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In all versions of Counter-Strike, the knife serves as the primary hand-to-hand combat tool and is automatically provided to players. However, in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, while participating in the Danger Zone mode, players must find a knife inside special boxes. In the same version, it is possible to get rid of the knife only in certain situations: either in the Danger Zone, or when the console command mp_drop_knife_enable is activated. There is no Danger Zone feature in Counter-Strike 2, which is why the knife remains an integral attribute of every player without exception.
"Quiet and always available, the knife has a fast, low-damage primary attack and a slow, high-damage secondary attack. A backstab will earn quiet players an instant kill.” ― Официальное описание
In every Counter-Strike game, a knife is a standard item in the melee slot, and can only be purchased or discarded by using certain console commands.
The knife is distinguished by its short-range combat characteristics, having a minimum attack range and producing very little noise. It has two types of attack: fast with low damage and slow with high damage. In Global Offensive and CS2, consecutive hits from a fast attack deal reduced damage, making it less likely to be used frequently.
Knife damage is affected by certain multipliers that differ from other weapons. In Counter-Strike and Condition Zero, in addition to the special damage multiplier for backstabs, the head hitbox is also taken into account. However, in CS2 and Global Offensive the head hitbox multiplier was removed, leaving only a multiplier on backstabs, making the secondary attack deadly if hit to the head in early versions of the game or to the back.
In all versions of the game, while holding a knife, players can move at a base speed of 250 units per second, which is the standard movement speed. In previous versions of the series, some other weapons and grenades also allowed the player to move at the same speed, and the Schmidt Scout even increased the player's speed. However, in CS2 these features were removed, leaving the knife as the only item that provides maximum running speed. When moving with a knife in "Shift" mode, the speed is 130 units, which is higher than with any other weapon, and in a sitting position - 85 units.
In Counter-Strike 2, using a knife to take down an opponent is a profitable action, as this weapon provides the highest cash reward of any weapon: $1,500 in competitive mode and $750 in normal game mode. In Deathmatch mode, killing with a knife not only earns the highest 20 points for eliminating an enemy, but also an additional 10 point bonus.
As for bot behavior in the game, they will resort to using the knife in a limited number of situations: when they run out of ammo, when they need to quickly move at the beginning of a round, or when they are trying to quickly leave the bomb area before it explodes. Bots set to a higher difficulty level will hold the knife in their hands until they meet the enemy.
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and Counter-Strike 2 introduce players to various cosmetic knife options that serve as alternatives to the regular knife and were first introduced to the game with the Arms Deal update.
In Counter-Strike 2, all of these cosmetic knives are classified as rare special items (★), except for the Golden Knife, which is obtained as the final weapon in Arms Race mode.The Bayonet and Flip Knife were also standard knives in the beta and were therefore not considered rare special (★) items until the release of Global Offensive, when they were removed to be reimagined in the Arms Deal update. These rare special (★) items cannot be used in boost contracts. The following is a list of knife types that are available for purchase on the Steam Marketplace or for trading directly with other players:
In Counter-Strike 2, a knife acts as a means of high-speed movement, allowing, for example, to quickly evacuate from the area of an upcoming explosion. It also serves to quietly destroy enemies, especially snipers, when silent small arms are not at hand.
Please note that the range of the secondary attack of the knife is limited. In situations where you and your opponent are out of ammo, using a knife can be a faster solution than reloading, especially at short ranges.
For maximum effectiveness in CS2, it is preferable to use two primary attacks followed by one secondary attack. Due to the quiet nature of the knife, it is possible to get close to an enemy unnoticed, although this entails a certain risk in the presence of close opponents.
When sneaking up on an enemy, it is important to minimize the sound of footsteps in order to remain undetected. Although knife strikes can be heard a short distance away, unlike previous versions, in Counter-Strike 2 the sound of a knife being drawn does not create noise.