Valley Prison how to use shiv: Crafting, Stats, and Combat Guide

In Valley Prison on Roblox, use the shiv as a fast melee weapon to defeat targets in 5 hits. Craft it with 3 Metals or find it in trash cans.

In the Roblox experience Valley Prison (developed by Valley Prison), the shiv functions as a close-quarters melee weapon designed to stab and kill opponents in approximately 5 hits. Inmates can craft it out of scrap materials or scavenge it from garbage bins, while Escapees can equip it in their tertiary equipment slot. Because prison guards carry firearms, using a shiv effectively requires close-range ambushes, teamwork, and deliberate headshots.

Shiv Combat Mechanics and Damage

The shiv is defined by its rapid attack speed and moderate damage output. While individual strikes do moderate damage, the fast stabbing animation allows you to chain hits rapidly in close quarters.

Hits to Kill: In the current version of the game, it takes approximately 5 body hits to eliminate another player. In older, pre-revamp editions of Valley Prison, it required roughly 10 hits.
Headshot Multiplier: Targeting and striking opponents on the head deals higher damage than body shots, reducing the number of hits needed to secure a kill. However, tracking an opponent's head at point-blank range while moving can be difficult.
Utility Uses: According to community documentation from pre-revamp versions, shivs were also utilized to break ventilation covers, particularly around the Medical Bay and the Maximum Security Block.

Shiv Stats and Sourcing Overview

Feature	In-Game Detail
Weapon Type	Melee / Tertiary (Escapees)
Crafting Cost	3 Metals
Trash Can Drop Rate	15% chance
Hits to Kill	Approximately 5 hits
Primary User Teams	Inmates, Escapees
Attack Rate	Fast stabbing speed

How to Get a Shiv: Crafting and Finding

You do not always have to craft a shiv to get one into your inventory. Players have two established ways to acquire the weapon inside the facility:

Scavenge Prison Trash Cans: You can search trash cans scattered throughout the prison compound. Each trash can search offers an estimated 15% chance of finding a shiv directly.
Crafting with Metal: Inmates can craft a shiv by collecting 3 units of Metal.

How to Find and Collect Metal

Metal is a common crafting component that respawns every 2 minutes across several distinct zones:

Minimum and Medium Security Areas: Common in the Cell Blocks, Cafeteria, and Gym. Check inside individual cells and along bookshelves.
Corrections Building: Commonly found inside the Workshop and Classroom areas.
Basement Level: Found inside the Maximum Security Cell Block and the Power Generator Room.

To pick up a piece of Metal, walk up to it and hold the interact key (E on desktop keyboards) or hold down on your mobile device's screen for about 3 seconds. Once you have collected 3 Metals, open your crafting menu to assemble the shiv.

Combat Strategies for Inmates

Using a melee weapon inside a facility patrolled by armed guards presents serious tactical challenges. Officers from the Department of Corrections (DoC) and specialized units like the Correctional Emergency Response Team carry firearms, giving them an overwhelming advantage at range.

Ambush Isolated Targets

Never run directly at an officer across open yards or long corridors. An officer with a firearm will eliminate you before you can close the distance. Instead, wait around blind corners, doorways, or quiet, low-traffic rooms like utility areas or cell blocks. Strike when the officer turns their back or walks through a narrow chokepoint.

Attack in Numbers

Because solo melee attacks against armed guards carry a high risk of failure, coordinate with fellow inmates. Surrounding an officer with multiple shivs allows your group to overwhelm them with rapid stabs before they can aim and fire their weapon.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many hits does it take to kill someone with a shiv in Valley Prison?

In the current version of the game, the shiv eliminates an opponent in approximately 5 hits. Aiming for the head deals increased damage and can lower the hit requirement.