Riot developer criticizes Valorant knives, admits they’re bad

Riot Games’ lead character designer Ryan “Morello” Scott made a surprising public admission about the state of Valorant’s melee combat system. In response to community feedback, the developer didn’t mince words when describing the current implementation.

A player-submitted gameplay clip demonstrated the core problem perfectly – multiple knife strikes failing to register against an opponent who should have been within range. This visual evidence highlighted what many in the competitive community had been experiencing for months.

“The knife implementation requires significant work to meet our quality standards,” Morello stated in his official response. This level of transparency from a lead developer is unusual in the gaming industry and demonstrates Riot’s commitment to addressing player concerns.

Knife is basically really shitty right now. Something we definitely want to fix

— Morello (@RiotMorello)
July 20, 2020

Valorant’s knife damage follows a logical but problematic structure. Front-facing attacks deal 50 damage with primary fire and 75 with secondary, while rear or side attacks deliver 100 and 150 damage respectively. These numbers appear reasonable on paper but fail in practical application.

The most critical issue lies in the execution timing. Unlike Counter-Strike: Global Offensive where knife damage applies instantly, Valorant introduces approximately 0.5 seconds of delay between the attack command and actual damage application. This creates a situation where players must predict enemy movement with near-perfect accuracy.

“The timing requirement transforms simple melee combat into a high-skill prediction game,” one experienced player noted. “You’re not reacting to current positioning but anticipating where your target will be half a second from now.”

Combined with an exceptionally small hitbox, these mechanics create what players describe as “50/50 kill probability” – essentially a coin flip whether your attack will connect despite proper positioning.

Is the knife in Valorant bad?

Statistical analysis from community testing reveals why most players avoid knife kills. The combination of delayed damage application and minimal hit detection area makes successful melee attacks statistically unfavorable compared to weapon alternatives.

Movement speed optimization represents the knife’s most reliable function. Like its CS:GO counterpart, switching to your knife provides a measurable movement acceleration, making it essential for rotation strategies and positioning plays. This utility alone justifies the weapon’s slot in your inventory.

Advanced players have developed workarounds, but these require exceptional game sense and risk assessment. Most competitive players prefer the certainty of a quick headshot over the gamble of a knife attempt, especially in clutch situations where consistency matters most.

The risk-reward calculation clearly favors firearms in nearly all combat scenarios. Until mechanical improvements arrive, strategic players should prioritize the knife’s mobility benefits over its theoretical combat potential.

While awaiting official fixes, players can employ several techniques to maximize their melee effectiveness. The most successful approach involves using the knife exclusively for movement between engagements, then immediately switching to primary weapons when combat becomes likely.

For those determined to pursue knife kills despite the challenges, specific positioning strategies improve success rates. Approaching from absolute rear angles minimizes the timing prediction requirement, though this presents its own positioning challenges.

Riot’s development team has acknowledged the need for mechanical adjustments. Reducing the attack delay represents the most obvious starting point, but hitbox expansion and animation synchronization also require attention.

The community remains hopeful that future patches will address these concerns, potentially transforming the knife from a mobility tool into a viable combat option. Until then, understanding its limitations is key to effective gameplay.

Strategic weapon selection remains crucial in Valorant, much like understanding optimal loadout choices in other tactical shooters. The current state serves as a reminder that even in polished competitive games, some mechanics require iterative refinement based on player experience.

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