Melee Weapons

Melee weapons in State of Decay 2 are for dispatching enemies and threats up close and personal.

About Melee Weapons

Weapon Stat Dictations

Advanced Weapon Stats

Type

Bladed, Blunt, or Heavy - Affects the stat distribution for the weapon.

Weight

Determines how much the weapon weighs. Value will be added along with all other item weights in the players inventory.

Impact

Determines the weapon's damage agains Hostile Survivors, Plague Hearts and Juggernauts. The higher the value, the higher the damage.

Max Durability

Indicates the weapon's Durability. Weapons with higher Durability values last longer before they'd break.

Dismember

The higher the weapon's dismember, the more likely it'll take off a zombie's limb when hitting them.

Knockdown

The higher the weapon's knockdown, the more likely it'll knock the zombie to the ground when hitting them.

Lethality

Weapons with higher lethality values have increased chance to kill zeds with less hits.

Quietness

How quiet the weapon is when striking an enemy. The higher the value the quieter the weapon is.

Speed

How long the attack animation is. The higher the value the faster the animation is.

Ease of Use

How much stamina will be used when attacking with a melee weapon. The higher the value, the lower the cost of stamina is. This stamina cost can be lower if you are lightly encumbered, or higher if over encumbered.

Melee weapons fall into four categories: Blunt, Bladed, Close Combat, and Heavy. Each category has it's corresponding skill that makes your characters use the given melee type more efficiently against the threats crossing your path by unlocking special fighting moves or providing bonuses to certain stats when using the appropriate melee weapons.

Bladed Weapons

Bladed Weapons usually have higher Dismember, Lethality and Speed values than Blunt Weapons, making them more efficient in mowing down singular or small groups of zeds in quick succession, however you can only hit one target at a time. When you specialize your survivor's Fighting Skill in Swordplay you'll be able to do Leg Sweeps with Bladed Weapons to cut down the zombies' legs, making them a lesser threat and easier to kill. If this action is preformed while sprinting, both legs will be dismembered else only one will be taken off (although this makes virtually no difference). However keep in mind that Leg Sweep won't dismember Hostile Survivors' and Freaks' legs. When you reach level 7 with Swordplay you'll be able to instantly execute regular zombies and Screamers even if they're on their feet. (You must have a Bladed Weapon equipped.) It works both from standing behind or in front of them.

See stat in bladed weapons table.

Bladed Weapons in the game:

Note: The Golden Eagle, Razorbite Axe, and Veteran's Machete weapons can't be obtained without modding the game.

Blunt Weapons

Blunt Weapons usually have higher Impact, Knockdown and Durability values than Bladed Weapons, making them more efficient in crowd control by knocking down zeds. You're also able to hit multiple zeds at once with them. When you specialize your survivor's Fighting in Striking you'll be able to do Grand Slams with Blunt Weapons to knock down every zed facing your swing.

See stat in blunt weapons table.

Blunt Weapons in the game:

Close Combat Weapons

Close Combat Weapons are your emergency weapon in case your Melee Weapon breaks. You can also use them purposely as main melee weapons but without the Close Combat Fighting specialization it's not a good idea. The Close Combat skill allows you to quickly trip zombies by kicking them from behind and quickly dispatch zeds when executing them from a grapple. When you reach level 7 with Close Combat you'll be able to instantly execute regular zombies and Screamers standing in front of you. (Only works if you don't have a Melee Weapon equipped or your Melee Weapon broke.)

All Close Combat Weapons share the same stats, making each of them cosmetic only.

List of Close Combat Weapons:

Antler Knife
BBQ Fork (Independence Pack)
Bowie Knife
Chef's Knife
Combat Knife
Echo-C1 Stiletto
Echo-C2 Tanto
Echo-C3 Karambit
K-Bar
Lathe Chisel
Police Knife
Rescue Knife
Rusty Screwdriver
Señor Pokey
Shriek Knife
Ultimate Survival Knife
Wrench Blade
Wyrmling

Note: The Ultimate Survival Knife can't be obtained without modding the game.

Heavy Melee Weapons

Heavy weapons trade melee swing speed (and stamina cost) for superior reach and the ability to hit several enemies with each swing. They are expected to be difficult to wield for beginners, but rewarding for players who spend time learning the best timing and positioning.

Some heavy weapons are blunt, and some are bladed, but they all benefit primarily from the advantages granted by the existing Powerhouse specialization of the Cardio skill.

See stat in heavy weapons table.

Heavy Weapons in the game:

Beetle Mallet
Big Daddy Skillet
Big ol' Shovel
Brick Hammer
Coffee Can Mace
Double Bit Axe
Driveshaft Club
Enigmatic Axe
Groundbreaker Shovel
Guandao
Hog Splitter
Industrial Wrench
Kanabo
Saw Blade Sword
Sledge Hammer
Souvenir Caveman Club
Splitting Maul
Tank Hammer

Trivia & Notes

The Señor Pokey, the Slasher Machete, and the Barbed Wire Bat weapons are references to famous films and TV series.
The Wyvern was originally cut content, however you could still obtain them through modding. Since the release of the Pawn Shop Pack, it can be obtained through the Bounty Broker.
The Ancestral Talwar, the Heirloom Khanda, and the Industrial Wrench weapons are iconic pieces from the original State of Decay. They got added to State of Decay 2 when the game turned 2 years old.
The Bilge Rat Shovel and the Dead Man's Cutlass weapons are inspired by the videogame Sea of Thieves.
The Shriek Knife was unreleased content, however you could still obtain them through modding. Since the release of Update 26, it can be obtained through destroying Plague Hearts.
The Magic Wand weapon can only be obtained by calling in the limited-time Wizard Van with your radio. The weapon is an easter egg for a SoD2 community member, magikman79.