Back Slash (XC1)

Back Slash
User	Shulk
Type	Physical Art
Colour	Red
Target	Single enemy
Effect(s)	Damage - Double damage if striking from behind
Description	Attacking from behind will inflict a large amount of damage.
First available	Available from start

This article is about the Battle Art in Xenoblade Chronicles. For the Battle Art in Xenoblade Chronicles X, see Back Slash (XCX).

Back Slash (バックスラッシュ, Back Slash) is one of Shulk's physical Battle Arts in Xenoblade Chronicles and Future Connected. Activating this Art causes Shulk to jump forward at his target enemy, dealing damage to a single target. If he strikes his target from behind, he will deal twice as much damage.

Overview

Back Slash is Shulk's main method of damage. It's powerful by itself, but it probably shouldn't be used if not from behind, since not only will the bonus damage be lost but it'll make it harder for Shulk to lose the aggro so he can get behind later. Similarly, Shulk needs to be careful about using it even when in position if his aggro is still high. It's an excellent way to start battles with unaware enemies, assuming the tank can quickly compensate for the aggro generated or the target instantly dies.

Data

Art

Damage type	Physical
Category	Physical
Talent gauge used	0%
Cooldown	20.0s
Accuracy	+5%
Obtained	Level 0

Power

Power	2.00
Hits	1
Element	Slash

Timing

	Frames	Seconds
Hit	20	0.667
Duration	70	2.333

Range

Target	Opponent
Area	Single target
Range	4.00m

Status

Effect	None
Condition	From behind
Bonus effect	2x power
Duration	—

Miscellaneous

AI type	Normal
Aggro	0
Knockback	None
Flags	Anti-air: False Single effects: False Monado art: False

Battle text

Original	Attack from behind to deal additional damage.
DE	Attack from behind to deal additional damage.

Levelling

	Basic				Intermediate			Advanced			Master
	I	II	III	IV	V	VI	VII	VIII	IX	X	XI	XII
AP cost	0	200	400	800	1,600	2,400	3,600	5,200	7,200	9,600	11,200	13,000
Power	2.00	2.20	2.40	2.60	2.80	3.00	3.20	3.40	3.60	3.80	4.00	4.20
Cooldown	20.0	19.4	18.8	18.2	17.6	17.0	16.4	15.8	15.2	14.6	14.0	13.4
Accuracy	+5%	+10%	+15%	+20%	+25%	+25%	+25%	+25%	+25%	+25%	+25%	+25%
Accuracy (DE)	+5%	+10%	+15%	+20%	+25%	+30%	+35%	+40%	+45%	+50%	+55%	+60%

Intermediate art book

Sell price	400 G
Buy price	4,000 G
Shops	Colony 6 Shop (Commerce Level 1) Colony 9 Shop Ether Mine Shop

Advanced art book

Sell price	1,000 G
Shops	Arts Manual Shop (1 Arts Coin)

Enemy	Lv.	Loc.	Gold Chest %	Gold Drop %	Total %	Num. expected	Num. for 95%
Final Marcus Final Marcus	100	Valak Mountain	1100.0%	0.1209523809523812.1%	0.1209523809523812.1%	8.26771653543319	23.23782482400724
General ArachnoGeneral Arachno	75	Bionis' Leg	0.022.0%	0.1604114459649216.0%	0.00320822891929840.3%	311.69845580056312	932.26645531827933
M55/DREADM55/DREAD	63	Agniratha	0.033.0%	0.0612366214256676.1%	0.001837098642770.2%	544.33658417612545	1629.18834771261630
Mystical Klesida Mystical Klesida	72	Bionis' Interior	1100.0%	0.086086956521748.6%	0.086086956521748.6%	11.61616161616112	33.27857419856634
Telethia LecroughTelethia Lecrough	87	Alcamoth	00.0%	0.1489261957554714.9%	00.0%	1000000000—	1000000000—
Uragano NebulaUragano Nebula	76	Prison Island II	0.033.0%	0.0612366214256676.1%	0.001837098642770.2%	544.33658417612545	1629.18834771261630
Veteran Yozel Veteran Yozel	83	Satorl Marsh	1100.0%	0.1604114459649216.0%	0.1604114459649216.0%	6.23396911601117	17.13380991035918
Vilae ArachnoVilae Arachno	95	Tephra Cave	0.033.0%	0.1489261957554714.9%	0.00446778587266410.4%	223.82451364074224	669.01933513312670

Master art book

Sell price	2,000 G
Buy price	20,000 Noponstone (Nopon Archsage)

In the Super Smash Bros. games

Main article: Back Slash on SmashWiki

In the Super Smash Bros. series, Shulk uses Back Slash as his side special attack. Initiating the attack causes Shulk to jump forward with the Monado and strike the ground in an arc, dealing average damage with a clean hit, and high damage if he strikes his opponent from behind. If Shulk initiates this from the air or goes off a ledge, he will fall until he hits a solid surface or the blast line, meaning this move is not safe to use off-stage.

When Shulk uses Back Slash, the Monado's blade glows red instead of its normal blue, referencing the colour of the move's icon in his home game. In Ultimate, an additional yellow starburst effect shows on back hits, referencing the bonus effect graphic.

Gallery

• 

  Tutorial from Xenoblade Chronicles explaining Back Slash

• 

  Tutorial from Xenoblade Chronicles explaining Back Slash

• 

  Shulk performing Back Slash on an enemy in Xenoblade Chronicles

In other languages

Language	Name	Meaning
English	Back Slash	—
Japanese	バックスラッシュ	Back Slash
French	Lacération dorsale	Back Laceration
German	Rückschlag	Back beat
Spanish	Ataque dorsal
Italian	Colpo proditorio
Dutch	Rugslag	Back beat
Portuguese	Golpe Dorsal	Back blow
Russian	Удар сзади
Chinese (simplified)	背面斩击
Chinese (traditional)	背面斬擊
Korean	백 슬래시	Back Slash