I'm having trouble actually assassinating people. What do I need to get to cut people's throats like in the trailer?

That's a critical hit I think.

BTW it's took me a while to actually pulled off a kill like that. But it so damn refreshing.

It's a stealth kill from behind, but I'm still not sure how to properly trigger it. There are some enemies where I'm able to pull it off anytime - others I always fail.

But basically, equip a dagger and nothing (or another dagger), then sneak behind your victim, do a power attack, and with some luck you'll get the animation and an instant kill (stealth perks help a lot here).

For me it seems to do the animation when I stand directly behind someone who is idle and with my main hand simply click once with a dagger-I find the power attack just swings with no animation.

I don't think the power attack works.

There's more behind it. Had it several times. Standing perfectly fine behind someone with them having no clue and still no backstab kill.

I'm not sure on this, plus I'm not really sure if you have to do a normal or power attack. Think I've seen both failing so far.

use a knife a dagger or a one handed sword. sneak up behind someone walk softly and just hit attack and you should assassinate.

It's not that simple.

It occurs if the sneak attack is strong enough to kill. That's all it is.

edit: ^


I agree with the post above this. That would make the most sense to me. ^

I have done power attacks where it just swings at them and kills them rather than cuts their throat.

Ive done it a couple of times with a 1handed sword, I guess its like the finishers though, sort of random.

yes it is. and i don't think it's a health thing because i assassinated a bandit cheif.

In order to get any sort of "Finisher" or "Assassination" kill, your hit must deal enough damage to completely kill your target. If you deal a hit that has x amount of damage and the target has more than x amount of health, there won't be any finisher moves. If you deal a hit with x amount of damage and the target has x or less than x amount of health, there is a CHANCE of dealing a finisher move.

Of course, that's just me making a wild -albeit reasonable- guess.


EDIT: @Woodelf1011: That's because it's still a chance of dealing a finisher, even if you deal enough damage to kill the target. Otherwise all killing blows will trigger finisher moves.

Actually, you don't need a dagger, you can do it with a sword. Also, you can have your shield equipped, the animation still happens. (Although it has a terrible cliping issue when the sword goes through your shield.)

What I'm wondering is if there's a perk or something that can increase it, preferable for only assassinations, but I doubt it.

I'm pretty sure it's a random finisher just like any other.

I've had plenty of sneak kills without the special animation, and I've had some great ones with it. My personal favorite involved stomach-stabbing a draugr who was walking towards me over a flame-jet trap. So I basically stabbed him through fire. Yes, I'm a badass.

Remember to only hold one of your dagger triggers if you are holding two dagger, otherwise it will be a normal two dagger power attack.
Also, not quite sure if this was just bad luck, but it only seems to work for me if the person is standing still.

I definitely had a backstab kill with two daggers in hands. This can't be the reason nor a requirement.