Quick answer
Blunt weapons emphasize stability and crowd control; slashing weapons emphasize damage, interruption and dismemberment. Never spend the stamina needed to resist a grapple.
Confirmed for this version
Know the constraints before you commit
Official game imageOperational sequence
What to do in a live run
- 01Step 1
Choose the job before the weapon
If the squad needs room and stability pressure, reach for the blunt role. If you need damage, interruption or dismemberment, slashing has the documented advantage. Do not reduce the choice to a single damage number.
Official notesS1 - 02Step 2
Match swing commitment to the lane
Fast combinations and heavy committed swings solve different problems. In a narrow escape lane, take the action that leaves you able to move or disengage rather than chasing a long attack sequence.
Official notes + field adviceS1 - 03Step 3
- 04Step 4
Verify a current value before optimizing a build
Melee balance changed in Armageddon. Use the comparison page for verified Q / S / C and headshot values, and avoid importing an old patch’s ranking into the current version.
Official notesS2
Brief 01
Blunt versus slashing
Official design notes position blunt weapons around stability damage, control and setting up downed targets, usually with lower base damage. Slashing weapons trade some general stability for damage, interruption and dismemberment.
Brief 02
Commitment and cadence
The Machete supports quicker combinations while the Hatchet commits to heavier swings. Among highlighted two-hand blunt choices, the Baseball Bat is faster and the Sledgehammer is slowest. Match cadence to available space.
Brief 03
Difficulty keeps muscle memory
Weapon damage no longer changes across difficulty settings. Enemy pressure and survival stakes change, but a learned swing should not require a new hidden damage expectation.
Before commitment
Run checklist
- Keep stamina for grapple defense.
- Use blunt stability when the team needs space.
- Avoid long heavy commitments in tight escape lanes.
- Upgrade when you find a higher-tier weapon during the run.
Decision support
Situation → action
| Situation | Action | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Team needs space against nearby pressure | Prioritize a blunt control role | Official design notes associate blunt weapons with stability damage and crowd control. |
| Need interruption or dismemberment | Use a slashing role | Slashing weapons emphasize damage, interruption and dismemberment. |
| Stamina is low and a grapple is likely | Back out; do not commit another long swing | The remaining stamina may be needed to resist a grapple and avoid infection. |
FAQ / practical answers
Questions players ask before the next run
Do weapon damage values change with difficulty?
No. Official Armageddon notes say weapon damage no longer changes across difficulty settings.
What do Q / S / C mean in melee tables?
They mean Quick, Strong and Charged attacks—in Chinese, 轻击、重击和蓄力攻击。
Are blunt or slashing weapons better?
They have different documented jobs. Blunt weapons emphasize stability and control; slashing weapons emphasize damage, interruption and dismemberment. The better choice depends on the immediate problem.
Why is stamina important for melee?
The stamina used by sprinting and melee is also needed to resist a grapple. Spending it all can make a grapple become automatic infection under the documented Infection rules.
What is the best melee weapon?
There is no official one-size-fits-all ranking. Compare current verified values and choose the role, swing cadence and space requirement that fit the run.
Updated for the version shown above. Open the sources panel for the related game notes.
Updates linked to this page
These updates may change the route, value or rule described on this page. Open a patch to see the affected area.