Fallout 4: Best Melee Weapons

We ranked the top 10 best and most potent Melee Weapons in Fallout 4 to help you choose the best weapon for your playstyle and build.

In Fallout 4, melee weapons are used at close range and do not require ammunition. Melee builds are known for high damage and fast mobility and require a lot of survivability perks. Melee weapons come in two forms: unarmed or melee weapons. The Big Leagues perk increases the damage for melee weapons like baseball bats or any weapon required to swing to damage the enemy. Iron Fist raises the damage caused by unarmed weapons like sharp knuckles. In this guide, we will rank the best melee weapons in Fallout 4 so you can choose what you want to collect and use for your melee build.

The Top 10 Best Melee Weapons in Fallout 4

Pickman’s Blade is the best overall melee weapon in Fallout 4 because you can gain a 10.5x sneak multiplier, the most one-shot damage potential. The Sledgehammer and Baseball Bat are secondary choices because of their powerful weapon upgrades, extra range, and ability to hit multiple targets with upgrade Big Leagues perks. The downside of the Sledgehammer and Baseball Bat is the requirement of Nuka-World DLC to use their full potential. Therefore, due to damage and Action Point cost, Grognak’s Axe remains the second best option for base game Fallout 4 players.

Here are the best Melee Weapons in Fallout 4:

1. Pickman’s Blade – highest melee burst damage in Fallout 4
2. Sledgehammer – insane area damage, requires Nuka-World to upgrade
3. Baseball Bat – similar to Sledgehammer and requiring Nuka-World for optimal damage
4. Grognak’s Axe – easy to obtain, benefit to Action Points in VATS, good damage
5. Power Fist – a powerful unarmed weapon with good upgrades
6. Deathclaw Gauntlet – good post-level 20 unarmed melee weapon
7. Ripper – excellent for sustained fights lasting over a few seconds
8. Combat Knife – great all-around weapon with stealth mod
9. Chinese Officer Sword – powerful weapon, good mods, just others do better
10. Switchblade – best starter melee weapon

10 Switchblade

Switchblade stats and effects in Fallout 4:

• Weapon Type: Melee
• Effect(s): none
• Damage: 8
• Speed: Fast 
• Range: 0.8
• AP Cost: 20
• Value: 20
• Weight: 1

The Switchblade may lack the raw damage output of other melee weapons on this list, but its fast attack speed and lightweight design make it a practical choice for swift, close-quarters engagements. It is particularly effective in stealth builds, where quick, silent kills are essential for success. This should also be your number one weapon when you start a new character using a Melee Build in Fallout 4.

The Serrated Switchblade is an upgraded version that requires crafting a Blacksmith perk. This nearly doubles the damage of the Switchblade and gives a bleed damage effect. The easiest way to obtain a switchblade is on a table next to a skull in the Museum of Freedom, Concord. If you play a melee or sneak build, grab this weapon immediately!

9 Chinese Officer Sword

Chinese Officer Sword stats and effects in Fallout 4:

• Weapon Type: Melee
• Effect(s): None
• Damage: 16
• Speed: Medium
• Range: 0.8
• AP Cost: 35
• Value: 50
• Weight: 3

The Chinese Officer Sword combines moderate damage with a medium swing speed, making it a balanced option for close-quarters combat. Its sleek design and availability early in the game make it a popular choice for players looking to upgrade from basic melee weapons.  With Blacksmith 3 and Science 1, you can upgrade the sword to an Electrified Serrated blade. This adds electrical damage and bleed, further increasing the potential for the Chinese Officer Sword.

The General Chao’s Revenge is a unique variant of the Chinese Officer Sord and does an additional 50% damage to robots.   You can buy this weapon from Trudy at Drumlin Diner, southeast of Concord. 

8 Combat Knife

Combat Knife stats and effects in Fallout 4:

• Weapon Type: Melee
• Effect(s): None
• Damage: 9
• Speed: Fast
• Range: 0.8
• AP Cost: 20
• Value: 25
• Weight: 1

While not the most powerful melee weapon on this list, the Combat Knife offers an upgrade to the Switchblade.  What makes the Combat Knife unique is the ability to modify the weapon with a serrated blade or stealth blade!  Not only does this provide the bleed bonus of the Serrated mod, but it also provides extra stealth damage, giving another .5 sneak damage multiplier.  You’ll want to combine the Combat Knife with the Agility Perk Ninja, which can grant a 10x multiplier once fully maxed out.

You can obtain the Combat Knife by traveling to Fens Street sewer, just outside of Diamond City.  Look for some baby carriages and loot around that area for an upgrade to your melee weapons early.

7 Ripper

Ripper stats and effects in Fallout 4:

• Weapon Type: Melee
• Effect(s): None
• Damage: 4
• Speed: Very Fast
• Range: 0.8
• AP Cost: 40
• Value: 50
• Weight: 6

The Ripper is a Chain-Blade type of melee weapon that excels in rapid, sustained damage output. The Ripper is better for sustained fights, where you aren’t going to one-shot an enemy from stealth.  However, its most significant downside is the lack of one-shot potential.    The Curved Ripper modification can disarm enemies, giving the possibility to stun or limit incoming damage, and is the best mod for this weapon.  However, without one-shot potential and limited mods, it doesn’t rank higher on our best melee weapons in the Fallout 4 list.

The easiest way to obtain the Ripper in Fallout 4 is by buying it from KL-E-0 at the Kill or Be Killed store in Goodneighbor. Tinker Tom can also sell you a Ripper at Railroad HQ.

6 Deathclaw Gauntlet

Deathclaw Gauntlet stats and effects in Fallout 4:

• Weapon Type: Unarmed
• Effect(s): None
• Damage: 25
• Speed: Medium
• Range: 0.8
• AP Cost: 40
• Value: 70
• Weight: 10

The Deathclaw Gauntlet is a medium-speed unarmed weapon that benefits from the Iron Fist perks.  The strength of the Dealthclaw Gauntlet is its raw damage, and the extra claw modification.  Extra claw increases damage and gives a chance to disarm enemies.  The downside of the Deathclaw Gauntlet is its Iron Fist perk only increases its damage, and the item doesn’t start appearing until level 20 or higher.

You can obtain the Deathclaw Gauntlet after level 20 or completing the Devil’s Due sidequest started in Diamond City via guards.

5 Power Fist

Power Fist Blade stats and effects in Fallout 4:

• Weapon Type: Unarmed
• Effect(s): None
• Damage: 50
• Speed: Medium
• Range: 0.8
• AP Cost: 35
• Value: 100
• Weight: 4

The Power Fist is a formidable, unarmed weapon due to its high damage output and unique ability to penetrate armor.  The Power Fist is the best unarmed weapon, with two mods that add much damage. Puncturing penetrates armor, while the heating coil adds electric damage.  However, the downside is that you cannot use power armor and Power Fist simultaneously.

We ranked the Power Fist higher than the Deathclaw gauntlet because of the increased mods available, and it starts to appear much earlier in the game.

The Power Fist melee weapon can be obtained at Swan’s Pond by searching Swan’s body. Swan’s Pond is near Vault 114 and Hubris Comics, where you can obtain Grognak’s Axe.

4 Grognak’s Axe

Grognak’s Axe stats and effects in Fallout 4:

• Weapon Type: Unique Melee
• Effect(s): Bleed Damage
• Damage: 25
• Speed: Medium
• Range: 0.8
• AP Cost: 20
• Value: 100
• Weight: 10

Grognak’s Axe is a powerful melee weapon with a unique aesthetic and solid damage output. This axe is medium speed and has a hidden effect of less Action Point cost in VATS, giving it a big advantage over other melee weapons on this list.  Gronak’s Axe benefits from Big Leagues and Bloody Mess, dramatically increasing your damage.  Moreover, you can obtain this unique weapon early in Fallout 4, giving it use throughout your entire playthrough.

To get Grognak’s Axe, travel to the Hubris Comics location near Trinity Tower.  Look for an advanced locked display case near the front desk.  You can also access a terminal nearby with advanced hacking, so only travel here if you have one of those perks unlocked.

3 Baseball Bat

Baseball Bat stats and effects in Fallout 4:

• Weapon Type: Melee
• Effect(s): None
• Damage: 16
• Speed: Slow
• Range: 10
• AP Cost: 35
• Value: 25
• Weight: 3

Despite its simple appearance, the Baseball Bat is a reliable melee weapon with decent damage and a slow swing speed. Baseball’s range of 10 meters and weapon upgrades make it so effective. Unlike other melee weapons, the Baseball bat can be upgraded with various modifications, though it may require the Nuka-World DLC.

The Shocking Puncturing Rocket upgrade gives electrical damage, a chance to stun, armor piercing, an opportunity to cripple, and more damage!  Thus, the Baseball Bat is a simple, easy weapon that can carry damage once you level your crafting skills.

You can obtain a unique baseball bat called the 2076 World Series baseball bat, which grants an extra effect to send targets flying (6%).  This unique baseball bat is found in the Jamaica Plain Town Hall basement.  Jamaica Plains is the southeast corner of your map.

2 Sledgehammer

Sledgehammer stats and effects in Fallout 4:

• Weapon Type: Melee
• Effect(s): None
• Damage: 20
• Speed: Slow
• Range: 10
• AP Cost: 40
• Value: 40
• Weight: 12

The Sledgehammer is similar to the Baseball Bat in that it has massive available upgrades. Moreover, you can obtain a Super Sledgehammer with a higher base damage but less upgrade potential.  What makes the Sledgehammer one of the best melee weapons in Fallout 4 is its range and rank 4 Big Leagues perk.  With rank 4, you can hit multiple enemies in front of you, and with the extra range, modification, and damage, it’s our third favorite melee weapon in Fallout 4.

However, to fully upgrade the Sledgehammer, you will need the Nuka-World add-on, which is a separate purchase. If you’re a player without that upgrade, use the Super Sledgehammer, which has higher base damage but less available upgrades.

You can obtain a Sledgehammer at the Thicket Excavation site, east of Red Rocket Truck Stop.  Look for an NPC, Sully Mathis, leaning against a Water Pump. 

1 Pickman’s Blade

Pickman’s Blade stats and effects in Fallout 4:

• Weapon Type: Unique melee
• Effect(s): Targets bleed for 25 points of additional damage.
• Damage: 15
• Speed: Fast
• Range: 10
• AP Cost: 20
• Value: 143
• Weight: 1

The best overall melee weapon is Pickman’s Blade, a unique Combat Knife variation. Pickman’s Blade grants an additional 25 points of bleed damage to targets.  The Sealth blade weapon modification allows you to increase your sneak multiplier by +0.5, which stacks with Ninja Perk’s 10x multiplier.  With Pickman’s Blade, you have the most one-shot kill potential of all the melee weapons in Fallout 4 and the bonus of remaining hidden.

You can further increase your damage by investing in luck perks that bank criticals and better criticals.  Overall, Pickman’s Blade gives you insane burst potential, and the extra bleed damage ensures targets will die if not initially killed.

You can obtain Pickman’s Blade by traveling to Pickman’s Gallery, south of Bunker Hill. First, you have to help Pickman out of trouble with some bad guys. Then he’ll give you the key to the safe. The safe is hidden behind a painting called Picnic for Stanley. 

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