Killing Blows

[XyionUK]

I'm not entirely sure of what it is called but the animation of a killing blow, how are these calculated or how are they activated? How many different types are there, is it just Melee weapons or are there Killing Blows for Spells or Bows & Arrows? Is there a way to force it so that it can be done more frequently because they are really cool.

[Sky999]

From what I've seen, killing blow animations are only for melee attacks.

 

They seem to be calculated based on how close to death an NPC is + how much damage the next hit from the player will inflict.

 

There also seems to be some effect on where the NPC is, for example I don't think I ever get killing blow animations when the NPC is on stairs or a steep hill.

 

It's weird, I seem to get way more killing blows against animals than I do humanoid NPCs.

Edited January 29, 2012 by Sky999

[chanchan05]

It seems it has to do with a critical attack to, since I sometimes 1 shot enemies from sneak attacks.

[XyionUK]

I have managed to do a Killing Blow on stairs but the animation breaks is all that happens. I have sometimes used a Killing Blow on an enemy with full health it must be something to do with Critical Strikes, I am surprised I haven't seen a mod to allow for more of these Killing Blows.

 

@chanchan05 Do you mean sneak attacks through Archery or Melee Weapons? I know that if you sneak attack, with a blade you do a Assassination.

 

I am surprised that there isn't anything like Fallout 3 where Killing Blows happen with guns, I think this would make Archery more appealing.

[flobalob]

I know you get one with the standing power attack when you perform a decapatation, maybe there are ones for the other power attacks?

[TaranTatsuuchi]

Didn't come up with much except that it might be tied to critical hits... Perhaps upping that with the console? Edited January 29, 2012 by TaranTatsuuchi

[ManleySteele]

I'm not entirely sure of what it is called but the animation of a killing blow, how are these calculated or how are they activated? How many different types are there, is it just Melee weapons or are there Killing Blows for Spells or Bows & Arrows? Is there a way to force it so that it can be done more frequently because they are really cool.

I am fairly sure that killing blow animations occur in response to a critical hit from a power attack. Hold attack down and move in any direction except backwards and you should get an animation if the blow was powerful enought to kill. There are about a dozen for each class of weapon. That's just a guess off the top of my head from playing. I haven't made any kind of count.

[XyionUK]

I've never actually initiated a Killing Blow using a power attack I will give it a go. I would just like to know how exactly they work. I have also looked around the internet to see if I could find some stuff on Magic Killing Blows and thus far nothing only a video that claims it's possible but the video actually show's nothing of the sort.

 

The commands you can use to increase the likely hood of it happening are:

 

set killmoverandom to <0-100>

 

set decapitationchance to <0-100>

 

I don't know what the default values are.

[chanchan05]

I have managed to do a Killing Blow on stairs but the animation breaks is all that happens. I have sometimes used a Killing Blow on an enemy with full health it must be something to do with Critical Strikes, I am surprised I haven't seen a mod to allow for more of these Killing Blows.

 

@chanchan05 Do you mean sneak attacks through Archery or Melee Weapons? I know that if you sneak attack, with a blade you do a Assassination.

 

I am surprised that there isn't anything like Fallout 3 where Killing Blows happen with guns, I think this would make Archery more appealing.

 

I meant melee. I use a sword, not a dagger, so kill moves don't happen as often.

[nitevision92]

I think finishing moves have a chance to happen when no hostile NPCs are targeting the player, or will be after said target's death. Finishing moves happen when the damage from the blow will instantly kill the NPC.

 

My reasons:

 

1. When sneaking: Slitting throats, I think everybody has experienced this. If the theory is correct, the throat-slitting animation plays because the player has not been discovered, ergo no hostile NPC action. Also, you'll notice that your character plays the standard stabbing animation when the backstab does not instantly kill (which also alerts the target to your presence).

2. Killing the last guy in the group: Last guy in the immedeate area to die (No other enemies will be alerted by this guy's death), therefore no hostile NPC action.

3. Killing civilian NPCs: Again, you haven't been targeted by the city guards or whatever at the moment you click. Killing moves have a chance to happen.

 

 

For those who have yet to complete the Civil War quests, try doing the battles, especially during the city defense (Whiterun for the Imperials). You'll find that you can do finishing moves on all the fleeing soldiers once the battle is over.

 

Edited January 30, 2012 by nitevision92