6.0}} Only melee attacks count toward backstab damage.
+In ''[[NetHack]]'', '''backstab''' refers to the extra damage done by [[Rogue]]s in melee against fleeing monsters, and attacks that deal backstab damage are sometimes called '''sneak attacks'''. It is calculated as 1d''xplevel''.{{refsrc|src/uhitm.c|652|nethack=3.6.0}} Only melee attacks count toward backstab damage.
 ==Strategy==
@@ Line 7: / Line 7: @@
 ==History==
-In [[NetHack 3.4.3]] and variants based on it, any weapon's damage against a fleeing monster while not wielding two weapons would qualify for the backstab bonus, including thrown objects such as daggers. This was changed in [[3.6.0]], with the combined bonuses of multiple flying daggers being seen as too powerful.{{refsrc|src/uhitm.c|648|nethack=3.6.0}}
+In [[NetHack 3.4.3]] and previous versions, including some variants based on these versions, any weapon's damage against a fleeing monster while not wielding two weapons would qualify for the backstab bonus, including thrown objects such as daggers&mdash;this was seen as unbalancing and changed in [[NetHack 3.6.0]].{{refsrc|src/uhitm.c|648|nethack=3.6.0}}
 ==Variants==
 ===dNetHack===
 {{main|Sneak attack (dNetHack)}}
-[[dNetHack]] and [[notdNetHack]] expand upon the sneak attack mechanic, providing several new ways to sneak attack in addition to backstabbing fleeing enemies - there are more ways to gain the ability to perform sneak attacks, as well as ways to increase their power. Sneak attacks are also possible with ranged attacks as well as melee attacks, and monsters can perform sneak attacks themselves under the right circumstances.
+[[dNetHack]], [[notdNetHack]] and [[notnotdNetHack]] expand upon the sneak attack mechanic from NetHack 3.4.3, providing several new ways to perform sneak attacks in addition to backstabbing fleeing enemies: there are methods for heroes in other roles to gain the ability to perform sneak attacks, as well as ways to increase their power, and monsters can perform sneak attacks themselves under the right circumstances.
 ===xNetHack===
-In [[xNetHack]], backstab damage is limited by weapon skill; it can't go above d2/d4/d10/d20/d30 for Restricted/Unskilled/Basic/Skilled/Expert. Backstab damage applies when the monster is fleeing, trapped, frozen, unmoving, sleeping, stunned, confused, or blinded.
+In [[xNetHack]], backstab damage is applied when a Rogue performs a melee attack against a monster that is fleeing, trapped, immobilized, [[sleeping]], [[stunned]], [[confused]], or [[blinded]]. The bonus damage is dependent on weapon skill: +d2 for restricted weapons, +d4 for Unskilled, +d10 for Basic, +d20 for Skilled, and +d30 for Expert.
 ==References==

@@ Line 12: / Line 12: @@
 ===dNetHack===
 {{main|Sneak attack (dNetHack)}}
-[[dNetHack]] and [[notdNetHack]] expand upon the sneak attack mechanic from NetHack. There are several new ways to sneak attack in addition to backstabbing fleeing enemies, there are more ways to gain sneak attack capacity, and there are ways to increase the power of sneak attacks. Sneak attacks are also possible with ranged attacks as well as melee attacks, and monsters can perform sneak attacks as well as the player, under the right circumstances.
+[[dNetHack]] and [[notdNetHack]] expand upon the sneak attack mechanic, providing several new ways to sneak attack in addition to backstabbing fleeing enemies - there are more ways to gain the ability to perform sneak attacks, as well as ways to increase their power. Sneak attacks are also possible with ranged attacks as well as melee attacks, and monsters can perform sneak attacks themselves under the right circumstances.
 ===xNetHack===
@@ Line 19: / Line 19: @@
 ==References==
 <References/>
 {{stub}}
 {{nethack-366}}
 [[Category:Strategy]]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-In ''[[NetHack]]'', '''backstab''' refers to the extra damage done by [[Rogue]]s on fleeing monsters; attacks doing backstab damage are sometimes called '''sneak attacks'''. It is calculated as 1d''xplevel''.{{refsrc|uhitm.c|652|nethack=3.6.0}} Only melee attacks count toward backstab damage.
+In ''[[NetHack]]'', '''backstab''' refers to the extra damage done by [[Rogue]]s on fleeing monsters; attacks doing backstab damage are sometimes called '''sneak attacks'''. It is calculated as 1d''xplevel''.{{refsrc|src/uhitm.c|652|nethack=3.6.0}} Only melee attacks count toward backstab damage.
 ==Strategy==
@@ Line 7: / Line 7: @@
 ==History==
-In [[NetHack 3.4.3]] and variants based on it, any weapon's damage against a fleeing monster while not wielding two weapons would qualify for the backstab bonus, including thrown objects such as daggers. This was changed in [[3.6.0]], with the combined bonuses of multiple flying daggers being seen as too powerful.{{refsrc|uhitm.c|648|nethack=3.6.0}}
+In [[NetHack 3.4.3]] and variants based on it, any weapon's damage against a fleeing monster while not wielding two weapons would qualify for the backstab bonus, including thrown objects such as daggers. This was changed in [[3.6.0]], with the combined bonuses of multiple flying daggers being seen as too powerful.{{refsrc|src/uhitm.c|648|nethack=3.6.0}}
 ==Variants==
 ===dNetHack===
-In [[dNetHack]], in addition to Rogues, backstab dice are available to Drow [[Anachrononaut]]s, [[Convict]]s wielding a [[spoon#dNetHack|spoon]], any character with [[Spirits (dNetHack)#Andromalius, the Repentant Rogue|Andromalius]] bound, and [[lightsaber]]-wielders using the Juyo form. Backstab dice apply when the target is fleeing, trapped, unmoving, sleeping, [[Stun#Monster stunning|stunned]], [[confusion#Monster confusion|confused]], or [[blind]]ed. With the [[DNetHack artifacts#The Lifehunt Scythe|Lifehunt Scythe]], players can also backstab if the monster doesn't know their location.
+{{main|Sneak attack (dNetHack)}}
 ===xNetHack===

@@ Line 11: / Line 11: @@
 ==Variants==
 ===dNetHack===
-In [[dNetHack]], in addition to Rogues, backstab dice are available to Drow [[Anachrononaut]]s, [[Convict]]s (only when wielding a [[spoon#dNetHack|spoon]]), any character with [[Spirits (dNetHack)#Andromalius, the Repentant Rogue|Andromalius]] bound, and [[lightsaber]]-wielders using the Juyo form. Backstab dice apply when the target is fleeing, trapped, unmoving, sleeping, [[Stun#Monster stunning|stunned]], [[confusion#Monster confusion|confused]], or [[blind]]ed. With the [[DNetHack artifacts#The Lifehunt Scythe|Lifehunt Scythe]], players can also backstab if the monster doesn't know their location.
+In [[dNetHack]], in addition to Rogues, backstab dice are available to Drow [[Anachrononaut]]s, [[Convict]]s wielding a [[spoon#dNetHack|spoon]], any character with [[Spirits (dNetHack)#Andromalius, the Repentant Rogue|Andromalius]] bound, and [[lightsaber]]-wielders using the Juyo form. Backstab dice apply when the target is fleeing, trapped, unmoving, sleeping, [[Stun#Monster stunning|stunned]], [[confusion#Monster confusion|confused]], or [[blind]]ed. With the [[DNetHack artifacts#The Lifehunt Scythe|Lifehunt Scythe]], players can also backstab if the monster doesn't know their location.
 ===xNetHack===

@@ Line 2: / Line 2: @@
 <!--More Strategy tab would be nice here-->
 ==Strategy==
-A basic strategy is to inscribe Elbereth and then attack the monster as it turns to flee. This can be repeated ad infinitum, with the only limitation being your patience, but is probably not worth your time against monsters that you can kill easily. Musical instruments, mirrors, and all the other [[methods|Scare#Methods]] listed on the [[Scare]] page can help you inflict the scared/fleeing status.
+A basic strategy is to inscribe Elbereth and then attack the monster as it turns to flee. This can be repeated ad infinitum, with the only limitation being your patience, but is probably not worth your time against monsters that you can kill easily. Musical instruments, mirrors, and all the other [[Scare#Methods|methods]] listed on the [[Scare]] page can help you inflict the scared/fleeing status.
 ==History==
 In [[NetHack 3.4.3]] and variants based on it, any weapon's damage against a fleeing monster while not wielding two weapons would qualify for the backstab bonus, including thrown objects such as daggers. This was changed in [[3.6.0]], with the combined bonuses of multiple flying daggers being seen as too powerful.{{refsrc|uhitm.c|648|nethack=3.6.0}}