Back Slash 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 Noponstones after the story of Xenoblade Chronicles: 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 Super Smash Bros.
Back Slash appears in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U as Shulk's side special move. Like in its game of origin, Back Slash deals more damage (and by extent, knockback) if it strikes a fighter from behind, dealing 16% of damage at its strongest, but 9% at its weakest (if it strikes from the front). Back Slash is performed slightly different in these games: in Xenoblade Chronicles, Shulk does a short, stationary hop then slams the Monado straight down. In the Super Smash Bros. games, Shulk performs it by leaping forward then slamming the Monado in a sideways motion.
