For veterans of FromSoftware's punishing RPGs, the delicate dance of PvP combat has always been defined by risk, timing, and positioning. One mechanic, more than any other, has been a persistent source of both triumph and frustration across the developer's storied catalog: the backstab. It's a move that promises immense reward for skillful positioning but has historically teetered on a knife's edge between balanced and broken. Elden Ring, the 2022 open-world phenomenon, was widely seen as having finally struck that elusive equilibrium. Its backstabs were potent but required clear, legitimate positioning behind an opponent, moving away from the infamous 'backstab fishing' meta that plagued earlier titles. However, the game's latest update in 2026 has sent shockwaves through the community by seemingly resurrecting one of the most maligned techniques from the Dark Souls era: the so-called 'frontstab.' How could a mechanic deemed perfected suddenly revert to its most problematic form?
The core of the controversy lies in the re-emergence of a specific, broken interaction. This isn't merely about backstabs being slightly stronger; it's about the return of a physical impossibility within the game's own rules. Players have demonstrated, through widely shared clips on platforms like the Elden Ring subreddit, that it is now possible to execute a backstab on an opponent who is directly facing them. The process, as showcased by users such as u/Lagideath2, involves quickly circling an adversary. Despite the attacker ending up in front of the target before the lethal strike lands, the game's animation forcibly 'whips' the victim around, presenting their back for the shanking. The victim is then unceremoniously thrown to the ground, completing a move that feels less like a skillful punish and more like a jarring exploit. Is this the intended behavior for a high-level PvP tactic?
The community's reaction has been overwhelmingly negative, and for good reason. The concerns are multifaceted and strike at the heart of what makes PvP engaging:
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The Return of 'Backstab Fishing': This is the dominant fear. 'Backstab fishing' describes a passive, defensive playstyle where a player's sole focus is circling and waiting for any slight opening to trigger a backstab, often ignoring other forms of combat. It creates a tedious, non-interactive meta. As one fan succinctly put it, 'backstab fishing is not a fun meta to play against.'
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Janky Visuals and Broken Immersion: The 'frontstab' isn't just powerful; it looks wrong. The instantaneous, unnatural rotation of the victim's character model breaks the visual coherence of the fight. Critics have panned the 'janky animation transition,' arguing it undermines the weight and realism that FromSoftware's combat is renowned for.
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PvP Balance Concerns: Many players worry this will degrade the overall quality of Elden Ring's PvP, which had evolved into a diverse and dynamic ecosystem. If the 'frontstab' proves too reliable, it could stifle build variety and aggressive play, pushing more duelists toward this one, cheesy strategy.
To understand the gravity of this regression, one must look back at the series' history. Dark Souls 3, while a critical darling, was infamous for its broken backstab mechanics. The 'frontstab' was a common and hated occurrence, making PvP encounters feel unpredictable and unfair. FromSoftware's subsequent adjustments in Elden Ring were therefore hailed as a major step forward. So, why would the developer intentionally reintroduce a universally panned feature? The prevailing theory within the community is that this was an accidental side effect. The latest patch for Elden Ring overhauled numerous PvP mechanics, including poise, attack recovery, and latency compensation. It's highly plausible that a change intended to improve netcode or hit detection inadvertently altered the 'lock-on' or positioning check for backstabs, making the Dark Souls 3-era bug possible again.
The table below contrasts the intended backstab mechanic with the problematic 'frontstab':
| Feature | Intended Backstab (Pre-Update) | 'Frontstab' Bug (Post-Update) |
|---|---|---|
| Positioning Requirement | Clear, sustained position behind the target's back. | Can be triggered from a frontal position after a quick circle. |
| Animation | Fluid, logical shanking motion from behind. | Jarring; victim model spins unnaturally to expose back. |
| Impact on PvP Meta | Rewards skillful positioning and punishes mistakes. | Encourages passive 'fishing' and feels exploitative. |
| Community Reception | Generally viewed as balanced and fair. | Universally criticized as a regression. |
The consensus is clear: Elden Ring had finally gotten backstabs 'in a good place.' The current situation feels like a step backward to a less polished era. The ball is now in FromSoftware's court. The studio has a strong track record of supporting its games post-launch and responding to player feedback. The community waits, hoping for a swift acknowledgment and a patch to revert this unintended change, restoring the integrity of the Lands Between's fierce duels. After all, shouldn't a victory in these brutal battles feel earned, not engineered through a glitch?