Best Melee Weapons in Project Zomboid (B42)
Build 42.212 min read
The Katana has the highest damage rate in the files, 8 (8 damage × 1 speed), 3.2 times the next weapon, the Machete (2.5).
Every number is read from the Build 42.21 weapon scripts behind the weapons database; this guide ranks them and points to the full stat rows.
The 60 best of 319 melee weapons
The 60 highest damage rates of all 319; the 60th is 1.3. Sort by any column, or narrow to one skill. Each name links to its row in the weapons database, where every weapon is listed.
60 weapons
| # | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Katanatwo-handed | Long Blade | 8 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 150 | Found in 11 room types |
| 2 |  Machete | Long Blade | 2.5 | 2.5 | 1 | 2 | 325 | Found in 57 room types · craftable |
| 3 |  Swordtwo-handed | Long Blade | 2.5 | 2.5 | 1 | 3 | 260 | Found in 3 room types · craftable |
| 4 |  Railroad Spike Pullertwo-handed | Long Blunt | 2.25 | 2.5 | 0.9 | 3 | 400 | Found in 3 room types |
| 5 |  Sledgehammertwo-handed | Long Blunt | 2.25 | 2.5 | 0.9 | 3 | 400 | Found in 35 room types · craftable |
| 6 |  Block Maultwo-handed | Long Blunt | 2.25 | 2.5 | 0.9 | 3 | 200 | Crafted only |
| 7 |  Simple Swordtwo-handed | Long Blade | 2.25 | 2.25 | 1 | 3 | 150 | Crafted only |
| 8 |  Kettle Maul - Metal Handletwo-handed | Long Blunt | 2.25 | 2.5 | 0.9 | 3 | 100 | Crafted only |
| 9 |  Kettle Maul - Wood Handletwo-handed | Long Blunt | 2.25 | 2.5 | 0.9 | 3 | 100 | Crafted only |
| 10 |  Wood Axetwo-handed | Axe | 2.15 | 2.15 | 1 | 3 | 600 | Found in 28 room types · craftable |
| 11 |  Jawbone Morningstartwo-handed | Long Blunt | 2.15 | 2.15 | 1 | 3 | 375 | Crafted only |
| 12 |  Cudgel with Brake Disctwo-handed | Axe | 2.13 | 2.5 | 0.85 | 3 | 100 | Crafted only |
| 13 |  Cudgel with Sawbladetwo-handed | Axe | 2.08 | 2.45 | 0.85 | 3 | 100 | Crafted only |
| 14 |  Cudgel with Garden Fork Headtwo-handed | Long Blunt | 2.04 | 2.4 | 0.85 | 3 | 100 | Crafted only |
| 15 |  Cudgel with Spade Headtwo-handed | Axe | 2.04 | 2.4 | 0.85 | 3 | 100 | Crafted only |
| 16 |  Bucket Maul - Metal Handletwo-handed | Long Blunt | 2.03 | 2.25 | 0.9 | 3 | 100 | Crafted only |
| 17 |  Bucket Maul - Wood Handletwo-handed | Long Blunt | 2.03 | 2.25 | 0.9 | 3 | 100 | Crafted only |
| 18 |  Cudgel with Spikestwo-handed | Long Blunt | 2 | 2.35 | 0.85 | 3 | 100 | Crafted only |
| 19 |  Scrap Metal Swordtwo-handed | Long Blade | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 100 | Crafted only |
| 20 |  Cudgel with Railspikestwo-handed | Long Blunt | 2 | 2.35 | 0.85 | 3 | 50 | Crafted only |
| 21 |  Cudgel with Bone Spikestwo-handed | Long Blunt | 1.87 | 2.2 | 0.85 | 3 | 100 | Found in 1 room type · craftable |
| 22 |  Engine Parts Maultwo-handed | Long Blunt | 1.8 | 2 | 0.9 | 3 | 100 | Crafted only |
| 23 |  Scrap Metal Maultwo-handed | Long Blunt | 1.8 | 2 | 0.9 | 3 | 100 | Crafted only |
| 24 |  Cudgel with Nailstwo-handed | Long Blunt | 1.79 | 2.1 | 0.85 | 3 | 50 | Crafted only |
| 25 |  Shortsword | Long Blade | 1.75 | 1.75 | 1 | 3 | 260 | Crafted only |
| 26 |  Cudgel - Sheet Metal Reinforcedtwo-handed | Long Blunt | 1.66 | 1.95 | 0.85 | 3 | 400 | Crafted only |
| 27 |  Barbelltwo-handed | Long Blunt | 1.61 | 2.3 | 0.7 | 3 | 375 | Found in 33 room types |
| 28 |  Stone Maultwo-handed | Long Blunt | 1.58 | 1.75 | 0.9 | 3 | 150 | Found in 1 room type · craftable |
| 29 |  Baseball Bat with Rake Spikestwo-handed | Long Blunt | 1.55 | 1.55 | 1 | 2 | 400 | Crafted only |
| 30 |  Metal Baseball Bat with Sawbladetwo-handed | Axe | 1.55 | 1.55 | 1 | 2 | 225 | Crafted only |
| 31 |  Baseball Bat with Sawbladetwo-handed | Axe | 1.55 | 1.55 | 1 | 2 | 100 | Crafted only |
| 32 |  Baseball Bat with Garden Fork Headtwo-handed | Long Blunt | 1.55 | 1.55 | 1 | 2 | 50 | Crafted only |
| 33 |  Baseball Bat with Railspiketwo-handed | Axe | 1.55 | 1.55 | 1 | 2 | 50 | Crafted only |
| 34 |  Baseball Bat with Spikestwo-handed | Long Blunt | 1.55 | 1.55 | 1 | 2 | 50 | Crafted only |
| 35 |  Long Macetwo-handed | Long Blunt | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1 | 2 | 300 | Crafted only |
| 36 |  Simple Shortsword | Long Blade | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1 | 3 | 150 | Crafted only |
| 37 |  Scrap Metal Chopper | Long Blade | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1 | 2 | 50 | Crafted only |
| 38 |  Large Branchtwo-handed | Long Blunt | 1.49 | 1.75 | 0.85 | 3 | 100 | No spawn |
| 39 |  Spear with Long Metal Headtwo-handed | Spear | 1.45 | 1.45 | — | 2 | 100 | Crafted only |
| 40 |  Spear with Fighting Knifetwo-handed | Spear | 1.45 | 1.45 | — | 2 | 72 | Crafted only |
| 41 |  Spear with Hunting Knifetwo-handed | Spear | 1.45 | 1.45 | — | 2 | 72 | Crafted only |
| 42 |  Spear with Large Knifetwo-handed | Spear | 1.45 | 1.45 | — | 2 | 72 | Crafted only |
| 43 |  Spear with Scrap Knifetwo-handed | Spear | 1.45 | 1.45 | — | 2 | 72 | Crafted only |
| 44 |  Spear with Long Stone Headtwo-handed | Spear | 1.45 | 1.45 | — | 2 | 42 | Crafted only |
| 45 |  Spear with Long Simple Metal Headtwo-handed | Spear | 1.45 | 1.45 | — | 2 | 35 | Crafted only |
| 46 |  Axetwo-handed | Axe | 1.4 | 1.4 | 1 | 2 | 455 | Found in 13 room types · craftable |
| 47 |  Firefighter Axetwo-handed | Axe | 1.4 | 1.4 | 1 | 2 | 455 | Found in 35 room types · craftable |
| 48 |  Garden Fork Scrap Metal Weapontwo-handed | Axe | 1.4 | 1.4 | 1 | 2 | 100 | Crafted only |
| 49 |  Spade Head Scrap Metal Weapontwo-handed | Axe | 1.4 | 1.4 | 1 | 2 | 100 | Crafted only |
| 50 |  Spear with Screwdrivertwo-handed | Spear | 1.4 | 1.4 | — | 2 | 28 | Crafted only |
| 51 |  Brake Disc Scrap Metal Weapontwo-handed | Axe | 1.35 | 1.35 | 1 | 2 | 100 | Crafted only |
| 52 |  Spear with Long Bone Headtwo-handed | Spear | 1.35 | 1.35 | — | 2 | 42 | Crafted only |
| 53 |  Long Stone Macetwo-handed | Long Blunt | 1.3 | 1.3 | 1 | 2 | 300 | Crafted only |
| 54 |  Metal Baseball Bat with Boltstwo-handed | Long Blunt | 1.3 | 1.3 | 1 | 2 | 300 | Crafted only |
| 55 |  Spear with Metal Headtwo-handed | Spear | 1.3 | 1.3 | — | 2 | 100 | Crafted only |
| 56 |  Spear with Stone Headtwo-handed | Spear | 1.3 | 1.3 | — | 2 | 42 | Crafted only |
| 57 |  Spear with Kitchen Knifetwo-handed | Spear | 1.3 | 1.3 | — | 2 | 28 | Crafted only |
| 58 |  Spear with Simple Metal Headtwo-handed | Spear | 1.3 | 1.3 | — | 2 | 28 | Crafted only |
| 59 |  Spear with Small Knifetwo-handed | Spear | 1.3 | 1.3 | — | 2 | 28 | Crafted only |
| 60 |  Spear with Scissorstwo-handed | Spear | 1.3 | 1.3 | — | 2 | 18 | Crafted only |
The best weapon of each skill
A weapon trains the skill it belongs to, so the best pick depends on which skill you have. Top three per skill by the same damage rate.
| Skill | 1st | 2nd | 3rd |
|---|---|---|---|
| Axes | Wood Axe (2.15) | Cudgel with Brake Disc (2.13) | Cudgel with Sawblade (2.08) |
| Long blunt | Railroad Spike Puller (2.25) | Sledgehammer (2.25) | Block Maul (2.25) |
| Short blunt | Mace (1.1) | Short Bat with Rake Spikes (1.1) | Bone Club with Spikes (1.1) |
| Long blades | Katana (8) | Machete (2.5) | Sword (2.5) |
| Short blades | Hunting Knife (0.9) | Fighting Knife (0.9) | Long Stone Knife (0.9) |
| Spears | Spear with Long Metal Head (1.45) | Spear with Fighting Knife (1.45) | Spear with Hunting Knife (1.45) |
Why the Katana runs away with it
Its stored damage is 8; the next weapon stores 2.5. We rank the files as they are and do not adjust for it.
FAQ
What is the best melee weapon in Project Zomboid?
By damage rate in the Build 42.21 files, the Katana (8). Rooms on the map can hold it.
Which of the best melee weapons lasts longest?
Among the best weapon of each skill, the Wood Axe, with 600 stored durability.
How is the damage rate worked out?
Average of the script's minimum and maximum damage, times its BaseSpeed. Skill levels and traits change real fights; these are the item's own numbers.
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Thanks to The Indie Stone for making Project Zomboid. This is an unofficial fan production; PinDrop is not affiliated with The Indie Stone.