Spent way too many coins buying knives that looked cool but played terribly. The Obsidian Blade? Gorgeous. Also has the worst trajectory in the game. Couldn’t hit anything for 10 matches straight before I gave up and went back to basics.
After 50+ hours testing every knife in Knife Arena, I’ve ranked them all based on actual performance, not aesthetics. The December 19 “HUGE UPDATE” added 2 new knives to the roster, so I’ve updated the rankings. Some expensive knives are trash. Some cheap ones are secretly broken. This tier list tells you which is which so you don’t waste your coins like I did.
Grab the free knives from codes first. The LAUNCH code knife is genuinely A-tier and costs nothing.
Quick Tier Overview
| Tier | Knives |
|---|---|
| S | Phantom Blade, Velocity Dagger, Precision Edge |
| A | LAUNCH Knife, Combat Knife, Steel Fang, Tactical Blade, Pixel Blade (New!) |
| B | Hunter’s Edge, Shadow Striker, Crimson Cutter, Default Knife, Chrome Edge (New!) |
| C | Obsidian Blade, Golden Dagger, Neon Slicer |
| D | Starter Blade, Rusty Knife, Decorative Daggers |
S-tier knives have optimal stat combinations. A-tier are excellent choices. B-tier are solid but outclassed. C-tier have significant weaknesses. D-tier should be replaced immediately.
S-Tier Knives
These are the best knives in the game. If you have one, use it.
Phantom Blade
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Throw Speed | 95/100 |
| Damage | 85/100 |
| Range | 80/100 |
| Trajectory | Straight |
The Phantom Blade is broken. Not in a bad way, but in a “this knife does everything well” way. The throw speed is fast enough that prediction becomes almost optional at close range. The damage is high enough for consistent two-shot kills. The range lets you engage from anywhere.
What makes it S-tier is the straight trajectory. No arc compensation needed. Point at head, throw, kill. I went from struggling to maintain 1.0 K/D to consistently hitting 2.0+ after switching to this knife.
Best for: Everyone. Seriously. If you can afford it, buy it.
How to get: Premium crates or coin shop (expensive)
Velocity Dagger
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Throw Speed | 100/100 |
| Damage | 70/100 |
| Range | 75/100 |
| Trajectory | Straight |
The fastest knife in the game. The throw speed is so high that leading targets becomes almost unnecessary at medium range. Your knife arrives before enemies can react.
The trade-off is lower damage. You need 2-3 hits instead of 1-2. But the speed makes landing those hits so much easier that it’s worth it. I’ve seen players dominate lobbies with this knife because they simply don’t miss.
Best for: Aggressive players who push fights constantly
How to get: Velocity crates or coin shop
Precision Edge
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Throw Speed | 80/100 |
| Damage | 95/100 |
| Range | 90/100 |
| Trajectory | Straight |
The sniper’s choice. Highest damage and range in the game. One-shot headshots are consistent. Body shots deal massive damage.
The throw speed is slower, which means more prediction required. But the damage is so high that you only need to land one good throw. Miss your first shot? You might die. Land it? They’re dead.
Best for: Patient players who like long-range engagements
How to get: Precision crates or coin shop (rare)
A-Tier Knives
Excellent choices that can compete with S-tier in the right hands.
LAUNCH Knife (Code Reward)
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Throw Speed | 75/100 |
| Damage | 75/100 |
| Range | 75/100 |
| Trajectory | Slight arc |
The best free knife in the game. Balanced stats across the board mean no major weaknesses. The slight arc takes some getting used to, but it’s predictable and learnable.
I used this knife for my first 30 hours and never felt handicapped. It’s genuinely competitive against paid knives. The fact that it’s free from the LAUNCH code makes it the obvious choice for new players.
Best for: New players learning fundamentals, budget players
How to get: Redeem code “LAUNCH”
Combat Knife
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Throw Speed | 85/100 |
| Damage | 80/100 |
| Range | 70/100 |
| Trajectory | Straight |
The Combat Knife is what the default knife should have been. Good speed, good damage, straight trajectory. No gimmicks, just solid performance.
The range is slightly limited, which pushes you toward medium-range fights. But that’s where most engagements happen anyway. A reliable workhorse knife.
Best for: All-around gameplay, medium-range fights
How to get: Coin shop (affordable)
Pixel Blade (New - Dec 19 Update)
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Throw Speed | 80/100 |
| Damage | 80/100 |
| Range | 75/100 |
| Trajectory | Straight |
One of the 2 new knives from the HUGE UPDATE. The Pixel Blade has a retro aesthetic that matches the new Pixel Arena map. But it’s not just for looks. The stats are solid across the board.
The straight trajectory makes it beginner-friendly, and the balanced speed/damage combo means it works in most situations. Not quite S-tier, but definitely a strong A-tier pick.
Best for: Players who want style and substance
How to get: New Series Skin Case or coin shop
Steel Fang
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Throw Speed | 70/100 |
| Damage | 90/100 |
| Range | 80/100 |
| Trajectory | Slight arc |
High damage with decent range. The Steel Fang rewards accuracy with devastating hits. Two body shots kill most of the time. Headshots are brutal.
The slower throw speed means you need to predict more, but the damage payoff is worth it. Good choice for players who’ve mastered the basics and want more kill potential.
Best for: Experienced players who can land predictions
How to get: Steel crates or coin shop
Tactical Blade
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Throw Speed | 90/100 |
| Damage | 65/100 |
| Range | 85/100 |
| Trajectory | Straight |
Fast and long-range but lower damage. The Tactical Blade lets you engage from anywhere on the map with minimal prediction. The trade-off is needing more hits to kill.
Great for players who prioritize consistency over burst damage. You’ll land more throws but need more of them. Works well for chip damage and finishing weakened enemies.
Best for: Long-range harassment, consistent damage
How to get: Tactical crates or coin shop
B-Tier Knives
Solid choices but outclassed by higher tiers.
Hunter’s Edge
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Throw Speed | 75/100 |
| Damage | 70/100 |
| Range | 85/100 |
| Trajectory | Moderate arc |
Good range but the moderate arc makes it harder to use than straight-trajectory alternatives. You need to compensate for drop at longer ranges, which adds complexity without adding power.
Not bad, just not as good as A-tier options with similar stats and better trajectories.
Best for: Players who’ve mastered arc compensation
Shadow Striker
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Throw Speed | 80/100 |
| Damage | 75/100 |
| Range | 70/100 |
| Trajectory | Slight arc |
Balanced stats with a cool aesthetic. The Shadow Striker is basically a slightly worse LAUNCH knife with a better skin. If you care about looks, it’s fine. If you care about performance, stick with LAUNCH.
Best for: Players who want style without sacrificing too much performance
Crimson Cutter
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Throw Speed | 85/100 |
| Damage | 60/100 |
| Range | 75/100 |
| Trajectory | Straight |
Fast but weak. The Crimson Cutter throws quickly but deals low damage. You need 3-4 hits to kill, which is too many in a fast-paced game. The speed doesn’t compensate for the damage deficit.
Best for: Players who struggle with prediction and need faster throws
Chrome Edge (New - Dec 19 Update)
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Throw Speed | 70/100 |
| Damage | 75/100 |
| Range | 80/100 |
| Trajectory | Slight arc |
The second new knife from the HUGE UPDATE. Chrome Edge has a sleek metallic look and decent stats, but the slight arc trajectory holds it back from A-tier.
It’s not bad by any means. The range is good, damage is respectable. But the arc means you need to compensate at longer distances, which adds complexity without adding power. If you like the aesthetic, it’s usable. If you want pure performance, stick with straight-trajectory options.
Best for: Players who’ve mastered arc compensation and want a stylish knife
How to get: New Series Skin Case or coin shop
Default Knife
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Throw Speed | 60/100 |
| Damage | 60/100 |
| Range | 60/100 |
| Trajectory | Moderate arc |
The knife everyone starts with. It’s… fine. Not good, not terrible. The moderate arc and average stats make it harder to use than it should be. Replace it with the LAUNCH code knife immediately.
Best for: Nobody. Get the LAUNCH knife.
C-Tier Knives
Significant weaknesses that hurt performance.
Obsidian Blade
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Throw Speed | 65/100 |
| Damage | 85/100 |
| Range | 90/100 |
| Trajectory | Heavy arc |
Looks amazing. Plays terribly. The heavy arc trajectory makes this knife incredibly hard to use. You need to aim way above your target at range, and the slow throw speed means massive prediction requirements.
The damage and range are good on paper, but you’ll never land hits consistently. I bought this knife because it looked cool and regretted it immediately.
Best for: Masochists who want a challenge
Golden Dagger
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Throw Speed | 70/100 |
| Damage | 70/100 |
| Range | 65/100 |
| Trajectory | Moderate arc |
Average stats with below-average range. The Golden Dagger is a flex item, not a competitive choice. It shows you have coins to spend, not skill to back it up.
Best for: Showing off wealth, not winning fights
Neon Slicer
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Throw Speed | 95/100 |
| Damage | 50/100 |
| Range | 60/100 |
| Trajectory | Straight |
Extremely fast but extremely weak. The Neon Slicer throws almost instantly but deals pathetic damage. You need 4-5 hits to kill. By the time you’ve thrown that many, a good player has killed you twice.
Best for: Meme builds, not serious play
D-Tier Knives
Replace these immediately.
Starter Blade
Worse than the default knife in every way. If you somehow have this equipped, switch to literally anything else.
Rusty Knife
A joke item with terrible stats. The “rusty” aesthetic comes with rusty performance. Avoid.
Decorative Daggers
Various cosmetic knives with stats so bad they’re clearly not meant for actual combat. Collection items only.
Best Knives by Playstyle
Aggressive Rushdown
- Velocity Dagger (S-tier speed)
- Combat Knife (balanced aggression)
- Tactical Blade (fast with range)
Passive Sniper
- Precision Edge (S-tier damage/range)
- Steel Fang (high damage)
- Hunter’s Edge (long range)
Balanced All-Rounder
- Phantom Blade (S-tier everything)
- LAUNCH Knife (free and solid)
- Combat Knife (reliable)
Budget Player
- LAUNCH Knife (free from code)
- Combat Knife (cheap in shop)
- Default Knife (if desperate)
Knife Acquisition Priority
If you’re saving coins, buy knives in this order:
- LAUNCH Knife (free from code, use immediately)
- Combat Knife (cheap, significant upgrade)
- Phantom Blade (expensive but worth saving for)
- Velocity Dagger or Precision Edge (based on playstyle)
Don’t waste coins on C-tier or D-tier knives. Don’t buy cosmetic skins before you have a good knife. Performance over aesthetics.
Common Mistakes
Buying knives based on looks. The Obsidian Blade taught me this lesson. Cool appearance doesn’t mean good performance.
Switching knives constantly. Every knife has different trajectory and speed. Switching means you never master any of them. Pick one and commit.
Ignoring the LAUNCH code knife. It’s free and A-tier. There’s no reason not to use it while saving for S-tier options.
Spending coins on crates. Crate RNG is brutal. Save coins for direct knife purchases instead of gambling.
Prioritizing damage over trajectory. A straight-trajectory knife with lower damage beats a high-damage knife with heavy arc. Consistency matters more than burst potential.
Related Content
- Knife Arena Codes for free knives and coins
- Knife Arena Beginner Guide for gameplay tips
- Knife Arena Maps Guide for map callouts and strategies
- Knife Arena Crates Guide for crate drop rates and best value
- Knife Arena Controls Guide for optimal settings
- RIVALS Codes for traditional FPS gameplay
- Blind Shot Codes for another skill-based shooter
