Back Slash (Japanese: バックスラッシュ, Bakku Surasshu) is one of Shulk's physical arts in Xenoblade Chronicles. When the enemy is hit from behind, Back Slash inflicts double damage.
Stats[]
| Art Level | AP Cost | Power | Cooldown |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | - | 2.00 | 20.0 sec |
| 2 | 200 | 2.20 | 19.4 sec |
| 3 | 400 | 2.40 | 18.8 sec |
| 4 | 800 | 2.60 | 18.2 sec |
| 5 | 1,600 | 2.80 | 17.6 sec |
| 6 | 2,400 | 3.00 | 17.0 sec |
| 7 | 3,600 | 3.20 | 16.4 sec |
| 8 | 5,200 | 3.40 | 15.8 sec |
| 9 | 7,200 | 3.60 | 15.2 sec |
| 10 | 9,600 | 3.80 | 14.6 sec |
| 11 (DE) | 11,200 | 4.00 | 14.0 sec |
| 12 (DE) | 13,000 | 4.20 | 13.4 sec |
Miscellaneous Info[]
- A successful rear attack with this art will add 20% to the Party Gauge.
Art book sources[]
Intermediate[]
Intermediate art books are only available from shops.
The Back Slash intermediate art books cost 4000 G.
Advanced[]
Advanced art books are only available from enemy drops.
For any enemies listed with a 0% drop rate, the item can only be obtained using Yoink!.
Enemies marked as QE are Quest-Exclusive and do not respawn.
Unique Monsters
| Enemy | Area | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Final Marcus | Valak Mountain | 7.3 % |
| Veteran Yozel | Satorl Marsh | 5.0 % |
| Mystical Klesida | Bionis' Interior | 2.1 % |
Other enemies
| Enemy | Area | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| General Arachno | Bionis' Leg | 5.0 % |
| Vilae Arachno | Tephra Cave | 4.7 % |
| M55/DREAD | Agniratha | 1.9 % |
| Uragano Nebula | Prison Island | 1.9 % |
| Telethia Lecrough (QE) | Alcamoth | 0.0 % |
Master[]
Master art books are exclusive to Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition and are purchasable from the Nopon Archsage for 20,000 Noponstone after the story of Future Connected has been completed.
Future Connected[]
The advanced art book for Back Slash is obtainable from the Arts Manual Shop at the price of one Arts Coin. Master art books are not available within Future Connected.
In the Super Smash Bros. series[]
Shulk using Back Slash in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U
Back Slash appears in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate as Shulk's side special move. On use, Shulk leaps and slashes in front of him with the Monado in a sideways motion, rather than a short, stationary hop before slamming straight down like in Xenoblade Chronicles. Back Slash inflicts moderate damage and knockback to any opponent it hits, and like in Xenoblade Chronicles, the move deals more damage when used from behind. If Shulk uses Back Slash from behind an opponent, the move inflicts 16% of damage at its strongest, with increased knockback, while using Back Slash from the front inflicts 9% damage at its weakest. Back Slash cannot be canceled unless Shulk is hit during the attack, and it ends only when Shulk hits the ground.
Due to the short distance covered by the leap, Back Slash can be used as a recovery move, although limited.
In Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U, Back Slash has two variations:
- Back Slash Leap, which has Shulk leaping up and then slashing down towards the ground. The move covers more vertical distance but has less horizontal movement.
- Back Slash Charge, which grants Shulk super armor while performing the slash and offers more horizontal movement, although the damage and knockback is significantly lower if it does not strike the opponent's back.
Trivia[]
- In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Shulk's Back Slash also does more damage when used on the left side of Steve's Crafting Table, for unknown reasons.