Summary
The world ofWarhammer 40,000is far from hospitable, and the underhives ofWarhammer 40,000: Darktideprove that quite often. Knowing that, you’ll need to bring the best weapons that the Imperium Of Man can offer… for a group of rejects anyway.
Latrine shovels, chainswords, psychic-fueled swords, and everything in between are there for you to make a killing with. But, as you walk the warrens and halls of the underhive, you’ll need to learn which of these weapons are best suited for you. So, here are the best melee weapons to keep on your hip, or hand, in Darktide.
Given that every melee weapon is intended to be a viable option for you in Darktide, we’ve selected these weapons based on time spent with them during our own playtimes, how effective they were during this time, howenjoyablethey were (which absolutely matters), their special attack, and how well-suited they are to certain builds.
10Illisi Mk V Blaze Force Sword
Swords And Psychic Powers
An odd weapon for sure, but one thatfitsthe psyker playstylequite well. It’s sort of a mix between other power weapons and some of the swords that veterans use, but that’s not quite all this weapon can do.
At its base, the blaze force-style swords are a pretty cumbersome weapon with some deadly swings, butthe weapon really shines when you activate its power field. Fueled by psychic energy, it allows the blade to cut through quite a bit, which means it can be great for targeting special enemies. The drawback is it does build peril, so a keen eye is needed to be sure to not explode with warp energy.
9Maccabian Mk IV Dueling Sword
A Fencer’s Best Friend
The dueling sword may not be everyone’s favorite, but those who love it will swear by it. It may seem like an odd choice for the world of Warhammer 40k, but the social higher-ups and guard regiments are quite fond of this elegant weapon.
The dueling sword isa great weapon for the psyker who wants to have little more close-combat abilities for when things get hectic. It’s fast, precise, and deadly when used right.Aiming for heads or other weakpoints, you’ll find it incredibly easy to dispatch enemiesthat get a little too close for comfort.
8Achlys Mk I Power Maul
A Shocking Surprise
An ogryn with a power maul is a powerful friend indeed. If you want to play a skullbreaker that is adept at clearing room for your “little ‘uns” then this is the weapon you should have equipped.It has some wide swings that send dregs and poxwalkers flying.
Once the power field is active though you can deliver a shocking hit that can break bones and cave-in skulls. Mix that with the weapon’s heavy-attack, and you have a force that can weaken some of the harder enemies for your friends to come finish off easily.
It’s Not For Chopping Trees
The combat axe is one of the most abundant melee weapon types that veterans can get ahold of. It is a deadly weapon that excels in single strikes that can kill low level enemies and severely wound tougher ones.
It has a unique ability to pierce armor, which makes it ideal against maulers, bulwarks, and the like. It may seem counter-intuitive, but rushing one of these enemies with an axe (and some backup of course, cohesion is important) and you’ll find yourselves standing over your enemies’ corpse in no time.
These axes also have a special attack that ignores stagger reduction and armor. They have sort of a wind-up to them which can be hard to time, but it’s well-worth learning how to use this uppercut.
6Bull Butcher Mk III Cleaver
That’s Not A Knife…
The Bull Butcher is a weapon that is as deadly as it is cruel.It will be one of the earlier weapons you unlock while playing as an ogryn, but it also may be one that you keep handy for many levels to come.
The cleaverisn’t as ideal for crowd control, which is something to think about if you find yourself in the thick of things often, but it’sperfect for deadly singular strikesthat may knock away one or two enemies here and there. Combining the cleaver with a good mid-range weapon and hunting down special enemies is a great way to add some extra firepower to your team’s strategy.
5Orestes Mk IV Assault Chainaxe
A Favorite Of Berserkers Everywhere
The term “assault” may seem redundant when you get a peek at this horrific-looking weapon. Chainaxes can be found all around the Warhammer 40k universe anywhere where someone wants to completely devastate their foes.
The chainaxe in Darktide issimilar to its cousin, the chainsword, but with slightly less reach and higher damage on average. It’s not uncommon to see zealots or veterans swinging this weapon around for dear life, and for good reason. Oftencombined with bleeding buffs, this weapon can make short work of armored and unarmored enemies thanks to its rending abilities.
4Crucis Mk II Thunder Hammer
Bring The Thunder
Playing as a zealot can mean rushing in to meet the enemy head-on just as much as it can mean boosting them with cohesion abilities. For the former moments, the thunder hammer is one of the best weapons you’re able to wield.
Clearing crowds has never been easier than with a thunder hammer, and this one has the most explosive qualities.It does have the drawback of being somewhat slow to swing, so make sure you’re timing your attacks. Its weight combined with its impressive power field means it can stagger and even throw some of the tougher enemies you’ll come across in the underhive.
3Cadia Mk IV Assault Chainsword
The Planet Fell Before The Guard
A fusion of chainsaw and sword that just feels so 40k. The Mk IV Chainsword is a severe melee weapon that’s available for a few different classes, and it holds a bit of extra weight for being made on the lost, but not forgotten, planet Cadia.
There are few weapons in the game that you can get as early as the chainsword that are as impressive to wield.Powerful attacks against single opponents, andwide sweeping swings of toothed bladesmix together to make for a melee weapon that can do a little bit of everything. Some players will upgrade this until it’s their go-to, while others may retire it for more specialized weaponry.
2Orox Mk II Battle Maul And Mk II Slab Shield
Slabs Of Muscle And Steel
Ogryns are alreadyan imposing physical force, but it only gets more impressive when you see one with the shield and maul combo. Reminiscent of the bulwark enemies that wander the halls of the underhive, any ogryn that wields this is definitely something to stand behind when the fighting gets heavy.
Swings with the maul will cave in heads of any weaker enemies nearby and scatter the rest, plusthe charged attack sends the edge of the shield straight at the enemy for increased damage. Instead of a specialty attack,these weapons also have the option of planting the shield into the ground, something that immobilizes you, but negates a lot of enemy attacks coming at you.
The slab shield may be great for protecting your team’s front, but it still leaves you defenseless from the sides and back. For extra defense, the psyker’s bubble shield, or even other ogryn with slab shields can make for an impressive wall.
1Tigrus Mk II Heavy Eviscerator
An Elegant Weapon For A More Civilized Age
It’s one thing to carry around a normal chainsword, but sometimes you want a little bit more from your melee weapon. Well, the world of Warhammer 40k isn’t shy about taking things one step further, and that’s easily shown with the Eviscerator.
It may look like an everyday chainsword, butthe extra length and weight means it’s only suited for two-handed swings. That means extra stagger and reach, which means it can bea great melee weapon for the zealot’s rage-inspired dashes into enemy hordes. It also has a special rending attack that’s perfect for cutting through enemy ragers and similar opponents.
