Ammunition is a rare commodity in Atomfall, and powerful ranged weapons are few and far between out there in the Quarantine Zone. As a result, you’ll likely spend a lot of your time using melee weapons, some of which can be equally if not more effective than their ranged counterparts.
From the electrical Stun Stick to the medieval Mace, there are a wide variety of ways to pacify your enemies at close quarters, and their effectiveness can also be bolstered by certain in-game stims and perks.
Whether you’re roaming the open fields of Skethermoore or lurking in the tunnels of The Interchange, the following melee weapons should have you covered when you inevitably run into the threats—both human and inhuman—in the world of Atomfall.
7
Hatchet
A Quick and Easy One-Hander
The Hatchet is a relatively basic but effective melee weapon which is best used against low-level human enemies like Outlaws and Druids.
The easiest way to acquire one is to head to Casterfell Woods and keep following the road to the north. Eventually, you should find one lodged in a tree near to Mother Jago’s trading outpost.
While certainly not the most powerful, the fast swings offered by the Hatchet can quickly add up and stagger opponents.
Out of the one-handed weapons in the game, it is certainly one of the more versatile, though you will likely want something more substantial for tougher enemies.
6
Stun Stick
Prod and Shock Your Opponents
While it might not be the deadliest weapon, the Stun Stick certainly has its use cases. Striking out in a jabbing manner rather than a swing, the Stun Stick is great for navigating around certain enemies if you’re in a hurry.
Though it can certainly kill when used repeatedly on a single target, there are definitely better options when it comes to dealing out high amounts of damage.
With that said, the Stun Stick is still a great tool to have in your melee arsenal, especially when faced with fast-moving enemies like Ferals and Druids.
To get the Stun Stick, you’ll need to head down to the Robotics facility in The Interchange. Here it can be found next to the body of a dead scientist near the entrance of the Robot Maintenance Area. Additionally, you can also find one at the Protocol Field Station in Skethermoore.
5
Heavy Survival Knife
THIS is a Knife
The Heavy Survival Knife, which is really more accurately described as an “explorer’s machete,” is a good, solid weapon and probably the strongest of the one-handed options in the game.
Capable of stunning enemies and causing prolonged Bleed damage, it has a reasonably balanced feel to it by inflicting medium levels of damage at a decent speed.
Compared to the faster Farming Knife, the Heavy Survival Knife is definitely more powerful, though it does come at a slight cost to attack speed.
This knife can be found at several locations throughout the game, but the most reliable spawn point is in the inventory of the trader Corporal “Bootsy” Hughes in Skethermoore.
4
Spiked Club
Primitive But Effective
One of the stronger two-handed weapons to get your irriadated paws on is the Spiked Club. What makes this weapon so good is the fact that it not only bludgeons opponents but also applies Bleed damage too.
The Spiked Club is often wielded by low-level Outlaws in Slatten Dale or Casterfell Woods, so it can be acquired pretty early in the game if you fancy an alternative or lost your Cricket Bat early on.
Much like the Cricket Bat, it also has a wide swinging arc and is therefore capable of taking down multiple enemies at once. With a fully-powered strike and the right buffs and perks, it is easily capable of one-shotting enemies.
3
Cricket Bat
An English Tradition
The Cricket Bat is something of a legendary weapon within the world of Atomfall, and for the achievement hunters out there, you can even get the “Hit for Six” achievement by whacking an enemy grenade back at them with it.
You can find one pretty early on by defeating Outlaws in Slatten Dale, and due to its commonality, it will probably be one of the first weapons you find in the game.
While it may be accessible from very early on, this doesn’t mean it’s a bad weapon by any means. The Cricket Bat has decent power and a good swing speed, but its best asset is the wide swing arc, which can stun multiple enemies at once.
2
Axe
As Brutal As It Is Useful
Another two-handed powerhouse that will cut down most foes in just a couple of swings. Although the swings themselves may be quite slow, they’re devastating when they land, particularly against human opponents.
A quick kick followed by a power attack is usually enough to finish off most enemies, and coupled with a Combat Stim it can even take down large robots.
Compared with the Cricket Bat and the Mace, the Axe seems to have a smaller hit-box, so your strikes will need to be a bit more accurate when using this.
You can find the Axe as loot from the executioner-style medieval enemies in Casterfell Woods.
1
Mace
The Ultimate Atom-Smasher
Undoubtedly the strongest melee weapon in the game is the two-handed Mace. This beast of a weapon can be found at several Druid sites around Casterfell Woods, such as the Castle Ruins and Speaking Caves, as well as the Outlaw Caves in Slatten Dale.
Nothing feels quite so satisfying as clubbing your way through hordes of Druids using an appropriately heavy medieval weapon.
In addition to having a wide swing arc and good range, it also has excellent power, enabling you to one-shot most enemies, provided you have either a Combat Stim or the Kill Momentum skill activated.
Much like the other two-handed weapons in the game, you can even deactivate large robots by hitting them in the central panel on the front.
