Scannaturi can be thrown, Rasolu enable one-hit kills in active combat, and Stiletto last longest. In Mafia: The Old Country, choosing a knife is only the start: its remaining durability determines whether you can use special actions.

Which knife should you equip?

  • Scannaturi: choose this class for ranged knife kills. It has lower durability.
  • Rasolu: choose this class for its one-hit attack during open combat.
  • Stiletto: choose this class when durability is your priority.

You carry one knife at a time. Buy knives from Pasquale or Valerio, then equip one at their shop or a weapon box. Check individual perks too: some blades heal Enzo after a takedown.

Restore durability with whetstones

Lockpicking, quick stealth kills, Scannaturi throwing kills and Rasolu one-hit kills consume durability. Use whetstones found in the world to restore it. A depleted blade still works for basic melee, but that attack is slower and less discreet than a silent takedown.

How to get through a guarded area

Most encounters allow either stealth or gunfire, but some story sections require you to stay undetected.

Enzo crouches behind a guard at a theater doorway, with Avoid detection and two takedown prompts visible.
The theater sequence explicitly says “Avoid detection.” The prompts appear when Enzo approaches the guard from behind. Frame: Hangar 13 / 2K, The Family Code: Mafioso Gameplay (1:22.5).
  1. Scout with Instinct. It reveals nearby enemies through objects. Look for another entrance or exit before committing to a crowded route.
  2. Distract a guard. Throw a coin or bottle, then use the opening to pass or approach while they investigate.
  3. Hide the body after a kill. Use an available hiding place so another patrol does not discover it.
  4. Recover a thrown Scannaturi. A ranged stealth kill leaves you needing to collect the knife again; plan how to reach it.

How to react during a knife duel

Enzo faces a Spadaro henchman in a knife duel, with separate Slash, Thrust, Strike, Dodge and Parry prompts.
The duel interface separates attacks, Dodge and Parry. Watch the opponent while keeping those controls in mind. Frame: Hangar 13 / 2K, The Family Code: Combat Gameplay (0:55).
  • Dodge a red glint. It signals an attack you cannot parry.
  • Listen as well as watch. Audio cues help signal the opponent’s next move; follow the tutorial and feedback during the fight.
  • Vary your actions. Dodge and parry have different timing windows. Repeatedly pressing the same button is less useful than reacting to the attack.

The PlayStation prompts shown above are Circle for Slash, Triangle for Thrust, R1 for Strike, Cross for Dodge and Square for Parry. Use the prompts displayed in your own game if your controller or control layout differs.

Make rapid-button struggles easier

Enable Simplified Struggle in the accessibility settings to automatically complete rapid-button-press inputs.

Enzo locks knives with an opponent while a circular Square-button struggle prompt appears beside them.
A close-range struggle uses a circular button prompt. This is a different display from the duel’s five-action control list. Frame: Hangar 13 / 2K, The Family Code: Combat Gameplay (0:42.5).

Check which situation you are in before pressing: the struggle image shows one input inside a ring, while the duel image lists five separate actions. Matching the on-screen instruction avoids confusing a struggle prompt with the regular attack controls.

More Mafia: The Old Country help

Browse the Mafia: The Old Country guide hub for related help. For the expansion’s story chapters, activities and extra equipment, see our Man of Honor guide. The game page collects the wider coverage.