In Project Zomboid, almost anything can be a weapon when you want to take down a zombie. Whether it’s a frying pan, a plunger, or a kitchen knife, nearly all household items can be used in combat. But the real fun begins when you find truly good weapons and can effectively make your way through the map. However, the choice is vast, and more damage isn’t always better. Your playstyle and the weapon’s usability are crucial in determining how well you can use it against zombies. With our Top 10, you’ll be on the right track and hopefully get into the gameplay quickly!
Baton - The Perfect Weapon for Beginners
Weapon Type: short and blunt
Location: Police stations, on police officers, survivor’s house
The baton is a wonderful weapon for beginners as it is relatively easy to find and extremely effective in combat. You can hold it in one hand, attack quickly, and it deals a fair amount of damage. Additionally, the baton has high durability, although you can’t repair it. If you have Multi-Hit enabled, you can hit two zombies at once, which is super handy for hordes!
Pitchfork - Classic Zombie Defence
Weapon Type: long and pointed
Location: Farm, hardware stores
The pitchfork is also one of the classic weapons in a zombie apocalypse and can be used in Project Zomboid. It falls under the category of spears, a long weapon with great reach. If you prefer to keep zombies at a distance, a pitchfork is perfect for that. Furthermore, it is durable and deals considerable damage. The only downside: it is very rare!
Baseball Bat for Starters
Weapon Type: long and blunt
Location: Starter kit, sports store, gym
If you’re looking for a two-handed weapon to start with, you should go straight for the baseball bat. Those who have enabled the starter kit in the sandbox settings should check their backpack and equip the baseball bat available from the start. It has a solid range, deals good critical damage, and can hit multiple enemies at once. Additionally, you can knock zombies to the ground with it, giving you time to catch your breath. Another advantage is that the baseball bat can be upgraded for even more damage!
Wooden Spear as a Crafting Alternative
Weapon Type: long and pointed
Location: Crafting
We’ve already mentioned the pitchfork as a spear, but you don’t necessarily need to find such a weapon to defend yourself. With some crafting skills, you can carve a spear from a simple stick. Especially for players who don’t want to rely on found weapons, a wooden spear is a wonderful alternative for starters. You can also use the spear for fishing to survive in nature. And if you’ve found a short stabbing weapon, you can attach it to the tip for even more damage!
Knife for One-Hit Kills
Weapon Type: short and pointed
Location: Kitchen, camping shops, survivor’s house
While we’re on the subject of knives, let’s take a closer look at this type of weapon. The tutorial already taught you that you can achieve a one-hit kill with them, which is especially effective when sneaking! Knives also have a high chance of critical hits and are great as a secondary weapon. The best knives are the classic kitchen knife and the hunting knife, but actually, any short stabbing weapon can be deadly.
Crowbar - Durable and Versatile
Weapon Type: long and blunt
Location: Cars, garage
The crowbar is considered one of the best weapons by many players. It deals good damage and has the longest durability of all melee weapons in the game. This alone makes it perfect for those who don’t want to constantly worry about repairs. It is easy to find and should be in every inventory. And with Multi-Hit, you can hit three zombies at once! You can also use the crowbar to break open doors or for other crafting purposes.
Upgraded Baseball Bat with Nails
Weapon Type: long and blunt
Location: Crafting
We’ve already mentioned the regular baseball bat, and its crafting possibilities are extremely handy for anyone who finds it too boring. Once you’ve found some nails and a hammer, you can upgrade your bat! This increases damage slightly and gives you the ability to repair the baseball bat and equip it with more nails. You can also attach nails to blunt weapons.
Machete - The All-Rounder
Weapon Type: long and pointed
Location: Pawnshops, weapon stores
Now we come to the Top 3 of the ranking—the weapons that every player should use. Starting off is the machete, a one-handed weapon with good damage, great range, and excellent crafting options. You can attach it to an already mentioned spear, for example, to drastically increase your range. But even on its own, the machete is a wonderful all-rounder, easy to handle, and repairable. The only problem is that it is quite rare, and you’ll likely have to search several shops and houses to find it.
Axe - Versatility and Utility
Weapon Type: various
Location: Garages, fire stations, crafting, hardware stores
Axes are also typical in a zombie apocalypse and are perfect for decimating hordes of undead. The game offers a range of different axes, each with its own handling. Some are only usable with both hands, slow and powerful, while others are lighter, faster, and usable with one hand. Find the type of axe that suits you best. Axes are also useful outside of combat for chopping wood or destroying barricades. Additionally, you can repair them or craft your own, making them long-lasting.
Katana - The Ultimate Melee Weapon
Weapon Type: long and pointed
Location: Pawnshop, survivor’s house, residential houses
At the very top is the katana, the best melee weapon in the game! It deals massive damage and can even kill most zombies with one strike. Moreover, it consumes little stamina, has great range, and can attack quickly in succession. Katanas can be used both one-handed and two-handed. However, you won’t find such a weapon everywhere; it is extremely rare and has a best-case spawn chance of only 0.2%, but usually around 0.01%. Additionally, it is fragile and cannot be repaired.
Conclusion
Melee weapons are perfect for keeping most zombies at bay and for engaging in your first battles. And the selection is vast! Find the weapons that best suit your playstyle. You can rent a Project Zomboid server with us and embark on the search for rare weapons together with your friends. Maybe you’ll be lucky and find one of the rare katanas!
