The Best Melee Weapons In Fallout 4, Ranked

Oct 21, 2024

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Fallout 4 has a fair share of ranged weapons for you to obtain, but melee weapons are some of the strongest in your arsenal. You'll find that there are many different melee weapons to obtain, all of which are useful in their own right – but not all created equal.

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Protect yourself from the many dangers of the Commonwealth with this equipment.

It goes without saying, but some weapons are naturally stronger than others based on their stats and effects alone. The best melee weapons in Fallout 4 will turn the post-apocalypse into your playground.

Updated May 7, 2024 by Jon Eakin: There's no doubt that Fallout is enjoying the biggest boom in popularity the series has ever seen, thanks to the TV show bringing attention to the setting and the games. With more people playing Fallout 4 than ever before, we've updated this list to help you find the hardest-hitting melee weapons.

Damage

40 Base + 100 Radiation

Weight

20

Speed

Slow

If you enjoy hitting people with a massive rocket boosted hammer, but wish that hammer was also topped with cracked nuclear fusion cores for extra spice, then look no further than Atom's Judgement.

It deals bonus radiation damage and can be modified for either energy or electrical damage. You'll find this in the Far Harbor DLC, receiving it for completing a quest called The Heretic for Grand Zealot Richter.

Damage

20

Weight

2

Speed

Medium

A weapon that would make Butcher Pete proud, the Butcher's Hook is certainly an evocative melee weapon. The key is that it refills your Action Points on a Critical Hit. Since you can bank critical hits you can have a continuing stream of VATS hits.

The Butcher's Hook can be purchased from Erikson at Horizon Flight 1207 on The Island, further proof if you needed it that the Far Harbor DLC is an absolute winner.

Damage

21

Weight

3.5

Speed

Slow

The humble baseball bat might seem underwhelming compared to electrified stun batons or radioactive hammers, but don't sleep on the Rockville Slugger. It's very customizable and is easy to find, sold conveniently by Moe Cronin in Diamond City.

It consumes 40 percent fewer Action Points to swing in VATS, meaning you can hit more often and build criticals faster, resulting in more guaranteed hits with bigger damage.

Damage

5

Weight

10

Speed

Very Fast

The Mr. Handy Buzz Blade is similar in many ways to the Ripper, a separate melee weapon you can encounter in Fallout 4. Although they look nothing alike, and the Mr. Handy Buzz Blade is the broken arm of a Mr. Handy robot, they both feature a moving blade that deals damage by moving across an enemy's hitbox, so they feel similar to use.

You can earn the Mr. Handy Buzz Blade by looting it from a chest at the end of the Fort Hagan Hangar in the Automatron DLC. Rust Devils also have a chance to drop this weapon upon their death, so it's technically possible to obtain multiple weapons of this variety.

Damage

15

Weight

3

Speed

Medium

The Sword of Wonders sure is wonderful. It completely ignores 30 percent of an enemy's resistances when it hits them. This legendary effect is unique, and the Sword of Wonders is one of the few weapons that you can gain this ability from.

You earn the Sword Of Wonders at the end of the 'A Magical Kingdom' quest. This is the only way to obtain this sword. After getting the Sword of Wonders, you can either use it yourself or give it to a companion, both of which will prove useful due to their powerful effects.

Damage

13

Weight

2

Speed

Medium

Big Jim is one of the funnier melee weapons in Fallout 4 in that it isn't really a weapon at all, but a Pipe Wrench. However, it is usable as a weapon in Fallout 4, which is quite interesting considering all the better choices a survivor would logically use to defend against Super Mutants and other terrifying wasteland creatures.

Even though a Pipe Wrench may not seem like the best weapon choice, Big Jim is actually quite powerful because it grants you a 20 percent chance to break an enemy's leg, wounding them and making the battle much easier for you and your companions. You can find Big Jim inside the basement at Walden Pond's gift shop.

Damage

20

Weight

2

Speed

Fast

Throatslicer is a bladed weapon in the Nuka-World DLC, but it also has an effect that causes the target to bleed for 25 points of damage after being hit. Although the Throatslicer isn't the strongest weapon in Fallout 4 at its base, it's very powerful due to its legendary effect.

Fallout 4 has heaps of builds to play around with. If you're going for the most powerful ones, you've come to the right place.

You can acquire the Throatslicer by buying it from Katelyn at the Nuka-World Market. Since Throatslicer is a buyable weapon, it's one of the easiest melee weapons to get your hands on that's also extremely powerful.

Damage

17

Weight

3

Speed

Medium

The Assaultron Blade is another weapon you can find at the end of the Fort Hagan Hangar in the Automatron DLC. It's not a particularly special weapon other than the fact that it's made from the blade of an Assaultron robot, as its name implies.

However, the Assaultron Blade truly shines when you add a modification to electrify the weapon. With this mod, it deals extra damage and is overall more powerful. You'll get the Assaultron Blade by simply following the Automatron storyline, so it's a weapon you can obtain naturally on your wasteland adventure.

Damage

40

Weight

20

Speed

Slow

The Super Sledge is one of the strongest weapons in the Fallout series. It does massive damage, with its only downside being how long the hammer takes to swing.

The Super Sledge deals impressive damage and is necessary for any powerful brutes, enabling you to take down the most fearsome foes Fallout has to offer.

Damage

16

Weight

3

Speed

Medium

The Chinese Officer Sword can be unlocked by completing the quest Here There Be Monsters. You can also find it in other locations throughout Fallout 4, although this mission is one of the only set ways to obtain it without having to purchase it from a merchant.

Although there are many different types of swords in Fallout 4, the Chinese Officer Sword is very unique in terms of design, offering a nice change of pace to the game's standard melee weapons. And with the ability to mod the sword and add bleeding damage, energy damage, or both, you really can't go wrong with making this your primary melee weapon.

Damage

16 Base + 5 Radiation

Weight

3

Speed

Medium

The Shem Drowne Sword is a unique variant of the Revolutionary Sword. You'll find the sword in Shem Drowne's grave during the quest 'The Gilded Grasshopper.'

These methods are tried and true, and you should follow them if you're looking for easy and quick caps.

Shem Drowne's Sword also has a powerful radiation effect and is one of the only melee weapons that can deal out radiation damage in general. If you want to wield one of the most powerful melee weapons in Fallout 4, then the Shem Drowne Sword is a good choice.

Damage

30

Weight

7

Speed

Slow

The Pole Hook was first introduced in the Far Harbor DLC and can be obtained by exploring the island and purchasing it in town. It's common all over the island, so it's not too difficult to encounter regardless of which locations you explore.

The Pole Hook is one of the most powerful weapons in the Far Harbor expansion pack and has a unique nautical aesthetic that you won't get from any other melee weapon in the game.

Damage

16

Weight

3

Speed

Slow

The 2076 World Series Baseball Bat has one of the most unique effects in Fallout 4, allowing you to forcefully throw enemies back when the weapon hits them. This effect may remind you of a certain shouting ability in a different Bethesda game series.

The 2076 World Series Baseball Bat is found under Jamaica Plain and, if brought to Moe Cronin in Diamond City, can be exchanged for Caps. The 2076 World Series Baseball Bat is one of the most unique weapons in Fallout 4, however, and few rival its effect.

Damage

25

Weight

10

Speed

Medium

Grognak's Axe is the only axe in Fallout 4 and can be found in Hubris Comics in the heart of Boston. Grognak's Axe has a very distinct look, and its unique effect has a low AP cost in VATS. In addition, the axe's base damage is quite high at 25.

There are few other melee weapons in Fallout 4 as strong or unique as Grognak's Axe, so it's worth adding to your collection if you ever travel deep into Boston.

Damage

4

Weight

6

Speed

Very Fast

The Ripper is a powerful weapon that changes the mechanics of combat completely. Instead of swinging and landing one direct hit, the Ripper hits enemies multiple times and consecutively so long as you're close enough. Due to this effect, Rippers are the most unique melee weapon type in Fallout 4.

Among all of the settlements that are obtainable in Fallout 4, there are some that rise to the top in terms of everything they can offer the player.

The Ripper's effect is similar to a chainsaw in that respect. A unique Ripper can be found in Far Harbor called The Harvester, which staggers enemies.

Damage

13 Attack + 13 Energy

Weight

3

Speed

Medium

The Shishkebab is the most powerful sword in Fallout 4 and can be found at Saugus Ironworks. The distinct and fiery look of the Shishebab is rivaled by few others in the game, and its stats are top-notch.

With its powerful blade and unique appearance, it's no surprise so many fans consider the Shishkebab their favorite weapon in Fallout 4 and the Fallout series as a whole.

Damage

15

Weight

10

Speed

Fast

What's unique about Pickman's Blade is that the weapon does bleed damage, making it much stronger than its variants. Most weapons only deal basic melee damage, so adding bleed damage makes it an extra powerful choice.

If you have a high-strength stat, Pickman's Blade will deal massive amounts of damage and is the perfect blade for any thief or assassin. Pickman's Blade can be picked up by looting Pickman's Stash.

Damage

28 Base + 3 Poison

Weight

2

Speed

Medium

Kremvh's Tooth is the most unique weapon in Fallout 4 because of the way it is obtained and its powerful effect. Kemvh's Tooth deals poison damage in addition to the regular damage it does upon impact.

You'll have to head to Dunwich Borers and complete the entire dungeon before eventually making your way into the final room, where the weapon is in the bottom of a hole. Since this is a completely free weapon and easy to obtain at higher levels, it's a good choice if you've been looking for that new weapon to finish your build.

Fallout 4 doesn't end after the main quest. Here's a bunch of stuff you can do once you're done.

In a region known as The Commonwealth, the sole survivor of Vault 111 must search for their missing child. Fallout 4 adds more to the series, including base building and an enhanced armor system, as well as an open world to traverse as you please.

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This list of best melee weapons is wrong. I use LUCKY MACHETE and SNEAK ATTACK for 10x damage. This is a one hit weapon combo bc you are likely to get a critical hit. Even if you don’t, multiplying the first hit 10x, makes the first hit devastating. Kremvh and Pickman are just ok.

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