Best Knife Skins In Valorant, Ranked

Summary

• Knife skins in Valorant offer unique sound design, colors, and animations, enhancing gameplay experiences.
• New knife skins set a high standard, introducing archetypes like gauntlets, swords, kunai, and more.
• Despite being purely cosmetic, knife skins like Spectrum Collection’s Waveform and Arcane Gauntlets boast unique aesthetics.

One of the best ways to liven up your gameplay experience across various titles and genres is by purchasing weapon skins. In Valorant, melee and knife skins specifically go all out and stretch the boundaries for what quality cosmetics can look like.

You have the chance for knife skins to appear in your Valorant store daily. The best ones combine sound design, popping color palettes, and intricate animations in ways that set them apart from others in the collection pool. In some situations, the knife is the best weapon for the job.

Updated on January 15, 2025 by Daniyal Sultan Malik: Valorant continues adding knife skins that push the envelope, setting a new standard for future releases. The cosmetic options for your melee are far more than any other weapon in the game, and Riot doesn’t make it easier by introducing new archetypes to the collection, like gauntlets, swords, kunai, and more. This update takes a look at these new skins while also revisiting a few classics.

All knife skins in Valorant are purely cosmetic, meaning that purchasing these skins will offer you no competitive advantage. Even though some of these knife skins transform your melee weapon into a sword or staff, everyone in the game will still have the same melee range and deal the same amount of damage.

22

Waveform

Edition: Exclusive

For RGB enthusiasts, the Spectrum Collection has undoubtedly been the go-to choice. The Waveform knife, although expensive, perfectly captures the collection’s vibe and aesthetics, maintaining that signature RGB glow and amazing inspect animation. Despite being old at this point, it also features one of the most unique and satisfying pull-out animations in Valorant.

The Waveform’s only minor drawback, aside from its price, is its almost unnatural feel. When you attack someone with a giant sword-like melee, you want to feel some substantial feedback. Unfortunately, the knife, similar to the other guns in its collection, acts extremely lightweight, which feels somewhat off-putting when you consider its general shape.

21

Arcane Gauntlets

Edition: Exclusive

Each item in the Arcane Collection, old and new, goes the extra mile to distinguish itself, and these gauntlets are no different. They are perhaps the only knife skin in the game which feels like they would do more damage than your primary weapons.

Their industrial look, sound, and animation trump the Magepunk knife skins, and the fact they slide so naturally onto each agent’s character model is so satisfying. Keeping with the Arcane tradition, though, the Arcane Gauntlets don’t have any variants, so it may be a dealbreaker for some.

20

Champions 2024 Blade

Edition: Exclusive

Apart from the Champions 2022 butterfly knife, prior Champions melee skins have felt somewhat underwhelming — until now. The Champions 2024 Blade sets a new standard, surpassing even the beloved RGX 11Z Pro Blade as the best sword-like skin in Valorant. Its pull-out and inspection animations are extraordinarily clean, complemented by several unique and well-detailed features.

Like the Champions 2024 Phantom, the blade goes over the top with the iconic Champions glow, making it stand out the way it should. The spinning gem underneath the blade adds a dynamic aspect no previous Champions knife has. However, the highlight is definitely the heavy, cybernetic sound after each swing that synchronizes the entire package.

19

Blade Of Chaos

Edition: Exclusive

In the ‘big knife’ category, the only skin to rival and even surpass the Ruined King Blade and Blade of Aemondir is the Blade of Chaos. Not only is it part of a fantastic collection, but it’s also one of the few skins with enough detail to justify the price. Essentially an upgraded version of the Crucible from Doom Eternal, it brings extra flair to an established concept.

Its punchy sounds and fluid animations are top-notch, but the main reason you’ll enjoy this skin is the dynamic lightning effect along the blade’s edges, which shifts colors as you move. Plus, every variant maintains the same vibrant aura, ensuring you always have competent alternatives in case you get bored.

18

Power Fist

Edition: Exclusive

The Power Fist knife skins are three distinctive cosmetics, each with a different video game inspiration. The skin itself is made up of a handheld gaming system that attaches to the user’s fist, complete with different animations depending on which game you selected.

For example, the purple fist is inspired by classic games such as Dance Dance Revolution, while the orange fist draws inspiration from different arcade fighting series. While this skin is certainly incredible and has a plethora of unique animations for each rendition of the skin, the Power Fist is incredibly expensive, so only purchase this cosmetic if you are sure that you genuinely like it.

17

Radiant Crisis 001 Baseball Bat

Edition: Exclusive

Perhaps one of the most unique melee weapons in the entire game is the Radiant Crisis 001 Baseball Bat, as it is decorated with a unique shading gradient that makes the weapon look like it came straight out of a comic book. This metal bat is also equipped with unique animations, that decorate the screen with comic book quips whenever you swing the weapon.

Finally, all the Radiant Crisis skins have a unique kill animation that sends the recipient flying into the air in an explosion of comical colors and effects. While this may not be the most serious skin on the marketplace, you can pick it up whenever the bat pops up in your store.

16

Soulstrife Scythe

Edition: Premium

The Soulstrife Scythe is the only scythe available at the Premium tier in Valorant. It immediately enters the top ten based on novelty alone, even if it didn’t look as clean as it does. The color scheme and sound effects are the best parts.

This scythe is black and gray; if you’re a sucker for neutral colors, this is the skin for you. On top of its design, the ghostly noises it makes when you slash and inspect it sounds as if the scythe is imbued with dark energy and the lives of those it has slain.

15

Valorant Go! Vol. 1

Edition: Premium

The Valorant Go! Vol. 1 knife is the first kunai-like skin in the game, earning it a top spot in the pool of melee cosmetics. Because there’s only one type of this skin at this price point in the game, it has exclusive animations that you won’t find on other knives.

The knife itself is a deep blue color featuring Jett utilizing her Updraft ability. The skin closely represents a kunai but with slight differences. The Valorant Go! Vol. 1 bundle, released in February 2021, is full of cosmetics showcasing a few different agents.

14

Ion Karambit

Edition: Premium

This futuristic karambit gives you the power to summon robots onto the map, fully equipped with utility and rifles. Just kidding, but it does look quite nice. The Ion Karambit made its anticipated debut with the release of the second Ion collection in October 2022.

The original colorway is primarily white with black accents. The variants come in green, orange, and blue colorways. You can inspect the knife to spin it around in your hands. It looks incredible, and the attack animations leave behind a satisfying trail of polygonal shapes.

13

RGX 11Z Pro Firefly

Edition: Exclusive

The RGX 11Z Pro Firefly is the knife skin from the second RGX Pro bundle released in April 2022. It’s the successor of the RGX 11Z Pro Blade but shares some of the same characteristics that made the first go-around of these skins so successful and captivating.

The Pro Firefly is a butterfly knife with RGB colorways that change and randomize if you inspect it while it’s in your hand. At the cost of Radianite Points, this knife skin animation combines its RGB colors, creating a mesmerizing rainbow effect all in the palm of your hand.

12

Relic Of The Sentinel

Edition: Exclusive

• ​​​​​​​Price: 4,350 VP

The Relic of the Sentinel is a crossover knife skin from Riot Games’ League of Legends. The MOBA features a playable character named Viego, the main antagonist in the Sentinels of Light storyline. This storyline event inspired the bundle in which this knife is found.

The Sentinels of Light Valorant skin bundle holds the Relic of the Sentinel, one of the most eye-catching melee skins in the game’s collection. Its unique and vicious design is both beautiful and intimidating, and the custom inspections are the icing on the cake.

11

Relic Stone Daggers

Edition: Exclusive

• ​​​​​​​Price: 4,350 VP

Valorant has introduced 2.0 versions of certain cosmetics, which revisit famous skin lines and release fresh cosmetic items. The Sentinels of Light event had one of the most iconic knife skins in the game, Viego’s Blade Of The Ruined King, and now the 2.0 event has introduced yet another knife skin.

The Relic Stone Daggers are two knives made out of glowing enchanted stone that your character dual-wields to deal melee damage. The best aspect of this skin is the trail of light and dark energy that the blades generate whenever you move or attack.

10

Gaia’s Wrath

Edition: Exclusive

• ​​​​​​​Price: 3,550 VP

The Gaia’s Wrath axe is the perfect choice for anyone that enjoys embracing the four seasons, and the cycle of life itself. This axe is made up of colored crystals, attached together with a hilt made out of the roots of a tree.

Furthermore, this knife skin has four different colors, each depicting a different time of the year through the colors of the crystals and leaves. If you are ever lucky enough to buy this blade when it enters your store, then be sure to check out the unique kill animation, which sprouts a tree on the last person you killed.

9

Reaver Karambit

Edition: Premium

• ​​​​​​​Price: 4,350 VP

This wicked blade is imbued with darkness. Its otherworldly aesthetic oozes with purple hues and long dark streaks of ominous shadows upon each swipe and spin of the knife. Karambits have stunning animations, but this one takes the cake.

The Reaver Karambit came along in the Reaver 2.0 bundle. The original Reaver bundle was released shortly after Valorant and was an immediate favorite. Now, the 2.0 skins have the chance to appear in your shop, including this karambit.

8

Champions 2022 Butterfly Knife

Edition: Exclusive

• ​​​​​​​Price: 6,265 VP – Available only in the 2022 bundle

The Champions bundle was released in August 2022, coinciding with and celebrating the 2022 VCT Champions event. The skins in the bundle, including the Champions 2022 Butterfly Knife, are no longer available, so don’t wait around for them to pop up in your shop.

You can likely expect a new Champions bundle to come around at the time of the next event. Until then, you’ll have to sit in awe while you watch others spin this knife around during your games. Be on the lookout for teammates with this knife – there are special inspection animations if they’re at the top of the leaderboard.

7

Onimaru Kunitsuna

Edition: Exclusive

• ​​​​​​​Price: 5,350 VP

The Onimaru Kunitsuna is another highly expensive skin that transforms your knife into a full-fledged samurai blade. This weapon comes with four distinctive recolors, each changing the design on the blade, as well as the blazing effects coming from the Oni mask at the bottom of the sword.

As this is the only samurai sword in the entire game, all the inspection animations are of the highest quality and also feature satisfying slashing sounds that play whenever you sweep through the air or cut down your enemies. Overall, this is an excellent cosmetic that certainly warrants such an expensive fee.

6

Broken Blade Of The Ruined King

Edition: Exclusive

• ​​​​​​​Price: 4,350 VP

Despite being named after a wraith and Ruined King, this blade is glorious. The power it seemingly possesses is alluring and intimidating. The knife is part of the Ruination bundle, a collection of skins based on League of Legends’ Sentinels of Light event.

This particular knife skin radiates darkness and the wrath of Viego, a character from Riot Games’ League of Legends. As you equip the knife during a round – assuming you’ve purchased the animation with Radinatie Points – it extends to form a larger, more menacing sword.

5

RGX 11Z Pro Blade

Edition: Exclusive

• ​​​​​​​Price: 4,350 VP

The beauty is in the details of this knife skin. The RGX 11Z Pro Blade has one of the slickest unsheathe animations where your character pulls the blade from the handle. The skin comes from the original Pro bundle released in October 2021.

On top of its delightful animations, the RGX 11Z Pro Blade can change light colors upon inspecting it with Y. If that’s not enough, you can buy Radianite Points in the store to change the colors of the blade itself. Although it won’t make you better at the game, this skin will make you feel like you’re on top of the world.

4

Ruyi Staff

Edition: Exclusive

• ​​​​​​​Price: 4,350 VP

Released alongside Chinese New Year, the Ruyi Staff is the only skin in that game that is modeled after a full-sized staff. If you look closely, you may notice that this staff is actually inspired by Sun Wukong’s famous weapon, and the inspection animation has your character twirl the staff around while drums play in the background.

Furthermore, since this is the only staff in the game, the animations for summoning the weapon and attacking with it are also one of a kind. Even though you will be wielding a large staff, it is important to note that your melee attack range is not increased.

3

Xenohunter Knife

Edition: Premium

• ​​​​​​​Price: 3,550 VP

This is the most tasteful and simplistic knife skin in the game. The way it twists and twirls is unique to this skin, giving it more character than others. Although it doesn’t look too different from the original knife, the Xenohunter’s animations are top-class.

The sound design is impeccable, too. You’ll love listening to it slice through the air. The knife was part of the Xenohunter bundle released in mid-2022, but you can buy it on its own if you’re lucky enough to find it in your store.