Trickstabs

Overview

Trickstabs are special maneuvers used to backstab an enemy when they are facing front towards you. There are several trickstabs that help achieve this goal. While trickstabs may be cool and flashy, they should only be used as a last resort, due to their reliance on the target failing to prepare for them.

Stairstab

When a Spy goes up an incline with someone chasing him, he can crouchjump over the target's head to get behind and land a stab. The method for this is generally to actually land ON the person whom they wish to stab's right or left shoulder while crouching, then turning left or right (turn left if on their right shoulder, and vice versa), and stabbing. This, while it does not look as flashy, works better, although Stairstabs overall are usually not very effective in a competitive game, seeing as most players know better than to fall for such a trick.

Jumpstab/Rampstab

Like a stairstab, but instead of inclines, which are commonly used and thus easy to predict, the Spy jumps on props such as barrels and railings to get a height boost for the stab. Even the smallest height difference allows for a rampstab. For example, jumping onto and engie's teleporter provides enough extra height to land a successful rampstab. These stabs work much better than stairstabs, because even experienced players won't expect a spy to be able to jump over them if not on an obvious incline.

Ghost Stab

If someone is aware of the jumpstab, jump on their heads, and when they rotate 180 degrees to "catch" you, strafe the other way and stab them.

Understab

The Spy leads someone off high ground, then strafes under and stabs the target. Can also be done against explosive jumpers. This can be done because the angle for a successful backstab is exactly 180 degrees, no matter the height. The concept for this is the same as the stairstab, except in reverse.

Cornerstab

The Spy leads someone around a corner, then doubles back around the corner to get at their side and stabs them. A beginner's mistake in this trickstab is not waiting long enough. Depending on the target and on how far away they are from the corner the spy leads them around, it may take from immediately to a few seconds. The rule of thumb is to wait about one second, unless they are practically right behind the spy.

Blindstab

Same as a Stairstab or Jumpstab, but the Spy leads the target around a corner as well, which makes the target unable to see the Spy jumping at him. Due to the threat of this, the target may wait around the corner to kill the Spy, enabling him to escape.

Matador Stab

The Spy strafes one way to draw the target into looking that way to not expose his backstab radius, then strafes the other way and stabs him. The concept of this is similar to a cornerstab. Oftentimes, one can imagine this as a cornerstab without a corner. The spy first strafes right around their imaginary corner, then back.

Reverse-Matador Stab

When the target suspects a matador stab, keep strafing in the original direction to get the stab.

Drop Stab

Jumping from a great height and airstrafing to get behind the target and stab them. In contrast to the unreliability of most trickstabs, this is the hardest kind of stab to see coming. This stab is best done from a reasonably high height, such that it cannot be easily seen coming. This is perhaps the most reliable kind of trickstab, noting its nature which means that it is hard for it to be seen ahead of time.