Obtained from
The Flying Knife being controlled. Note how it whizzes around the cursor instead of following it perfectly.
The Flying Knife is a unique Hardmode melee weapon that has a 1/4 (25%) chance to be dropped by the Hallowed Mimic. It throws a reusable cursor-controllable projectile similar to the Magic Missile mechanic, though more erratic and with no mana cost. Like boomerangs, the projectile returns to the player.
Holding the ⚒ Use / Attack button after use directs the projectile's general path, although it also continuously moves on its own and ricochets off blocks. As such, it may require a little practice to be used properly. It returns to the player when the ⚒ Use / Attack button is released, or after one minute of continuous use. Being a melee weapon, it costs no mana or ammunition. The Flying Knife also emits a good deal of light during use, but it may be difficult to use considering its erratic movement. Like most piercing weapons, it is very effective against enemies with multiple segments.
Its best modifier is Godly or Demonic. Both modifiers increase the average damage output by the same amount. However, the bonus knockback granted by the Godly modifier is not always beneficial and makes it tricky to damage the same targets. For example, the knife will not necessarily be knocking enemies away from the player. Alternatively, modifiers that reduce knockback (the best being Ruthless) can be beneficial, reducing the distance enemies are knocked away from the cursor.
Notes
- The Flying Knife has a tendency to fly through walls at times, usually when in small spaces.
- The long returning arc can be ignored if the player leave the cursor between the knife and a wall. The knife will try to follow the cursor and keep bouncing off the wall, granting a much higher DPS than it would in open space. This is extremely useful against The Destroyer.
- The Flying Knife can be useful for damaging both of The Twins at once; though this can cause them to go into their second phases both at the same time, which can be inconvenient.
- If the player is Stoned by Medusa and already has the Flying Knife thrown-out, it can still be controlled to kill the Medusa or other enemies that approach.
- It is possible to swap loadouts while continuing to control the Flying Knife.
Tips
- Due to the infinite flight nature of this throwing weapon, it can be used indefinitely even while sleeping in a Bed. This can be exploited to great effect in early Hardmode when defending against nocturnal enemies such as Werewolves that can open doors while still progressing time at 5 times its usual speed.
History
- Desktop 1.4.3: Fixed an issue with Flying Knife not having proper screen range limits. Can no longer be used simultaneously with the Ice Bow.
Pre-Hardmode
- Wooden Sword
- Cactus Sword
- Zombie Arm
- Gladius(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Breathing Reed ((Desktop, Console and Mobile versions))
- Ruler ((Desktop, Console and Mobile versions))
- Umbrella ((Desktop, Console and Mobile versions))
- Tragic Umbrella(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Tentacle Spike(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Mandible Blade(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Bladed Glove
- Stylish Scissors(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Candy Cane Sword(Desktop, Console, Old-gen console and Mobile versions)
- Bat Bat(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Bone Sword
- Flymeal(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Katana(Desktop, Console, Old-gen console and Mobile versions)
- Ice Blade
- Muramasa
- Exotic Scimitar(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Phaseblade
- Starfury
- Purple Clubberfish
- Enchanted Sword
- Bee Keeper
- Blade of Grass
- Falcon Blade
- Night's Edge
- Pearlwood Sword
- Classy Cane(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Waffle's Iron(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Ham Bat(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Slap Hand(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Breaker Blade
- Phasesaber
- Ice Sickle
- Cutlass
- Frostbrand
- Excalibur
- Seedler(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Beam Sword
- Bladetongue(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Brand of the Inferno(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Death Sickle
- Fetid Baghnakhs(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Keybrand
- Psycho Knife(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Flying Dragon(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- The Horseman's Blade
- Christmas Tree Sword
- True Excalibur
- True Night's Edge
- Terra Blade
- Influx Waver(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Starlight(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Star Wrath(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Meowmere(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Tizona(Old-gen console and 3DS versions)
Yoyos(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions) Other
- Terragrim(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Arkhalis(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Shadowflame Knife(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Jousting Lance(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
(
- Hallowed(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Shadow(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
)
- Sleepy Octopod(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Scourge of the Corruptor
- Vampire Knives
- Sky Dragon's Fury(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Daybreak(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Solar Eruption(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Zenith(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
Bows- Wooden
- Copper
- Tin
- Iron
- Lead
- Silver
- Tungsten
- Gold
- Platinum
- Blood Rain(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Demon
- Tendon
- Hellwing(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- The Bee's Knees(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Molten Fury
- Marrow
- Phantom Phoenix(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Daedalus Stormbow(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Ice
- Shadowflame(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Aerial Bane(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Tsunami
- Pulse(Desktop, Console, Old-gen console and Mobile versions)
- Eventide(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Phantasm(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Sharanga(Old-gen console and 3DS versions)
Consumable
- Paper Airplanes(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Snowball
- Rotten Egg
- Shuriken
- Throwing Knife
- Star Anise(Desktop, Console, Old-gen console and Mobile versions)
- Spiky Ball
- Frost Daggerfish(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Javelin(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
(
- Bone(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
)
- Holy Water
- Bone
- Molotov Cocktail(Desktop, Console, Old-gen console and Mobile versions)
- Beenade
- Grenade
(
- Sticky(Desktop, Console, Old-gen console and Mobile versions)
- Bouncy(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Happy(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
)
Direct
Other- Wand of Sparking(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Wand of Frosting(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Gray Zapinator(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Aqua Scepter
- Thunder Zapper(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Space Gun
- Ice Rod
- Golden Shower
- Demon Scythe
- Laser Rifle
- Magic Dagger
- Orange Zapinator(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Sky Fracture(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Shadowflame Hex Doll(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Crystal Serpent(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Leaf Blower
- Frost Staff
- Poison Staff
- Razorpine
- Heat Ray
- Venom Staff(Desktop, Console, Old-gen console and Mobile versions)
- Unholy Trident
- Bubble Gun
- Laser Machinegun(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Charged Blaster Cannon(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Last Prism(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Betsy's Wrath(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Zapinator(3DS version)
Minions
- Finch Staff(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Slime Staff
- Flinx Staff(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Abigail's Flower(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Vampire Frog Staff(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Hornet Staff(Desktop, Console, Old-gen console and Mobile versions)
- Imp Staff(Desktop, Console, Old-gen console and Mobile versions)
- Blade Staff(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Spider Staff(Desktop, Console, Old-gen console and Mobile versions)
- Sanguine Staff(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Optic Staff(Desktop, Console, Old-gen console and Mobile versions)
- Pirate Staff(Desktop, Console, Old-gen console and Mobile versions)
- Pygmy Staff
- Desert Tiger Staff(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Raven Staff
- Deadly Sphere Staff(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Tempest Staff
- Terraprisma(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Xeno Staff(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Stardust Cell Staff(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Stardust Dragon Staff(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
Whips(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)