Why Do CS Players Switch to Knife?
In the world of Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, knives are often a source of mystery and intrigue for many players. With over a hundred knives to choose from, each with its unique appearance, some knives stand out from the rest due to their rarity, unique characteristics, and historical significance. However, did you ever wonder why CS players switch to knife in the first place? In this article, we will explore the various reasons why players switch to knives and why it has become a norm in the CS:GO community.
What’s the leading idea behind knife switching?
One of the main reasons why players switch to knife is to accelerate their reloading process. This concept might seem confusing, especially for new players. You see, CS players typically rely on primary and secondary weapons, but with certain weapons like the AWP, players may switch to the knife to accelerate their reloading process. The thought process is as follows:
AWP + Reloading
Players usually have a brief animation to eject the spent shell when switching from AWP. During this short time frame, some players decide to quickly switch to the knife and then switch back to their AWP, accelerating the reloading process.
Acceleration benefits
Why switch back?
Another benefit of switching back to AWP after briefly using the knife is the movement speed. By briefly equipping the knife, you gain an instantaneous boost to your movement speed. In other words, all weapons (excluding knife) have a negative effect on movement speed, with knives providing a boost to it. So, it might be useful for CS players to temporarily equip their knives and take advantage of the movement speed benefit while in mid-match situations.
Rarity of Karambits and their allure
Among CS:GO enthusiasts, one type of knife stands out due to its extreme rarity – the Karambit Blue Gem. This extremely valuable knife was initially dropped at an average rate of only one every 7.8 hours, and to this day, only twelve Blue Gem Karambit knives have been unboxed since the game’s inception in 2013. It is said that some of the players might switch to their knife collection for pure novelty purposes or even just to gloat over the immense rarity and exclusivity of owning a Karambit Blue Gem.
Game mechanics affecting movement and reloading
Table 1: Effects on Movement Speed for different Weapons in CS:GO
| Weapon | Movement Speed (percentage change) |
| AWP | -40% |
| Rifles/SMGs | -20% |
| Handguns | 10% |
To gain better insights, consider Table 1. Notice that while AWP rifles slow down your movement by 40%, submachine guns (SMGs) reduce your speed by only 20%, while pistols slightly speed you up by 10%.
Common questions
Some frequent queries surrounding knives include:
- How do CS players obtain the Blue Gem Karambit? Only two Blue Gem Karambits are crafted from Blue Gem fragments at the case key redemption service (KAS), offering players an approximate chance of getting it after buying over 5.2 billion CS Coins or trading items from their inventories.
Facts on rarest CS:GO skins and weapons
For players eager to find even rarer weapons and skins, we gathered the information you might be seeking:
| Item Name | Description |
| StatTrak Fade (Electro Blaze) | Rarest full-fat case rare item ever crafted |
Remember that not all knives are equal; each skin offers distinct statistics and cosmetic upgrades that distinguish one knife from another.
Additional interesting information about knives
Other points that make CS:GO’s knives special:
| Interesting point | Details |
| Variety in skin styles and models | Different types of knife models exist within CS:GO, some sporting bold and edgy designs while others embody traditional aesthetics.
Some interesting stats worth exploring include:
- Most Karambits found to be sold between the first weeks after CS:GO release to today were crafted on case drops rather than direct sales
- Case items often display distinct traits to increase value. StatTrak variants may change to reveal higher price tag after completion
- More stats in case we gather any others!