Knives are the most sought-after cosmetic item in CS2, with certain finishes selling for thousands of dollars on third-party websites. However, some knives are better than others, as illustrated in our comprehensive CS2 knife tier list.
Please note that our CS2 knife tier list is largely subjective, as there’s no way to objectively determine the best CS2 knife.
If you want to try out any of the knives without spending any money, check out our CS2 knife commands article to learn how to do so.
The Butterfly Knife is one of the most beloved knives in CS2, mainly due to its dazzling animations. There’s nothing more satisfying than spinning your Butterfly Knife like there’s no tomorrow as you’re rushing a bombsite.
The M9 Bayonet is a cult classic, with the knife having next to no haters in the CS2 community. The cool-looking blade combined with a large surface area to show off the finish is the reason why the M9 is a fan favorite.
The Karambit is probably the most iconic knife in Counter-Strike history, sported by numerous professional players since its arrival to the game in 2013. The Karambit’s unique design and cool animations warrant the knife’s place in the S Tier.
The Skeleton Knife is by far the most popular knife added in the 2019 Shattered Web operation update. It’s unlike any other knife in the game, with fancy spinning animations and no handle to block the finish.
The Bayonet is another classic that’s remained popular since the very beginning of CS:GO. While it does have a loyal fanbase, it always lives in the shadow of its thicker and more rugged brother – the M9.
What the Bayonet is to the M9, the Talon Knife is to the Karambit – a solid, cheaper alternative, albeit with unique animations and a characteristic white handle. That’s what makes it stand out and grants it a comfortable A Tier spot on our list.
The Stiletto might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but its compact and sleek look has earned the knife a rather big fan base. Although the animations are quite basic, the look and the vibe of the knife do all the work.
The Flip Knife is quite divisive, as it holds a lot of nostalgia for many players, who watched the likes of KennyS and Guardian dominate the early CS:GO scene with their AWPs and a Flip Knife in hand. Beyond the nostalgia factor and the fact you can get it from almost all CS2 cases, it’s rather boring and doesn’t have any special qualities.
While for some the Ursus is a spitting image of a bread knife, it has some of the coolest draw and inspect animations in the game. You can throw it up in the air and spin it for days to keep yourself entertained when holding an angle for the whole round.
The Nomad Knife was a bit of a sleeper until s1mple started using the Case Hardened version in 2021. It instantly shot up in price and is one of the most popular knives from Operation Shattered Web.
Much like with the Flip Knife, the nostalgia factor is very strong with the Classic Knife, because it resembles the default knife from the infamous CS:GO predecessor – CS 1.6. Not many people besides the veterans love the Classic Knife, so it perfectly suits the B Tier in our CS2 knife tier list.
While the Falchion has some of the coolest animations of any knife in CS2, due to its awkward blade it never reached high levels of popularity. However, it’s still a solid affordable option for players that don’t want to spend a fortune on in-game cosmetics.
The Bowie suffered the same fate as the Falchion, even though the huge blade is perfect for showing off expensive finishes, such as the Doppler. Many players also hated that only one hand was visible when holding the knife and you couldn’t see your CS2 glove skins properly, but Valve changed that in a recent update.
The Huntsman is the perfect knife for those who want a thick, rugged, and manly weapon and also don’t have enough cash for the M9 Bayonet. In any case, the Huntsman knife is a solid choice for the small amount of fans that it has.
All the knives in D Tier have either boring animations, better alternatives, or are simply ugly. Of course, they are also some of the cheapest knives in CS2, so don’t feel bad about being the owner of one of those knives.
Read next: Best CS2 Gloves In the Game: Our Top 5 List
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