Knives Out by NetEase Games remains one of the most popular battle royale mobile games, offering intense survival gameplay, stunning graphics, and fast-paced tactical combat. If you want to consistently reach the top 10 or even secure the #1 victory, you need more than just fast reflexes — you need smart strategy, map awareness, and efficient resource management.
This comprehensive Knives Out guide breaks down everything — from beginner tips to advanced tactics, including map navigation, weapon mastery, and winning strategies — all optimized for 2025 gameplay.
1. Understanding Knives Out: The Basics
Knives Out is a battle royale shooter where 100 players parachute onto a large map and fight until only one survives. You can play solo, duo, or squad mode. The last player or team standing wins.
Key objectives:
- Land strategically
- Gather weapons and gear quickly
- Stay inside the safe zone
- Outsmart and eliminate opponents
Every match combines tactics, shooting skills, and survival instincts — making it essential to understand the game mechanics before jumping into battle.
2. The Perfect Landing Strategy
Your landing spot often determines your chances of survival. Knowing where to land is one of the most important skills in Knives Out.
Best Landing Spots for Beginners
- Riverside Town: Offers decent loot and moderate player traffic — perfect for learning the basics.
- Snowfield Base: Large open space, great for practicing long-range shooting.
- Echo Valley: Contains high-tier loot with relatively fewer early fights.
Best Landing Spots for Advanced Players
- Downtown City: Extremely high loot but high risk — expect early gunfights.
- Training Base: Great loot density and vehicles nearby, ideal for fast looting.
- Factory Zone: Multiple floors for ambushes; good for aggressive players.
💡 Pro Tip:
Always aim for the edge of the main loot zones. You’ll get good loot while avoiding early ambushes.
3. Weapons and Loadouts Guide
A great weapon loadout can decide whether you survive a fight. Here’s a breakdown of the best weapons in Knives Out 2025.
Top Assault Rifles (AR)
- M4A1: Best all-around weapon — stable recoil, good range, easy to control.
- AK-47: Higher damage but stronger recoil. Great for mid- to close-range combat.
- SCAR-L: Smooth shooting experience and fast reload speed.
Top Sniper Rifles
- AWM: Highest damage in the game; one-shot kill to the head.
- SVD: Semi-automatic sniper with great rate of fire — ideal for mid-range dominance.
- 88 Sniper: Easy to find, reliable, decent power.
Top SMGs (Close Range)
- MP5: Fast firing rate, perfect for room-to-room combat.
- Vector: Deadly at close range with minimal recoil.
- UMP9: Versatile SMG with solid range and easy control.
Explosives and Throwables
- Grenades: Essential for flushing out campers.
- Smoke Bombs: Use to heal, escape, or reposition.
- Molotovs: Perfect for corner clearing or area denial.
4. Movement and Positioning
Proper movement and positioning separate beginners from pros.
Basic Movement Tips
- Always zigzag or jump when crossing open areas to avoid sniper shots.
- Use crouch-walking to stay quiet inside buildings.
- Avoid unnecessary sprinting — it gives away your position.
Advanced Movement Techniques
- Lean-peeking: Peek around corners using the lean button — minimal exposure, maximum control.
- Drop-shooting: Quickly go prone during a fight to confuse enemies.
- Jump-shotting: Time your jumps when entering a room to catch opponents off guard.
💡 Pro Tip:
Use terrain (rocks, hills, trees) for natural cover instead of standing in the open. High ground always provides tactical advantage.
5. Map Awareness and Zone Control
The Knives Out map is massive and diverse — urban zones, snowy mountains, rivers, and open plains. Understanding terrain types is crucial for survival.
Zone Strategy
- Early Game: Focus on looting fast and staying near vehicles.
- Mid Game: Move towards the next safe zone before the timer.
- Late Game: Control high ground or natural cover; avoid open spaces.
Vehicles
Vehicles are a double-edged sword — they’re fast but noisy.
- Use cars and bikes for quick rotations.
- Avoid using them near the final circle.
- If possible, park your vehicle behind buildings to mask noise.
💡 Pro Tip:
Watch for red zones — stay away or hide indoors when they appear.
6. Looting and Inventory Management
Efficient looting saves time and improves your survival odds.
Loot Priority Order
- Primary weapon (AR or SMG)
- Secondary weapon (Sniper or Shotgun)
- Armor & Helmet (at least level 2)
- Medical kits, bandages, and painkillers
- Ammo (carry ~150 rounds for AR)
- Throwables (grenades, smokes)
Inventory Tips
- Don’t carry too many weapon types — stick to two.
- Drop extra ammo from old weapons.
- Always keep 2-3 smoke grenades for late game.
7. Combat Strategy and Survival Tactics
Winning fights in Knives Out depends on timing, positioning, and awareness.
Close-Range Combat
- Use SMGs or shotguns.
- Pre-fire corners when entering a building.
- Crouch or prone mid-fight to throw off enemy aim.
Mid-Range Combat
- ARs shine here. Always burst-fire for accuracy.
- Control recoil by pulling your aim slightly downward.
- Use trees, rocks, or walls for partial cover.
Long-Range Combat
- Always use 4x–8x scopes with snipers.
- Change your position after every shot to avoid counter-sniping.
- Don’t shoot unless you’re sure of a hit — noise attracts others.
8. Playing in Teams (Duo or Squad Mode)
Communication and coordination are everything in squad play.
Team Tips
- Use voice chat or quick commands.
- Assign roles — sniper, scout, medic, support.
- Stick together but avoid bunching up.
- Share loot efficiently — extra scopes, medkits, and ammo.
Revive Smartly
- Smoke the area before reviving.
- Revive behind cover, not in open zones.
- Protect the downed teammate with suppressing fire.
9. Advanced Tips and Pro-Level Strategies
If you want to dominate every Knives Out match in 2025, apply these advanced tactics.
Sound Awareness
- Use headphones to detect footsteps and gunfire direction.
- Crouch-walk inside buildings to mask sound.
- Exploit sound cues — ambush players running toward gunfire.
Third-Person Advantage
- In TPP mode, use camera angles to peek around corners without exposing yourself.
- Watch rooftops and windows before entering high-risk zones.
Endgame Strategy
- Stay low and move with the safe zone edge.
- Avoid firing unless necessary — let others fight first.
- Use smokes to move between cover.
- In the final circle, throw grenades before pushing.
10. Best Settings for Knives Out (Mobile 2025)
Optimized settings can drastically improve your gameplay performance.
Recommended Sensitivity Settings
- Camera Sensitivity: 90–110%
- ADS Sensitivity: 70–90%
- Scope Sensitivity: 40–60%
- Gyroscope (if enabled): 80%
Graphics Settings
- Graphics Quality: Smooth
- Frame Rate: Ultra (60 FPS or higher)
- Auto Adjust Graphics: OFF
- Brightness: Slightly above default for better visibility
💡 Pro Tip:
Disable auto-pickup for throwables and set manual loot preferences for faster control.
11. Common Mistakes to Avoid
Even experienced players make these errors — avoid them to stay alive longer.
- Landing directly in hot zones without a weapon.
- Ignoring footsteps or gunfire direction.
- Staying too long in one place (easy target).
- Looting enemies in open areas.
- Driving vehicles into final circles.
Remember: survival > kills. The best players win by smart play, not reckless aggression.
12. How to Consistently Win Matches in Knives Out
Follow this step-by-step battle plan for consistent top finishes:
- Land safely at a medium-traffic location.
- Loot efficiently — grab AR + sniper, armor, meds.
- Monitor the safe zone and rotate early.
- Avoid unnecessary fights in mid-game.
- Play smart in late game — use cover, stay low, throw smokes.
- Engage only when certain of victory.
- Use the terrain — hills, trees, buildings — to your advantage.
- Control recoil and aim for the head.
- Stay calm under pressure — panic kills more players than bullets.
- Win the final 1v1 with patience and positioning.
Conclusion
Knives Out continues to thrive as one of the most competitive and exciting mobile battle royale games. By mastering landing strategy, weapon loadouts, map control, and tactical decision-making, you can turn from a casual player into a consistent winner.
Remember, every match is about survival, not just kills — and the smarter, calmer player always wins. Whether you’re aiming for your first victory or trying to rank up quickly, this Knives Out full guide provides everything you need to dominate every battlefield.