Backstab

In NetHack, a backstab (or back stab) refers to any melee attack with a weapon that is performed by a hero in the role of a Rogue against a vulnerable monster.

Description

The following conditions must be met for a Rogue hero to be able to perform a backstab.

• The hero cannot be polymorphed.
• The monster must be scared, paralyzed, asleep, or otherwise helpless.
• The hero must be able to see the monster, e.g. it cannot be invisible unless the hero has see invisible.
• The monster cannot be amorphous, whirly or noncorporeal.
• The monster cannot be:
  • a blob
  • an eye or sphere
  • a fungus or mold

A hero that backstabs a monster deals +1dXL bonus damage to that monster.

Strategy

A basic means of utilizing backstabs is to inscribe Elbereth with a monster next to you, then step off to 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 of scaring can be used to set up easy backstabs.

Backstab is one of the few damage bonuses that are affected by double damage, so it can be very powerful with an appropriate artifact weapon. While it's impossible to backstab while twoweaponing, with high enough Dexterity switching between one and two weapons is a free action.

History

In versions up to NetHack 3.4.3, including some variants based on these versions, any weapon damage inflicted by a hero against a fleeing monster while that hero is not performing two weapon combat qualifies for the backstab bonus, including thrown objects such as daggers. NetHack 3.6.0 restricts this to melee weapon attacks only as a form of balancing. NetHack 5.0.0 establishes the other current conditions for backstabbing monsters via commit 78217c3e.

Variants

dNetHack

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 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.