Golden Knife

The Golden Knife is a weapon introduced in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and later brought to Counter-Strike 2. It is only available in the Arms Race game mode.

In the Arms Race, when it comes to the last stage, the Golden Knife comes into the picture. It's not just a knife; this is a sign that you are almost at the finish line, you just need one more kill. It looks like your average knife, but its golden shine makes it stand out from the rest of your arsenal.

This brilliant symbol of victory is found exclusively in the Arms Race and tells everyone around: “Look, I did it, I went through all the weapons, and now I’m only one step away from victory.” After you celebrate your skill by getting a kill with the golden knife, the game ends and everyone prepares for the next fight on a new map.

Council

When the time comes to fight with a golden knife in the Arms Race, the game enters its most intense phase. Everyone around is armed to the teeth, and trying to achieve victory with a knife seems almost insane. But this is where it is important to show dexterity and skill: to find the enemy and get ahead of him, not allowing him to return fire.

The golden knife, although impressive in its appearance, is essentially no different in impact force from the usual one. Gold coloring does not provide any bonuses, so it all depends on your skill.

Direct confrontations, especially with those armed with shotguns or rapid fire weapons, are best avoided. These opponents can instantly send you into a reboot. It is better to use the element of surprise, flanking or luring into a trap, this is especially effective against those holding an AWP. A stab in the back - and you are an instant hero of your team.

There is strength in unity, so work together with your teammates. They can distract the enemy's attention or provide you with the necessary cover for that cherished strike.

Be careful not to rush forward without thinking, especially towards enemy spawn points. Quick revives can turn your attack into a suicide mission. Patience and strategy are your best friends when chasing the right moment to attack.

Avoid open spaces unless you are protected by your own. It's best to move low, use cover, and act decisively when the enemy is distracted or gone.

Details that may surprise you:

In the game files, the golden knife is designated knifegg. This mysterious "gg" may actually be short for "Gun Game" - the original name of the mod that formed the basis of the Arms Race mode.

Now for the fun facts:

If you go beyond the Arms Race mode, you can summon the Golden Knife using console commands. However, you shouldn’t expect anything special from it - it will function like a regular knife.
An interesting point before the Danger Zone update: the Golden Knife was the only thing in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive that could not be picked up and examined in detail in the game.
And it may seem strange, but if you look at the knife in the hands of a character from a third person, it seems to protrude from his hands, creating a somewhat unusual appearance.

Knife Damage

In all respects, this knife is identical to a regular one. The differences are only cosmetic.

To the chest and arms: the primary attack also deals 34 or 21 damage with armor and 40 or 25 damage without armor. The secondary attack deals 55 damage with armor and 65 damage without armor.
In the stomach: damage from the primary attack is 34 or 21 with armor and 40 or 25 damage without armor. The secondary attack deals 55 damage with armor and 65 damage without armor.
To the legs: the primary attack deals 34 or 21 damage with armor and 40 or 25 damage without armor. The secondary attack deals 55 damage with armor and 65 damage without armor.
In the back: the primary attack deals 76 damage with armor and 90 damage without armor. The secondary attack deals significantly more damage - 153 damage with armor and 180 damage without armor.

Other interesting facts

Firing mode - Slash & Stab
Entity - weapon_knifegg
Games - Counter-Strike 2 и Counter-Strike: Global Offensive