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Melee weapons tend to be more reliable in a pinch, and are easily repaired using scraps. Of course, scraps are also precious in Days Gone, so players will want to ensure that they devote their metal refuse to the best melee weapons in the game. This is how the ten of the most effective ones fare, and why they deserve the player’s scrap.

Updated January 27th, 2022 by Russ Boswell: Days Gone has developed quite the cult following since its release and subsequent port to PC. Many players that missed out on this diamond in the rough are just now starting their adventure. One of the best parts of Days Gone is that it allows players a choice when it comes to what weapons they use and what sort of playstyle they want to adopt. For some players, it’s all about snagging the best melee weapons and trashing through hordes of freakers up close and personally. But what are Days Gone’s best melee weapons? To better answer that question, the following guide has been updated with even more information pertaining to the best melee weapons in Days Gone.

The Best Melee Skills

Days Gone offers a lot of player choice and customization when it comes to how Deacon grows as a survivor. Not only will gamers be able to snag (and craft) an array of powerful melee weapons, but they’ll also be able to unlock a variety of skills that can help improve just how well those weapons work against the hordes of freakers.

Here’s a look at some of the best melee skills that players can unlock to synergize with the weapons available on this list.

Bull Rush - Unlocking this ability will allow players to do a “sprint attack” with any swingable weapon. This works well for situations in which Deacon is running from a horde of enemies and may have to deal with a few stray attackers in front of him. This attack will punish them, send them reeling, and most importantly, stun them, so Deacon can make a swift getaway. The Reckoning - Once players have this ability, they’ll have a chance on each successful melee hit to proc a critical kill. When prompted, players can hit the corresponding button to score an automatic takedown. Escape Artist - One of the downsides of using melee weapons often is that players will find themselves grabbed by enemies more frequently. To combat this, they can unlock the Escape Artist skill. This allows players to perform an execution-style attack with their melee weapon once they break free of an enemy’s grasp, allowing Deacon to punish those that are foolish enough to try and hold him back. Hard Hitter / Home Run - These weapons are all pretty fantastic on their own but no player is going to turn down more damage. The Hard Hitter ability will upgrade all of Deacon’s melee weapons with additional damage. The Home Run variant is the next step up, unlocking later on for an additional damage boost that turns the melee weapons on this list into deadly tools of survival. Busted Up - A lot of the weapons featured on this list are powerful enough to cleave through Deacon’s enemies but that doesn’t mean he’ll be able to simply stand still and keep swinging. Eventually, players are going to need to dodge oncoming enemy attacks. Unfortunately, dodging too much will consume stamina, making players a sitting duck in a horde of freakers. To keep this from happening, players can snag Busted Up, which refills stamina each time Deacon ends an enemy with melee attacks. Field Repairs - This is perhaps the most important skill that melee players can learn, and Deacon will gain access to it early on. Costing just one skill point, this handy skill allows players to repair their crafted melee weapons using scrap. This is vital, as melee weapons will deteriorate over time, and there’s nothing worse than a powerful, crafted weapon breaking in the middle of a tense fight.

10 Pickaxe

Low durability Ubiquitous Bladed

The pickaxe is a bladed weapon, so it’s better than most wooden blunt sticks that players can find lying around in Days Gone. However, it breaks a little too fast, making it somewhat frustrating to use against large hordes or groups of freakers.

Against human enemies, it’s also not bad, especially if the player can get the jump on them and they have no ranged backup. Players can also come by the weapon frequently enough so they can replace it in case it breaks. It’s probably best to let this one break instead of repairing it with scraps, as it’s common enough that players will find a replacement.

9 Fire Axe

High damage Low durability Bladed

Since it’s a decent-looking weapon, the fire axe can easily become a favorite. It looks like a proper and intimidating tool, stylish enough for dishing out some quick deaths. The range is also respectable, since the axe is quite long and the strikes with it feel weighty.

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It does have one problem, which is its fragility. The fire axe can only last for a few swings before it needs some repairs, making it less than ideal for taking on several enemies at once. It’s not as common as the pickaxe, nor as light or fast. Players might have to use it sparingly.

8 Machete

Average damage Fast Low durability Bladed

The machete is another cool-looking weapon that’s perfect for players who want to roam around killing creepers with style. It’s slightly more durable than the fire axe, making it handier in prolonged melee fights. The damage isn’t as high, but the machete has other strengths.

It compensates for the poorer range and the lower damage with its a light weight, meaning it swings faster. Several enemies charging the Deacon shouldn’t be a problem, as the machete can make quick work of them. However, repairs are required fairly often as well.

7 Spiked Bat

Blunt Low damage High durability Easy to repair and craft

When it comes to weapons, functional always beats fancy, and the spiked bat is one functional beast. It might not match the machete or the fire axe’s damage, but when it comes to endurance and marathon battles, the spiked bat will come out on top with higher overall damage.

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It makes up for low damage with its high durability. In the event that it does break accidentally through lack of scraps, players can always craft one from readily available materials. The weapon’s speed isn’t too bad either.

6 Ripper Blade

Bladed High damage Easy to repair and craft

Bladed weapons always tend to be better than blunt ones in Days Gone and thankfully, the ripper blade is a good alternative to the spiked bat. It’s like the bladed equivalent, as the ripper blade only requires a stool leg and some saws.

After marrying those two components of death, players can have a respectable early-game weapon that might just take them to the late game if they’re careful and resourceful enough. In that regard, the Ripper Blade easily beats out the fragile machete and fire axe.

5 Superior Club

High damage High durability Slow Blunt Easy to repair and craft

If players want to hit slowly but surely, then the superior club might just be a good choice. It’s craftable and has components that are pretty easy to spot in the open world. Sure, it’s a blunt weapon and axes are more superior for dealing damage, but the superior club still dishes out respectable amounts of pain.

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Moreover, it doesn’t take too much scrap to repair, since clubs are more durable than axes. The superior club also looks menacing, as it’s a baseball bat embedded with lots of gears and other metallic objects. It’s like a jacked-up version of the spiked bat.

4 Lawn Mower Machete

Average damage High durability Fast Bladed

The lawn mower machete is a lovely improvised weapon plucked straight out of a lawn mower’s innards. Whereas before it thinned out the weeds, Deacon can now use to thin out the freaker herd.

The lawn mower machete is essentially a better version of the machete. It can deal more damage than that weapon, and has plenty of durability to spare. This aspect is crucial if players are doing some nest-burning runs.

3 Baseball Bat Axe

High damage Very high durability Easy to repair and craft Bladed

For the best craftable melee weapon in the game, look no further than the baseball bat axe. It’s the ideal weapon for anyone who gets easily tired of looking for ready-made weapons that consume too much scrap during repairs.

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The baseball bat axe, is well, a baseball with a saw blade attached to the tip, fastened by metal wires. In terms of damage, it typically downs freakers in a couple of swings, sometimes three.

2 Superior Mace

Very high damage Max durability Blunt Slow

Then again, if players want the best ready-made weapons, then the superior mace is the most powerful in the blunt category. It’s a deathly, metal-looking bat with tons of gears that will surely grind and mince any organic target it makes contact with.

The superior mace will usually take care of normal enemies in one swing, two if the player is unlucky or the angle is off. The only caveat is that it’s slow, thanks to all the heavy stuff attached to the tip.

1 Superior Metal Axe

Max damage Max durability Bladed

It’s a good thing players don’t have to choose a compromise between the damage of bladed weapons and the durability of blunt weapons. The superior metal axe has it all. This is, hands-down, the best melee weapon in the game.

It’s slightly better than the superior mace, and has a faster attack animation. It also looks a bit like a proper double-bladed battle axe. It’s only available in the Crater Lake region, however, so players will have to put in the work if they want this weapon in their arsenal.

NEXT: Days Gone: 10 Great Side Missions You Might Have Missed