Knife

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This article is about the Spy's stock melee weapon. For other knives, see Knife (disambiguation).
Let's settle this like gentlemen!
The Spy

The Knife, also known as the Butterfly Knife or Balisong, is the default melee weapon for the Spy. It is a foldable stylized butterfly knife with a handle clip and clip-point blade.

When holding the weapon while within melee range at a 180° radius behind an enemy, an animation plays wherein the Spy holds the Knife aloft in a striking position. Attacking at that point (even if the animation does not play out completely) causes the player to backstab the enemy, killing them in one hit unless the player backstabbed is a Sniper equipped with the Razorback or a player in any kind of invulnerability, such as the default ÜberCharge. In any other instance, such as when used from the side or front, the Knife deals 40 base damage, which is less than every other stock melee weapon except the Bat. Random critical hits do not occur when using the Knife.

In addition to backstabbing, the Knife swings instantly once the fire button is pressed, unlike other melee weapons in the game which have a delay before the attack actually occurs. This lets the player react quicker in melee combat when compared to other classes. This applies to all the Spy's other knives.

Taunting with the Knife equipped results in the Fencing kill taunt.

Damage and function times

See also: Damage
Damage and function times
Damage type Melee
Ranged or Melee damage? Melee
Damage
Base damage 100% 40
Backstab 600%
Critical 120
Mini-crit 54
Function times
Attack interval 0.8 s
Values are approximate and determined by community testing.

Demonstration

Strange variant


Related achievements

Leaderboard class soldier.png Soldier

War Crime Spybunal
War Crime Spybunal
Kill a Spy who just backstabbed a teammate.


Leaderboard class sniper.png Sniper

Consolation Prize
Consolation Prize
Get backstabbed 50 times.
Shock Treatment
Shock Treatment
Kill a Spy whose backstab attempt was blocked by your Razorback.


Leaderboard class spy.png Spy

A Cut Above
A Cut Above
Kill a gun-wielding Spy with your knife.


Agent Provocateur
Agent Provocateur
Backstab your Steam Community friends 10 times.


Come in From the Cold
Come in From the Cold
Get a Revenge kill with a backstab.


Counter Espionage
Counter Espionage
Backstab a disguised Spy.


Die Another Way
Die Another Way
Kill a Sniper after your backstab breaks his Razorback.


Dr. Nooooo
Dr. Nooooo
Backstab a Medic that is ready to deploy an ÜberCharge.


Fast Fingers
Fast Fingers
Backstab a Scout that is using the Back Scatter.


FYI I am a Spy
FYI I am a Spy
Backstab a Medic who has healed you in the last 5 seconds.


High Value Target
High Value Target
Backstab an enemy who is dominating 3 or more of your teammates.


Identity Theft
Identity Theft
Backstab the enemy that you're currently disguised as.
Is It Safe?
Is It Safe?
Backstab 50 enemies who are capturing control points.


May I Cut In?
May I Cut In?
Backstab an enemy and the Medic healing him within 10 seconds of each other.


Sapsucker
Sapsucker
Sap an enemy building, then backstab the Engineer who built it within 5 seconds.


Slash and Burn
Slash and Burn
Backstab an enemy, who then switches to Pyro before they respawn.


Spymaster
Spymaster
Backstab 1000 enemies.


The Man from P.U.N.C.T.U.R.E.
The Man from P.U.N.C.T.U.R.E.
Stab an enemy while fencing.


The Man with the Broken Guns
The Man with the Broken Guns
Backstab an Engineer, then sap 3 of his buildings within 10 seconds.


Triplecrossed
Triplecrossed
Backstab 3 Snipers in a single life.


Wetwork
Wetwork
Stab an enemy to death while under the influence of Jarate.


You Only Shiv Thrice
You Only Shiv Thrice
Backstab 3 enemies within 10 seconds.

Update history

February 19, 2008 Patch
  • Fixed a case where a Spy stabbing from the front of a player would score a backstab.

May 21, 2009 Patch (Sniper vs. Spy Update)

  • [Undocumented] Fencing now injures enemy players.

May 22, 2009 Patch

  • Fixed cloaked Spies being able to taunt attack.

August 13, 2009 Patch

  • Fixed a couple of issues with the way critboosts affected the Knife.

May 19, 2010 Patch

  • Spies can no longer perform Fencing while Cloaked (with any watch).

February 14, 2011 Patch

April 14, 2011 Patch (Hatless Update)

July 12, 2011 [Item schema update]

December 15, 2011 Patch (Australian Christmas 2011)

December 19, 2011 Patch

  • Festive Knifes can now be gifted.

March 1, 2012 Patch

  • Added more detail to butterfly knife draw forces.

August 15, 2012 Patch (Mann vs. Machine Update)

  • [Undocumented] Added Silver and Gold Botkiller variants.

October 9, 2012 Patch

  • Added Rust, Blood, Carbonado, and Diamond Botkiller variants.

December 20, 2012 Patch (Mecha Update)

  • Added Silver and Gold Botkiller Mk. II variants.

May 13, 2013 Patch

  • Fixed the Botkiller Knife using incorrect team materials for the arms.

November 21, 2013 Patch (Two Cities Update)

December 18, 2015 Patch

  • Fixed an issue with knives not animating correctly.

December 30, 2015 Patch

  • Fixed an issue with knives not animating correctly.

Bugs

  • When the Knife is thrust forward during an attack, a stray polygon can be seen coming out of the Spy's wrist.

Trivia

  • The Spy seems to open his knife with a shortened version of the Basic Vertical.
  • The original drawing animation for the Knife featured a much more elaborate spin. It was cut, however, for being too long and complicated. Valve feared that this would draw the player's eye away from their target during a fight. This animation can still be seen in the teaser trailer for Team Fortress 2.[1]

Gallery

See also

References