If you have been spending time with Black Ops 7 lately, you have probably noticed something’s missing – that old panic knife from past Call of Duty games is gone. No more last-second, insta-kill swings when an enemy gets too close. Now, you have to actually equip the knife before you can use it, which feels a bit odd at first. You’ll get used to it though, and once you do, you’ll realise it opens up more tactical plays. Whether you’re sneaking through a tense campaign, catching someone off guard in a match, or saving ammo in Zombies, mastering this setup can really up your game. I’ve found it adds a layer of skill that makes those close-quarters kills way more satisfying. And if you want to speed things along, you might take a look at CoD BO7 Boosting to give yourself an edge.

Switching to your knife works differently now. On controller, hold down the swap weapon button – Triangle on PlayStation or Y on Xbox – and a small weapon wheel pops up. Use the right stick to highlight the knife, then let go of the swap button. PC players can press 1 to swap to the secondary or hold Q for the wheel. You’ll know it’s ready when your gun is holstered and the blade is out. Handy bonus here – your movement speed gets a little bump when you’re carrying the knife, so it’s great for sprinting across tight maps or making fast rotations in multiplayer.

Once the knife is equipped, you’ve got two main attacks. Tap the fire button – R2/RT on console or left click on PC – for a quick slash. Good for finishing off injured enemies or reacting instantly when someone appears from cover. Then there’s the lunge: hold the fire button down for a moment, and you’ll leap forward with a stabbing attack. In multiplayer, it can be a one-hit kill if you land it. The trick is timing. Miss and you’ll be stuck in a short recovery animation, totally exposed. That risk-reward moment is part of what makes it thrilling when you nail the hit.

The knife isn’t just a “last resort” weapon. You can build an entire class around it. Pair it with perks that boost sprint speed or make your footsteps silent, and you can become a ghost on the battlefield. In Zombies, it’s one of the smartest choices in the opening rounds – it saves ammo and racks up points faster, letting you open up areas and buy perks early. Personally, I recommend hitting a private match simply to drill the swap-and-lunge motion until it’s muscle memory. Once you’ve got it down, you’ll be a nightmare up close. And if you’re serious about taking that to the next level, check out CoD BO7 Boosting for sale to push your progress even further.