AION 2 Combat

Back Attack and Front Attack Explained

Hitting an enemy from the front or from behind adds bonus damage, but only if you have the matching stats. Back attacks also get past Block.
Back attacks
Ignore Block
Back side fits
Assassin, melee DPS
Front side fits
Tanks, ranged DPS
Boss facing
Indicator in Settings

Checked October 17, 2026

How Do Front and Back Attacks Work?

Your Position Relative to the Enemy

Front attack

Any hit on the side the enemy is facing.

Back attack

Any hit landed from behind the enemy.

Wrong side

Front stats do nothing from behind, and the other way round.

Positional Attack Settings

  1. 1

    Press ESC and open Settings.

  2. 2

    Look for the boss orientation indicator option.

  3. 3

    Switch it on to see the front and rear zones drawn on bosses.

Back Attacks Ignore Block

Hits from behindSkip the target's Block, great against high Block enemies.
Hits from the frontStill have to get through the target's Block.

Only Strong With High Uptime

Hold your side

The bonus only pays when you stay in the right zone most of the fight.

Bosses that spin

If a boss turns a lot, plain Attack is the steadier pick.

Front Attack and Back Attack Stats

List of Relevant Stats

Stat (front or back)What it does
Front Attack / Back AttackExtra Attack on hits from that side
Front / Back Attack Damage BoostMore damage on hits from that side
Front / Back Attack Critical HitMore crit chance on hits from that side

Damage Boost Pays Off When You Hold Position

Own multiplier

Positional Damage Boost stacks apart from your normal damage pool.

Pick one side

Stack front or back, never half of each.

Weapon Damage Boost

The safer stat when fights force you to move a lot.

Should You Use Front or Back Attacks?

Pick the Side Your Class Can Hold

How you fightSide to stack
Tanking and facing the bossFront
Melee damage from behindBack
Ranged damage in front of the bossFront

Assassin Gets the Most From Back Attacks

Assassin

Mobile, easy to get behind targets, and its kit rewards hits from the back. More

Front Attacks for Tanks

Templar

Holds aggro face to face, so front stats stay active. More

Templar class in AION 2TemplarTank

A sworn guardian who holds the line with a shield and keeps enemies off the team.

Weapon LongswordMain tank classAssassin class in AION 2AssassinMelee DPS

A quiet killer who moves unseen and strikes fast from close range.

Weapon DaggerPrecise melee damage

AION 2 Front and Back Attacks FAQ

Do back attacks ignore Block in AION 2?

Yes. Hits from behind skip the target's Block, which helps a lot against high Block enemies.

Should I mix front and back attack stats?

No. Pick one side and stack it. Split stats only pay off part of the time.

How do I see which way a boss is facing?

Switch on the boss orientation indicator in Settings. It marks the front and rear zones on bosses.

Stats ExplainedSix primary stats, ten deity stats, and the combat stat caps.Assassin Class Guide: Skills and How to PlayDagger burst DPS that hits from behind. Skills, Stigmas and how to play.Templar Class Guide: Skills and How to PlayMain tank with longsword and shield. Skills, Stigmas and how to hold aggro.AION 2 Best SettingsGraphics for more FPS, combat options and the best control mode.How to Stagger, Block and ParryStagger skills for all 8 classes and how Block and Parry work.List of All Field BossesAll 48 field bosses, the big ones, spawn checks and drops.