Enemies can parry and block from behind, a known beta bug

The October 1 beta build lists new known issues. The one melee players will feel: enemies can parry and block attacks from behind when you stand close to them. Blizzard’s advice until a fix: keep a little distance.

Others on the list: a chained cast skips the next spell’s precast effects and sounds until the first cast ends; the Forever install is larger than intended, which Blizzard is working to shrink in a future beta update; Faerie Fire, Demoralizing Shout and similar debuffs make no threat; Scroll of Liminal Passage doesn’t work properly; Mages who learn Research can be locked out of it; and Retribution Aura draws on the target’s spell power rather than the Paladin’s. Taillasher Eggs for “Break A Few Eggs” respawn too slowly and Dwarves lack their new water splash sounds; a later build fixes both. Anduin Wrynn and other children wear hats they shouldn’t, and Blizzard warns that removing them will take a while because “they keep giggling and running away.”

Three more have their own entries: Eureka missing some damage and healing spells for some classes, fixed in a later build; Dual Wield Specialization giving its hit chance to both hands, fixed the same day; and switching the Gamepad UI on or off resetting your Edit Mode layout.

The same build fixes a few things too. Rain is easier to see, the Night Watchman’s Torch no longer lags and can be cancelled, and weapons look a more consistent size across races. The Ray Traced Shadows option is removed until it works. World instances were adjusted, and party leaders should no longer be moved when the group changes.

Why it matters: if attacks from behind get parried, take a step back.