Facebook: http://facebook.com/XboxAhoy Twitter: http://twitter.com/xboxahoy This time, we're covering the Combat Knife. This bladed weapon has been long present, but Black Ops 2 is the first time we've see the knife as an equippable stand-alone. Of course, bladed instruments have a long history in warfare, from the flint tools of the Neolithic era through early forged iron and steel. Since the dawn of such tools, soldiers have wielded bladed weapons - and even since the introduction of firearms, knives remain standard issue today. The modern combat knife has its origins in the bayonet - a blade designed to lock onto the muzzle of a rifle, and provide close-range offensive backup where a slow-firing fusilier might otherwise be left helpless. Of course, modern automatic weapons and the move away from formation warfare means bayonets are less useful today than they have been in the past - but the modern combat knife still proves useful in a variety of circumstances. Whether used as a wirecutter, bottle opener or as a last ditch offensive tool, the knife remains an important part of military doctrine, and is unlikely to disappear any time soon. In-game, the Knife is always a one-hit kill weapon, assuming you can score a successful hit. Its range is minuscule, however: you must be within touching distance of your opponent, and even then a kill is not guaranteed. There are two primary modes of attack: the slash, and the stab. The slash is a very short-range attack that can be performed rapidly and repeatedly: the stab, or lunge extends your reach slightly but has a correspondingly increased recovery time. The lunge is performed when an enemy is within a suitable distance ahead of you: however, there is no guarantee it will connect, which may leave you vulnerable. The default slash attack takes around half a second, yielding 120 such slashes a minute. The lunge is some degree slower than this, taking almost a full second to complete. There's no need to worry about recoil or aim time with the knife, but in terms of handling traits the knife's mobility is higher than any other weapon. Movement speed is 100% of the maximum base speed, the same as an SMG or Shotgun - but you also gain a 50% bonus to your endurance, allowing you to sprint for 1.5x as long. Successful use of the combat knife is heavily reliant on timing: knowing the effective range is vital, as swinging too early might result in a miss, leaving you vulnerable. Pulling off the perfect lunge requires prediction of your enemy's movement, ensuring your foe is dead centre and at an ideal range before making your strike. Discretion is the better part of valour, and you'll often find yourself at a disadvantage when wielding only your blade. When pinned down, it's often best to flee, instead of being foolhardy and having your futile attempt at aggression shot down. The art of lurking is important to master - if you can anticipate an enemy's movement you might lurk ahead, hidden behind a corner or doorway, and wait until your enemy enters your domain. Running a knife-only build calls for a careful mix of rapid movement and blending in with the shadows - it is important to change up your pace as to best leverage your position. It's also wise to keep an eye on your health - if you're injured, wait until your health recovers before exposing yourself to any further risk. Often you'll need to sponge a couple of bullets during a charge, so to enter such conflict in a fragile state might prove your undoing. In any case, it's generally unwise to run headlong at an opponent - striking from behind or the side will yield far more reliable kills. Ideally, your quarry will never know you were there - but a non-linear approach works very well in tandem with your concussion grenades. Stunning an enemy gives you time to close a gap, but taking a straight line towards an enemy facing you might yet give them a chance to gun you down: you'll fare far better taking a less direct tack and striking from the side instead. The Combat Knife is an ever-present part of your arsenal, equippable as a standalone without the need to spend a point. While its worth as a weapon is reflected by its cost, it does open up a challenging, alternative style of play: a ninja-esque blend of motion and stealth. The knife is also a stalwart reserve weapon: should you choose to go without a secondary, you won't be left entirely helpless once you deplete your primary's supply. To say the knife is a competitive weapon would be misleading, however: you would be ill-advised to take naught but a knife to a gunfight. Inconsistent performance will prove frustrating, and the tiny range means you will be gunned down all-too often when en-route to a kill. Still, without such a challenge there would not be as great a reward, and the novel playstyle the knife brings makes for a certain degree of refreshment.