Call of Duty: Black Ops

Black Ops 1 Ballistic Knife

Special WeaponsUnlocked at Level 151,500 CoD PointsNo camo
Special WeaponsBallistic Knife — Call of Duty: Black Ops weapon render

How do you unlock the Ballistic Knife?

The Ballistic Knife unlocks at Level 15 in Call of Duty: Black Ops. It carries one blade loaded and one spare, fires a retrievable one-hit projectile on contact and also speeds up the equipped melee attack, but every miss creates a reload window. Buying it costs 1,500 CoD Points after the unlock condition is met. It does not take camo.

UnlockLevel 15
Purchase1,500 CoD Points
Takes camoNo

Reviewed July 27, 2026. Sources include Activision's original Black Ops overview, the official Xbox 360 manual, official PlayStation release and Treyarch-authored Prestige documentation, contemporaneous multiplayer tables, and a specialist identification reference for the in-game firearm models. Play advice is editorial. Scope: original 2010 multiplayer progression, not Campaign, Zombies, Black Ops Cold War, later games or mods; the 2026 PlayStation port is only described where official platform information is available.

Sources: Activision — Black Ops · Official Xbox 360 manual · PlayStation Store release listing · PlayStation.Blog — Treyarch Prestige reset facts · Contemporaneous multiplayer weapon table · GameFAQs — purchasable-item Prestige reset · IMFDB — in-game firearm identifications

How does the Ballistic Knife play in Black Ops 1?

RoleRetrievable single-blade skill secondary
Real-world basisBallistic-knife concept represented as a spring-launched blade
StrengthsProjectile eliminates on direct contact regardless of body location; Fired blades can be recovered and the equipped melee animation is faster
TradeoffsSlow projectile arc requires lead and distance judgment; One loaded blade means every miss forces a reload
Attachments and setupNone. The Ballistic Knife has no multiplayer attachments; Its performance comes from route choice, projectile practice and blade recovery
Challenge noteBO1 weapon challenges are separate from camouflage. Camos are bought per eligible primary with earned CoD Points rather than unlocked through a weapon challenge.
Use tipAim where a moving target will be, not where it was when you pressed fire. Recover a missed blade only after the area is clear; the melee attack still works without projectile ammunition.
Compared withIt resolves immediately on a direct hit and can be recovered; the Crossbow carries explosive bolts that detonate after sticking or landing.

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Ballistic Knife — common questions

What level does the Ballistic Knife unlock at in Black Ops 1?

The Ballistic Knife unlocks at Level 15 in Call of Duty: Black Ops multiplayer. It then costs 1,500 CoD Points. The level cap is 50, and prestige is up to 15.

Does the Ballistic Knife take camos?

No — the Ballistic Knife cannot equip weapon camouflage in Call of Duty: Black Ops. It uses its own weapon challenges instead.

Can you unlock the Ballistic Knife for me?

Yes — our Black Ops 1 Unlock All service covers any prestige 1-15, max level 50, max CoD Points and every weapon unlocked (Xbox 360), from $19.99. See the service.

More Special Weapons

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Our Black Ops 1 Unlock All service includes any prestige 1-15, max level 50, max CoD Points and every weapon unlocked (Xbox 360), from $19.99.

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