There are 20 CS2 knife types in total, each featuring its own unique appearance and tons of skins. Some even feature unique animations, really helping them stand out from the crowd. It can be quite overwhelming if you don’t know where to look.
We’ve put together a CS2 knife tier list ranked from C to S-Tier, so you know which are best CS2 knives that you should be looking to purchase, considering everything from appearance, animations, and even price!
CS2 Knife Tiers
C-Tier CS2 Knives – Entry Level
All the C-Tier CS2 knives still have their audience. While most experienced Counter-Strike collectors might opt to avoid these, if you’re buying your first CS2 knife, you shouldn’t necessarily overlook these, especially if you’re on a budget.
Gut Knife
- Case(s): CS:GO Weapon Case, CS:GO Weapon Case 2, CS:GO Weapon Case 3, eSports 2013 Case, eSports 2013 Winter Case, eSports 2014 Summer Case, Operation Bravo Case, Operation Phoenix Weapon Case, Operation Vanguard Weapon Case, Revolver Case, Winter Offensive Weapon Case
The Gut Knife gets a bad rep, and I can’t lie – it’s pretty ugly, and its plain animations don’t exactly excite. But I’ve come to find a new appreciation for this CS2 knife in recent times. Mainly because it’s just so big, meaning more expensive skins look particularly solid on a CS2 Gut Knife.
Navaja Knife
- Case(s): Danger Zone Case, Horizon Case
Any self-respecting CS2 knife tier list will always have the Navaja Knife near the bottom of the pile. It’s small, its shape is pretty dull, and it uses standard knife animations. There’s just nothing to set it apart from the crowd. Maybe it’s up your street, but I’ve got it among the worst CS2 knives.
Shadow Daggers
- Case(s): Shadow Case
Of all the CS2 knives, the Shadow Daggers undoubtedly have the most unique shape. It’s a shame that the shape just happens to be ugly as sin. The Shadow Daggers are pretty dull, no matter what skin you use, which is why they sit at the bottom of this CS2 knife tier list.
Survival Knife
- Case(s): Fracture Case, Shattered Web Case
Usually, custom animations are a good sign that a CS2 knife is a winner. But with the Survival Knife, Valve shouldn’t have even bothered. The design of the knife is fairly interesting, but the animations are just so bad and so clunky that they drag the Survival Knife down to the lower echelons of the CS2 knife tier list.
Ursus Knife
- Case(s): Danger Zone Case, Horizon Case
The blade on the Ursus Knife features an interesting shape, but the giant green hilt really holds it back from greatness in this CS2 knife tier list. The issue is that the ugly hilt is present on every single CS2 Ursus Knife skin, instantly relegating it to C-Tier.
B-Tier CS2 Knives – Mid-Tier
Things start to get real with the B-Tier CS2 knives. These mid-tier options won’t be most players’ first choice, but can be massively upgraded with the right skin. For the most part, these CS2 knives are still pretty reasonably priced.
Bowie Knife
- Case(s): Operation Wildfire Case
Since Valve added the left hand back to the Bowie Knife viewmodel, I’ve seen this CS2 knife in a totally different light. It’s a little clunky, which is why it’s in the B-Tier of this CS2 knife tier list, but it has a charm you really can’t ignore. That it’s a budget option in most skins is a big bonus.
Classic Knife
- Case(s): CS20 Case
The Classic Knife is a throwback to a bygone era. While some are still playing CS 1.6 online, others are paying tribute by continuing to use the Classic Knife in CS2. Perhaps it’s all down to nostalgia goggles, but nothing in this CS2 knife tier list gives me the feels quite like the Classic Knife. Keep the past alive.
Flip Knife
- Case(s): CS:GO Weapon Case, CS:GO Weapon Case 2, CS:GO Weapon Case 3, eSports 2013 Case, eSports 2013 Winter Case, eSports 2014 Summer Case, Operation Bravo Case, Operation Phoenix Weapon Case, Operation Vanguard Weapon Case, Revolver Case, Winter Offensive Weapon Case
A deadly shape, but held back by some boring animations. It can only be the Flip Knife. For me, the sheer size of the hilt is the real offender here – it makes buying a skin for it pretty pointless, and barely half of it is actually taken up by the fresh design. Few knives on this CS2 knife tier list have potential for greatness like the Flip Knife, but it’s really held back by a couple of crucial factors.
Huntsman Knife
- Case(s): Huntsman Weapon Case
Although I said that the C-Tier CS2 knives were the place for first-timers to shop, I kind of lied. The Huntsman Knife offers a solid mix of great aesthetics and (mostly) budget prices, making it perfect for beginners in the market for their first CS2 knife. Visually, it’s just too cool to put into C-Tier, so B-Tier it goes.
Kukri Knife
- Case(s): Gallery Case, Kilowatt Case
The Kukri Knife is the newest CS2 knife in this tier list. I have to say, Valve cooked. Its curved design offers something that manages to stand out in a packed field, and again, it usually doesn’t cost too much money to pick up a skin for the Kukri Knife. The animations are pretty flamboyant for this, which may prove to be a little over-the-top for some players, which is why it only falls into the B-Tier of CS2 knives.
Nomad Knife
- Case(s): Fracture Case, Shattered Web Case
The Nomad Knife is the closest thing CS2 has to a pocket knife. It’s almost the forgotten man of CS2 knives, with a low-key design that means it often goes under the radar with players. I can’t put it in the upper sections of this CS2 knife tier list, but I can appreciate that the Nomad Knife is better than most in the community gives it credit for.
A-Tier CS2 Knives – Top-Tier
The A-Tier CS2 knives are where we really start to delve into the top-tier options. Great skins, unique animations, and (mostly) high price tags. While the best CS2 knives are ultimately subjective, these are definitely worth your attention.
Bayonet
- Case(s): CS:GO Weapon Case, CS:GO Weapon Case 2, CS:GO Weapon Case 3, eSports 2013 Case, eSports 2013 Winter Case, eSports 2014 Summer Case, Operation Bravo Case, Operation Phoenix Weapon Case, Operation Vanguard Weapon Case, Revolver Case, Winter Offensive Weapon Case
Sleek. That’s the CS2 Bayonet in a single word. Its clean design embodies minimalism better than almost any other, and if the M9 Bayonet didn’t exist, it would be much more popular among players. There’s something to be said for something on this CS2 knife tier list that doesn’t try to be flashy – just gets the job done. That’s the Bayonet.
Falchion Knife
- Case(s): Falchion Case
How are people still underestimating the Falchion Knife? It arguably has the most interesting animations of all the CS2 knives, which showcase the skin better than any other. There’s only a small section right in the middle that isn’t affected by the skin, instantly putting it several tiers above other knives in this CS2 knife tier list. I almost put the Falchion Knife in S-Tier, but I’m not sure you’re ready for that yet.
Paracord Knife
- Case(s): Fracture Case, Shattered Web Case
Players are sleeping on the Paracord Knife. The rope around the hilt gives it a real “rough-and-ready” feeling, but there’s almost something a little futuristic about the CS2 knife itself. The Paracord Knife is massively undervalued, and I’m sure it’s only a matter of time before players wake up to how good it is. For now, in my CS2 knife tier list, the Paracord Knife sits in A-Tier.
Stiletto Knife
- Case(s): Danger Zone Case, Horizon Case
The Stiletto Knife is easily overlooked, perhaps because of its pencil-like stature. But any CS2 knife tier list should appreciate this for the great option that it is. In particular, I really like the one-of-a-kind animation set, completely unique to the Stiletto Knife. It’s a shame about the brown hilt, but I don’t think it looks too bad here.
Talon Knife
- Case(s): Danger Zone Case, Horizon Case
The Talon Knife is kind of a “Karambit from Temu” situation. You get the awesome shape, you get the sweet animations, but you’re stuck with a pretty ugly white hilt, no matter what skin you use. This really holds the Talon Knife back from being in the S-Tier CS2 knives. Still, if you’re putting together a white CS2 loadout, then the Talon Knife could be the perfect pick for you.
S-Tier CS2 Knives – Best of the Best
The S-Tier CS2 knives are the best of the best. When you see any player using these knives on the server, you stop and pay attention. You might even leave them a message asking what they do for a living to be able to afford any of these knives in the first place.
Butterfly Knife
- Case(s): Operation Breakout Weapon Case
We’re starting the S-Tier CS2 knives with one of the usual suspects – the Butterfly Knife. While the actual blade is quite small for my liking in this one, the awesome animations elevate this one to become a top-tier CS2 knife all by themselves. There’s nothing quite like hitting an AWP shot before running away and flicking around your Butterfly Knife. It’s Counter-Strike perfection, personified.
Karambit
- Case(s): CS:GO Weapon Case, CS:GO Weapon Case 2, CS:GO Weapon Case 3, eSports 2013 Case, eSports 2013 Winter Case, eSports 2014 Summer Case, Operation Bravo Case, Operation Phoenix Weapon Case, Operation Vanguard Weapon Case, Revolver Case, Winter Offensive Weapon Case
If you see a player wielding a Karambit on the server, you know they mean serious business and have a giant wallet to boot. It’s a classic shape that has been iconic ever since it debuted back in 2013, which is why every single Karambit skin is among the most expensive CS2 knives.
M9 Bayonet
- Case(s): CS:GO Weapon Case, CS:GO Weapon Case 2, CS:GO Weapon Case 3, eSports 2013 Case, eSports 2013 Winter Case, eSports 2014 Summer Case, Operation Bravo Case, Operation Phoenix Weapon Case, Operation Vanguard Weapon Case, Revolver Case, Winter Offensive Weapon Case
Just about every CS2 knife tier list will have the M9 Bayonet in S-Tier, and I’m not about to be contrarian. As far as CS2 knives go, it just looks mean. As much as an inanimate object can look mean. It’s similar to the Karambit in that much of its popularity stems from the fact that it has been around since the early CS:GO days, but there’s no doubt that Valve hit the M9 Bayonet design out of the park.
Skeleton Knife
- Case(s): Fracture Case, Shattered Web Case
Just about everyone will be shocked to see the Skeleton Knife in S-Tier in this CS2 knife tier list. But screw it, it’s my list. Among all CS2 knives, the Skeleton Knife is perhaps the most underrated of all, with a sharp shape and extremely unique animations. Any skin variant of this knife covers the entire metal, only obfuscated by the cloth material wrapped around the hilt. Get yourself a Skeleton Knife Blue Gem, and you have one of the best skins in the entire game.
