Valorant Knife Skins: Everything you need to know

In Valorant, knife skins are more than just cosmetic details that change the appearance of your melee.

They represent a player’s style, status, and dedication to the game, serving both as a form of personal expression as well as a marker of specific achievements.

Each knife skin reflects a different aspect of the game’s rich universe, which is why they serve as trophies representing your in-game accomplishments and investments.

How to get Valorant knife skins

In-game store

Naturally, the main place where you obtain knife skins in Valorant is by purchasing them directly from the in-game store.

The store always offers a rotating selection of skins, including knives, which means you’ll always encounter a fresh rotation of cosmetics.

These knives can be obtained by using Valorant’s premium currency VP and they usually cost between 2000 - 4000 VP ($20 - $40).

That being said, there are cheaper alternatives and you can find cheaper knife models for 1750 VP ($17.50) if you’re balling on a budget. 

On the other hand, if you want to spend more VP to get the most exclusive knives, there are models that demand a fee of more than 5000 VP ($50).

Battle pass rewards

In Valorant, the Battle Pass offers players a way to earn various rewards by consistently playing the game and advancing through the tiers.

There are several cosmetic rewards integrated into every Valorant Battle Pass, including covetable knife skins that are often only obtainable by reaching a specific tier.

When it comes to the financial aspect, it’s undoubtedly the most cost-efficient way to level up your Valorant cosmetic collection. 

This is because the base price of the Battle Pass is only 1000 VP ($10) and it provides a wide range of items compared to individual purchases you can make in the store.

For the players who frequently play Valorant, the cumulative value of the skins acquired through the pass exceeds the initial investment by a country mile which is why it remains a popular choice.

Weapon skin bundles

In Valorant, weapon skin bundles are themed collections of skins that are usually released in celebration of a seasonal event.

They contain skins for a variety of weapons, including knives which are often considered as the standout items of these sets.

Knives that are sold as part of these bundles are often rare and exclusive as they’re typically only available as a part of the specific bundle they’re sold in.

In terms of the price, weapon skin bundles usually range between 4000 to 8000 VP ($40 - $80), depending on the number of skins included and their rarity.

Apart from providing you with limited edition items, mathematically speaking, these bundles are a cost-efficient way to acquire multiple weapon skins for a fraction of their individual price.

Esports events

Much like weapon skin bundles that celebrate seasonal events, Esports bundles are skin collections that revolve around a specific Esports tournament.

Esports bundles feature exclusive cosmetic items including skins that revolve around the event itself or the teams participating in it.

A common practice includes popular Esports organizations releasing bundles of cosmetic items that are visually inspired by the team itself.

Purchasing these bundles and Esports skins supports the competitive Valorant scene as a small portion of the proceeds goes towards the team whose bundle you’ve purchased.

Generally speaking, Esports knife skins are considered collector’s items among fans as their availability is typically limited only to the duration of the event they’re released in.

Most expensive Valorant knife skins

RDS Power Fist

The crown of the most expensive Valorant knife skin belongs to the Radiant Entertainment Collection Power fist.

Valued at an astonishing 5950 VP, this melee is the only knife priced at this premium range, as it’s over 400 VP more expensive than the next entry in the list.

Although it’s not particularly popular due to its mediocre appearance, owning this knife is the ultimate flex given that it costs almost 60 bucks.

VCT LOCK IN Misericordia

VCT LOCK in dagger certainly justified its steep price tag since it’s one of the most visually appealing melees in the game.

Available in several colorways that fully alter its already cool-looking appearance, this knife has remained a fan favorite ever since its initial release.

On top of that, the aura dynamically changes with the variant you choose, which further enhances the striking in-game visuals.

Champions 2021 Karambit

The 2021 version of the Champions Karambit is one of the most prestigious and covetable Esports-related items for collectors.

This is because of the knife’s simple, yet sleek appearance, and the fact that it only has a single variant available. 

Naturally, its prestige is appropriately reflected in the price, as it’s one of the most expensive Valorant knives in the game sitting at 5350 VP.

Champions 2022 Butterfly Knife

Champions 2022 Butterfly Knife shares the same price tag and format, given that it costs 5350 VP and only has a single variant.

Apart from its sleek design this melee also boasts standout vfx and a unique Champions’ Aura when upgraded, which resulted in general adoration. 

Kuronami no Yaiba

Kuronami no Yaiba is one of Valorant’s most unique melee weapons, drawing inspiration directly from traditional Japanese weaponry

One of its standout features lies in Kuronami no Yaiba’s knife animation at level 2 which adds to the blade’s allure.

Once upgraded, the blade leaves a trail that mimics a sweeping ink wash stroke, which makes every swing and slice feel like a special movement.

Onimaru Kunitsuna

Much like Kuronami no Yaiba, Onimaru Kunitsuna is heavily inspired by traditional Japanese melee weapons.

In this case, the source of inspiration was the legendary samurai katanas which are some of the coolest-looking blades in any traditional culture.

Onimaru is no different and its case is further helped by the fact that it’s a part of one of the best-designed sets in the game's history, which is the Oni set.

Waveform Spectrum

Waveform Spectrum is one of the game’s most iconic melee weapons because it belongs to a skin line that’s a special collaboration between the popular DJ Zedd and Valorant. 

One of the coolest details about this melee in particular is the fact that Zedd’s music plays once you inspect the knife, further adding to the weapon’s unique appeal.

That being said, the fee certainly reflects the knife’s quality, having one of the steepest price tags in the game overall.
 

Elderflame Dagger

Very few people would argue that the Elderflame skins are some of the most visually appealing and striking ones in the game’s history.

This skin transforms your regular dagger into a fiery, dragon-themed blade that looks straight out of a fantasy realm. 

Its unique set of visual effects such as the fiery aura and the ashes that trail behind each swing further add to the blade’s already immersive presence.

Evori’s Spellcaster

Evori’s Spellcaster is the most recent addition to this list, having been released as the melee weapon in the Evori Dreamwings Collection.

Unlike most melee weapons in the game which are bulky and rugged, Evori’s Spellcaster takes a different route by adopting an elegant and mystical design.

The weapon features intricate details and animations that set it apart from the rest, such as the vibrant butterfly that often pops out of the weapon during certain actions.

Protocol 781-A PAMU

While it’s not the most expensive knife in the game, the Protocol 781-A skin line’s melee weapon certainly takes the cake as the one with the longest name.

Full name Protocol 781-A Personal Administrative Melee Unit, this knife stands out not only for its name but also for its futuristic design and advanced animations.

It's designed to look like a piece of advanced technology while staying true to a traditional blade’s form, combining a sleek metal surface with animated glowing accents.

Rarest Valorant knife skins

Kingdom Knife

While it’s not particularly visually appealing, the Kingdom Knife is the single rarest melee weapon in Valorant.

Its scarcity lies in the fact that it was only released as a reward for grinding out the Valorant’s first Battle Pass ever, back when the game wasn’t as popular as it is today.

In addition, the first Valorant Battle Pass was very grind-heavy and all of the rewards were extremely hard to obtain unless you were consistently playing.

Mathematically speaking, it took you over 1.3 million XP to obtain this knife during the battle pass, which equates to more than 20 hours of weekly play.

Champions 2021 Karambit

Apart from being one of the most expensive melees in the game’s history, the Champions 2021 Karambit is one of the rarest ones in the game as well.

This is because the weapon was only released as a bundle purchase during the 2021 Valorant World Championship.

It’s set to never be released in the game’s rotating shop, making it the rarest and most collectible Esports item in the game’s history.

VCT LOCK IN Knife

Much like the 2021 Champions Karambit, the VCT LOCK IN Knife is one of the game’s rarest and most covetable Esports items.

This is because it was only released once as a part of a limited-time Esports bundle collection or could be obtained by watching pro-play matches.

Ruin Dagger

The Ruin Dagger rounds out our list of the rarest unobtainable Valorant knives, having only been released once as a Battle Pass reward in Act 3.

Unlike Kingdom Knife which is a rare dagger that’s not particularly visually striking, Ruin Dagger is one of the best-looking and most desirable knives in the game.

This is because it features an elegant, dark-themed design with rich details such as the ruby crystals that decorate its handle.

Reaver Karambit

While it is an item that can pop up in the rotating shop from time to time, Reaver Karambit is a very rare and covetable melee weapon.

Its rarity stems from the fact that it’s one of the oldest and most iconic knife skins in Valorant, first introduced as part of the Reaver skin line back in October 2020.