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VALORANT Knife Skins: The Ultimate Guide to Every Melee Weapon

Last Updated: November 5, 2025

A collection of various VALORANT knife skins, showcasing different styles and rarities.

In the high-stakes, razor-thin margins of VALORANT, a knife kill isn't just a point on the board—it's a statement. It’s the ultimate display of confidence, a tactical flex that can tilt the enemy team. The cosmetic you’re wielding during that moment of triumph makes all the difference, transforming a simple melee weapon into a personal signature.

From shimmering katanas and intricate karambits to futuristic butterfly knives, Riot Games has crafted a vast and impressive arsenal of melee skins since the game's launch. Whether you're a new player looking for your first blade or a seasoned collector hunting for the final piece, this guide is your definitive resource for navigating the stylish and deadly world of VALORANT's melee cosmetics.

How to Get Knife Skins in VALORANT

Unlike standard gun skins, premium melee weapons are often the crown jewels of a collection and are acquired in specific ways. Understanding these methods is key to snagging the blade you’ve set your sights on.

  • Direct Purchase via Bundles: The primary way to acquire a new melee skin is by purchasing a new weapon skin bundle from the store. These themed collections almost always feature a matching melee weapon as their centerpiece. While you can usually buy the knife separately from the bundle, it’s often priced at a premium, making the full bundle a better value if you like the other skins included.
  • The Daily Store: While less common than for guns, individual knife skins can appear in your "Daily Offers" rotation. If you've missed a bundle, this is your main way to get a specific knife, but it requires patience and a bit of luck.
  • The Battle Pass: Every new Act in VALORANT introduces a new battle pass. The final tier of the paid track always includes an exclusive melee skin. These skins are unique to that specific battle pass and cannot be purchased or obtained after the Act concludes, making them a true badge of honor for long-time players.
  • The Night Market: This recurring event offers players a random selection of six weapon skins at a discounted price. Melee skins from the Select, Deluxe, and Premium tiers can appear, providing a great opportunity to get a coveted knife for less. However, Exclusive and Ultra tier melees will not show up here.
  • Limited-Time Exclusives: Certain melee skins, most notably the "Champions" collection released annually for the VALORANT Champions tournament, are available for a limited time only. These prestigious skins will never appear in the Daily Store or Night Market, making them some of the rarest and most sought-after items in the game.

Understanding Skin Tiers and Features

Not all knives are created equal. VALORANT's skins are categorized into tiers that reflect their price, complexity, and features. For melee weapons, this primarily determines the uniqueness of the model and its animations.

  • Select & Deluxe Tiers: These are typically simpler reskins of the default tactical knife or feature unique models with standard equip and swing animations. Many Battle Pass and less expensive bundle melees fall into this category.
  • Premium Tier: This is where melee skins begin to feel truly special. Premium knives often feature entirely new models and custom equip animations, pull-out sounds, and sometimes unique inspect animations. Standouts include the Reaver Karambit and the Sovereign Sword.
  • Exclusive & Ultra Tiers: The absolute pinnacle of melee design. Knives in these tiers boast highly complex models, multiple custom animations (equip, swing, inspect), unique and vibrant visual effects (VFX), and custom sound effects (SFX). Melees like the Kuronami no Yaiba, Araxys Bio Harvester, and RGX 11z Pro Blade are true showpieces that command the highest price.

Iconic and Fan-Favorite Melee Archetypes

While a complete list would span hundreds of entries, most popular knives fall into a few beloved categories that Riot frequently revisits with new and exciting designs.

Karambits: The Spinner's Choice

The curved blade and finger-ring grip of the karambit make for some of the smoothest, most satisfying, and fastest-feeling animations in the game. The fluid spinning on equip and inspect is a major draw for players who love to fidget.

  • Notable Examples: Prime 2.0 Karambit, Reaver Karambit, Champions 2021 Karambit, Ion Karambit.

Butterfly Knives: The Art of the Flip

Known for their intricate and flashy inspection animations, balisongs (butterfly knives) are a perennial player favorite. Mastering the flip and spin animations mid-game is a skill in itself.

  • Notable Examples: Recon Balisong, RGX 11z Pro Firefly, Champions 2022 Butterfly Knife, Kuronami no Yaiba Comb.

Swords & Katanas: The Way of the Blade

For players who want to bring a larger, more imposing blade to a gunfight, swords and katanas offer a powerful aesthetic. They often feature dramatic and elaborate draw animations that make a bold statement at the start of a round.

  • Notable Examples: Oni Katana, Tethered Realms Prosperity, Imperium Blades, Araxys Bio Harvester (Scythe), Kuronami no Yaiba.

Axes & Hatchets: The Heavy Hitters

These melees feel weighty and impactful. With satisfying "thunk" sound effects and powerful-looking swing animations, axes provide a sense of brutal efficiency.

  • Notable Examples: Reaver Axe, Glitchpop Axe, Forsaken Ritual Blade, VCT LOCK//IN Misericórdia.

Daggers & Kunai: Swift and Silent

Fast, sharp, and to the point. Daggers and kunai are perfect for players who prefer a sleek, assassin-like feel. Their animations are often quick, snappy, and aggressive.

  • Notable Examples: Elderflame Dagger, Ruination Blade, VALORANT Go! Vol. 1 Kunai, Xenohunter Knife.

Fans & Glaives: Elegant and Deadly

This category is defined by its grace and unique silhouettes. From elegant fans that snap open to ornate glaives, these weapons blend beauty with lethality and feature some of the most creative animations in the game.

  • Notable Examples: Celestial Fan, Sovereign Sword, Luna's Descent, Gaia's Wrath.

Unique & Experimental Designs

Riot Games isn't afraid to break the mold. This category is a catch-all for the most creative and unconventional melee designs that defy simple classification, offering players a way to truly stand out.

  • Notable Examples: Radiant Entertainment System Power Fist, Blade of Chaos (from the God of War-inspired "Ares" bundle), Terminus A Quo (a massive club), and the Chromedek Gauntlet.