An underrated, yet incredibly useful feature in No Rest for the Wicked is the Backstab. Backstabbing allows you to deal free damage on an enemy that is double in power from a normal attack. While the concept of a Backstab attack is simple, in practice it can be difficult to pull off in No Rest for the Wicked. Below, you can see the exact mechanics of using the Backstab feature.
Using the Backstab in No Rest for the Wicked
At the beginning of No Rest for the Wicked, a tutorial appears on your screen that goes over the basics of backstabbing an enemy. In principle, all you have to do is sneak behind an enemy, hold the attack button, and you’ll deliver a powerful blow to the enemy that deals extra damage. You’ll also slightly stagger the enemy, allowing you to lower an enemy’s HP bar even more.
However, if you have tried to pull off a Backstab in No Rest for the Wicked, you’ve likely noticed that it’s not as simple as the game makes it out to be. The biggest key to remember when going to Backstab an enemy is to remain as quiet as possible. If you move too quickly or even draw your weapon, you’ll alert an enemy immediately. To stay quiet while moving, you need to just barely press the “Move Forward” button, making your character walk extremely slowly. Anything faster and enemies will likely be alerted to your position.
It’s also important that you target an enemy who has their back turned to you. Ideally, this enemy doesn’t move around a lot, as if they do, they could easily turn around and catch you trying to attack them.
Finally, you can’t Backstab an enemy with a bow, so you need to have some sort of sword out. You can Backstab a small or large enemy, provided you keep quiet and find an enemy with their back turned. However, larger enemies won’t take as much damage from the Backstab attack, so keep that in mind.
Trying to master the Backstab feature in No Rest for the Wicked certainly takes some practice. I have several hours in the game and I’m still messing up the sneak attack consistently, so don’t be frustrated if you can’t pull one off right away. Instead, keep trying, and eventually you’ll learn what works and what doesn’t work with the system.
For more No Rest for the Wicked, check out our dedicated page for gameplay guides and tips and tricks.
