The secondary knife in Modern Warfare III may not be a weapon you’ll see in competitive Call of Duty matches anytime soon, and OpTic Gaming star Shotzzy demonstrated why with an incredible clip. The knife allows for incredibly fast swings and can result in multiple kills, as shown by Shotzzy’s impressive 1v3 clutch against the enemy team. However, the high time to kill in MWIII compared to previous Call of Duty games makes the knife unbalanced in the hands of professionals.
Competitive Call of Duty has long relied on gentlemen’s agreements (GAs) to maintain balance. These GAs eliminate certain weapons that give players in specific positions, such as Main AR or Sub, an unfair advantage. While some may argue that pros sometimes take these agreements too far, there are certain weapons that clearly warrant being restricted, and the knife is one of them.
The knife is undeniably lethal in objective situations, as demonstrated by Shotzzy’s play. However, its usefulness extends beyond that. It can be used to hold specific doors or swiftly eliminate enemies around corners before they have a chance to react, which goes against the nature of the franchise.
Call of Duty is not a tactical shooter. If players seek one-hit kills with rifles, games like VALORANT or Counter-Strike are better suited. Even in those games, one-hit kills with a knife are only possible when attacking from behind. The high time to kill in Call of Duty, combined with precise tracking, is the epitome of skill expression in an arcade shooter, and it’s understandable that professionals want to maintain that standard. While some GAs may seem excessive and stem from a resistance to adapt to new weapons, the restriction on the knife is not one of them.
| Time | Score |
|---|---|
| 1:23 | OpTic Gaming – 3, Enemy Team – 0 |
Source: DOTESPORTS
