diff --git a/Scripts/hiro_ai.gd b/Scripts/hiro_ai.gd
index cc2bd88..5871a10 100644
--- a/Scripts/hiro_ai.gd
+++ b/Scripts/hiro_ai.gd
@@ -108,12 +108,8 @@ func _on_hurt_state_entered():
 	else:
 		set_animation_direction(facing_direction)
 		anim_playback.travel("hurt")
-		var knockback_variance = Vector2.ZERO
-		if attacked_from.x != 0:
-			knockback_variance.y = randf_range(-1, 1) * KNOCKBACK_RANDOMNESS
-		elif attacked_from.y != 0:
-			knockback_variance.x = randf_range(-1, 1) * KNOCKBACK_RANDOMNESS
-		velocity = attacked_from * KNOCKBACK_POWER + knockback_variance
+		var knockback_direction = attacked_from.rotated(deg_to_rad(randf_range(-1, 1) * KNOCKBACK_RANDOMNESS))
+		velocity = KNOCKBACK_POWER * knockback_direction.normalized()
 		
 		state_machine.set_expression_property("melee_stage", 0)
 	
diff --git a/Scripts/hiro_player.gd b/Scripts/hiro_player.gd
index 34c7ba1..1fda254 100644
--- a/Scripts/hiro_player.gd
+++ b/Scripts/hiro_player.gd
@@ -88,12 +88,8 @@ func _on_enemy_attack_did_hit(other, power, attack_direction):
 		else:
 			var facing_direction = attack_direction * -1.0
 			set_animation_direction(facing_direction)
-			var knockback_variance = Vector2.ZERO
-			if attack_direction.x != 0:
-				knockback_variance.y = randf_range(-1, 1) * KNOCKBACK_RANDOMNESS
-			elif attack_direction.y != 0:
-				knockback_variance.x = randf_range(-1, 1) * KNOCKBACK_RANDOMNESS
-			velocity = KNOCKBACK_POWER * attack_direction + knockback_variance
+			var knockback_direction = attack_direction.rotated(deg_to_rad(randf_range(-1, 1) * KNOCKBACK_RANDOMNESS))
+			velocity = KNOCKBACK_POWER * knockback_direction.normalized()
 			
 			var playback: AnimationNodeStateMachinePlayback = $AnimationTree.get("parameters/playback")
 			playback.travel("hurt")