Knife rounds are a common occurrence in Counter-Strike 2 and are used for determining team sides. For example, you may encounter a knife round in every match on Faceit or at major championships. However, winning a knife round requires knowing a few key tricks, which we will share with you right now.

But first, let's delve into the essence of the problem: why is the knife round needed and what does it actually offer?

Main Aspects of the Knife Round

The knife round in Counter-Strike has been around since before the release of CS2 and even before CS:GO. Our forefathers used to engage in knife fights on Dust2 in CS 1.6. Since those early days, CS players have used knife rounds to decide which side they will play on.

However, this practice is most commonly seen in various championships, and exclusively on the third map. Initially, a coin toss decides who will ban the first map and who gets to choose the side to start playing on. 

But the third map begins with a knife round, and the winner gets to choose the side they wish to start on for that map. This is particularly the case in major championships and only in matches played in bo3 and bo5 formats.

In smaller championships, teams are allowed to play knife rounds before each map and even in bo1 format. There, no coin is tossed; instead, the system automatically selects the team to ban maps first.

Where is the Knife Round Encountered Nowadays?

Nowadays, knife rounds are found in both amateur and professional tournaments, as well as in every match on the FACEIT platform. It might seem that Valve's creation of Premier Mode, which closely resembles Faceit with a clear rating system, the possibility of gaining infinite ELO, and more, would include knife rounds. Yet, neither Matchmaking nor Premier Mode has them.

The right to choose which side a team starts on is essentially given out randomly. Yes, you might say that in Premier Mode we can choose the side ourselves. However, initially, the system decides which team will have this choice, making the knife round still a better option.

Why Hasn't Valve Added Knife Rounds to Premier Mode?

Players have been discussing this question for years. Valve claimed that MM and Premier Mode were introduced so that people could play at a professional level, or at least under similar conditions. Given this fiery speech, it's indeed surprising why the absence of a knife round has not been commented on.

But some assumptions from ordinary players have surfaced, which we'll examine. Firstly, knives weren't added because in Premier Mode, a team of five often can't agree, leading to disagreements and morale issues from the start of the game.

But the truth might remain elusive, so let's leave these speculations and conspiracy theories to others.

How to Win Knife Rounds in Counter-Strike 2?

Winning a knife round in CS2 is not too complex – you just need to stab all your opponents. But if you've played knife rounds in Counter-Strike, you understand that winning a knife round is an art form in itself.

The most crucial aspect of a knife round, as in all of Counter-Strike, is teamwork. You have a much better chance of winning if you collectively rush your opponents and stab them together. This way, you're likely to inflict damage first, which significantly increases your chances of winning the round. But how do you properly stab your opponents?

On one hand, it may seem best to stab your opponent twice with the right mouse button. But in reality, it's more advantageous to click the left mouse button twice and then finish your opponent with a right click. Why is this?

Firstly, when you're moving, you can hit your opponent sooner with the left mouse button due to its larger damage radius compared to the right button. 

Moreover, the left-left-right combination is executed 0.2 seconds faster than the right-right combo. Below is a table of knife damage in different modes. Note that knife rounds are played with the first armour by all rules.

Of course, if you manage to sneak up on an opponent from behind, don't hesitate and just use the right mouse button for a sure kill.

Tips for Knife Rounds

So, how exactly do you win one-on-one knife duels? In Counter-Strike, there are two small tricks that can help you win a knife round. Firstly, use CTRL to crouch when striking, which helps you dodge your opponent's attack.

The second trick is to take a step back when your opponent lunges at you with a knife, making them miss their strike. Then, you can counter-attack and hit first.

How to Train for Knife Rounds?

The best training is playing in knife rounds in real battles, like in a Faceit match or a tournament. But there are also special maps for knife rounds, which are quite popular in the community. 

The names of these maps often start with the prefix "35hp". The first maps of this kind appeared in CS 1.6. The concept is simple: 

All players spawn with 35hp and a knife, meaning just one left click can send your opponent packing. These maps allow for quick rounds, enabling you to play over 30 rounds in about 10 minutes, which is great for honing your knife skills.

To find such servers, look in the “Community Servers” tab and use the search bar to type “35hp” or “Knifes only”.

Captain's Duels

Finally, let's talk about an interesting feature of knife rounds at tier-1 LAN championships. Sometimes, teams agree to a "Captain's Duel" before the match.

This involves the captains fighting one-on-one with knives. After their duel, the winning captain's team eliminates their opponents, who offer no resistance.

However, this practice is very rare.

Conclusion

The knife round is very important for Counter-Strike and will never leave the eSports scene. However, to win a knife round, it's wise to use the tricks we've mentioned above. We also suggest you to read about knife types in CS2 in this material. Good luck in your future matches!