The zombie-infested world of Project Zomboid makes for a pretty punishing survival game. Running from crowds of zombies can be a huge challenge, and only the right combination of strategy and dumb luck will see you come out alive. One of the biggest beginner mistakes is getting too excited when you find a gun and popping off zombies left and right. Guns, realistically, are very noisy and will attract loads of undead to your location.
Because of this, the survivor is heavily reliant on melee weapons to defend themselves. Sometimes these weapons second as tools, or else are only accessible through crafting. Any weapon could be a boon in a life-or-death situation, but breakability, damage per hit, and speed all play a huge factor in whether this weapon will get you killed.
10 Wood Axe
As much as we love the damage output and durability of the wood axe, it’s incredibly cumbersome. You’re also less likely to find this weapon just lying around someone’s house; your best chance is the specialty surplus store out in the county that’s stocked with farming goods. The county is the best place to form a settlement anyway, so it’s worth checking these stores for valuable supplies. Heavy weapons are great defenders if you’re fighting the horde with friends or else picking off stragglers with well-times swings, but they’re more likely to leave you vulnerable, which is why this axe ranks lowest.
9 Nightstick
This short blunt weapon can be readily found if you’re scavenging in a town, as they’re often located in police stations as well as the prison in Rosewood. Because of this, they’re the best choice for an early-game melee weapon. Despite their low attack power, nightsticks have surprising knockback and can strike up to two zombies at once.
It’s the reason this weapon is helpful in a pinch, should you find yourself pursued by a small group or else invading a home with zombified residents. It’s also got decent durability, but don’t expect to knock down any doors or barricades with it. This weapon sits in ninth for its overall lack of usefulness, especially when defending yourself against a true horde.
8 Hammer
Among the four types of hammers you can loot and craft in Project Zomboid, the regular Hammer and the Ball-Peen Hammer are pretty valuable finds. Hammers are necessary for crafting practically anything made of wood, including barricades, walls, and floors for your base. This reason alone makes the weapon incredibly valuable, as building window barricades is the first step toward setting up a defensible base.
On the other hand, this item has far more failings when used as a weapon, with very little knockback and range. It’s decent attack power could end up saving you in a bind, but you’re better off preserving this tool by using it as a secondary weapon. Find hammers in garages and closets for a trusty melee weapon that’ll get you through your first day or so in town.
7 Kitchen Knife
A handy lifesaver and an easy find early in your run, the kitchen in any house is liable to hold this knife should you need to be armed. While this weapon’s got a pretty mediocre base damage and durability, its fairly light and can be used for insta-kill stab attacks.
This kind of attack relies on one’s sneaking ability, so if you’re playing the burglar class, its worth picking this weapon up. While getting this attack to work takes time to master, stealthily killing zombies in one hit is a great way of defending yourself without attracting the kind of attention a drawn out fight would.
6 Katana
When it comes to base stats, the rare Katana comes out on top every time. It’s got attack power like you wouldn’t believe, even outdoing most firearms for DPS. The long blade allows you to keep your distance from zombies while doing max damage, and yes, even for a blade the durability on this thing is very good. You may be hyped about carrying the game’s most powerful unique weapon, but there are two drawbacks that keep it mid-rank.
Firstly, this weapon is incredibly difficult to find. You might get lucky by searching the pawn shop, but in your short lifespan in this game, don’t bet on getting it. It’s also worth noting that the best way to use this item effectively is by upping your long blade skill, which is one of the most challenge skills to gain experience for in this game.
5 Spear With Hunting Knife
Probably the strongest weapon you’re capable of crafting in Project Zomboid, this version of the spear makes the best use of the Hunting Knife. The knife itself is a valuable find, being the short blade with the strongest attack power. Combined with the projectile piercing power of a spear, the hunting knife is preferred over the machete, which ought not be wasted on a spear.
Spears are unique as two-handed weapons, as their range allows for one-hit kills as well as stealth attacks. This weapon’s mid-rank since you need a pretty decent light-footed and stealth skill to be effective with it, and as with most crafted weapons, it’s hardly the most durable. Don’t pick a fight you can’t finish with this glass cannon.
4 Machete
The machete has the other one-handers beat when it comes to speed and raw attack power. Slash at a decent range from your enemies and deal knockback damage to up to two zombies. And if this looks like a pretty hefty blade to you, don’t worry, it’s one of the few one-handed weapons that can be attached to your back.
Doing so doesn’t only reduce its weight in your inventory, it allows for faster unsheathing during combat. It doesn’t sit above fourth place since it’s pretty rare – the hardware store’s your best bet – difficult to wield without upgrading your long blade skill, and unrepairable.
3 Spiked Baseball Bat
Take out your hammer, bat, and nails, and you’ll be able to make one of the best weapon upgrades in Project Zomboid. Transform the already trusty baseball bat into a great two-handed weapon for one hit kills and crowd control.
This increased power comes at a cost though: firstly, if you’re looking to loot whatever sweet body armor your enemy’s wearing, consider it torn to shreds after hitting it with this bat. Secondly, and perhaps most unfortunate, the durability of this weapon is far lower than the regular bat, so it’s better as a backup against hordes. Not to mention, you gotta be pretty fit to use it. But its incredible power, low craft and repair cost, and easy-to-find components places this weapon in third.
2 Crowbar
A more common find than some of the other multiuse weapons, the crowbar is the best weapon to have on you at all times. It’s highly durable, and despite the low damage output when used as a one-handed weapon, its fast swings are great for crowd control. Don’t let this tool break completely, as its key for breaking down boxes and floorboards.
Doing so can provide vital resources for building barricades, which are essential when building out a defensible base. The crowbar’s lack of attack power keeps it in second despite its overall versatility. However, this weapon’s greatest drawback is the inability to repair it, keeping it from the number one spot; once it’s broken, it’s broken.
1 Axe
If you’re looking for a powerful weapon that won’t get you killed on the upswing, the axe is the best weapon overall. High damage, great durability, and useful as a tool for breaking down trees. Rely on the axe for close-quarters combat, as it can strike multiple enemies and even fully kill a zombie in a single blow if you’re lucky.
While not as cumbersome as a heavy weapon, it still takes a moment to recharge your stamina between swings, so strategy is required to make the most of this powerful weapon. The logs you attain from trees can be used to craft all sorts of vital supplies, and best of all, this weapon can be repaired. Look for the axe in hardware stores and warehouses, as they’re not likely to show up on residential lots.
