VALORANT may be a free-to-play shooter at heart, but it has enamored its player base with paid weapon skins that serve as aesthetic vessels of joy and opulence.
And what’s more iconic in the world of FPS shooters than a good knife skin?
While some players are turned off by the idea of spending cold-hard cash for pixels on the screen, there’s no denying the appeal of a well-designed and coveted item.
And let’s face it. Having a good-looking knife in your hand can make rushing away from spawn or crouching behind your opponent’s back feel so much more special.
That said, let’s look at the best VALORANT knife skins in the game right now!
The Best Valorant Knives: Top 15 List
Note: These VALORANT knife skins don’t affect gameplay in any way, shape, or form, nor do they help improve aim. The author ranks them purely based on their aesthetic and visual qualities.
1
Sovereign Sword
Price: 3,550 VP
One of VALORANT’s first premium swords tops our list. And with its luxurious grip and shiny blade, it’s hard not to see why.
The Sovereign Sword is the main knife in the Sovereign Collection. It has a golden grip, a golden crossguard, and a blade with a curved edge. A hole has also been cut out of the sword’s blade, presumably for better aerodynamics.
Upon inspection, the sword’s length measures from the screen’s tip to tip—much longer than the game’s default knife. And after each slash, you can hear a subtly creaky and swordlike “whoosh” as the blade cuts through the air.
But the magic doesn’t stop there. Upon leveling up, a majestic sky-blue glow emanates from the sword’s blade, making it look even cooler to look at.
2
Celestial Fan
Price: 3,550 VP
From its unique draw animation to its thematic design, there’s nothing quite like the Celestial Fan in VALORANT. Released during Chinese New Year, this melee weapon unashamedly pays homage to its date of origin—the Year of the Ox.
The blade is inspired by traditional Chinese folding fans, complete with a gradient of blue and warm colors and Chinese symbols sprawling the entire length of it.
When inspected, you see the fan in all its glory. In its default state, however, you can see the tip resembling an ox with sharp horns—presumably, the part that does the slicing and dicing.
In its design alone, the Celestial Fan shakes up the typical knife dynamic quite remarkably. For players looking to add some zen to their inventory, the Celestial Fan’s a good choice.
Price: 3,550 VP
The outside world can be a dangerous place, and this axe skin called Gaia’s Wrath is living proof of that fact.
Handcrafted out of sturdy white branches and turned fatal with hardened resin, this VALORANT weapon skin is one of the few nature-themed weapons in the game.
So the next time a teammate or opponent rages at you and tells you to touch grass in VALORANT, pull this bad boy out. They’ll have no other choice but to take that L and wallow in their failed attempt to revoke your “God Gamer” status.
Besides its signature bright red head, this axe skin also comes in blue, green, and orange variants. This skin is also part of the greater Gaia’s Vengeance Collection released in 2021.
4
Reaver 2.0 Karambit
Price: 4,350 VP
Karambit skins have always been a catch in the FPS space since their debut. And with the old Reaver collection getting a big rehaul, the beloved Reaver Karambit is back on the map and better than ever.
With a crescent-shaped safety ring, a default black leather handle, a purple-coated spine, and a crooked outside edge, this Karambit is a knife skin with exquisite layers of detail that continues to be a fan favorite.
The darker palettes make the knife look dangerous, all while maintaining an air of allure. But aside from its default black color, it also has magenta, white, and blue colorations.
If you want a violet smoke of air to follow each swing, this knife also comes with a nifty VFX that makes each swing look satisfying.
5
Tethered Realms Prosperity Sword
Price: 3,550 VP
The Tethered Realms Collection is designed to be a mix of the Forsaken and Sovereign skin bundles, two themes that are diametrically opposed. And this melee brilliantly encapsulates this concept, with two distinct swords swung in a single draw animation.
The bigger blade is made of a sleek, black metallic material with a striking but subdued green finish. This blade is the sword seen from the Sovereign gun finisher. And as you equip the main weapon on your right hand, you also equip a smaller blade. The smaller blade is the smaller, curvier knife in the Forsaken collection.
If you’ve ever wanted a two-in-one deal, then you definitely will enjoy this weapon.
6
VCT Champions 2022 Butterfly Knife
Price: 5,350 VP
This galaxy-inspired VCT Champions 2022 Butterfly Knife is a true beauty. Featuring a swirling nebula as the knife’s backdrop, a shiny, gold midsection, and a dark violet handle, there’s no other butterfly knife skin in VALORANT that screams class as much as this one.
This knife has been released at about the same time as the VCT 2022 Championships, where some of the world’s best VALORANT players compete for the trophy and the title of the best team.
One particularly notable feature of this knife is the “Champion’s Aura” animation you can get if you upgrade it. This is most noticeable in Deathmatch games, where each 5th skill in the scoreboard (up to 25th) modifies the weapon skin by making the galaxy look clearer. If you’re top fragging with at least 25 kills, you also witness a rare special trophy animation upon inspecting the skin.
7
Magepunk Electroblade
Price: 4,350 VP
The Magepunk Electroblade is the Magepunk collection’s trademark knife. This melee weapon fuses sci-fi and futurism in a single blade—and it does so exceptionally well.
Released in April 2021, this knife has a very distinct classical look with a polished wooden hilt and jagged side edges. It also features a magical glowing force of energy, unique brow grips, and a classic palette of browns and golds.
If you’re itching for a knife with urban, gritty, and sci-fi undertones, or main VALORANT characters like Chamber, this one’s your best bet.
8
Origin Crescent Blade
Price: 4,350 VP
The Origin Crescent Blade is a beautiful and magical weapon that hails from the Origin collection. Not only is this crescent-shaped blade marked with its thin and sharp edges, but patterned green markings are also seen running along the black metallic finish of the blade.
Just like the Celestial Fan earlier in this list, the Origin Crescent Blade has quite a unique and head-turning design. Speaking of turning, don’t miss out on this blade’s VFX! The inspect animation rotates the blade as it’s suspended in the air, like a constellation, lasting indefinitely until it’s recalled.
9
Blade of the Ruined King
Price: 4,350
If you’re of the belief that bigger is better, or are an enjoyer of the Dark Souls Trilogy, the Blade of the Ruined King is one VALORANT knife that may appeal to you.
The cool thing about this knife is that the view model is so much bigger than a regular tactical knife, your character is practically forced to hold it horizontally to fill the screen.
While the size doesn’t make it any better than other knives, the chilling and mysterious aura, as well as its dark fantasy and medieval style it emanates, makes this weapon a fun one to equip.
Price: 4,350 VP
If you enjoy spinning the Butterfly Knife animation in CS:GO, the RGX 11z Pro Firefly in VALORANT offers the same visual stimulus that you know and love.
Released on April 27, 2022, the same day the previous Episode 4 Act 3 Battle Pass was released, this knife is the newest one released among the knives on the list.
While butterfly knives like the Recon Balisong have long been found in countless VALORANT maps and games, the vibrant and colorful design of RGX 11z Pro Firefly makes it slightly a better pick.
But if your preference lies in the Recon Balisong, then hey, we don’t blame you for that either!
11
Spectrum Waveform (ZEDD Knife)
Price: 5,350 VP
Have you ever wanted an RGB knife with built-in sound effects accompanied by sound waves? Look no further than the Spectrum knife—a weapon created in partnership with the artist ZEDD.
What makes this VALORANT knife so special is its satisfying sound animations that move to the beat of its own sound effects. On top of that, the knife’s upgraded VFX changes color cyclically, from red to blue to green.
Perhaps one downside is its hefty price tag-the largest of any knife in the game currently. But if its higher price doesn’t deter you, it’s a good knife to jam to as you smash Y (or whatever your VALORANT keybind is for weapon inspection).
12
Yoru’s Stylish Butterfly Comb
Price: 3,550 VP
Yoru’s Stylish Butterfly Comb comes from the VALORANT GO! Volume 2 collection, which features various VALORANT characters on weapon skins.
While this skin is as formidable as any VALORANT knife, we can’t help but pin this weapon skin to Yoru’s devilishly good-looking hairdo. Does he use this metallic device to get himself pampered and ready for the battlefield? We can only speculate.
Jokes aside, this butterfly knife features a clean blade and symmetrical crooked gaps in its teeth, like a comb. The center of the knife features an animated depiction of an Ulting Yoru, and the handle is painted with red, white, and blue brushes.
Simple and clean, Yoru mains wielding this weapon is as natural as baby turtles reaching for the ocean.
Price: 3,550 VP
The Prime 2.0 Karambit is the epitome of style and suaveness.
Featuring a golden safety ring, a half-coated gold, and metal blade, and a sharp, pointy edge, this weapon is a good choice for any VALORANT player looking to buy their first knife.
While its popularity has dwindled as a result of its age and the introduction of better-looking melees, this classic knife still looks, if I may say, at its prime.
Ultimately, it’s up to you if you want to upgrade its VFX or not, as some would say the base model has a much cleaner pull-out.
14
Xenohunter Knife
Price: 3,550 VP
For players who find most VALORANT weapon skins too over-the-top and want something simple yet dashing, the Xenohunter Knife is the way to go.
Featuring a sleek and shiny silver blade with a black leather handle, the Xenohunter Knife doesn’t come with a whole lot of frills. It doesn’t even have any color variants to choose from—just the default skin and one animation upgrade. But that’s exactly what makes it so attractive in the first place.
The minimalist design of the Xenohunter Knife makes it look like a dangerous yet practical weapon, perfect for those who want a realistic knife. This skin also closely resembles an M9 Bayonet, which is a knife specifically designed for close-quarters combat.
15
Ruin Dagger
Price: N/A (E1A3 Drop)
The Ruin Dagger is the final reward after completing the Battle Pass of Episode One: Act Three in VALORANT. From its sleek edges to its gold edges, the Ruin Dagger is a subtle and silent beauty.
It doesn’t boast the same amount of flashiness as many other knives on this list, but it doesn’t need to—the fact that it’s a Battle Pass item is more than enough to get people talking about it.
This weapon has a lot of charm, from its double-edged appearance to its lovely Karambit-like draw animation. The fact that it’s not readily available in-game makes it all the more elusive too, especially as more knives dilute the market.
