How to Use the Knife in Zombies

You can use your Knife and even upgrade it in the Zombies Mode of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6. Learn how to use the Knife, how you can upgrade it, and tips on using the Knife.

How to Use the Knife

Hold the Melee Button to Equip

Default Input	Description
V / / (Hold Button)	Switch to Knife

Pulling out your Knife is the same as in Multiplayer. To pull out the Knife, hold down the melee input. Should you wish to swtich back to your guns, simply use the Switch Weapon button.

Tap R2 or L2 for Knife Slashes

Default Input	Description
LMB / /	Knife Slash
RMB / /

With your Knife out, tap any of the above buttons to perform a slash. On a basic Knife, slashes are one-shot kills on zombies up to round 3.

Knife damage will start noticeably dropping off by round 4, with zombies starting to require two hits to kill. By that time, you will want to give it a Pack-a-Punch upgrade and a weapon rarity upgrade at the Arsenal Machine.

Knife Tips for Zombies Mode

Knife Tips and Tricks
Use the Knife to Save Ammo
Use the Knife with Omnimovement
Knife is Not Recommended for Bosses
Notice: Knife Now Gives Less Essence than Headshots

Use the Knife to Save Ammo

Just like your fists, the Knife does not use ammo and thus is a great weapon for saving ammo on your other weapons. Best use the Knife to take out isolated zombies or thin out hordes one zombie at a time.

Though the Knife does not use any ammo, it is worth noting that Ammo Mods will apply normally to its slashes.

Use the Knife with Omnimovement

Zombies swing quickly when you are at an arm's reach of them – but so are you quicker with the Knife. Slides and omnimovement are your best friend when trying maneuver around zombies or hordes.

Knife is Not Recommended for Bosses

When fighting a boss, it is best you focus on using your primary weapon instead since the Knife will severely lack in DPS against them. Bosses like the Abominations are huge bullet sponges and will take a lot more punishment than an ordinary zombie.

Gives Less Essence than Headshots

Kills with the Knife are counted as Zombie Melee Kills and give only 105 Essence compared to 115 Essence from you can get from headshot kills. If you are looking farm Essence, go for shooting the head instead.

How to Farm Essence

How to Upgrade the Knife

Upgrade at Pack-a-Punch Machines

Just like guns, you can upgrade the Knife to become stronger via the Pack-a-Punch Machine. Upgrades for this cost Essence. Consider when you will want to Pack-a-Punch the Knife since this upgrade is expensive.

All Pack-a-Punch Machine Locations

Upgrade at Arsenal Machines

The Knife can also be upgraded with higher weapon rarity and Ammo Mods at the Arsenal Machine.

Salvage points are required to purchase upgrades from this machine and it will cost a total of 9,000 Salvage points to upgrade the Knife to Gold (Legendary) rarity.

All Arsenal Machine Locations

Black Ops 6 (BO6) Related Guides

Zombies Guide: Everything You Need to Know

All Zombies Mode Guides