The secondary knife in Modern Warfare III is unlikely to feature in serious Call of Duty competitions, as demonstrated by OpTic Gaming star Shotzzy in an impressive clip. Shotzzy showcased the knife’s rapid swings and high kill potential in a 1v3 clutch against the opposing team. Given Modern Warfare III’s longer time to kill compared to previous Call of Duty titles, the presence of such a fast and powerful close-quarters weapon is considered unbalanced in the hands of professional players.
In competitive Call of Duty, there has been a longstanding reliance on gentlemen’s agreements (GAs) to regulate certain weapons, preventing specific positions like Main AR or Sub from becoming overpowered. While some in the community believe that professionals may sometimes overreach with the GA list, certain weapons, such as the knife, are evident choices for restriction.
The knife proves to be lethal in objective scenarios, as demonstrated by Shotzzy, but its utility extends beyond that. It can be employed to control specific doors or used strategically around corners to eliminate enemies before they can react, aligning with the franchise’s style of gameplay.
Unlike tactical shooters like VALORANT or Counter-Strike, Call of Duty does not revolve around one-hit kills with rifles. Even in those games, one-hit kills with a knife typically require being behind the enemy. The high time to kill in conjunction with precise tracking represents the pinnacle of skill expression in an arcade shooter, a quality that professionals understandably seek to maintain. While some GAs may be criticized for pros resisting adaptation to new weapons, the restriction on the knife is not considered one of those cases.