Cyberpunk 2077: Best Knives

Knives are a very versatile melee weapon in Cyberpunk 2077. Their fast attack speed makes them a good choice for Blade builds that like to dart around the battlefield. Plus since they can be thrown, they’re a great inclusion into a stealthy build too. Knives have some big drawbacks too though, mainly in terms of defense since they can’t block very well or at all in most cases. But they’re still a weapon type that’s worth investing some time into. Here are some of the best Knives in Cyberpunk 2077.

Cyberpunk 2077: The best Knives

Related: Cyberpunk 2077: Best perks for Blade weapons

Kaiken

Screenshot: PC Invasion

Kaiken is a tanto-styled knife that can be found in Dogtown at the Black Market. This isn’t an Iconic Knife so there aren’t any cool bonuses packed into it. But that also means you can apply your own mods to it and steer it in the direction you want. That versatility alongside its high damage makes it one of the best knives in Cyberpunk 2077. Plus its +150% headshot damage multiplier makes it perfect as a throwing knife when the situation calls for it.

Butcher’s Cleaver

Screenshot: PC Invasion

The Butcher’s Cleaver operates a little differently from the Kaiken in a few ways. It prioritizes damage and defense over speed. Plus it can’t be thrown at all and instead lets you block some damage. What sets this knife apart is its +40% Bleeding Chance buff. Once an enemy has been hit with Bleeding, this knife’s attacks become faster and use up less stamina. So if you want a knife that’s as bloodthirsty as it looks, this is a good option to go for. If you want it yourself you can grab it during the M’ap Tann Pèlen questline after Placide butchers a chicken.

Headhunter

Screenshot: PC Invasion

The Headhunter is arguably the best of the knives in Cyberpunk 2077. It comes with the usual +150% Headshot Damage Multiplier and +20% Bleeding Chance, but it’s the bonus effect that makes it great. When you hit an enemy with the Headhunter it marks them. This then causes the next attack to land on the enemy’s head to deal 200% damage. If combined with a Sandvevistan, you could just throw the knife at someone, shoot them in the head, and then retrieve the knife and repeat. It deals a lot of damage when used this way making it a perfect fit for a build that also utilizes handgun perks. You can grab the Headhunter from the Melee Weapon Vender over in West Wind Estate in Pacifica.