Backstab

Backstab
Backstab Level 14 Subtlety rogue ability Replaces [Sinister Strike] Melee range 35 Energy Instant Requires Daggers Stab the target, causing (57% of Attack Power) Physical damage. Damage increased by 20% when you are behind your target. Awards 1 combo point.
Properties
Class	Rogue
School	Physical
Cooldown	None/Global Cooldown
Other information
Level learned	14
Improvements	[Improved Backstab], [Inevitability], [Weaponmaster]

In the war between the Horde and the Alliance, grudges are taken to the hilt.^[1]

Backstab is a level 14 Subtlety rogue ability. It is a hard-hitting move that only works with a dagger in the main hand, and deals additional damage if standing behind the target.

Trivia

• Backstab is a basic Rogue spell in Hearthstone. The flavor text reads: "It's funny how often yelling "Look over there!" gets your opponent to turn around."

Patch changes

• Patch 10.1.0 (2023-05-02): Damage increased by 30% in PvP combat (was 20%).
  
• Patch 10.0.7 (2023-03-21): Damage increased by 20% in PvP combat.
  
• Hotfix (2022-11-01): Damage increased by 5%.
  
• Patch 10.0.0 (2022-10-25): Rank 2 converted into the [Improved Backstab] talent.
  
• Patch 9.1.0 (2021-06-29): Damage increased by 20%.
  
• Patch 9.0.1 (2020-10-13): Now learned at level 14 (was 10). Rank 2 added at level 46: When you are behind your target, Backstab now also exposes a flaw in their defenses, applying Find Weakness for 6 seconds.
  
• Patch 7.2.5 (2017-06-13):
  • Backstab base damage increased by 35%.
  • Backstab damage bonus from being behind the target reduced to 20% (was 30%).
    
• Patch 7.1.0 (2016-10-25): Now replaces [Sinister Strike].
  
• Patch 7.0.3 (2016-07-19): Damage increased by 47%, and deals 30% more damage if behind the target. Now learned at level 10 (was 40).
  
• Patch 6.2.0 (2015-06-23): Now deals 20% more damage.
  
• Hotfix (2014-12-15): Backstab's damage has increased by 20%.
  
• Patch 6.0.2 (2014-10-14): Backstab can now be used on either side of the target, in addition to behind the target. (See also: facing requirements)
  
• Patch 5.4.0 (2013-09-10): Now deals 380% weapon damage (up from 275%).
  
• Patch 5.0.4 (2012-08-28): Now a level 40 Subtlety specialization ability (was level 18 for all rogues). Energy cost reduced from 60 to 35 Energy. Weapon damage increased from 200% to 275%.
  
• Patch 4.0.1 (2010-10-12): Now causes 200% weapon damage, up from 150%. Now learned at level 18 (was 4).
  
• Patch 3.3.0 (2009-12-08): The tooltip on this ability will now update properly from talents which increase its damage by a percentage.
  
• Patch 1.8.0 (2005-10-10): Now uses normalized attack power.
  
• Patch 1.4.0 (2005-04-19): Backstab now properly increases the attack power contribution by the percent modifier.
  
• Patch 1.2.0 (2004-12-18): Backstab will automatically target the nearest enemy if no target is selected.
  
• Patch 0.10 (2004-09-18): You can backstab fleeing creatures again.
  
• Patch 0.7 (2004-06-15): Damage increased.
  

See also

• Backstab, TCG card

References

External links

• Wowhead
• WoWDB

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