Switchblade
| Switchblade | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Class | Short Blade |
| Skill | Short Blade |
| Damage | 0.3-0.6 |
| Range | 0.61-0.9 |
| Crit | 20% x3 |
| Condition | 10 |
| Weight | 0.3 |
| Hands | One-handed |
| Location | Containers |
| Spawn ID | /additem Base.SwitchKnife
|
The Switchblade is a small folding knife with a spring-loaded blade, used as a one-handed short blade weapon. It trains the Short Blade skill. It is very light and very quick to draw.
As a weapon it is modest, with low damage and a short reach. It is mainly a pocket tool that counts as a sharp knife for crafting. The Switchblade is a common find on the bodies of bandits, raiders and bikers, and in survivor caches and safehouses. The best occupations for short blades are the Burger Flipper, the Chef and the Doctor. Each starts with the same Short Blade skill.
Combat
The Switchblade swings fast and hits one zombie at a time. Each hit deals between 0.3 and 0.6 damage, so a standing zombie takes many stabs. The crit chance starts at 20 percent, and a crit triples the damage. Like most short blades, it can perform a jaw stab that kills a zombie outright.
The knife is one-handed and comes out fast, which makes it a handy backup when the main weapon breaks. It weighs almost nothing, so carrying it costs no real load. It suits a quick finish on a lone zombie, not a fight against a group.
The Short Blade skill raises attack speed, damage and crit chance as it levels. Against the Kitchen Knife, it hits slightly softer and crits a little less often, but it is far lighter. The Hunting Knife is the better fighting knife by every combat measure.
Uses
The Switchblade counts as a sharp knife in crafting. It cuts leather into strips, crafts twine and twists dogbane into rope. It carves wood into stakes, long sticks, handles and spoons, and it carves bone into tools and beads. It opens cans, butchers animals and cuts plants. It also works as a tool when assembling axes, hammers and maces from their heads and handles.
Used in Crafting
Any recipe that asks for a sharp knife accepts it as the tool, such as Cut Up Large Leather, Cut Up Medium Leather and Cut Up Small Leather.
Repair
The Switchblade has 10 condition and loses a point on about 1 hit in 2. The Short Blade and Maintenance skills both lower that chance. The blade can be sharpened to keep its edge.
Locations
The Switchblade is a common find on certain zombies. Zombies dressed as raiders and bandits carry one about one time in five. Bikers, punks and private militia carry one less often. Survivor caches hold one in their survivor crates, and survivor safehouses keep them in boxes, crates, counters and metal shelves. Drug lab wardrobes hold one now and then.
The places where it spawns, with the rough chance per container. Each tab shows one kind of place.
| Location | Container | Chance |
|---|---|---|
| Any building | Zombie wearing a raider outfit | 23.9% |
| Any building | Zombie wearing a bandit outfit | 22.1% |
| Any building | Zombie wearing a bandit early outfit | 22.1% |
| Any building | Zombie wearing a bandit late outfit | 22.1% |
| Any building | Zombie wearing a bandit mid outfit | 22.1% |
| Any building | Zombie wearing a biker outfit | 18.1% |
| Any building | Zombie wearing a punk outfit | 12.9% |
| Any building | Zombie wearing a private militia outfit | 10.4% |
| Inside a bag or case | Cigar box kids | <0.1% |
| Location | Container | Chance |
|---|---|---|
| Fishing storage | Display case | 18.1% |
| Army surplus | Display case | 14.4% |
| Drug lab | Wardrobe | 7.4% |
| Drug lab | Metal shelves | 2.8% |
| Drug shack | Counter | 2.3% |
| Drug shack | Other | 2.3% |
| Drug lab | Counter | 1.6% |
| Drug lab | Other | 1.6% |
| Drug lab | Overhead cupboard | 1.6% |
| Evidence room | Other | 0.7% |
| Location | Container | Chance |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor supply store | Display case | 18.1% |
| Gun store | Display case | 10.8% |
| Pawn shop | Display case | 4.3% |
| Pawn shop office | Locker | 1.3% |
| Any building | Small box | <0.1% |
| Location | Container | Chance |
|---|---|---|
| Survivor cache | Survivor crate | 17.9% |
| Survivor safehouse (mid game) | Cardboard box | 9% |
| Survivor safehouse (mid game) | Counter | 9% |
| Survivor safehouse (mid game) | Crate | 9% |
| Survivor safehouse (mid game) | Metal shelves | 9% |
| Survivor safehouse (mid game) | Small box | 9% |
| Survivor cache | Survivor crate | 8.9% |
| Survivor cache (large building) | Survivor crate | 8.9% |
| Survivor safehouse (late game) | Cardboard box | 6.8% |
| Survivor safehouse (late game) | Counter | 6.8% |
| Location | Container | Chance |
|---|---|---|
| Closet | Other | 1.8% |
| Garage storage | Other | 1.8% |
| Bedroom | Dresser | 1.1% |
| Attic | Cardboard box | 0.9% |
| Attic | Crate | 0.9% |
| Attic | Other | 0.9% |
| Hall | Other | 0.9% |
| Living room | Other | 0.9% |
| Any building | Shelter | 0.4% |
| Secondary school hall | Locker | 0.2% |
Notes
- The Switchblade draws faster than most weapons, so it works well as an emergency sidearm.
- Its tiny weight makes it a good spare crafting knife on long trips.
- Researching the knife can teach the recipes for forging a small knife and a crude blade.
Template:ProjectZomboidWeaponTiles
All Short Blades