diff --git a/.avalanche-golangci.yml b/.avalanche-golangci.yml
index cd86981f8b..b63d82f955 100644
--- a/.avalanche-golangci.yml
+++ b/.avalanche-golangci.yml
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ linters:
     - errorlint
     # - forbidigo
     - goconst
-    # - gocritic
+    - gocritic
     - goprintffuncname
     # - gosec
     - govet
diff --git a/core/blockchain_ext_test.go b/core/blockchain_ext_test.go
index 9700614bd4..6d0d52b2e1 100644
--- a/core/blockchain_ext_test.go
+++ b/core/blockchain_ext_test.go
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ package core
 import (
 	"fmt"
 	"math/big"
+	"slices"
 	"testing"
 
 	"github.com/ava-labs/libevm/common"
@@ -1853,7 +1854,7 @@ func ReexecBlocks(t *testing.T, create ReexecTestFunc) {
 
 	newChain, restartedChain := checkBlockChainState(t, blockchain, gspec, chainDB, checkCreate, checkState)
 
-	allTxs := append(foundTxs, missingTxs...)
+	allTxs := slices.Concat(foundTxs, missingTxs)
 	for _, bc := range []*BlockChain{newChain, restartedChain} {
 		// We should confirm that snapshots were properly initialized
 		if bc.snaps == nil && bc.cacheConfig.SnapshotLimit > 0 {
@@ -1985,7 +1986,7 @@ func ReexecMaxBlocks(t *testing.T, create ReexecTestFunc) {
 	}
 	newChain, restartedChain := checkBlockChainState(t, blockchain, gspec, chainDB, checkCreate, checkState)
 
-	allTxs := append(foundTxs, missingTxs...)
+	allTxs := slices.Concat(foundTxs, missingTxs)
 	for _, bc := range []*BlockChain{newChain, restartedChain} {
 		// We should confirm that snapshots were properly initialized
 		if bc.snaps == nil && bc.cacheConfig.SnapshotLimit > 0 {
diff --git a/core/extstate/database_test.go b/core/extstate/database_test.go
index 07469aff6f..1056c0c9fb 100644
--- a/core/extstate/database_test.go
+++ b/core/extstate/database_test.go
@@ -209,7 +209,7 @@ func (fs *fuzzState) updateAccount(addrIndex int) {
 		fs.require.NoError(err, "failed to get account %s for update in %s", addr.Hex(), tr.name)
 		fs.require.NotNil(acc, "account %s is nil for update in %s", addr.Hex(), tr.name)
 		acc.Nonce++
-		acc.CodeHash = crypto.Keccak256Hash(acc.CodeHash[:]).Bytes()
+		acc.CodeHash = crypto.Keccak256Hash(acc.CodeHash).Bytes()
 		acc.Balance.Add(acc.Balance, uint256.NewInt(3))
 		fs.require.NoError(tr.accountTrie.UpdateAccount(addr, acc), "failed to update account %s in %s", addr.Hex(), tr.name)
 	}
@@ -286,7 +286,7 @@ func (fs *fuzzState) updateStorage(accountIndex int, storageIndexInput uint64) {
 	storageKeyHash := crypto.Keccak256Hash(storageKey[:])
 	fs.inputCounter++
 	updatedValInput := binary.BigEndian.AppendUint64(storageKeyHash[:], fs.inputCounter)
-	updatedVal := crypto.Keccak256Hash(updatedValInput[:])
+	updatedVal := crypto.Keccak256Hash(updatedValInput)
 
 	for _, tr := range fs.merkleTries {
 		str := fs.openStorageTrie(addr, tr)
@@ -324,7 +324,7 @@ func FuzzTree(f *testing.F) {
 		}
 
 		for _, step := range byteSteps {
-			step = step % maxStep
+			step %= maxStep
 			t.Log(stepMap[step])
 			switch step {
 			case commit:
diff --git a/internal/ethapi/api_extra.go b/internal/ethapi/api_extra.go
index ef952b4135..924e1a412d 100644
--- a/internal/ethapi/api_extra.go
+++ b/internal/ethapi/api_extra.go
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ func (s *BlockChainAPI) FeeConfig(ctx context.Context, blockNrOrHash *rpc.BlockN
 }
 
 // GetActivePrecompilesAt returns the active precompile configs at the given block timestamp.
-// DEPRECATED: Use GetActiveRulesAt instead.
+// Deprecated: Use GetActiveRulesAt instead.
 func (s *BlockChainAPI) GetActivePrecompilesAt(_ context.Context, blockTimestamp *uint64) extras.Precompiles {
 	var timestamp uint64
 	if blockTimestamp == nil {
diff --git a/params/hooks_libevm.go b/params/hooks_libevm.go
index a748f03376..c78fd7d53e 100644
--- a/params/hooks_libevm.go
+++ b/params/hooks_libevm.go
@@ -78,8 +78,7 @@ func (r RulesExtra) ActivePrecompiles(existing []common.Address) []common.Addres
 }
 
 func (r RulesExtra) currentPrecompiles() map[common.Address]vm.PrecompiledContract {
-	switch {
-	case r.IsGranite:
+	if r.IsGranite {
 		return PrecompiledContractsGranite
 	}
 	return nil
diff --git a/plugin/evm/customheader/extra.go b/plugin/evm/customheader/extra.go
index 843fb0954e..a8572464d1 100644
--- a/plugin/evm/customheader/extra.go
+++ b/plugin/evm/customheader/extra.go
@@ -50,20 +50,21 @@ func VerifyExtraPrefix(
 	parent *types.Header,
 	header *types.Header,
 ) error {
-	switch {
-	case config.IsSubnetEVM(header.Time):
-		feeWindow, err := feeWindow(config, parent, header.Time)
-		if err != nil {
-			return fmt.Errorf("calculating expected fee window: %w", err)
-		}
-		feeWindowBytes := feeWindow.Bytes()
-		if !bytes.HasPrefix(header.Extra, feeWindowBytes) {
-			return fmt.Errorf("%w: expected %x as prefix, found %x",
-				errInvalidExtraPrefix,
-				feeWindowBytes,
-				header.Extra,
-			)
-		}
+	if !config.IsSubnetEVM(header.Time) {
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	feeWindow, err := feeWindow(config, parent, header.Time)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("calculating expected fee window: %w", err)
+	}
+	feeWindowBytes := feeWindow.Bytes()
+	if !bytes.HasPrefix(header.Extra, feeWindowBytes) {
+		return fmt.Errorf("%w: expected %x as prefix, found %x",
+			errInvalidExtraPrefix,
+			feeWindowBytes,
+			header.Extra,
+		)
 	}
 	return nil
 }
diff --git a/plugin/evm/customrawdb/accessors_state_sync_test.go b/plugin/evm/customrawdb/accessors_state_sync_test.go
index c9b6f66223..76d38db1c7 100644
--- a/plugin/evm/customrawdb/accessors_state_sync_test.go
+++ b/plugin/evm/customrawdb/accessors_state_sync_test.go
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 package customrawdb
 
 import (
+	"slices"
 	"testing"
 
 	"github.com/ava-labs/libevm/common"
@@ -19,7 +20,7 @@ func TestClearPrefix(t *testing.T) {
 	require.NoError(WriteSyncSegment(db, common.Hash{1}, common.Hash{}))
 
 	// add a key that should not be cleared
-	key := append(syncSegmentsPrefix, []byte("foo")...)
+	key := slices.Concat(syncSegmentsPrefix, []byte("foo"))
 	require.NoError(db.Put(key, []byte("bar")))
 
 	require.NoError(ClearAllSyncSegments(db))
diff --git a/plugin/evm/validators/state/state_test.go b/plugin/evm/validators/state/state_test.go
index 1034573575..d66faa20e2 100644
--- a/plugin/evm/validators/state/state_test.go
+++ b/plugin/evm/validators/state/state_test.go
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ func TestState(t *testing.T) {
 	require.ErrorIs(err, ErrImmutableField)
 
 	// set a different start time should fail
-	vdr.StartTimestamp = vdr.StartTimestamp + 100
+	vdr.StartTimestamp += 100
 	err = state.UpdateValidator(vdr)
 	require.ErrorIs(err, ErrImmutableField)
 
diff --git a/plugin/evm/vm.go b/plugin/evm/vm.go
index 8267557d38..b1cc629ce8 100644
--- a/plugin/evm/vm.go
+++ b/plugin/evm/vm.go
@@ -1222,7 +1222,7 @@ func (vm *VM) startContinuousProfiler() {
 		return
 	}
 	vm.profiler = profiler.NewContinuous(
-		filepath.Join(vm.config.ContinuousProfilerDir),
+		filepath.Clean(vm.config.ContinuousProfilerDir),
 		vm.config.ContinuousProfilerFrequency.Duration,
 		vm.config.ContinuousProfilerMaxFiles,
 	)
diff --git a/plugin/evm/vm_warp_test.go b/plugin/evm/vm_warp_test.go
index 042e360138..fe06ab5860 100644
--- a/plugin/evm/vm_warp_test.go
+++ b/plugin/evm/vm_warp_test.go
@@ -168,7 +168,7 @@ func testSendWarpMessage(t *testing.T, scheme string) {
 	// Verify the message signature after accepting the block.
 	rawSignatureBytes, err := tvm.vm.warpBackend.GetMessageSignature(context.TODO(), unsignedMessage)
 	require.NoError(err)
-	blsSignature, err := bls.SignatureFromBytes(rawSignatureBytes[:])
+	blsSignature, err := bls.SignatureFromBytes(rawSignatureBytes)
 	require.NoError(err)
 
 	select {
@@ -185,7 +185,7 @@ func testSendWarpMessage(t *testing.T, scheme string) {
 	// Verify the blockID will now be signed by the backend and produces a valid signature.
 	rawSignatureBytes, err = tvm.vm.warpBackend.GetBlockSignature(context.TODO(), blk.ID())
 	require.NoError(err)
-	blsSignature, err = bls.SignatureFromBytes(rawSignatureBytes[:])
+	blsSignature, err = bls.SignatureFromBytes(rawSignatureBytes)
 	require.NoError(err)
 
 	blockHashPayload, err := payload.NewHash(blk.ID())
diff --git a/precompile/contracts/rewardmanager/module.go b/precompile/contracts/rewardmanager/module.go
index 805558edda..88f5ee81af 100644
--- a/precompile/contracts/rewardmanager/module.go
+++ b/precompile/contracts/rewardmanager/module.go
@@ -55,12 +55,14 @@ func (*configurator) Configure(chainConfig precompileconfig.ChainConfig, cfg pre
 		return fmt.Errorf("expected config type %T, got %T: %v", &Config{}, cfg, cfg)
 	}
 	// configure the RewardManager with the given initial configuration
-	if config.InitialRewardConfig != nil {
+
+	switch {
+	case config.InitialRewardConfig != nil:
 		config.InitialRewardConfig.Configure(state)
-	} else if chainConfig.AllowedFeeRecipients() {
+	case chainConfig.AllowedFeeRecipients():
 		// configure the RewardManager according to chainConfig
 		EnableAllowFeeRecipients(state)
-	} else {
+	default:
 		// chainConfig does not have any reward address
 		// if chainConfig does not enable fee recipients
 		// default to disabling rewards
diff --git a/sync/handlers/leafs_request_test.go b/sync/handlers/leafs_request_test.go
index 0bfe48cbae..b69de06b1c 100644
--- a/sync/handlers/leafs_request_test.go
+++ b/sync/handlers/leafs_request_test.go
@@ -344,8 +344,8 @@ func TestLeafsRequestHandler_OnLeafsRequest(t *testing.T) {
 		"partial mid range": {
 			prepareTestFn: func() (context.Context, message.LeafsRequest) {
 				startKey := largeTrieKeys[1_000]
-				startKey[31] = startKey[31] + 1 // exclude start key from response
-				endKey := largeTrieKeys[1_040]  // include end key in response
+				startKey[31]++                 // exclude start key from response
+				endKey := largeTrieKeys[1_040] // include end key in response
 				return context.Background(), message.LeafsRequest{
 					Root:  largeTrieRoot,
 					Start: startKey,
diff --git a/triedb/firewood/database.go b/triedb/firewood/database.go
index 45fa0d0423..a6d58edc34 100644
--- a/triedb/firewood/database.go
+++ b/triedb/firewood/database.go
@@ -585,7 +585,5 @@ func arrangeKeyValuePairs(nodes *trienode.MergedNodeSet) ([][]byte, [][]byte) {
 	}
 
 	// We need to do all storage operations first, so prefix-deletion works for accounts.
-	keys := append(storageKeys, acctKeys...)
-	values := append(storageValues, acctValues...)
-	return keys, values
+	return append(storageKeys, acctKeys...), append(storageValues, acctValues...)
 }
diff --git a/warp/backend_test.go b/warp/backend_test.go
index ea273b53ee..fc824b5e8f 100644
--- a/warp/backend_test.go
+++ b/warp/backend_test.go
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ func TestAddAndGetValidMessage(t *testing.T) {
 
 	expectedSig, err := warpSigner.Sign(testUnsignedMessage)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
-	require.Equal(t, expectedSig, signature[:])
+	require.Equal(t, expectedSig, signature)
 }
 
 func TestAddAndGetUnknownMessage(t *testing.T) {
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ func TestGetBlockSignature(t *testing.T) {
 
 	signature, err := backend.GetBlockSignature(context.TODO(), blkID)
 	require.NoError(err)
-	require.Equal(expectedSig, signature[:])
+	require.Equal(expectedSig, signature)
 
 	_, err = backend.GetBlockSignature(context.TODO(), ids.GenerateTestID())
 	require.Error(err)
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ func TestZeroSizedCache(t *testing.T) {
 
 	expectedSig, err := warpSigner.Sign(testUnsignedMessage)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
-	require.Equal(t, expectedSig, signature[:])
+	require.Equal(t, expectedSig, signature)
 }
 
 func TestOffChainMessages(t *testing.T) {
@@ -155,7 +155,7 @@ func TestOffChainMessages(t *testing.T) {
 				require.NoError(err)
 				expectedSignatureBytes, err := warpSigner.Sign(msg)
 				require.NoError(err)
-				require.Equal(expectedSignatureBytes, signature[:])
+				require.Equal(expectedSignatureBytes, signature)
 			},
 		},
 		"unknown message": {
diff --git a/warp/service.go b/warp/service.go
index 3f63941ff3..19859e4fa7 100644
--- a/warp/service.go
+++ b/warp/service.go
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ func (a *API) GetMessageSignature(ctx context.Context, messageID ids.ID) (hexuti
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to get signature for message %s with error %w", messageID, err)
 	}
-	return signature[:], nil
+	return signature, nil
 }
 
 // GetBlockSignature returns the BLS signature associated with a blockID.
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ func (a *API) GetBlockSignature(ctx context.Context, blockID ids.ID) (hexutil.By
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to get signature for block %s with error %w", blockID, err)
 	}
-	return signature[:], nil
+	return signature, nil
 }
 
 // GetMessageAggregateSignature fetches the aggregate signature for the requested [messageID]
diff --git a/warp/verifier_backend_test.go b/warp/verifier_backend_test.go
index 3d72a63a60..9ed620489d 100644
--- a/warp/verifier_backend_test.go
+++ b/warp/verifier_backend_test.go
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ func TestAddressedCallSignatures(t *testing.T) {
 				require.NoError(t, err)
 
 				backend.AddMessage(msg)
-				return msg.Bytes(), signature[:]
+				return msg.Bytes(), signature
 			},
 			verifyStats: func(t *testing.T, stats *verifierStats) {
 				require.EqualValues(t, 0, stats.messageParseFail.Snapshot().Count())
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ func TestAddressedCallSignatures(t *testing.T) {
 		},
 		"offchain message": {
 			setup: func(_ Backend) (request []byte, expectedResponse []byte) {
-				return offchainMessage.Bytes(), offchainSignature[:]
+				return offchainMessage.Bytes(), offchainSignature
 			},
 			verifyStats: func(t *testing.T, stats *verifierStats) {
 				require.EqualValues(t, 0, stats.messageParseFail.Snapshot().Count())
@@ -189,7 +189,7 @@ func TestBlockSignatures(t *testing.T) {
 				require.NoError(t, err)
 				signature, err := snowCtx.WarpSigner.Sign(unsignedMessage)
 				require.NoError(t, err)
-				return toMessageBytes(knownBlkID), signature[:]
+				return toMessageBytes(knownBlkID), signature
 			},
 			verifyStats: func(t *testing.T, stats *verifierStats) {
 				require.EqualValues(t, 0, stats.blockValidationFail.Snapshot().Count())
@@ -361,6 +361,6 @@ func TestUptimeSignatures(t *testing.T) {
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 		response := &sdk.SignatureResponse{}
 		require.NoError(t, proto.Unmarshal(responseBytes, response))
-		require.Equal(t, expectedSignature[:], response.Signature)
+		require.Equal(t, expectedSignature, response.Signature)
 	}
 }