diff --git a/level/resources/weapon_shield.tres b/level/resources/weapon_shield.tres
index 06b7019..9dcf59c 100644
--- a/level/resources/weapon_shield.tres
+++ b/level/resources/weapon_shield.tres
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ hand_type = 1
 damage = 8.0
 attack_range = 2.5
 attack_cooldown = 0.8
+knockback_force = 15.0
 can_block = true
 block_reduction = 0.7
 mesh_scene = ExtResource("2")
diff --git a/level/resources/weapon_sword.tres b/level/resources/weapon_sword.tres
index 17dad51..f42a824 100644
--- a/level/resources/weapon_sword.tres
+++ b/level/resources/weapon_sword.tres
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ description = "A simple iron sword. Good for close combat."
 damage = 15.0
 attack_range = 3.5
 attack_cooldown = 0.6
+knockback_force = 12.0
 attack_animation = "Attack1"
 mesh_scene = ExtResource("2")
 pickup_radius = 1.5
diff --git a/level/scripts/base_unit.gd b/level/scripts/base_unit.gd
index 9fd78bd..dc6742f 100644
--- a/level/scripts/base_unit.gd
+++ b/level/scripts/base_unit.gd
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ func _enter_tree():
 ## Take damage from an attacker
 ## Should only be called on the server for authority
 @rpc("any_peer", "reliable")
-func take_damage(amount: float, attacker_id: int = -1):
+func take_damage(amount: float, attacker_id: int = -1, knockback: float = 0.0, attacker_pos: Vector3 = Vector3.ZERO):
 	# Only server can process damage
 	if not multiplayer.is_server():
 		return
@@ -36,10 +36,14 @@ func take_damage(amount: float, attacker_id: int = -1):
 
 	# Apply blocking reduction if applicable (duck typing - check if method exists)
 	var final_damage = amount
+	var final_knockback = knockback
+	var was_blocked = false
 	if has_method("get_block_reduction"):
 		var block_reduction = call("get_block_reduction")
 		if block_reduction > 0.0:
 			final_damage = amount * (1.0 - block_reduction)
+			final_knockback = knockback * (1.0 - block_reduction)  # Reduce knockback too
+			was_blocked = true
 			print("Blocked! Damage reduced from ", amount, " to ", final_damage, " (", block_reduction * 100, "% reduction)")
 
 	var old_health = current_health
@@ -49,6 +53,18 @@ func take_damage(amount: float, attacker_id: int = -1):
 	rpc("sync_health", current_health)
 	health_changed.emit(old_health, current_health)
 
+	# Show damage number on all clients
+	rpc("_show_damage_number", final_damage, was_blocked)
+
+	# Play hurt animation on all clients
+	rpc("_play_hurt_animation")
+
+	# Apply knockback if applicable
+	if final_knockback > 0.0 and attacker_pos != Vector3.ZERO:
+		var knockback_dir = (global_position - attacker_pos).normalized()
+		knockback_dir.y = 0.3  # Slight upward component
+		rpc("_apply_knockback", knockback_dir * final_knockback)
+
 	if current_health <= 0:
 		_die(attacker_id)
 
@@ -123,3 +139,36 @@ func set_respawn_point(point: Vector3):
 ## Get health percentage (0.0 to 1.0)
 func get_health_percent() -> float:
 	return current_health / max_health if max_health > 0 else 0.0
+
+## Show floating damage number
+@rpc("any_peer", "call_local", "reliable")
+func _show_damage_number(damage: float, was_blocked: bool):
+	print("Spawning damage number: ", damage, " blocked: ", was_blocked, " on peer: ", multiplayer.get_unique_id())
+
+	# Create damage number label
+	var damage_label = Label3D.new()
+	var damage_script = load("res://level/scripts/damage_number.gd")
+	damage_label.set_script(damage_script)
+
+	# Position above the character
+	damage_label.position = global_position + Vector3(0, 2.5, 0)
+
+	# Add to scene (not as child of this node, so it doesn't get affected by player movement)
+	get_tree().get_current_scene().add_child(damage_label)
+
+	# Set damage value and color
+	damage_label.call("set_damage", damage, was_blocked)
+
+## Apply knockback force
+@rpc("any_peer", "call_local", "reliable")
+func _apply_knockback(knockback_velocity: Vector3):
+	# Only applies to CharacterBody3D (players)
+	if self is CharacterBody3D:
+		velocity += knockback_velocity
+		print("Applied knockback: ", knockback_velocity)
+
+## Play hurt animation (override in subclasses)
+@rpc("any_peer", "call_local", "reliable")
+func _play_hurt_animation():
+	# Subclasses should implement this
+	pass
diff --git a/level/scripts/base_weapon.gd b/level/scripts/base_weapon.gd
index 55daba8..bdbfec1 100644
--- a/level/scripts/base_weapon.gd
+++ b/level/scripts/base_weapon.gd
@@ -80,10 +80,22 @@ func _find_and_damage_targets():
 
 			# If we're the server, apply damage directly
 			if multiplayer.is_server():
-				owner_character._server_apply_damage(hit_body.name, weapon_data.damage, attacker_id)
+				owner_character._server_apply_damage(
+					hit_body.name,
+					weapon_data.damage,
+					attacker_id,
+					weapon_data.knockback_force,
+					owner_character.global_position
+				)
 			else:
 				# Otherwise, request server to apply damage
-				owner_character.rpc_id(1, "_server_apply_damage", hit_body.name, weapon_data.damage, attacker_id)
+				owner_character.rpc_id(1, "_server_apply_damage",
+					hit_body.name,
+					weapon_data.damage,
+					attacker_id,
+					weapon_data.knockback_force,
+					owner_character.global_position
+				)
 			break  # Only hit one target per attack
 
 ## Check if weapon can attack
diff --git a/level/scripts/damage_number.gd b/level/scripts/damage_number.gd
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5367b51
--- /dev/null
+++ b/level/scripts/damage_number.gd
@@ -0,0 +1,86 @@
+extends Label3D
+class_name DamageNumber
+
+## Floating damage number that animates upward and fades out
+
+@export var float_speed: float = 3.0
+@export var lifetime: float = 1.8
+@export var spread: float = 0.7  # Random horizontal spread
+
+var _elapsed: float = 0.0
+var _velocity: Vector3 = Vector3.ZERO
+var _initial_scale: float = 1.5
+
+func _ready():
+	# Random horizontal spread
+	_velocity = Vector3(
+		randf_range(-spread, spread),
+		float_speed,
+		randf_range(-spread, spread)
+	)
+
+	# Billboard mode so it always faces camera
+	billboard = BaseMaterial3D.BILLBOARD_ENABLED
+
+	# Start with full opacity
+	modulate.a = 1.0
+
+	# Larger initial scale for impact
+	scale = Vector3.ONE * 0.5
+
+func _process(delta):
+	_elapsed += delta
+
+	# Move upward with velocity
+	position += _velocity * delta
+	_velocity.y -= delta * 1.5  # Slight gravity effect
+
+	# Fade out over lifetime (keep visible longer, then quick fade)
+	var fade_progress = _elapsed / lifetime
+	if fade_progress < 0.7:
+		modulate.a = 1.0
+	else:
+		var fade_amount = (fade_progress - 0.7) / 0.3
+		modulate.a = 1.0 - fade_amount
+
+	# Pop animation - quick scale up, then gentle scale down
+	if fade_progress < 0.15:
+		# Quick pop up
+		var scale_progress = fade_progress / 0.15
+		var target_scale = _initial_scale * (0.5 + (0.5 * scale_progress))
+		scale = Vector3.ONE * target_scale
+	elif fade_progress < 0.3:
+		# Slight bounce/overshoot
+		var bounce_progress = (fade_progress - 0.15) / 0.15
+		var overshoot = sin(bounce_progress * PI) * 0.15
+		var target_scale = _initial_scale * (1.0 + overshoot)
+		scale = Vector3.ONE * target_scale
+	else:
+		# Gentle shrink
+		var shrink_progress = (fade_progress - 0.3) / 0.7
+		var target_scale = _initial_scale * (1.0 - (shrink_progress * 0.3))
+		scale = Vector3.ONE * target_scale
+
+	# Delete when lifetime expired
+	if _elapsed >= lifetime:
+		queue_free()
+
+## Set the damage number text and color
+func set_damage(amount: float, was_blocked: bool = false):
+	text = str(int(amount))
+
+	if was_blocked:
+		# Bright yellow/orange for blocked damage with strong contrast
+		modulate = Color(1.0, 0.9, 0.0)  # Bright yellow
+		outline_modulate = Color(0.3, 0.15, 0.0)  # Dark brown/black outline
+	else:
+		# Vibrant red for normal damage with black outline
+		modulate = Color(1.0, 0.15, 0.15)  # Bright red
+		outline_modulate = Color(0.1, 0.0, 0.0)  # Almost black outline
+
+	# Much larger and bolder
+	outline_size = 16
+	font_size = 72
+
+	# Add depth with larger outline
+	pixel_size = 0.002  # Slightly larger pixels for better visibility
diff --git a/level/scripts/damage_number.gd.uid b/level/scripts/damage_number.gd.uid
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..da949f8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/level/scripts/damage_number.gd.uid
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+uid://c563plaqxfk5d
diff --git a/level/scripts/player.gd b/level/scripts/player.gd
index 49fb1bc..d9570c0 100644
--- a/level/scripts/player.gd
+++ b/level/scripts/player.gd
@@ -354,17 +354,17 @@ func _perform_attack():
 		if hit_body != self and hit_body is BaseUnit:
 			var attacker_id = multiplayer.get_unique_id()
 
-			# If we're the server, apply damage directly
+			# If we're the server, apply damage directly (default unarmed knockback)
 			if multiplayer.is_server():
-				_server_apply_damage(hit_body.name, attack_damage, attacker_id)
+				_server_apply_damage(hit_body.name, attack_damage, attacker_id, 5.0, global_position)
 			else:
 				# Otherwise, request server to apply damage
-				rpc_id(1, "_server_apply_damage", hit_body.name, attack_damage, attacker_id)
+				rpc_id(1, "_server_apply_damage", hit_body.name, attack_damage, attacker_id, 5.0, global_position)
 			break  # Only hit one target per attack
 
 ## Server-side damage application
 @rpc("any_peer", "reliable")
-func _server_apply_damage(target_name: String, damage: float, attacker_id: int):
+func _server_apply_damage(target_name: String, damage: float, attacker_id: int, knockback: float = 0.0, attacker_pos: Vector3 = Vector3.ZERO):
 	if not multiplayer.is_server():
 		return
 
@@ -379,7 +379,7 @@ func _server_apply_damage(target_name: String, damage: float, attacker_id: int):
 
 	var target = players_container.get_node(target_name)
 	if target and target is BaseUnit:
-		target.take_damage(damage, attacker_id)
+		target.take_damage(damage, attacker_id, knockback, attacker_pos)
 
 ## Health display and callbacks
 func _create_health_ui():
@@ -520,6 +520,36 @@ func _reset_dash_rotation(rotation_value: float):
 	if _body:
 		_body.rotation.x = rotation_value
 
+## Override hurt animation from BaseUnit
+func _play_hurt_animation():
+	if _body and _body.animation_player:
+		# Try to play a hurt/hit animation if it exists
+		if _body.animation_player.has_animation("Hurt"):
+			_body.animation_player.play("Hurt")
+		elif _body.animation_player.has_animation("Hit"):
+			_body.animation_player.play("Hit")
+		elif _body.animation_player.has_animation("TakeDamage"):
+			_body.animation_player.play("TakeDamage")
+		else:
+			# Fallback: briefly flash the character red
+			_flash_hurt()
+
+## Flash effect when no hurt animation exists
+func _flash_hurt():
+	if not _body:
+		return
+
+	# Store original modulate
+	var original_modulate = _body.modulate
+
+	# Flash red
+	_body.modulate = Color(1.5, 0.5, 0.5, 1.0)
+
+	# Return to normal after a brief moment
+	await get_tree().create_timer(0.15).timeout
+	if _body:
+		_body.modulate = original_modulate
+
 ## Weapon System
 func _setup_weapon_pickup_area():
 	# Create an Area3D to detect nearby weapons
diff --git a/level/scripts/weapon_data.gd b/level/scripts/weapon_data.gd
index 193e319..66eef42 100644
--- a/level/scripts/weapon_data.gd
+++ b/level/scripts/weapon_data.gd
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ enum Hand { MAIN_HAND, OFF_HAND, TWO_HAND }
 @export var attack_range: float = 3.0
 @export var attack_cooldown: float = 0.5
 @export var attack_animation: String = "Attack1"  # Animation to play when attacking
+@export var knockback_force: float = 8.0  # How much to push the target back
 
 @export_category("Defense Stats")
 @export var can_block: bool = false