New Knife?

[JackTrysGames]

So, I noticed the new crafting recipe for the Cougar Claw Knife... and it advertises itself as a strong Struggle weapon. Is there any proof of this yet? Can anyone confirm that it's better than current choices for Struggles? Might even be a better Hunting Knife for Struggles.

[K3V038]

6 hours ago, JackTrysGames said:

So, I noticed the new crafting recipe for the Cougar Claw Knife... and it advertises itself as a strong Struggle weapon. Is there any proof of this yet? Can anyone confirm that it's better than current choices for Struggles? Might even be a better Hunting Knife for Struggles.

Its the best weapon for struggles according to zaknafein, I dont know if you can use it as a tool though. Can you make ice fishing holes or destroy courtains? I guess time will tell

[Monke]

The cougar is pretty unfair, it just spawns on you

[Val123]

I heard the new knife reduces crafting time by 20% when used which would make it quite a nice addition if true

[Veskaida]

On 6/24/2024 at 7:12 PM, JackTrysGames said:

Can anyone confirm that it's better than current choices for Struggles? Might even be a better Hunting Knife for Struggles.

Yes, Cougar Claw Knife seems considerably stronger than all other tools for Struggles, at least on Stalker. Unfortunately I wasn't able to get a cougar kill on 'Loper before the patch landed, but will test it soon as the Cougar is re-implemented. IMO CCK might be 'so' strong that perhaps a nerf is in order; I get it's challenging to acquire a claw and 'then' you have to go and forge it, but tools don't take much condition loss when used in a struggle, so once you have it you're gonna keep it for a rather long time.

With 43% Protection was able to beat 6 black wolves in a single day and win all struggles while still at 38% Condition. I haven't looked under the hood yet at the Cougar Knife, but if it behaves similarly to Hunting Knife/Improvised Knife then it's results are highly dependent on your current Fatigue and experience mode.

• Knives are best at high fatigue (especially if you can click fast) and on Stalker and below
• Revolver/Variants are basically Knife behavior but stronger, especially at high skill and if loaded
• Hatchets are usually better on 'Loper especially below 50% fatigue and if you're playing with the "accessibility toggle" (or are bad at clicking fast)
• Heavy Hammer is worse than Knife/Hatchet but more consistent: so you'll lose more Condition on average per-struggle, but HH will protect you more often from that "I got killed at 100% Condition by a wolf!" moments
• Prybar is bad, wouldn't recommend: you'll die/cry
• Desperation is suicide. You'll die/die

It''ll be interesting to see if CCK is superior to Improvised Hatchet even at low Fatigue on 'Loper, or if Heavy Hammer still has some merits to stop getting murdered. Will need to test further.

 

Also, I forgot to mention it: but it's worth testing to see if CCK can be repaired via the Milling Machine in Bleak Inlet/Blackrock. I suspect not, but will have to see later.

Edited June 29, 2024 by Veskaida