Cheap Shot

Summary

Cheap Shot is a thief advanced move in Dungeon World that grants an additional +1d6 damage to Backstab attacks when using a precise hand weapon. In Session 3 of the campaign, Abdul selects this move for Sucks upon leveling up, significantly increasing the character's damage potential. Since the Backstab move already provides +1d6 damage when attacking a surprised or defenseless enemy, taking Cheap Shot increases the total bonus to +2d6 damage on top of regular weapon damage. The move only applies when the prerequisite conditions for Backstab are met—it cannot be invoked as a separate action.

Details

Cheap Shot functions as a damage multiplier for the thief's backstab ability. The base backstab move allows a thief to deal an extra +1d6 damage when attacking a surprised or defenseless enemy. [When Abdul considers this advanced move](timestamp://355acf0c-a859-4c94-ab24-c50f67c21797/00:00), Shawn clarifies the stacking mechanics: the backstab already grants +1d6 damage, so Cheap Shot would increase the total to +2d6 on top of the character's regular weapon damage.

This makes thieves extremely lethal when they can catch enemies by surprise. Shawn notes that "That's why Billy is so lethal. Thieves do a ton of damage," referring to another thief character who presumably uses this same advanced move to devastating effect in combat.

When selecting this move, Abdul also considers the Underdog move as an alternative, which would grant +1 armor when outnumbered and starting a fight. While Abdul acknowledges that Underdog fits Sucks's character well, the increased damage potential of Cheap Shot ultimately proves more appealing for the build.

History

Session 3

[Abdul discusses Sucks's advanced move options](timestamp://355acf0c-a859-4c94-ab24-c50f67c21797/00:00) during a leveling up sequence. The player weighs Cheap Shot against other thief advanced moves, describing it as "very, very much a sucks thing to do." Shawn explains the mechanical stacking of the damage bonuses, confirming that Cheap Shot would add another +1d6 on top of the existing backstab bonus. Abdul selects Cheap Shot as Sucks's new advanced move, prioritizing the offensive capability over the defensive benefits of other available options.

Episode: "Session 5"

During combat with the pumpkin creature, Sucks attempts to invoke Cheap Shot while ensnared, declaring "I use cheap shot." The GM corrects this misunderstanding, clarifying that Cheap Shot is not a standalone move but rather a modifier to Backstab. Sucks then reads the move's description aloud: "When using a preciser hand weapon, your backstab deals an extra 1d6 damage." This exchange illustrates a common misconception about the move—that it can be activated independently rather than only applying when the conditions for Backstab are already met (attacking a surprised or defenseless enemy). The moment serves as a teaching opportunity about how advanced moves function as enhancements to base class moves rather than separate actions in the Dungeon World system.