Backstab

Overview

''In the war between the Horde and the Alliance, grudges are taken to the hilt of a blade.''

Backstab is a hard-hitting move that can be performed from behind your enemy. The damage dealt is equal to 1.5 times your normal attack damage plus a flat amount of damage that varies dependent on rank. It only works with a dagger in the main hand.

Functionality

Backstab is a great skill for dealing big damage, but you must be behind the mob to use it. It is also good when used in combination with [Seal Fate], as Backstab has a high crit rate when improved via talents.

Use

60 Energy
Instant Cast
5 yard Range
Requires Daggers

Limitations

High energy cost
You must be behind and facing your target
Only available when a dagger is equipped in the main hand

Rank Table

Rank	Damage	Level	Cost
1	1.5 * Weapon + 15	4	50
2	1.5 * Weapon + 30	12	8
3	1.5 * Weapon + 48	20	23
4	1.5 * Weapon + 69	28	81
5	1.5 * Weapon + 90	36	1 50
6	1.5 * Weapon + 135	44	3 30
7	1.5 * Weapon + 165	52	4
8	1.5 * Weapon + 210	60	5 90
9	1.5 * Weapon + 225	60	5 90
10	1.5 * Weapon + 255	68	9 90

Related Talents

[Improved Backstab] increases the critical strike chance of your Backstab by 10%, 20%, or 30%.
[Remorseless Attacks] will give your next Backstab a 20% or 40% increased chance to crit after killing an opponent that yields honor or experience. The improved crit chance lasts for 20 seconds.
[Opportunity] increases the total damage of your Backstab by 4%, 8%, 12%, 16%, or 20%.
[Lethality] increases the critical strike damage bonus of your Backstab by 6%, 12%, 18%, 24%, or 30%.
[Blade Twisting] gives your Backstab a 10 or 20% chance to daze your target for 8 seconds.
[Surprise Attacks] increases the total damage of your Backstab by 10%.

Damage Calculation Formula

The basic Backstab damage formula:

 [Opportunity] = 0.04 * Opportunity Rank
 [Lethality] = 0.06 * Lethality Rank
 [Surprise Attacks] = 0.10 * Surprise Attacks Rank
Modifier = Attack Power / 14 * 1.7

Normal hit = [(Weapon Damage + Modifier) * 1.5 + Backstab Bonus Damage] * (1 + Opportunity + Surprise Attacks)
Critical hit = Normal hit * (2 + Lethality)

So a typical example (lvl 68 combat daggers rogue with a dagger averaging 106 base damage, 1120 attack power, 5 ranks of [Opportunity], the one rank of [Surprise Attacks] and 2 ranks in [Lethality]):

Normal Hit = [(106 + 136) * 1.5 + 255] * (1 + 0.2 + 0.1) = 803.4 average damage
Critical Hit = 803.4 * (2 + 0.12) = 1703.208 average damage

Tips

When soloing, use [Gouge] to move behind the mob and then Backstab. This earns two combo points off the bat! At higher levels it also combines well with [Cheap Shot] and [Kidney Shot].
If you want to use the [Gouge]-Backstab combo in the middle of a fight, be sure that your energy is full. Combined they use more energy than you have (unless you have [Vigor]). If you start the combo with less than 100 energy, you'll have to wait to regenerate some more. By that time the effect of [Gouge] will have worn off.
When grouped, you can get at a mob's back fairly easily. However, if you backstab whenever you can, you are likely to gain aggro, so use with some care. Consider using [Feint] or [Vanish] to keep your Threat level down.
In PvP, a common method of moving behind another character is to jump forward through them and then use your mouse to complete a 180 degree turn.
If you have the [Opportunity] or [Surprise Attacks] talents, the in-game tooltip will show your modified Backstab multiplier. For example, if you have 5 ranks in [Opportunity] and do not have [Surprise Attacks] it will show as 180% instead of 150%.