---
key: mechanic/game-mechanics--gm-stabbing
type: mechanic
id: game-mechanics--gm-stabbing
lang: en
title: Stabbing
summary: >-
  A thrust with a weapon’s point strikes at close range. Distance and contact
  timing determine whether the attack reaches its target.
updatedAt: '2026-10-22'
status: active
url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/game-mechanics--gm-stabbing/'
jsonUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/mechanic/game-mechanics--gm-stabbing.json
markdownUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/mechanic/game-mechanics--gm-stabbing.md
aliases:
  - Stab
tags:
  - Game design techniques
  - Combat
sourceIds:
  - source-9d0b61ac097e648a
  - source-4455fe137827a7f7
sources:
  - id: source-9d0b61ac097e648a
    title: 'Game Mechanics: Stabbing'
    url: 'https://gamemechanics.org/patterns/stabbing'
    verifiedAt: null
  - id: source-4455fe137827a7f7
    title: Return to Castle Wolfenstein (2001)
    url: >-
      https://gamemechanics.org/patterns/stabbing/game/return-to-castle-wolfenstein
    verifiedAt: null
relations: []
placements:
  - catalogId: game-mechanics
    id: gm-stabbing
    title: Game design techniques
    url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/mechanics/game-mechanics/#gm-stabbing'
    categoryIds:
      - gm-category-combat
supersededBy: []
attributes:
  preview:
    updatedAt: '2026-10-22'
    title: Stab
    description: >-
      A thrust with a weapon’s point strikes at close range. Distance and
      contact timing determine whether the attack reaches its target.
    image:
      src: images/mechanics/combat-stabbing.webp
      width: 600
      height: 340
      game: Return to Castle Wolfenstein (2001)
      sourceUrl: 'https://gamemechanics.org/patterns/stabbing'
      originalUrl: 'https://cdn.gamemechanics.org/webm/rtcw_stabbing.webm'
      sourceFrameSeconds: 2.02
      credit: >-
        Gray Matter Interactive / id Software; frame from clip via
        GameMechanics.org
      rights: >-
        Game imagery © its respective rights holders. Source host:
        GameMechanics.org. All rights reserved; excluded from the portal’s MIT
        and CC BY 4.0 licenses.
      caption: A close-range knife attack
      alt: >-
        The player stabs a soldier directly ahead in Return to Castle
        Wolfenstein.
      markers:
        - x: 54
          'y': 54
          label: Target within melee reach
        - x: 58
          'y': 79
          label: The knife hand thrust forward
    tips:
      - Match hit reach to the weapon’s visible length.
      - Confirm contact with a distinct sound and target reaction.
    examples:
      - title: Return to Castle Wolfenstein (2001)
        url: 'https://gamemechanics.org/patterns/stabbing'
endsAt: null
provenance: >-
  Editorial reference index based on the 199 public Game Mechanics pattern pages
  checked on 2026-10-20. Original concise RU/EN definitions by
  gamemechanics.pro; pattern names, category associations and game-reference
  URLs retained from gamemechanics.org. The source gallery includes a film
  analogy. Linked materials retain their original rights; references are
  upstream attributions, not independent verification.
license: CC-BY-4.0
codeLicense: MIT
attribution: gamemechanics.pro contributors
catalogKey: catalog/game-mechanics
---
# Stabbing

id: game-mechanics--gm-stabbing
type: mechanic
key: mechanic/game-mechanics--gm-stabbing
lang: en
status: active
url: https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/game-mechanics--gm-stabbing/

A thrust with a weapon’s point strikes at close range. Distance and contact timing determine whether the attack reaches its target.

## At a glance

![The player stabs a soldier directly ahead in Return to Castle Wolfenstein.](https://gamemechanics.pro/images/mechanics/combat-stabbing.webp)

[Return to Castle Wolfenstein (2001)](https://gamemechanics.org/patterns/stabbing) · Game imagery © its respective rights holders. Source host: GameMechanics.org. All rights reserved; excluded from the portal’s MIT and CC BY 4.0 licenses.

[Source recording](https://cdn.gamemechanics.org/webm/rtcw_stabbing.webm), 2.02 s

1. Target within melee reach
2. The knife hand thrust forward

- Match hit reach to the weapon’s visible length.
- Confirm contact with a distinct sound and target reaction.

- [Return to Castle Wolfenstein (2001)](https://gamemechanics.org/patterns/stabbing)

## How it works

A close-range thrust strikes the target with a pointed weapon.

## Variants

### How the technique works

<a id="gm-stabbing-rule"></a>

- A close-range thrust strikes the target with a pointed weapon. <a id="gm-stabbing-definition"></a>

## Context and limits

All 199 Game Mechanics entries at the check date: player actions, systems, presentation techniques and contested patterns. Entries are grouped by their first source-card category; all categories appear in their descriptions. Definitions use original wording. References link to game-specific galleries; images and videos remain at the source.

## Connected materials


## Sources and provenance

Editorial reference index based on the 199 public Game Mechanics pattern pages checked on 2026-10-20. Original concise RU/EN definitions by gamemechanics.pro; pattern names, category associations and game-reference URLs retained from gamemechanics.org. The source gallery includes a film analogy. Linked materials retain their original rights; references are upstream attributions, not independent verification.

- [Game Mechanics: Stabbing](https://gamemechanics.org/patterns/stabbing) (id: source-9d0b61ac097e648a)
- [Return to Castle Wolfenstein (2001)](https://gamemechanics.org/patterns/stabbing/game/return-to-castle-wolfenstein) (id: source-4455fe137827a7f7)

CC-BY-4.0 · gamemechanics.pro contributors