For the first week in b07 bot lobby Season 1 the challenge is back and the reward for it is the iconic Ballistic Knife.

  The hype is real. You can shoot a knife? Sounds like the ultimate secondary. Before you equip it in your next sweaty lobby we should look at the numbers. I skipped the montage with lucky kills in favor of a full-on melee comparison between the Standard Knife Mark II and the Flatline Mark II.

 This is a breakdown of how the weapon works and why it may not be as powerful as you thought.

 The bo7 accounts Melee: A Step backwards?

 You are at a statistical disadvantage when you use the Ballistic Knife to slash enemies close up.

 1. Speed up Recovery

 Let's talk time to kill.

 Gunbutt: 350ms (2-hit kill very slow)

 Standard Knife : 225ms

 Ballistic Knife : 250ms

 It is faster than a standard knife, but it still kills in one hit. If you miss the first swing, it will take 700ms to recover. It is not a good idea to let your guard down and stand in front of an opponent for 700ms.

 2. The Range Problem (The Dealbreaker).

 This is my most shocking statistic. You'd think a weapon made for range would also have a decent reach in melee, right?

 Standard Knife/Flatline: Standard lunge range.

 Ballistic Knife: 1.5 meters.

 This is a major tactical flaw. Ballistic Knife has a smaller melee range compared to smashing someone's butt with your gun. You're in for a rude shock if you're used the standard knife's lunge. You'll often find yourself swinging your knife at the air when you are inches away from an opponent, only to be punished instantly.

 3. Movement Speed

 We use the melee slot to run faster to gain lanes at the beginning of the match.

 Standard Knife: 7.8 M/s

 Ballistic Knife : 7.5m/s

 The Ballistic Knife is the slowest. The Ballistic Knife will be your least preferred option if you want to move from A to B as quickly as possible.

 The projectile: High risk, high reward

 The melee stats may not be impressive, but they are still important. The whole point of the weapon is its ability to fire the blade. Is that its only saving grace?

 The "27-Meter Rule"

 It is possible to shoot accurately, but you need to know the arc of each projectile. During testing, I discovered that the weapon was essentially zeroed out at 27 meters.

 At 27m, the blade hits your dot exactly.

 You will need to aim slightly lower. Aim slightly lower.

 Above 27m, the blades drop significantly. Aim high.

 Fire Rate and Forgiveness

 The blades are available at spawn (retrievable if you walk over them), however, they cannot be spammed. Fire rate is 1 shot every 1.7 second.

 Pro Tip:

 You can reduce this time to just 1.55 seconds if you use the Fast Hands perk. Although it's slow, this could save your life if you need to.

 Keep in mind that the Sprint-to Fire time is 225ms. In a fight between two players, a player of an assault rifle can often come out from a sprint before you have time to fire your knife.

 Should You Use This?

 After testing and playing for hours, it is evident that the Ballistic Knife does not compete.

 You are only relying on your luck if you're playing against players who are half decent. It is inferior to the Standard Knife because of its slow firing rate, low melee range and slower movement speed.

 You should unlock the device if you are able to:

 1. If you love the "Sticks and Stones", this is your weapon.

 2. It's incredibly satisfying to hit a camper with a cross-map.

 3. You are looking for a challenge. It will force you to play in a different way, and keep your game interesting.

 But for your main loadout? Standard Knife is the best choice. The Standard Knife is more reliable and gets you to your objective quicker.

 FAQ: Common Questions

 Q: Can I replace the blades by hand?

 A: Yes. Picking up a Scavenger Pack will refill a ballistic blade if you are running the Scavenger Perk. You can store up to seven blades in total (one in the chamber and six in reserve).

 ADS: Do they make the knife more precise?

 A: No. A: No. ADS is only used to help you better see your target; it doesn't change the accuracy or spread of the projectile.

 Q: Does the melee attack kill with one hit?

 The melee swipe kills in one hit, just as the other melee weapons. It's the range of the weapon (1.5m) that is the problem, not the damage.

 Summary

 The Ballistic Knife is a fun, but flawed weapon in Black Ops 7.

 The three most important melee stats - range, speed and recovery - are sacrificed in exchange for a projectile that is difficult to hit against experienced opponents. The ability to fire a knife may be unique, but the 1.5 meter range of the weapon is a huge handicap. You will lose gunfights that you could have won using a regular knife.

 You can use it to make memes or to play Sticks and Stones but you shouldn't expect to be able to reach a nuclear bomb.