Not hitting things with thrown knives

[Similar]

This is a problem I've always had, I think. There's an enemy maybe 8-10 meters away and I throw a knife at them, aiming for their head, and the knife just misses. It feels like it just disappears, but sometimes the enemy gets alerted so I guess it must be there somewhere.

Sometimes I can throw a knife five times, missing every throw, even when I'm just aiming for the body, which should be an easy target to hit. And since I can't see the knife, I can't adjust my aim.
This doesn't really make me feel like a hypercompetent merc.

I see people in videos hit targets in the head from 30-50 meters away, so it's obviously possible. It seems like they just put the reticle over the head of the enemy and hit, which doesn't work for me (and I would assume knives normally have drop too?).

Any tips?

[「ai q sonim」]

When I started playing I could never get a headshot with throwing knives, until I realized the physics affect the thrown trajectory (bullet drop). You just have to aim slightly above the enemy's head, and you should get a headshot. As for the distance, you obviously can't be very far from the enemy. It's not a bullet. I think there are perks and mods that increase throwing distance, but I'm not 100% sure.

[Similar]

Originally posted by 「ai q sonim」:

When I started playing I could never get a headshot with throwing knives, until I realized the physics affect the thrown trajectory (bullet drop). You just have to aim slightly above the enemy's head, and you should get a headshot.

That's what I'm trying to do, but I must be seriously misjudging the drop (possibly expecting it to be more severe than it is, but I'm not sure).

hm. I should probably see if I can find some object to test things at, because I really can't see the knife when it's in flight and usually not where or when it lands either.

Originally posted by 「ai q sonim」:

As for the distance, you obviously can't be very far from the enemy. It's not a bullet. I think there are perks and mods that increase throwing distance, but I'm not 100% sure.

I am pretty low in that tree so far, so perhaps that doesn't help. If there are perks that make you throw farther or with less drop or something, it might explain how a youtuber playing without HUD can hit almost every time at very long ranges (or he's using a mod...).

[Similar]

hm. Kind of suspect I've both overestimated the drop at short ranges and underestimated it at long ranges. Still a bit puzzled I usually haven't managed to even hit the body at long ranges, though.

[★REM★]

Practice makes perfect. You simply miss, Throwing Knives also have relatively short range you have to compensate if you go for distance

[Bjørn]

I must admit I've done a few quicksaves with corresponding quickloads, after failed 'head-throws' that cause my entire battle strategy to fail before it starts...

I always hit when using them to silence noisy loudspeakers, though!

[Notoshy]

Its mostly Patience and Training.
The Guys from Bhargest were so friendly, to involuntarily help with an example.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3398908676
When you aim, you can see a slight change of Color in the Healthbar of the Target. Thats an indicator, how much damage you will generate.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3398908595
In this Case, it was a Headshot, but not one-hit. He had a tiny bit health left, but my Neurotoxin Knife had its Toxin triggered.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3398908642

Not sure whats the Distance in this example, but i had to aim a bit above his Head to compensate for the Drop-Curve.

His colleague needed a higher throw
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3398919286
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3398919317

[★REM★]

Just started a new save right now, to test out your issue, and throwing knives works as intended also in the current patch (my last try was in 2.0) i can get headshots and hit things as intended so it's not some game bug.

[Similar]

Originally posted by Notoshy:

When you aim, you can see a slight change of Color in the Healthbar of the Target. Thats an indicator, how much damage you will generate.

oh, never noticed that, but that must also indicate that you will hit, I'd think. But it probably only shows at short ranges.

Originally posted by Notoshy:

Not sure whats the Distance in this example, but i had to aim a bit above his Head to compensate for the Drop-Curve.

I'm surprised you didn't have to aim even higher at that range, but I guess that's the reason I miss.

[Bjørn]

Originally posted by Similar:

Originally posted by Notoshy:

When you aim, you can see a slight change of Color in the Healthbar of the Target. Thats an indicator, how much damage you will generate.

oh, never noticed that, but that must also indicate that you will hit, I'd think. But it probably only shows at short ranges.

I believe you need a perk for this. I don't remember which one now, but it's on very low tier in one of the skill trees Gives you an estimated damage indicator with knives and also silenced guns, if I remember correctly.

[Notoshy]

Originally posted by Similar:

Originally posted by Notoshy:

When you aim, you can see a slight change of Color in the Healthbar of the Target. Thats an indicator, how much damage you will generate.

oh, never noticed that, but that must also indicate that you will hit, I'd think. But it probably only shows at short ranges.

Originally posted by Notoshy:

Not sure whats the Distance in this example, but i had to aim a bit above his Head to compensate for the Drop-Curve.

I'm surprised you didn't have to aim even higher at that range, but I guess that's the reason I miss.

I would recommend to pick a knife you like and go on a Training Arc^^
Maybe not a large Group of targets, but there are many 3-man groups everywhere in the City. Throwing knives are a good Weapon for sneak kills, so they will make the most damage if the Target didnt notice you and receives a surprise Knife to the Head.
There is a modifikator for increased range, that also affects the drop-curve positively.... but that seems to be rather rare.

Distances like this example are not common, atleast for me. Im usually not that far away^^

[Similar]

Originally posted by Bjørn:

I always hit when using them to silence noisy loudspeakers, though! :lunar2019grinningpig:

oh, wow. I had no idea that worked. I've tried shooting and grenading them, but they always turn back on after a short while, if they turned off at all. The knife seems like an actual solution.
I've wanted some way to silence them for a very long time....

Originally posted by Bjørn:

Originally posted by Similar:

oh, never noticed that, but that must also indicate that you will hit, I'd think. But it probably only shows at short ranges.

I believe you need a perk for this. I don't remember which one now, but it's on very low tier in one of the skill trees :rufussmile: Gives you an estimated damage indicator with knives and also silenced guns, if I remember correctly.

yeah, Killer Instinct in Cool. I have that. Just never noticed it did something. Or maybe I didn't understand what I was looking at.

[Chaosolous]

I strongly recommend you just go to a wall somewhere out in Pacifica and just practice throwing your knife at it from different distances until you get a feel for the drop.

[Bjørn]

Originally posted by Similar:

Originally posted by Bjørn:

I always hit when using them to silence noisy loudspeakers, though!

oh, wow. I had no idea that worked. I've tried shooting and grenading them, but they always turn back on after a short while, if they turned off at all. The knife seems like an actual solution.
I've wanted some way to silence them for a very long time....

Originally posted by Bjørn:

I believe you need a perk for this. I don't remember which one now, but it's on very low tier in one of the skill trees Gives you an estimated damage indicator with knives and also silenced guns, if I remember correctly.

yeah, Killer Instinct in Cool. I have that. Just never noticed it did something. Or maybe I didn't understand what I was looking at.

Ah, thanks for pointing out the perk This one:

https://cyberpunk.fandom.com/wiki/Killer_Instinct

Killer Instinct can be unlocked at 4 Cool.

Unlocking this perk increases damage dealt with knives, axes and silenced guns while not in combat by 25%. In addition, it also gives you an estimate on how much damage you will do.

About the speakers, I'm afraid I have to disappoint you Those speakers are the same, the ones that turn back on. The ones that can be silenced 'forever' can be silenced with any weapon. Same goes for tv-screens, I've noticed. Some can't be affected by damage, some temporarily disabled, and some permanentaly.

[Similar]

Originally posted by Notoshy:

I would recommend to pick a knife you like and go on a Training Arc^^

I've been using a tier 5 Blue Fang for a bit. It seems nice enough, except it can't take mods, of course.

Originally posted by Notoshy:

Maybe not a large Group of targets, but there are many 3-man groups everywhere in the City.

Good idea.

Originally posted by Notoshy:

There is a modifikator for increased range, that also affects the drop-curve positively.... but that seems to be rather rare.

oh, right. Zero-G. "+10-50% effective range. Gravity has no effect on trajectory."
That sounds kind of interesting. According to the wiki, it can just be bought from two melee weapon vendors (and not even Phantom Liberty ones).
hmm. Maybe I should look for a good knife that can take mods.

[Similar]

Originally posted by Bjørn:

About the speakers, I'm afraid I have to disappoint you Those speakers are the same, the ones that turn back on. The ones that can be silenced 'forever' can be silenced with any weapon. Same goes for tv-screens, I've noticed. Some can't be affected by damage, some temporarily disabled, and some permanentaly.

ah, shame. I just did the NCPD thing where some Scavs had lured people to a rave and then slaughtered them. And also another NCPD one with a couple of speakers. The knife worked on all the speakers there, so I thought it was a general thing.

There really should be a way to permanently silence them, and the ad pylons and tvs and everything. It's a very loud game sometimes (which is intentional, of course).