By now, you’ve probably survived for a few days in DayZ, managing to avoid both zombies and other players. However, there will come a time when you must fight and can’t escape. Since firearms are not frequently found, melee weapons will likely be your best option. Additionally, you can always attack with your fists, so you should definitely know the basic techniques! Even for experienced players, melee can be a good alternative and lead to victory in tricky situations. We’ll take a closer look at the best tricks for melee combat and also provide you with the best weapons!
Effective Melee Techniques in DayZ
First, you should be familiar with the basics that make up melee combat in DayZ. All these techniques can be performed without a weapon, as well as with blunt or sharp weapons. Therefore, it’s important to master all control elements and practice them in direct melee to become familiar with them. DayZ is not necessarily known for its precision, so you must work with the game to win.
Normal Attacks: To attack, you need to hold down your right mouse button to enter combat mode and ready your weapon. After that, you can strike with a left mouse click.
Blocking: At the same time, you should also familiarize yourself with blocking. Continue holding the right mouse button and move backwards. Your character will raise their hands even higher, allowing them to block most attacks. This won’t work against heavy attacks. You’ll take less damage, but still become somewhat dazed. Block as much as possible to deflect a large portion of the damage.
Heavy Attack: If you hold Shift while attacking, your character will perform a heavy attack. This takes longer but packs significantly more power. Additionally, your opponent will stagger, making them vulnerable to further short and quick attacks. However, keep in mind that heavy attacks reduce your stamina more quickly.
Sprint Attack: If you want to surprise your opponent, try this attack. Run towards your target and strike immediately with the left mouse button. The range of this attack is extremely long, giving you a good advantage. Use this technique only against zombies, as other players can block you mid-attack.
Aiming Correctly: As mentioned, DayZ can sometimes be a bit peculiar, so not all your swings will land perfectly. Always aim slightly higher than expected, roughly at the head. This way, your attacks will hopefully land better and deal more damage.
First Person: We recommend fighting in first-person perspective in DayZ. This way, you can see much better how to attack and eliminate your opponent.
Dodging: You can also dodge in combat, giving you more room to manoeuvre and potentially negating damage from heavy attacks. To do this, press Q or E at the right moment to dodge to the left or right. It doesn’t always work reliably but can be really handy in a pinch!
Kicking: Many veterans may not know this, but you can also kick! To do this, lie on the ground, hold the right mouse button, and roll onto your back. Then, you can kick with your leg. This is only practical if you’re already on the ground and want to defend yourself against other players. It doesn’t deal damage but can briefly stun the opponent.
A crucial tip is to always stay in motion. This not only gives you many advantages in melee combat but also makes you a harder target for potential snipers who might be hiding. To regenerate stamina, avoid running too fast. It recharges more quickly when you stand still.
Choosing the Best Melee Weapons in DayZ
Once you’ve mastered the intricate techniques, you can start looking for some good weapons. This is just a small selection, and ultimately, it depends on your own attack style. In a pinch, almost anything can be a weapon, from a broom to a shovel.
Fists: Even without a weapon, you can always defend yourself in DayZ, and your fists are not such a bad weapon! With a little patience, you can fend off zombies with your bare hands. It can be a bit more challenging against other players as you can’t easily predict their attacks.
Fire Axe: The fire axe is not only the best weapon in the game but also a wonderful tool for other activities outside of combat. It deals as much damage as a sledgehammer but is lighter in the inventory. You can defend yourself against any zombie and most players with it. However, we advise you to hide it in your inventory. The bright red axe head is like a magnet for players who want to loot you!
Brass Knuckles: If you want to give your fists a powerful upgrade, you should use brass knuckles. They are discreet and can surprise a zombie or player! Additionally, they are small and handy, so they should fit into any inventory. Sure, they don’t deal as much damage as other weapons, but they are super practical and can quickly make opponents stagger.
Knife: There is another attack that might suit your play style better. With a knife, you can perform a stealth attack and kill zombies in one hit. It’s a bit complicated but very satisfying if you manage to pull it off. Sneak up from behind. The lighter your inventory, the less noticeable you’ll be. Then hold the right mouse click and attack with the left mouse click when you’re close enough to the zombie’s back. The attack only succeeds if the zombie hasn’t noticed you.
Conclusion on Melee Combat in DayZ
Good melee skills are an essential part of DayZ and help you defend yourself in almost any situation. Even without a weapon, you can defend yourself with your fists and even defeat the occasional zombie. Some weapons, like the fire axe or brass knuckles, make things even easier. Rent your own DayZ server with us and try to fend off hordes of zombies together and find some of the rare weapons. A little fistfight in between certainly won’t hurt!
