If you've spent any time running, gliding, and climbing across Wuthering Waves' sweeping open world, you've definitely seen other players pull off slick flips mid-jump and wondered how to do it yourself. Learning how to backflip in Wuthering Waves isn't just a fun flex — it can also help you adjust your mid-air positioning for better glide angles, dodge enemy attacks more stylishly, and even shave a few seconds off fast travel runs when you're hopping between high platforms. I've spent 40+ hours testing movement mechanics in the game, and I've broken down every part of this trick so even total newbies can pull it off on their first or second try.
How to Backflip in Wuthering Waves: Exact Step-by-Step Controls
Let's get the core controls out of the way first, because this trick is way simpler than most players make it out to be. I've tested it on PC, PlayStation, and Xbox, so I've included controls for all platforms below, no confusion needed. You don't need any special items or character unlocks to pull it off, either — the mechanic is available from the second you start the game.
- PC: Hold the S key (move backward) while standing still, then press Space to jump, and immediately tap the crouch key (default Left Ctrl) mid-jump
- PlayStation: Hold the left analog stick backward while standing still, press X to jump, then tap Circle immediately after leaving the ground
- Xbox: Hold the left analog stick backward while standing still, press A to jump, then tap B immediately after leaving the ground
The timing is the only tricky part here. You don't need to wait until you reach the peak of your jump to tap crouch — in fact, you only have a 0.2 second window right after you leave the ground to trigger the flip. If you wait too long, you'll just do a regular crouch fall instead of the full backflip. I recommend practicing in a flat, open area like the starting plains near Jinzhou first, so you don't have to worry about falling off cliffs while you get the timing down. Once you nail the rhythm, you'll be able to pull off a backflip in Wuthering Waves without even thinking about the inputs.
Common Mistakes That Make Backflips Fail (and How to Fix Them)
Even if you follow the controls exactly, you might mess up your first few backflips because of tiny, easy-to-miss details. I made all of these mistakes myself when I was first learning, so I know exactly how to fix each one. First, a lot of players accidentally hold forward on the movement stick instead of backward, or they're already moving when they try to trigger the flip.
Backflips only work when you're standing completely still — if you're running, walking, or even sliding slightly, the input will register as a regular jump instead. If you're struggling with this, try letting go of all movement keys for half a second before you input the backflip combo, to make sure your character is fully stationary. Another common mistake is pressing crouch too late, as I mentioned earlier. If you keep getting regular crouch falls instead of flips, try tapping crouch as soon as you see your character leave the ground, not when they're halfway up the jump.
You can also turn on input visibility in the game's settings if you want to double-check that you're pressing the buttons in the right order. The last mistake I see a lot is trying to do backflips on uneven or sloped ground. If you're standing on a hill or a rock that's more than 15 degrees slanted, the game won't register your standing still input correctly, so you won't be able to trigger the flip. Stick to flat, solid ground when you're first practicing, and you'll get the hang of it in 5 to 10 tries.
Cool Ways to Use Backflips Outside of Showing Off
Most players learn backflips just to show off to their co-op friends, but this trick actually has a bunch of practical uses that make it worth adding to your regular movement toolkit. First, backflips give you a tiny bit of extra height on your jump, which is perfect for grabbing ledges that are just out of reach of a regular jump. I've used this dozens of times when climbing tall towers or collecting chests that are perched on small ledges, and it's saved me from having to backtrack to find a higher starting point.
Backflips are also really useful for dodging enemy attacks in combat, especially big AoE attacks that come at you from the front. A well-timed backflip will get you out of the range of most melee and short-range projectile attacks faster than a regular dodge roll, and it looks way cooler too. Just don't use it if you're standing near the edge of a cliff, because you'll flip right off and take fall damage.
You can also chain backflips into glides to get a better starting angle for long glides across big gaps. If you backflip right before you open your glider, you'll get a little extra lift that lets you glide 10 to 15% further than you would from a regular jump glide. I use this all the time when I'm crossing the big rivers in the game, and it's saved me from having to swim across more times than I can count. It also comes in handy when you're trying to reach floating supply crates that are just out of normal glide range.
Can You Backflip With Every Resonator?
I've tested this trick with every currently released Resonator, and the good news is that backflips work with every single one, no exceptions. Some Resonators have slightly different jump animations, but the input timing is exactly the same for all of them, so you don't have to re-learn the trick if you switch your main character. The only small difference is that taller Resonators like Jiyan have a slightly longer jump animation, so you have a tiny bit more time to input the crouch command to trigger the flip.
Shorter Resonators like Verina have faster jump animations, so the input window is a little narrower, but it's still easy to hit once you've practiced a few times. You also don't need any special upgrades, resonance levels, or items to do backflips — the mechanic is available to all players from the very start of the game, no unlocks required. That's a nice bonus for new players who don't want to wait until they progress the story to pull off cool movement tricks. The only time you can't do backflips is when you're carrying a heavy object like a crate or a puzzle orb, or when you're in a restricted combat area that locks certain movement inputs.
At the end of the day, learning how to backflip in Wuthering Waves is one of those small, low-effort tricks that makes exploring the game's world feel way more fun and satisfying. You don't have to be a pro player to pull it off, and it comes with enough practical benefits that it's worth taking 10 minutes to practice when you first start playing. Don't get frustrated if you mess up your first few tries — I must have failed 20 times before I got the timing right, and now I can pull it off without even thinking about it. Next time you're waiting for your co-op party to load in, or you're taking a break from questing, give it a try — you might be surprised how quickly you get the hang of it.