Tribes: Ascend/Perks/Close Combat

"Provides 20% Damage Reduction from all melee attacks, and upgrades for double Backstab damage."

Close Combat doubles the damage of a melee attack when you backstab an enemy, and also reduces how much damage you take when you are meleed. Upgrading the perk all the way can reduce the damage of a melee attack from 900 to 360, and increase the damage of a backstab to 1,800 from the original 900. This is a Primary Perk.

Upgrades

Upgrade 1: x2 melee backstab damage

Upgrade 2: +20% melee damage reduction (40% reduction)

Upgrade 3: +20% melee damage reduction (60% reduction)