History Main / BackStab

** And, finally, there's the heavy's pair of [[LethalJokeItem winter mittens]], the Holiday Punch, which, when punching someone from backstab range, forces them to stand in place and do their "Schadenfreude" taunt (laughing uncontrollably). Which can be exploited to [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOXQwBaKBqw hilarious]] ends. It even works on Übercharged enemies and Bonk scouts. Though they will remain invulnerable unless their charge runs out, the delay can waste much of the eight second uber. If the medic himself is hit however, he will not be able to heal for the duration of the taunt, meaning his teammate(s) will suddenly find themselves vulnerable.

* ''VideoGame/SouthParkTheStickOfTruth'': One of the special attacks of the [[CharacterClassSystem thief class]] is the Back Stab that pierces defense and can inflict the [[StatusEffects bleeding status]].

** Anyone can take advantage of flanking bonuses in ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins'' and ''VideoGame/DragonAgeII''. Rogues can develop more expert skill at this, with wider flanking angles, increase critical chance and danage, and completely penetrate defenses. [=DA2=] gives them this as an active attack, which allows them to FlashStep directly to the rear.

* The ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick'' follows ''D&D'' rules, so Haley the rogue gets a huge damage boost if she attacks unaware opponents. She's always an asset in combat, but by sneak attacking she can take even a story important character down in a few seconds (or round, in this case).

* It's a spell Lars can use in ''VideoGame/{{Aveyond}}'' if he chooses to join the the Elite Mage guild.

* In the ''VideoGame/MetalGear'' games, the player can sneak up on an enemy and point the gun at the back or side of the their head. This makes them drop their gun and, in ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid2'', lets you steal their Dog Tag.

* ''VideoGame/SouthParkTheStickOfTruth'': One of the special attacks of the [[CharacterClassSystem thief class]] is the Back Stab that pierces defense and can inflict the [[StandardStatusEffects bleeding status]].

** There's also "Your Eternal Reward", an alternate knife that sacrifices the Spy's ability to disguise, but upon use immediately disposes the victim's body and causes the Spy to take his appearance - allowing him to easily infiltrate and destroy a large group without them noticing.

*** The computer can even ''dodge'' attacks made in their back. Don't ask us how they pull that off.

[[folder:Real-Time Strategy]]
* The Stealth Assassin from ''[[VideoGame/DefenseOfTheAncients Defense of the Ancients: All-Stars]]'' has a Backstab skill that allows him to deal additional damage based on his Agility when attacking from behind.
[[/folder]]

*** From the Love & War Update comes the Back Scatter, a shotgun for the scout that gives a smaller clip size and less accuracy in exchange for doing extra damage when shooting someone in the back at close range.

*** From the same update comes the Backscatter, a shotgun for the scout that gives a smaller clip size and less accuracy in exchange for doing extra damage when shooting someone in the back at close range.

*** In the Love and War update, the pyro's axetinguisher was changed. It deals pitiful damage if you use it on a player that isn't burning, but if he is, you deal extra damage. This trope comes into play when the pyro attacks the burning person from behind, as it will result in a full critical hit.

* In ''VideoGame/XenobladeChronicles1'', Shulk, Fiora, and Riki all have arts that cause a significantly greater amount of damage when hitting from behind. There's also a gem that boosts the damage of all attacks that strike from behind by a large degree (Including the aforementioned arts), which can effectively make ''everything'' into a backstab.
** Shulk's art, Back Slash also appears in ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosForNintendo3DSAndWiiU'', with similar effects.
** Back Slash also comes back in the not-really sequel, ''VideoGame/XenobladeChroniclesX'', along with Ultraslash, which also deals bonus damage from behind.
* In ''VideoGame/EvilIslands'', backstab does extra damage but does not guarantee a kill. If you're attacking a strong enemy, you must be sure to aim to the head if possible to perform the most damage possible. You can also spend your EXP points into a backstap upgrade that increases damage when attacking from behind (the hero starts with this).
* In the ''VideoGame/{{Uncharted}}'' series melee attacking an enemy in the back will insta-kill them, assuming they haven't seen you.
* The [[CombatPragmatist Dark-type]] move Pursuit in the ''VideoGame/PokemonRumble'' series causes double damage when it hits enemies in the back. This is based on a move in the [[Franchise/{{Pokemon}} main series proper]] that hits an opponent attempting to switch out, inflicting double damage in the process (presumably by striking their back).
* ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'':
** In ''[[VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosMelee Melee]]'', once of the possible bonuses for Classic mode is the appropriately named "Backstabber", obtained for primarily attacking opponents from behind.
** ''[[VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosForNintendo3DSAndWiiU 3DS/Wii U]]'' adds two characters with attacks that have bonus effects if done in the back: Robin's [[LifeDrain Nosferatu]] absorbs more damage from the enemy is they are caught from behind, and Shulk's Back Slash has increased power if it strikes his oponnent's back, just like in [[VideoGame/XenobladeChronicles1 his home game]].
* In ''VideoGame/WorldOfTanks'', you'll find that attacking your opponents in the back to be very efficient, as tanks always have the armor strongest in front.
* In ''VideoGame/Borderlands2'', [=Zer0=] has a "Backstab" skill that gives him bonus melee damage if he attacks someone from the back as well as an "Ambush" skill that gives him bonus damage if he attacks enemies from behind or ones that aren't targeting him. Additionally, his [=Decepti0n=] Action Skill gives him a damage bonus if he attacks from cloak.
* All melee weapons in ''VideoGame/EYEDivineCybermancy'' can stealthily one-hit-kill any enemy (besides the [[FutureCopter Interceptor]]) with a back stab. On the other hand, most weapons don't particularly ''need'' the damage - the [[{{BFS}} Damocles]] sets enemies on fire and [[LudicrousGibs gibs them]], and the [[DropTheHammer Arrancadora De Tripas]] (Gut Ripper) creates warp distortions and lightning upon contact with flesh, ''then'' [[LudicrousGibs gibs them]]. Both weapons make a ton of noise when doing said special damage, which has [[FailedASpotCheck no effect on their stealthiness]]
* In ''VideoGame/FarCry3'', you can use various types of backstabbing that include: stabbing a person and then using their grenade or gun to kill more enemies, killing them from above or from below (from a ledge, for example), or throwing a knife to kill an enemy near the guy you just killed. Unlile other examples, you don't necessarily need to stab them in the back, they only need to be unprepared when you attack.
** ''VideoGame/FarCry3BloodDragon'' has, in addition to stealth backstabs, the ability to assassinate a second enemy with a shuriken immediately afterwards.
* Ajay from ''VideoGame/FarCry4'', can do this against the driver of another vehicle.
* ''VideoGame/BioShock1'' awards bonus damage for sneak attacks with the wrench as well as guns. This can get ridiculous by stacking tonics that increase the sneak attack damage of the wrench and the damage of the wrench in general, turning it into the strongest weapon in the game. Especially since you don't even need to actually play stealthily at all. Simply stun an enemy with Electro Bolt or Insect Swarm and the game will count them as being unaware of your presence for the duration of the stun even if they were just shooting at you a second ago, so you can walk right up to them and smack them right in the face and still get full damage for a "sneak" attack.
* The ''Burial at Sea'' {{DLC}} for ''VideoGame/BioShockInfinite'' adds the ability to perform sneak-kills with the Air Grabber, the Rapture equivalent of Columbia's Sky-Hook. If you melee an unaware enemy, it's a OneHitKill. Though when Elizabeth does it, they're just knocked unconscious for the duration, not killed. This is the only way to hurt enemies with the Air Grabber as Elizabeth; otherwise it just pushes them back.
* The ''VideoGame/SyphonFilter'' series also have stealth knife assassination.
* Corvo from ''VideoGame/{{Dishonored}}'', being a trained assassin, has this ability which can even work against ''other'' assassins.
* ''VideoGame/TheMatrixPathOfNeo'' has this as a FinishingMove.
* One of the weapons in ''VideoGame/MafiaTheCityOfLostHeaven'' was the baseball bat. A fully charged swing from behind would knock anyone out cold instantly. There was [[AwesomeButImpractical little use]] for this (Mafia being a [[ThirdPersonShooter run-and-gun game]] for the most part, after all), but there's a part of "Better Get Used To It" mission where Tommy and Paulie are beating the crap out of the hoodlums with bats - and with careful maneuvering around the bad guys, Tommy could score several [[OneHitKill one-hit-KOs]] this way. Just be careful not to hit ''[[NonStandardGameOver Paulie]]'' with this attack.
* In ''VideoGame/Postal2'', the Balisong is not all that strong a weapon when used from the front, even against civilians, but shank an unaware person from behind and the damage is enough that most will go down in one stab. This is ''not'' guaranteed on cops, soldiers, or Taliban, however.
* ''VideoGame/AgeOfWonders 3'' allows a form of this for every melee attacker unless the target is guarding, which is called Flanking. But if the unit has the Backstab ability, it hurts a lot more.
* In ''VideoGame/TheAgeOfDecadence'', attacks to the back of a character inflict 10 bonus damage, while attacks to the flanks inflict 5.
* In the SurvivalHorror video games ''VideoGame/TheEvilWithin'' and ''VideoGame/ResidentEvilRevelations2'', backstabbing is one of the combat options that it behooves a player to master, since straight-up melee combat is less than stellar and ammunition is rare and best saved for bosses (who are immune to this ability, obviously). Exactly how the stealth kill is achieved depends on the character; Sebastian grabs his enemy by the throat and drives his knife into their skull, Claire and Barry knock their victim down and stab them with their knives, and Moira bludgeons them over the head with her crowbar.
* This is a feature in the ''VideoGame/TelepathRPG'' series: attacks from behind get a 50% damage boost. Most of the strategy involves getting as many backstabs as possible, or protecting your own units from them. Assassins are a CriticalHitClass that specializes in this: their attacks can go up to a 200% bonus instead of the usual 50%.
* The Elf in ''VideoGame/DragonsCrown'' has the Backstab skill, which lets her deal more damage[[note]]up to an additional 300% at max skill level[[/note]] whenever she attacks an enemy from behind with a [[KnifeNut dagger]].
* In ''VideoGame/LetItDie'', you ''suplex'' unaware enemies from behind, and since it's this game's equivalent of a stealth attack no one hears your fighter screaming when he smashes their friend's head to the ground.
* ''VideoGame/{{Flashback}}'''s 2013 remake gives Conrad an "Execution Sneak" ability, and awards the "Finish Him" achievement for pulling it off for the first time.
* All melee weapons in ''VideoGame/{{Warframe}}'' can be used for a sneak attack with many different animations depending on the weapon being used from the traditional back stab with a sword or dagger to having their throat slit, being garroted with a whip, a NeckSnap with bare hands, or being knocked to their knees and beheaded with a large axe.
* In ''VideoGame/{{SYNTHETIK}}'', the Assassin class has "Scoundrel's Dagger". Stabbing the enemy from behind will deal 2x damage.
* In ''VideoGame/FellSealArbitersMark'', the Scoundrel class’s Sneak Attack inflicts massive damage when attacking the target from the back or the sides. In general, most attacks do more damage when attacking from any direction other than the front.

* In ''VideoGame/TheSaboteur'' Sean can upgrade his perks to allow him to stab someone from behind, and they will stand still for a few seconds, giving Sean plenty of time to run away before someone notices.
* The Scout class in ''VideoGame/TransformersWarForCybertron'' has access to an ability called Backstab that increases melee damage (and since the Scout's melee weapon is a blade, it's a proper stab), though not enough to allow for a one-hit kill. In reference to certain more infamous instances of this trope, scoring a Backstab-boosted melee kill earns a bonus called "Rogue".
* ''VideoGame/SouthParkTheStickOfTruth'': One of the special attacks of the [[CharacterClassSystem thief class]] is the Back Stab that pierces defense and can inflict the [[StandardStatusEffects bleeding status]].
* In ''VideoGame/RunesOfMagic'', the Rogue class has two abilities that require you be behind the target, and a skill that instantly warps you behind your target. Backstabs, however, are not the main focus of the class.
* Sneaking behind someone in ''VideoGame/AlphaProtocol'' gives you the option of a back stab or a nonlethal takedown with a button prompt. Both are {{One Hit Kill}}s that cause the victim to go down for the count silently, but the killing one is slightly faster.
* As mentioned above in TabletopGames, this is a favored Rogue tactic in ''VideoGame/DungeonsAndDragonsOnline''. One of the best ways to get a Sneak Attack on someone is to use your Sneak ability to get behind them and then make with the stabbity.
* The next gen ''VideoGame/NinjaGaiden 3'' allows you to use these on occasions. Seeing [[HighlyVisibleNinja Ryu Hayabusa]] using stealth sure is at odds with the rest of the series.
* Many humanoid enemies (and a few nonhumanoid ones) can be backstabbed in ''VideoGame/DarkSouls''. Especially effective when paired with the Hornet Ring, which increases Critical damage by 50%.
** In multiplayer, backstabs are infamous for being overpowered or at least very unfair because of HitBoxDissonance and lag, especially since the moment you ''start'' an attack from a position considered the "back" your opponent is immobilized until the attack is complete, letting people "fish" for backstabs by suddenly rolling to someone's side, locking on mid-roll to change direction, then attacking. For this reason ''VideoGame/DarkSoulsII'' changed the mechanic so an attack from the back just ''starts'' a stab which doesn't immobilize the enemy until it makes contact, giving them a chance to dodge or turn around.
** The Ironclad enemies in ''Dark Souls II'' wear armor that resemble tortoise shells that NoSell backstabs. Getting behind them is actually a bad idea since they will simply fall backwards to deal heavy damage. Player characters who wear the armor also enjoy immunity to backstabs. The Jester's Robe also prevents backstabs and other sources of {{Critical Hit}}s from doing extra damage, though the animation will still play.
* ''VideoGame/{{Bloodborne}}'' changes the backstab mechanic into visceral attack. In order to backstab an enemy, you have to land a charge attack from behind to stagger the enemy, then land the visceral attack.
** An unfortunate example includes the [[https://youtu.be/qOHuRA-8i5E?t=31 Maneater Boar]], should you make an attempt to "[[AssShove backstab]]" it...

* ''VideoGame/PsiOpsTheMindgateConspiracy'' has a single stealth attack, smacking someone over the head when their back is turned. Notable in that most players would be too busy throwing their enemies around like rag dolls and setting them on fire to notice this feature.
* ''VideoGame/{{Oni}}'' has the Backbreaker move, which can only be performed when behind a target but can OneHitKill most enemies.
* You can even do this in ''VideoGame/RedDeadRedemption'' if you come up behind someone with the throwing knife out. And yes, it's very awesome.

* In the later ''VideoGame/CallOfDuty'' games, the player's knife is an instant kill to unsuspecting enemies.

* ''VideoGame/KingdomsOfAmalurReckoning'' has enhanced damage for non-detected backstabs with a dagger weapon.

* ''VideoGame/RagnarokOnline'' has this as one of the Rogue class' skills. It's strong enough to take out weaker enemies in a single hit, but eventually gets completely overshadowed by stronger, less situational skills, largely due to it receiving a nerf that causes targets struck by it to automatically turn around, preventing it from being spammed.

* The ''Thunder Dome II'' and ''Thunder Dome X'' {{MUD}}s have the greatest variety of sneak attacks. Rogues could backstab to initiate combat and later circle to get multiple backstabs in the same combat. Assassins could also disembowel, a surprise attack to the guts. Spies could interdict for massive damage at the start of a fight, and attempt again in midfight. A ninja could neck-break, often an instant kill performed barehanded. Pirates could throat-stab. Barbarians and wrestlers could suicide roll, grappling an enemy from behind and spinning backward, smashing the enemy's head into the ground.

* In ''VideoGame/TheGodfather: The Game'' you can garrote an enemy if you manage to sneak up behind him unnoticed. It's not particularly powerful, though; its only real use is to take out the victim without alerting people not in line of sight, and since standard strangulation from the front is equally silent, the only real advantage is the extra Respect. In the sequel the NeckSnap is at least faster and you can also order Bruisers to do stealth kills. You will also occasionally have enemy mobsters attacking you from behind [[TeleportingKeycardSquad even if you cleared the path beforehand.]]
* If you attack an enemy from behind in ''VideoGame/DemonsSouls'' this is what will happen. Especially useful for the Thief class and pretty much any dagger user because daggers are the only weapon that get an extra bonus (even more than others weapons) doing so, and fatal daggers pretty much do Massive Damage in these situations.
* In the free MMORPG ''VideoGame/{{Lunia}}'', Tia has the backstab attack, whose damage is tripled if she uses it against the enemy's back.
* In ''VideoGame/{{Gladius}}'', you get a huge bonus to damage if you hit an enemy from behind. Many lightweight gladiators, especially bandits, also have a Backstab attack.
* In the ''VideoGame/MechWarrior'' series, armor is lighter on the rear of the battlemechs. Attacking from behind allows lighter vehicles to cripple even a MightyGlacier with a little luck. In ''Mechwarrior Living Legends'', destroying an enemy's rear armor will damage their reactor and limit their speed to a crawl, and any subsequent damage inflicts a large damage multiplier on the vehicle's Center Torso or Hull.
** In G-Nome, another(less popular) mech title, [=HAWCs=] are similarly poorly armored from behind. This doesn't hold true for all of them, as the shape and contour of many of the stranger vehicles mean there is no "behind."
** Also true for Mechwarrior's direct competitor, ''TabletopGame/HeavyGear.'' The reason for this is that in pretty much every Gear, the all-important engine is mounted in a large, exposed backpack arrangement. Even the thickest available engine armor isn't enough to prevent damage for very long, whereas sufficiently thick body frame armor will deflect lesser rounds all day. [[AttackItsWeakPoint Destroy the engine and you destroy the Gear]].
* In ''VideoGame/MassEffect2'', the {{DLC}} character [[ClassyCatBurglar Kasumi Goto's]] signature ability is Shadow Strike. She cloaks herself, making her invisible to everyone (including you), runs up to an enemy, and stabs them, at which point she turns visible again. It's notable mainly for being one of only ''two'' melee abilities in the ''entire game'' (the other is [[MagicKnight Vanguard]] Shepard's Charge).
** Playing as an Infiltrator class can also give you a damage bonus if you attack while invisible.
** Stealth kills returned in ''VideoGame/MassEffect3'', with Shepard now able to ''pull enemies from behind cover'' (after sneaking into melee range) to stab them to death with the omni-blade. In addition, each character class has its own heavy melee attack, usually a variation on the omni-blade stab. (If playing a biotic class, the omni-blade is replaced by a [[ElementalPunch biotically-charged punch or backhand]].)
*** In multiplayer, the N7 Shadow (essentially a cross between the Infiltrator and Cerberus Phantoms, complete with sword) gets a version of Kasumi's Shadow Strike as one of their abilities. Slightly weird in that the ability teleports the user behind the target's ''field of view'' rather than the character model; if your target is peeking out from cover, you'll materialise in front of their body (instead of inside whatever they're hiding behind), but 180° from where they're looking.
*** The Vanguard's Biotic Charge + a heavy melee from behind the target, or a heavy melee from behind by a cloaked Infiltrator, can also have this effect.
* ''VideoGame/CastlevaniaDawnOfSorrow'' has the Dead Pirate soul - you can attack enemies from behind normally, but this soul allows Soma to do double damage to an enemy attacked from behind. Combine it with a strong soul or weapon, and the damage output can be rather high!
* Evelynn the {{Dhampyr}} assassin in ''VideoGame/LeagueOfLegends'' has a skill called Ravage (not so much a stab as a vicious rending with her talons) which decreases the target's armour and magic resistance if she hits them in the back with it. Combined with her stealth abilities and high spike damage, she can appear out of nowhere and inflict monstrous damage in a matter of seconds. It's notable for being one of only a few skills in the game which take facing into account.
** Shaco's passive does extra physical damage from the rear, and has a similar stealth ability as Evelynn, except his guarantees a critical strike on hit.
* The thief class in the ''VideoGame/QuestForGlory'' series could sometimes do this. In the fifth game, the thief could sneak up behind certain enemies and knock them out with a blackjack to the back of the head. In the FanRemake of the second game, the thief could sneak up on random enemies in the desert and throw a dagger in their back for extra damage. (if your strength and throwing were high enough, this would usually drop the lesser monsters in one hit)
* Thieves and Assassins in ''VideoGame/DiscworldMUD'' get this command. All players can learn the similar Ambush command.

* In ''VideoGame/NeverwinterNights'' (3rd edition ''[[TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons D&D]]'') the assassin has a chance to not only do massive damage but also paralyze an opponent on a successful "death attack" as long as the opponent is unaware of their presence (stealth mode). This is partially subverted by the primarily fighter based feat "devastating critical" where a noisy, clanking, plate mail wearing powerhouse actually does a one shot critical hit kill without any sneaking or flat-footing of the foe.
* ''VideoGame/NexusClash'' gives bonus damage for attacking from hiding, at the cost of some accuracy. However, it is that it's possible to sneak attack somebody over and over again. In one earlier version of the game, it was possible to sneak attack [[CarFu with a fire truck]]. The [[FallenAngel Fallen]] even have a whole skill tree of backstabbing-based powers that employ a special backstabbing dagger.
* ''VideoGame/PhantasyStarOnline2'''s Fighter class has the "Wise Stance" skill, which increases damage dealt when hitting enemies from behind but decreases the damage from attacking head-on. (Their other skill, "Brave Stance", is the opposite.)
* ''VideoGame/PrinceOfPersiaTheTwoThrones'' gives the Prince the ability to do something called "[[QuickTimeEvent Speed Kills]]" where if the enemy doesn't know you're there you can basically jump on their back and kill them instantly.
** These become pretty important late in the game, when failing to use Speed Kills will result in being outnumbered in the ensuing battle very quickly. Against enemies that ''love'' to counter your every attack. And those Quicktime Events were the ONLY way to finish off certain bosses. If you kept failing the speed kill, the boss just would not die.
* ''VideoGame/{{Prototype}}'' allows you to do a stealth kill from behind, which allows you to kill someone and immediately take their place without alerting anyone, as opposed to simply killing them with gore all around.
** Inverted in the trailer, which had a move not in the game where blades came out of Mercer's back into a guy who had grabbed him from behind.
* ''VideoGame/Rockman4MinusInfinity'': In certain battles, Shadowman will seemingly leap off-screen before performing this OneHitKill move.
* The "Mortal Rising" skill that Dhan assassins get in the MMORPG ''VideoGame/RohanOnline'' allows a chance for a crit on the first attack that you make out of stealth mode, which goes up to 100% when maxed-out (pretty much guaranteeing a crit on the first attack), and is especially nasty when used with "Deadly Blow," a buff which increases your crit damage based on how much Agility you have. "Sudden Attack" is another skill that allows you to attack for high damage while still in stealth mode before coming out of it for combat.
* ''VideoGame/SlyCooper'':
** In all games since [[VideoGame/Sly2BandOfThieves the second one]] Sly can [[OneHitKill OHKO]] enemies if he gets right behind them without being detected. Otherwise he has to brawl and they usual alert other guards that way. This move is still somewhat noisy, until it's upgraded to 'Silent Obliteration'.
** Bentley gets this ability in [[VideoGame/Sly3HonorAmongThieves the third game]], even if you omit the sleep dart. By slipping a BOMB into the back pocket. Sneaky, yes; stealthy, doubtful.
* Flece from ''VideoGame/{{Summoner}}'' had a backstab ability that could get completely of hand. Not only could a number of items giving stackable bonuses to backstab raise it to absurd levels about half way through the game, but Flece had a bunch of abilities that could knock an enemy prone in the heat of combat (virtually unopposed with a chain attack.) Since you get huge bonuses when attacking prone enemies, this means Flece could repeatedly deal well over [=3000HP=] of damage in a couple of attacks, vastly outclassing the rest of the party.
** Sangaril has the same ability in ''VideoGame/Summoner2''. If the enemy doesn't realize she's there, it deals such heavy damage that in most cases it's a one-hit KO. Once she learns Paralyze, you're pretty much set. It's no use on Bosses or monsters who are resistant to Piercing, though.
* The chief ''modus operandi'' of the Spy class in ''VideoGame/TeamFortressClassic'' and ''VideoGame/TeamFortress2''.
** The Pyro has a weapon suited for this tactic, the Backburner, which, while not a guaranteed instant kill, triples the already high flamethrower damage when used from behind (and even if the enemy gets away, there is a good chance that he'll die from the burn damage). The problem is the Knife registers a backstab from 80 degrees to each side of the enemy's back… axis, and the Backburner, only 45 degrees. In addition, if the target turns around after being fired at, the triple damage stops rolling in and the Pyro is quickly blasted in the face (compared to the Spy's backstab being instant death). Hence the fandom name "[=BADburner=]"…
*** In the Love and War update, the pyro's axetinguisher was changed. It deals pitiful damage if you use it on a player that isn't burning, but if he is, you deal extra damage. This trope comes into play when the pyro attacks the burning person from behind, as it will result in a full critical hit.
*** From the same update comes the Backscatter, a shotgun for the scout that gives a smaller clip size and less accuracy in exchange for doing extra damage when shooting someone in the back at close range.
** There are a handful of counters for the Spy's instant-kill backstab: A Medic's [=UberCharge=] (active) makes him invulnerable, the Sniper's Razorback shield (passive) blocks one backstab attempt and momentarily paralyzes the Spy's hands[[note]]i.e. prevents attacking or switching weapons[[/note]] and a Scout with Bonk! Atomic Punch (active) which makes him invulnerable. Throughout the game's patching other ways have existed to survive being backstabbed without invulnerability, such as the Spy's Dead Ringer watch (active) which fakes death and once reduced damage by 9/10 (since the back stab's damage is equal to 6 times your health they only lose about half their current health). As of this time any backstab against a target which is not invulnerable will kill.
** There's also "Your Eternal Reward", an alternate knife that sacrifices the Spy's ability to disguise, but upon use immediately disposes the victim's body and causes the Spy to take his appearance - allowing him to easily infiltrate and destroy a large group without them noticing.
** Due to some glitches the spy can sometimes backstab people in the face. This is usually referred to by the community as a facestab. Also the inverse can happen where a spy can slash at someone's back registering as if you were attacking the from the front. And even sometimes the game registers a hit, and plays a sound, but nothing else happens. This is sometimes called a failstab. This bug happens when 2 players have different ping of 100 or more, or the server had a small bug. Reattemping to do the stab again works most of the time.
** And, finally, there's the heavy's pair of [[LethalJokeItem winter mittens]], the Holiday Punch, which, when punching someone from backstab range, forces them to stand in place and do their "Schadenfreude" taunt (laughing uncontrollably). Which can be exploited to [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOXQwBaKBqw hilarious]] ends. It even works on Übercharged enemies and Bonk scouts. Though they will remain invulnerable unless their charge runs out, the delay can waste much of the eight second uber. If the medic himself is hit however, he will not be able to heal for the duration of the taunt, meaning his teammate(s) will suddenly find themselves vulnerable.
* The ''VideoGame/{{Tenchu}}'' series was practically built around these, as a ninja kills without being seen. If you can get into striking range of your target without being spotted by him or anybody else, your attack instantly kills him - in a rather flashy way - without so much as rousing the guards. ''Tenchu 3'' has a separate one for every possible way you could approach a target and a special one that's triggered when your target is standing on an incline.
* In the ''VideoGame/{{Thief}}'' series, Garrett can knock out guards with a single hit from his blackjack on the noggin. He can also kill most unalerted enemies with a single blow from his weapon (a short sword in ''[[VideoGame/ThiefTheDarkProject Dark Project]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/ThiefIITheMetalAge Metal Age]]''; a dagger in ''[[VideoGame/ThiefDeadlyShadows Deadly Shadows]]''), or (versus human enemies) with a broadhead arrow to the head. However, the resultant noise and blood stains, and mission requirements that discourage or even ban killing on higher difficulty levels, make blackjacking the more practical method of enemy elimination. ''Deadly Shadows'' plays this trope the straightest, as you must be directly behind the target to score a blackjack or backstab.
* The ''Thunder Dome II'' and ''Thunder Dome X'' {{MUD}}s have the greatest variety of sneak attacks. Rogues could backstab to initiate combat and later circle to get multiple backstabs in the same combat. Assassins could also disembowel, a surprise attack to the guts. Spies could interdict for massive damage at the start of a fight, and attempt again in midfight. A ninja could neck-break, often an instant kill performed barehanded. Pirates could throat-stab. Barbarians and wrestlers could suicide roll, grappling an enemy from behind and spinning backward, smashing the enemy's head into the ground.
* In ''VideoGame/{{Titanfall}}'', enemies on foot (including Grunts, Specters, and other Pilots) can be dispatched immediately from behind with an attack from the rear which replaces their kick with a NeckSnap.
* In ''VideoGame/VampireTheMasqueradeBloodlines'', you can Sneak behind most anthropomorphic enemies (i.e. humans and vampires but not monsters) and perform a "stealth kill".\\
\\
To elaborate, the "stealth kills" include:
** NeckSnap with your bare hands (also the default animation if you carry a ranged weapon).
** SlashedThroat with a knife.
** [[ImpaledWithExtremePrejudice Chest Impalement]] with a katana or anything similar (complete with japanese sound effect).
** Swinging your [[DropTheHammer sledgehammer]] above your head and smashing your enemy's head into tiny little pieces. No kidding.
** Swinging a bush hook into the victim's neck at high speed, both impaling ''and'' breaking the neck at the same time.
** Another more useful (if less satisfying) method of back stabbing was to sneak up on a (humanoid) foe, grab him, and suck his blood till he drops dead. Not only is it stealthy, it also replenishes your blood supply, which allows you to use [[FunctionalMagic Disciplines]]. A good strategy for character with a low stealth stat but have the Trance Discipline is to use it on any unwary foe, run up, drain him dry, [[GameBreaker and repeating the routine for the next 50 enemies or so]].
* ''VideoGame/KingdomsOfAmalurReckoning'' has enhanced damage for non-detected backstabs with a dagger weapon.
* Rogues in ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'' get several moves which are only effective from behind:
** Backstab (self explanatory), which requires a dagger in the main hand.
** Garrote (does damage over time)
** Ambush (a more powerful version of Backstab which can only be used while stealthed)
** Shadowstep (instantly teleports the rogue behind their target and increases their movement speed and the damage of their next attack (absolutely lethal when its combined with one of the above. It can easily deal 3000 damage with no twinking).
** And there's Cheap Shot, a move that stuns the target and gives two combo points (other skills give one). It's as cheap as it sounds. Although only requires stealth or the Subtlety tree's Shadow Dance, the rogue can smack some muppet in the face if they so choose.
** Druids can change into catform to imitate Rogues, having several moves that can only be used from behind as well: Shred and Ravage (roughly equal to Backstab and Ambush, respectively). Pounce on the other hand (which stuns and has a similiar effect to Garrote) only requires stealth but can be used frontal aswell (although doing so is riskier).
** Furthermore, ''all'' melee attacks benefit from the attacker being behind the target. Attacks made in this manner cannot be parried or blocked. [[TheAIIsACheatingBastard Unless you're attacking an NPC]].
*** The computer can even ''dodge'' attacks made in their back. Don't ask us how they pull that off.
* In ''VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublic'', the Scoundrel class gets a "Sneak attack" feat that does extra damage to an opponent that is facing away from the attacker or otherwise incapacitated (stun, stasis, horror). A particularly fun and nasty trick against Mandalorian raiders or Dark Jedi is to have your PC and one character draw their fire while you have Mission a little ways away in stealth mode, armed with the nastiest melee weapons you have on hand. Have her sneak up on the biggest mook and engage critical strike. Takes a little work, but the result is worth it.
* ''VideoGame/StarWarsTheOldRepublic'''s Scoundrel class has the Backblast ability, which is a backstab ''with a shotgun''.
** And the Operative class, the Imperial mirror of the Scoundrel, has the more traditional backstab with a (vibro)knife.
** Over on the Force-using side of things, the Jedi Shadow and Sith Assassin have similar abilities that use a [[DoubleWeapon double-bladed]] [[LaserBlade lightsaber]].
* ''Franchise/DragonAge'' Rogue class are capable of the same thing. Park Leliana or Zevran behind an enemy to inflict massive damage.
** Anyone can take advantage of flanking bonuses in ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins'' and ''VideoGame/DragonAgeII''. Rogues can develop more expert skill at this, with wider flanking angles, increase critical chance and danage, and completely penetrate defenses. [=DA2=] gives them this as an active attack, which allows them to FlashStep directly to the rear.
* ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamAsylum'' gives the eponymous hero a few low-profile KO moves like the Silent Takedown (performed from behind) or the appropriately named Corner Takedown. In Predator stages, these moves can be pretty important since most enemies are packing heat and you can't take sustained fire for very long. In ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamCity'' Batman can also perform a quicker but noisier Knockout Smash.

* ''VideoGame/MarcEckosGettingUpContentsUnderPressure'': Sneaking up behind an enemy and thwacking them on the back of the head with a can of spray paint.
* In the ''VideoGame/MetalGear'' games, the player can sneak up on an enemy and point the gun at the back or side of the their head. This makes them drop their gun and, in ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid2'', lets you steal their Dog Tag.
** In ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid4'', when the player does this they can now execute a 'body search' feature, which will usually make for gaining better items then found normally from enemies.
** In ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid3'' onwards, it's difficult to perform the CQC Grab (and follow up with a chokehold or throat slit) unless you approach your target from behind.
** In ''VideoGame/MetalGearRisingRevengeance'' if Raiden can get behind an enemy, he can stab them in the back and slice them apart for a Zandatsu. Averted in the Jetstream DLC, with Sam lacking any stealth attacks and can only kill in direct combat.
* The ''VideoGame/{{MOTHER}}'' series has this (you got a free hit at the start of the battle, or an instant kill if you were overleveled), but you also could be attacked from behind yourself.
** Somewhat awesomely, Duster the thief from ''VideoGame/MOTHER3'' has the ability to potentially make the enemy's preemptive attack effort blow up in their faces by either hitting them with a spinning back kick, still getting the first attack in the round, or by jumping behind them, where the battle begins as if ''you'' were the one to sneak up on them.

* ''VideoGame/Left4Dead'' has an achievement for killing Infected in a single shove. The only way to do so is to shove an oblivious Common in the back.
* In ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaPhantomHourglass'', the dangerous Phantoms can only be defeated from behind (and only if you have the proper weapon to do so).
** In ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess Twilight Princess]]'', the Back Slice involves jumping all the way around the enemy du jour and slicing into their back.
** Similarly one of the parry attacks in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheWindWaker'' involves rolling under the enemy's attack, around behind him, and slashing. More standard backstabs are also effective against moblins: though they don't do any extra damage the moblin will spend the next few seconds jumping around in pain.
** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaBreathOfTheWild'' allows you to sneak up on enemies from behind (here known as "sneakstrike") to do several times your weapon's regular damage, often one-shotting enemies.
* You can execute a variety of one-hit kill attacks (depending on armament) from behind in ''VideoGame/{{Lugaru}}: The Rabbit's Foot'' while your victim is startled or if you sneak up unnoticed. Thrown knives are also a one-hit kill on unarmored {{mooks}}, but are almost always dodged by wary targets.
** One of these, with the sword, is actually called "Backstabber" (the others are "Spinecrusher" for the unarmed melee move, and "Tracheotomy" for the knive-to-the-throat).
* The ''[[Franchise/SuperMarioBros Mario]]'' {{RPG}}s, although its usually a pre-emptive attack rather than starting the battle from behind.

[[folder:Video Games]]
* In ''VideoGame/ArcanumOfSteamworksAndMagickObscura'' there's a Backstab skill that gives you a good damage bonus if you attack an enemy from behind, and a HUGE damage bonus if you attack from behind and the enemy is also unaware of your presence.
* ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedI'' had two different versions of these; the discreet Low Profile Kills you could do within two feet of a guard and walk away from without attracting attention, and the flashy High Profile Kills that scared the crap out of everyone but could be initiated while running and from a greater distance.

* It's a spell Lars can use in ''VideoGame/{{Aveyond}}'' if he chooses to join the the Elite Mage guild.
* The ''VideoGame/{{Battlefield}}'' Series. Getting knifed in the back is a humiliating way to go in multiplayer.
** Varies by the game. In ''VideoGame/Battlefield2142'' and the ''[[VideoGame/BattlefieldBadCompany Bad Company]]'' series, every hit with a knife is lethal. Aside from ''Bad Company'' 1, however, the time it takes to draw and use your knife is generally longer than how quickly an enemy can just shoot you, it's generally only safe to utilizing it as a backstab.
** ''VideoGame/Battlefield3'' actually rewards you with a special animation if you manage to pull off this move off, involving your guy stabbing the enemy and removing their dogtags in a single stroke.
* The Thief classes and the Ranger subclass Stalker in the ''Franchise/BaldursGate'' series can backstab. The Assassin class appears in the second game as a Thief subclass. Along with a couple other benefits, their backstab multiplier tops out at x7 (at level 21) instead of x5 (at level 13) for other Thief classes. Someone on Bioware's forums twinked out an assassin as much as the game's rules would allow and got 1064 damage out of ''one backstab'' – easily more than enough to {{one|HitKill}}-shot anything not immune to backstabs.
* Similar to the flanking maneuver in ''D&D'', ''VideoGame/BattleForWesnoth'' gives some attacks the "backstab" trait, which causes double damage when flanking a target.
** More precisely, some units have the weapon special "backstab", which causes double damage to the target if the attack that's got the weapon special is used and there's a unit hostile to the target behind it.

* ''VideoGame/TheBindingOfIsaac'': The item Backstabber causes Isaac' tears to deal double damage and apply a hefty DamageOverTime if they hit enemies from behind.

* In ''VideoGame/ChronoTrigger'', sneaking up behind a guard during the prison break-out scene allows you to 1-hit them to make them 'Pass out' without an actual fight scene.
* The Stealth Assassin from ''[[VideoGame/DefenseOfTheAncients Defense of the Ancients: All-Stars]]'' has a Backstab skill that allows him to deal additional damage based on his Agility when attacking from behind.
* In ''City of Villains'', the "Assassin's Strike" and "Hide" abilities are the entire ''point'' of the Stalker class, which is otherwise a somewhat weaker version of ''VideoGame/CityOfHeroes''' Scrapper.
** ''Were''. The Assassin's Strike itself was changed so it lands a To Hit Debuff on everything within 30 feet and has a 25% chance of making everything within 30 feet quake in fear. Furthermore, their overall damage was raised, and they now possess a chance to land critical hits outside of Hidden status, a higher chance than that of Scrappers! In addition to this, each teammate within a certain distance of them grants a + 3% addition to their critical hit chance. On a tightly grouped team, a Stalker can have up to 31% chance to land a critical! Scrappers are still better head on combatants, but Stalkers hold their own in a fight.
*** A Stalker attack always has a chance to crit. If performed from stealth, it's a 100% chance to crit, thanks to their class ability "Assassination". Using the special "assassin's strike" attack allows them to Backstab the opponent for extra damage. Toss Placate in, and they can get a free crit or even another Backstab in ''while in the middle of a fight''. The Arachnos Epic Archetypes also possess this ability (with the sole exception of the Crab Spider).

* ''VideoGame/DivinityOriginalSin'' and ''VideoGame/DivinityOriginalSinII'' both feature this as an offensive tactic for characters wielding daggers and other small blades. In the first one, a character must learn a talent to unlock it, and it can be hard to line characters up right; in the second, anyone can do it as long as they have the right weapons equipped, and there's a handy cone stretching behind enemies that shows where you need to be standing to do it. Backstabs are automatic critical hits, which start at 55% more damage and scale with other skills.
* Heavily used by certain builds in ''VideoGame/DungeonCrawl'', where it ''multiplies'' damage according to your Stabbing skill.

* ''VideoGame/Fallout3'' includes backstabbing, along with ''stealth chainsaw kills''. Attacking in general while undetected results in a [[CriticalHit Sneak Attack Critical]] on whoever is hit. While not necessarily a guaranteed kill, it provides a very high damage bonus for executing.
** Earlier titles have the Silent Death perk, which grants double damage for melee attacks from behind while sneaking.
* ''VideoGame/Fallout4'' also has backstabbing, and includes the perk Ninja, which increases the amount of damage dealt when attacking an unaware target.

* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXI'' has the Thief class have two different abilities: Sneak Attack, which deals large damage when behind an enemy, and Trick Attack, which, at first, deals somewhat more damage than a normal attack when behind a ''party member'', and passing the hate from that attack to that party member. Both are normally combined, normally called SATA, to ensure the [[StoneWall tank]] has good hate, but this changes at level 60, when the Assassin trait allows Trick Attack to have the same massive damage effect as Sneak Attack, and thusly both abilities are used separately, normally using a [[LimitBreak Weapon Skill]] with Trick Attack.
** In addition, the Ninja class gains the Innin ability at level 40, which, while not a "true" backstab, gives them a decent size bonus to accuracy and critical hit chance when attacking from behind (at the expense of lowering their own evasion) for a short time.
* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyTacticsAdvance'' has comparable abilities to ''Dark Messiah of VideoGame/MightAndMagic'': they don't need to be executed from behind, but with all other skills, doing so significantly increases their chance of success.
** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyTacticsA2'' replaces the accuracy boost (which would be unnecessary because most attacks are perfectly accurate by default) with more damage: 50% extra on the sides, 100% extra in the back. The ''Sneak Attack'' skill is the closest to an actual backstab as it changes the side boost to 100% and the back damage boost to ''300%''.
** And in the original ''[[VideoGame/FinalFantasyTactics Tactics]]'', while attacking from behind usually didn't boost damage, it ''did'' guarantee a hit with physical attacks, ignoring dodge or block bonuses from shields. The [[BarehandedBladeBlock Sword Grasp]] ability still worked fine, though.

** In fact, all games based on the ''VideoGame/TacticsOgre'' formula grant some form of attack bonus when you attack from behind (and a slightly diminished one when attacking from the side). ''Franchise/{{Disgaea}}'' does it too.

* If you sneak up behind Combine soldiers in ''VideoGame/HalfLife2'', you can dispatch 'em with a single pistol bullet to the back of the head, even on Hard mode.
* In ''Franchise/{{Halo}}'', you can hit someone with your gun. Normally this is mainly useful against weak or injured enemies, but from behind it's a one-hit kill. Flood are immune to this (except in ''VideoGame/{{Halo 3}}'', but that's because they're weak in that game to melee in general), but it's pretty damn hard to get behind them in the first place anyways.
** When Bungie said that ''VideoGame/Halo3ODST'' would feature "tactical stealth gameplay", this is pretty much what they meant. Being [[BadassNormal a normal (if exceptionally trained) human]], your best bet for surviving in New Mombasa is attacking patrols from behind, "silently" taking out the enemies in the back with melee attacks. Straight up firefights are also possible, but much riskier.
** The games from ''VideoGame/HaloReach'' onward have assassination animations, several of which involve literally backstabbing someone.

* The Assassin's class in ''VideoGame/{{Hexen}} II'' acquires this skill once she reaches a certain level. It only multiplies damage instead of killing instantly, otherwise it pretty much fits to a T, down to the name of the skill. [[AwesomeButImpractical Not that it's easy to do]].

[[folder:Card Games]]
* In an expansion of ''TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering'', the relatively new creature type Rogue was given exclusive domain over the ability "Prowl," which was an alternate casting cost for spells that could only be paid if an opponent had been damaged by a rogue creature. Sometimes, paying the prowl cost garnered extra effects for the spell, and in its early stages, Prowl was called "backstab."
** It also has the "Ninjitsu" ability - if a player is about to be damaged by an unblocked creature, that creature is replaced by the (usually more powerful, special-ability wielding) Ninjitsu-using creature. The implication is that the Player is backstabbed by the Ninja who, up until that point, was disguised as something else.
* ''TabletopGame/{{Munchkin}}'' has 'stab your buddy' as one of its taglines (the other two being 'kill monsters' and 'take their stuff'), and characters with the rogue class can do just that by discarding a card to give someone else a -2 bonus to their current combat. Amusingly enough, they ''can't'' backstab monsters, only other players.
** Munchkin Epic Rules adds a similar power to Epic Elves (although they can use their power against monsters as well), and Munchkin Bites has the Power "Evil Eye" that allows the player to discard N cards for a -N bonus to any other player currently in combat.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Film]]
* In the ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' based movie ''Film/TheGamers'', the thief Nimble is about to backstab a [[HopelessBossFight big giant of a mercenary]] with his knife. But the knife wouldn't deal [[ScratchDamage enough damage]] even with the bonus from the backstab, so he thinks about using his sword. Still not enough. So he goes out and [[ImprobableUseOfAWeapon brings back]] a [[ThereIsNoKillLikeOverkill Ballista]].
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
* In Japanese game show ''Series/BattleForMoneySentouchuu'', which basically having rules like dodgeball but without a boundary line, this prompted players to strike others' back [[note]]taking a hit will be eliminated immediately from game[[/note]] at blank range. It had been done in several occasions, particularly well-known as one player which he essentially being back-stabbed in two consecutive games - both were in situation while taking caution to the strong players in the front with his partner, then a third player coming from nowhere at the back and deal a point-blank hit and eliminated him.
** A back-shield (can be purchased from item shop) can defend such attack, through it cannot defend the head or most parts of the legs, backstabbing such player would be much harder.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
* ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'':
** Thieves in 1st and 2nd edition multiply their damage when they attack an enemy from behind with a dagger or shortsword. The multiplier goes up as they level.
** Third edition renamed the ability from "backstab" to "sneak attack" because it was no longer required to be behind the enemy to use it; you simply had to catch the enemy by surprise or in a position where they cannot adequately defend itself. The damage bonus changed from multiplying the weapon's damage to doing bonus dice damage stacked onto the weapon damage. The weapon restriction was also removed, with the exception of siege weapons, despite the scene in ''Film/TheGamers''.
** In 4th edition, this is called gaining "combat advantage." Fourth edition also brought back the weapon restrictions, apparently to keep rogues using their traditional weapons.
** In 4th Edition Essentials, thieves get Sneak Attack ''and'' Backstab. You can even use them both at the same time.
** Assassins, who were playable characters before 2nd edition, got this as well, and also had an "assassinate" ability that could OneHitKill anyone if they succeeded on the roll against a surprised opponent and dealt damage even if they missed.
** Blackguards (anti-paladins) also get sneak attacks (significantly less than Rogues and Assassins as well as non-core sneak attackers), but given that they are heavy armor wearers, they will usually only activate on a flanked or disabled foe.
* In ''TabletopGame/{{GURPS}}'':
** Sneaking up behind a person is very effective because you can make an All-Out Attack (improve accuracy or damage by sacrificing defenses) without fear of reprisal.
** With the addition of GURPS Martial Arts, it is also possible to use a Telegraphic Attack instead or in addition to All-Out. Telegraphic attacks are more accurate, but easy to defend against. The trouble is, you can't defend from an attack you're not aware of.
** There's also an attack enhancement that causes it to suddenly appear behind the target.
** GURPS Dungeon Fantasy (an homage to classic dungeon crawling) lets sneaky characters make a difficult skill roll at the start of a fight to ''appear'' behind the closest enemy, in perfect position to shank them. Explained as you being so sneaky you were there all along...
* If you can successfully sneak up on someone using Intrusion in ''TabletopGame/FengShui'' or otherwise catch them unawares, your opponent's Dodge Value is zero for the purpose of your first attack on him, meaning you will be dealing some pretty nasty damage. Beware the "unaware" opponent with the Hair Trigger Neck Hairs gun schtick, though, lest you get caught by an OffhandBackhand...
* An "unexpected attack" in ''TabletopGame/{{Exalted}}'' cannot be defended against, which is a '''huge''' deal because the combat system is balanced on the assumption that every attack that gets through will be dulled at least a bit by defense. There are several Charms specifically designed to let the user make an unexpected attack. On the other hand, some Charms will also permit the user to defend against unexpected attacks.
* Sneak Attack is one of the standard abilities in ''TabletopGame/MageKnight'' miniatures. Since MK minis have defined 'front' and 'back' areas, all that's required is to be adjacent to the target's back area. It doubles the attacker's damage.
* ''TabletopGame/MutantsAndMasterminds'': All damage is capped depending on your Power Level, and attack bonus is one of the most expensive attributes to buy during character creation, so many players take other options in order to improve it. Sneak Attack is one of them.
* ''TabletopGame/{{Paranoia}}'' encourages [=PCs=] to wait till their enemies already have their hands full with something else before trying to blast them. "Ideally, he should [[MakeItLookLikeAnAccident not be sure he's being attacked at all]], or at least not be sure who's attacking him."
* In ''TabletopGame/TheDresdenFiles'' game, setting up an ambush successfully means that the targets have to roll their defenses from 0 in the first round of attacks. This makes ambushes particularly effective on high-level characters, for whom the normal defense might roll from 5 or higher, and the dice only allow for, at absolute best, a +4 result. (This is a rule seen in a number of Fate games all the way back to ''TabletopGame/SpiritOfTheCentury'' -- if you're caught by surprise, your first defense roll is at Mediocre (+0). It's not used in ''all'' Fate builds, however; the ''Fate Core System'' rules for example don't actually include it, though it's still quite possible to reap surprise bonuses through creative use of the Create Advantage action with a relevant skill -- like Stealth or Deceive, say -- and/or by taking suitable stunts even there.)
* ''TabletopGame/HeroSystem'': A character surprised in combat gets his Defensive Combat Value halved for the first attack by the surprising attacker. Someone surprised out of combat not only gets his [=DCV=] halved, but Called Shot penalties are halved (making it much easier for the attacker to hit vital areas) and Stun damage is doubled as well.
* In ''Tabletopgame/BattleTech'', the series' signature HumongousMecha have extensive SubsystemDamage, including three sections for its rear torso armor. Rear torsos are generally very lightly armored, allowing even a light mech to core through it and start inflicting damage on internal components. Some mechs mount rear facing weapons to protect against rear attacks, and mechs without lower armor actuators like the 'Rifleman' AntiAir mech can flip their arms a full 180 degrees to fire backwards.
* ''TabletopGame/{{Necromunda}}'': The Backstab weapon trait, introduced in the 3rd Edition of the game, signifies a weapon that is particularly useful when attacking a foe from behind, granting the attack a Strength bonus when used to attack an enemy from outside their vision arc. The Backstab skill, meanwhile, indicates that fighter is so skilled at this manoeuvre that they are able to count any melee weapon that they use as having the Backstab weapon trait, whether it is a knife or a {{BFS}}.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Webcomics]]
* Seeing as he's based on the standard ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'' class, it should surprise no one that Thief of ''Webcomic/EightBitTheater'' favours this tactic, typically resorting to this move first if he's forced into a fight. Of course, [[ChronicBackstabbingDisorder he'll back stab you in more ways than one.]]
* ''Webcomic/NerfNow'' gives [[http://www.nerfnow.com/comic/444 this]] advice.
* In the world of ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'', attacks from behind (regardless of stabbiness) tend to ignore hit points and be more automatically deadly, though the most recurring instance of this is by [[KnifeNut Jack Noir]], so this trope still gets plenty literal use.
* The ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick'' follows ''D&D'' rules, so Haley the rogue gets a huge damage boost if she attacks unaware opponents. She's always an asset in combat, but by sneak attacking she can take even a story important character down in a few seconds (or round, in this case).
--> '''Haley''':''SNEAK ATTACK, [[ThisIsForEmphasisBitch BITCH!]]''

* ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons''

* In ''TabletopGame/{{GURPS}}''

* The ''Battlefield'' Series. Getting knifed in the back is a humiliating way to go in multiplayer.
** Varies by the game. In ''2142'' and the ''Bad Company'' series, every hit with a knife is lethal. Aside from ''Bad Company'' 1, however, the time it takes to draw and use your knife is generally longer than how quickly an enemy can just shoot you, it's generally only safe to utilizing it as a backstab.
** ''Battlefield 3'' actually rewards you with a special animation if you manage to pull off this move off, involving your guy stabbing the enemy and removing their dogtags in a single stroke.

* ''Blood Omen 2: Legacy of Kain'' has almost the same implementation of the idea as ''VideoGame/VampireTheMasqueradeBloodlines'', but did it first.

* ''VideoGame/{{Fallout 3}}'' includes backstabbing, along with ''stealth chainsaw kills''. Attacking in general while undetected results in a [[CriticalHit Sneak Attack Critical]] on whoever is hit. While not necessarily a guaranteed kill, it provides a very high damage bonus for executing.

* ''VideoGame/{{Fallout 4}}'' also has backstabbing, and includes the perk Ninja, which increases the amount of damage dealt when attacking an unaware target.

* In the ''VideoGame/MetalGear'' games, the player can sneak up on an enemy and point the gun at the back or side of the their head. This makes them drop their gun and, in VideoGame/MetalGearSolid2, lets you steal their Dog Tag.

* The "Mortal Rising" skill that Dhan assassins get in the MMORPG ''Rohan Online'' allows a chance for a crit on the first attack that you make out of stealth mode, which goes up to 100% when maxed-out (pretty much guaranteeing a crit on the first attack), and is especially nasty when used with "Deadly Blow," a buff which increases your crit damage based on how much Agility you have. "Sudden Attack" is another skill that allows you to attack for high damage while still in stealth mode before coming out of it for combat.
* ''VideoGame/SlyCooper''

** Sangaril has the same ability in ''VideoGame/{{Summoner 2}}''. If the enemy doesn't realize she's there, it deals such heavy damage that in most cases it's a one-hit KO. Once she learns Paralyze, you're pretty much set. It's no use on Bosses or monsters who are resistant to Piercing, though.

* ''Videogame/StarWarsTheOldRepublic'''s Scoundrel class has the Backblast ability, which is a backstab ''with a shotgun''.

* ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamAsylum'' gives the eponymous hero a few low-profile KO moves like the Silent Takedown (performed from behind) or the appropriately named Corner Takedown. In Predator stages, these moves can be pretty important since most enemies are packing heat and you can't take sustained fire for very long. In ''Videogame/BatmanArkhamCity'' Batman can also perform a quicker but noisier Knockout Smash.

* In Gladius, you get a huge bonus to damage if you hit an enemy from behind. Many lightweight gladiators, especially bandits, also have a Backstab attack.
* In the ''Videogame/MechWarrior'' series, armor is lighter on the rear of the battlemechs. Attacking from behind allows lighter vehicles to cripple even a MightyGlacier with a little luck. In ''Mechwarrior Living Legends'', destroying an enemy's rear armor will damage their reactor and limit their speed to a crawl, and any subsequent damage inflicts a large damage multiplier on the vehicle's Center Torso or Hull.

* In ''Videogame/TheSaboteur'' Sean can upgrade his perks to allow him to stab someone from behind, and they will stand still for a few seconds, giving Sean plenty of time to run away before someone notices.

* ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros''
** In ''Melee'', once of the possible bonuses for Classic mode is the appropriately named "Backstabber", obtained for primarily attacking opponents from behind.
** ''3DS/Wii U'' adds two characters with attacks that have bonus effects if done in the back: Robin's [[LifeDrain Nosferatu]] absorbs more damage from the enemy is they are caught from behind, and Shulk's Back Slash has increased power if it strikes his oponnent's back, just like in [[VideoGame/XenobladeChronicles1 his home game]].

* In ''Videogame/{{Borderlands 2}}'', [=Zer0=] has a "Backstab" skill that gives him bonus melee damage if he attacks someone from the back as well as an "Ambush" skill that gives him bonus damage if he attacks enemies from behind or ones that aren't targeting him. Additionally, his [=Decepti0n=] Action Skill gives him a damage bonus if he attacks from cloak.
* All melee weapons in ''Videogame/EYEDivineCybermancy'' can stealthily one-hit-kill any enemy (besides the [[FutureCopter Interceptor]]) with a back stab. On the other hand, most weapons don't particularly ''need'' the damage - the [[{{BFS}} Damocles]] sets enemies on fire and [[LudicrousGibs gibs them]], and the [[DropTheHammer Arrancadora De Tripas]] (Gut Ripper) creates warp distortions and lightning upon contact with flesh, ''then'' [[LudicrousGibs gibs them]]. Both weapons make a ton of noise when doing said special damage, which has [[FailedASpotCheck no effect on their stealthiness]]

* Ajay from ''Videogame/FarCry4'', can do this against the driver of another vehicle.

* In ''VideoGame/{{Postal}} 2'', the Balisong is not all that strong a weapon when used from the front, even against civilians, but shank an unaware person from behind and the damage is enough that most will go down in one stab. This is ''not'' guaranteed on cops, soldiers, or Taliban, however.

* In ''Videogame/LetItDie'', you ''suplex'' unaware enemies from behind, and since it's this game's equivalent of a stealth attack no one hears your fighter screaming when he smashes their friend's head to the ground.

* In ''VideoGame/{{Xenoblade}}'', Shulk, Fiora, and Riki all have arts that cause a significantly greater amount of damage when hitting from behind. There's also a gem that boosts the damage of all attacks that strike from behind by a large degree (Including the aforementioned arts), which can effectively make ''everything'' into a backstab.
** Shulk's art, Back Slash also appears in ''[[VideoGame/SuperSmashBros Super Smash Bros. 4]]'', with similar effects.
** Back Slash also comes back in the not-really sequel, ''VideoGame/{{Xenoblade Chronicles X}}'', along with Ultraslash, which also deals bonus damage from behind.

** ''3DS/Wii U'' adds two characters with attacks that have bonus effects if done in the back: Robin's [[LifeDrain Nosferatu]] absorbs more damage from the enemy is they are caught from behind, and Shulk's Back Slash has increased power if it strikes his oponnent's back, just like in [[VideoGame/{{Xenoblade}} his home game]].

* Sneak Attack is a possible feat in ''TabletopGame/MutantsAndMasterminds'' although the ability is capped as with all damage, so the best one can do with it is to accomplish the same level of damage as everyone else in certain situations. Sneak Attack is one of the many useful, cheaper ways to hit your caps with regularity.

* ''VideoGame/NexusClash'' gives bonus damage for attacking from hiding, at the cost of some accuracy. However, it is that it's possible to sneak attack somebody over and over again. In one earlier version of the game, it was possible to sneak attack [[CarFu with a fire truck]].
** The {{Fallen|Angel}} even have a whole skill tree of backstabbing-based powers that employ a special backstabbing dagger. The entire ''class'' was specifically based on a player character described only as "A rogue angel out to stab you in the back".