How do you trigger instant kill with knives

[Albert the Handsome (Not)]

Is it like a RNG thing or do you have to do it a certain way

[clover <3]

it seems like something to do with range and rng in my experience with it. it also seems like you cant jaw stab a zombie if theres another one chasing you

[pzhda'tan]

Stabbing only works if you are undetected.

[DrLamp]

You can stab even if you are detected. I've done it many times. Doing it consistently is another matter. I think RNG plays a large role.

[Shurenai]

From behind, right distance and timing and no other zombies in immediate range, and you'll do it every time.

From the front, They need to be fairly far from other zombies, you have to time and distance it properly, and even then the chance is based on your short blade skill.. At low short blade you'll rarely see it, up at 10 it's like every zombie assuming the conditions are correct.

[blyad]

90% of the times it works if undetected, sometimes it even works if you are detected. It's mostly RNG tho.

[Albert the Handsome (Not)]

oh ok, i see

[Shady Allie]

You need to be dangerously close to it. No comfort zones. No personal boundaries. Get right up into its decayed face like you are going to whisper in its ear how lovely it smells.

Good luck, keep practicing it. Use a debug session for practice if you want.

[Grizzly]

from the front with a knife only works if one single zombie targets you, otherwise you will just shove the zombie. another thing is where exactly you stand and i always feel like lower level short blade makes it less likely, tho i dont know if that last point is true.

[Jethro]

Also, and now I could be wrong, but - it feels like it only happens when you’re standing still and attacking.

[Nordil(Hun)]

Originally posted by Jethro:

Also, and now I could be wrong, but - it feels like it only happens when you’re standing still and attacking.

There are multiple differences than how it was in ver 40.
First of all if there are other zombie(s) within a certain tile range (10 i think or more?) then you cannot perform the instakill.
Moving also prohibits you from performing this.
Also you need to time it very very well, the as to say time window is much smaller than it was in the previous version.
All the above statements are for the frontal, non sneak instakill.

(However if there are multiple zombies nearby, you might not even be able to perform the backstabbing instakill neither!)

[Albert the Handsome (Not)]

okay...
I might as well just go for shove & stomp instead now that I think on it

[Auxilar]

There's a clear visual que to let you know the attack will end up being an instakill.

You have to have your knife equipped in your main (right) hand and your off (left) hand has to be cleared. When you approach the zombie in combat mode, REGARDLESS if you are detected or not, your character will slightly raise your off (left) hand and this is the visual que. It's a relatively small change in the height of the hand so it's quite easy to miss, unless you're actively looking out for it.

Warning before you start your takedown killing spree:

1.) In order to perform the instakill you practically have to faceplant into the zombie, so it's far smoother to instakill an unsuspecting victim. Facing the zombie head on to get an instakill is viable but risky (if you wait a bit too long you'll get hit).

2.) Performing an instakill on a zombie will lock you in place for two seconds, which could leave you vulnerable in case your victim brought a friend along.

3.) Just like with the spear charge, instakilling with the knife has a condition. That condition dictates that you have to enter instakill range in combat mode and while moving forwards (which means shuffling backwards and baiting a zombie into an instakill isn't viable, unless you lunge forward at the very last second which is way too risky).

PS: Now that I think about it... and this is me just rambling... it could be viable to shove a zombie backwards, then make the move at him and perform the instakill, but it would require serious practice and nerves of steel.

[Nordil(Hun)]

Originally posted by Auxilar:

There's a clear visual que to let you know the attack will end up being an instakill.

You have to have your knife equipped in your main (right) hand and your off (left) hand has to be cleared. When you approach the zombie in combat mode, REGARDLESS if you are detected or not, your character will slightly raise your off (left) hand and this is the visual que. It's a relatively small change in the height of the hand so it's quite easy to miss, unless you're actively looking out for it.

Warning before you start your takedown killing spree:

1.) In order to perform the instakill you practically have to faceplant into the zombie, so it's far smoother to instakill an unsuspecting victim. Facing the zombie head on to get an instakill is viable but risky (if you wait a bit too long you'll get hit).

2.) Performing an instakill on a zombie will lock you in place for two seconds, which could leave you vulnerable in case your victim brought a friend along.

3.) Just like with the spear charge, instakilling with the knife has a condition. That condition dictates that you have to enter instakill range in combat mode and while moving forwards (which means shuffling backwards and baiting a zombie into an instakill isn't viable, unless you lunge forward at the very last second which is way too risky).

PS: Now that I think about it... and this is me just rambling... it could be viable to shove a zombie backwards, then make the move at him and perform the instakill, but it would require serious practice and nerves of steel.

Regarding number 2:
You cannot perform the instakill if there are other zombies around, if i recall well. This was a serious issue back when the fighting got overhauled. Many of the short blade users had their characters die, because they were performing a conga line kind of fighting, and if you stopped for a moments notice, and the zombie came within the "instakill" range you would perform it, get stunlocked, and therefore be killed by the others. This happened very often, there is a whole old discussion about it i think in "short blade users" thread.
But might be that not moving is enough, but for some reason i recall that zombies within range of...certain tiles is what prohibits the move.

For PS:
Actually it is a solid way, however it requires nimbleness/fitness.
What you do, is you shove the zombie and try to get on the side/slightly behind the zombie. This way you can perform the instakill. (I used to do it, i used to also check the XP i got it for str, sb and fitness, but cant recall if it was worth it or not:D)

[katsuragi]

Originally posted by Auxilar:

There's a clear visual que to let you know the attack will end up being an instakill.

You have to have your knife equipped in your main (right) hand and your off (left) hand has to be cleared. When you approach the zombie in combat mode, REGARDLESS if you are detected or not, your character will slightly raise your off (left) hand and this is the visual que. It's a relatively small change in the height of the hand so it's quite easy to miss, unless you're actively looking out for it.

Your left hand doesn't need to be empty. I do them all the time with a knife in my right and a backpack in my left. I watched close these last couple times and there was no movement on my left hand, not even when I one handed it under the zeds jaw with my right

[derp12332112]

I'm not sure what everyone here is about, but Jaw Stabs are very simple.

You must only have the Knife equipped, as you need your Off-Hand free to "grab" the Zombie for the kill.

When approaching a zombie with the knife equipped, you're character will attempt a Jaw Stab once in range by indicating WITH THEIR OFF HAND RAISED UP. This shows that they're prepared to try and grapple the zombie for a clean kill. The chance that it will be successful depends on both the weapon (Higher quality blades, such as Combat Knives, will have a significantly higher chance than a Butter Knife or Pen) and the player skill (Short Blade will significantly increase your chances of success, making even pens useful as an emergency shiv).

Stealth Kills will always succeed.