CS2 knife mechanics: damage values, backstab range, and when to use it
Posted: Tue Oct 20, 2026 1:25 am
The knife in Counter-Strike 2 is the only melee weapon available to all players from the start of every round. It cannot be purchased or dropped, and it has two distinct attacks with different damage profiles.
Primary attack (left click)
The primary attack is fast but deals low damage. It is useful for finishing off wounded enemies or when you need a quick hit. In CS:GO and CS2, the primary attack deals reduced damage on consecutive hits, which prevents spamming.
Secondary attack (right click)
The secondary attack is slow but deals high damage. It has a longer wind-up time, so it is harder to land, but it hits much harder than the primary attack. A secondary attack to the back is an instant kill (backstab).
Damage values
The knife has different damage multipliers compared to firearms. In CS:GO and CS2, the head hitbox multiplier is removed for the knife, and only the backstab multiplier is present. A backstab with the secondary attack deals enough damage to kill an enemy in one hit, regardless of armor.
Movement speed
When the knife is equipped, players run at the default movement speed of 250 units per second. This is the fastest movement speed in the game, which makes the knife useful for rotating quickly between sites or fleeing from danger.
Kill reward
In CS:GO, eliminating an enemy with the knife awards $1500 in competitive mode and $750 in casual mode. This is the highest kill reward of any weapon in the game. In Deathmatch mode, a knife kill awards 20 points plus a 10 point bonus.
When to use the knife
The knife is best used in specific situations:
To improve your knife skills, practice the following:
Counter-Strike Wiki: Knife
Primary attack (left click)
The primary attack is fast but deals low damage. It is useful for finishing off wounded enemies or when you need a quick hit. In CS:GO and CS2, the primary attack deals reduced damage on consecutive hits, which prevents spamming.
Secondary attack (right click)
The secondary attack is slow but deals high damage. It has a longer wind-up time, so it is harder to land, but it hits much harder than the primary attack. A secondary attack to the back is an instant kill (backstab).
Damage values
The knife has different damage multipliers compared to firearms. In CS:GO and CS2, the head hitbox multiplier is removed for the knife, and only the backstab multiplier is present. A backstab with the secondary attack deals enough damage to kill an enemy in one hit, regardless of armor.
Movement speed
When the knife is equipped, players run at the default movement speed of 250 units per second. This is the fastest movement speed in the game, which makes the knife useful for rotating quickly between sites or fleeing from danger.
Kill reward
In CS:GO, eliminating an enemy with the knife awards $1500 in competitive mode and $750 in casual mode. This is the highest kill reward of any weapon in the game. In Deathmatch mode, a knife kill awards 20 points plus a 10 point bonus.
When to use the knife
The knife is best used in specific situations:
- Backstabbing: Sneaking up behind an enemy and using the secondary attack for an instant kill
- Finishing off enemies: Using the primary attack to finish off a wounded enemy who is running away
- Rotating: Using the knife to move quickly between sites without making noise
- Saving ammo: Using the knife when your primary weapon is out of ammo
- Intimidation: The psychological effect of an enemy hearing your knife
To improve your knife skills, practice the following:
- Learn the range of the primary and secondary attacks
- Practice backstabbing on bots or in Deathmatch
- Use the knife to move quickly around the map
- Learn to listen for enemy footsteps and use the knife for ambush kills
Counter-Strike Wiki: Knife