Top 18 Best Melee Weapons in Rimworld

In our Rimworld best melee weapon guide, we are going to mention a total of 18 melee weapons that can help you against different enemies.

Using the right type of weapons in Rimworld can help you defeat powerful enemies quickly. If you use weapons that are weak or are not meant for certain situations, then you’ll only stay at a disadvantage against your enemies. Earlier, we talked about the best weapons in Rimworld. And today, we are going to talk about melee weapons.

Through our Rimworld best melee weapon guide, we are going to help you select weapons that you should be using when you’re extremely close to the enemy. The right melee weapons will help you stay alive when things get up close and personal.

Key Takeaways

Close-Quarter Fighters (Top 18):

  • Versatile Options:
    • “Beer”: Mood booster and useful in emergencies.
    • “Elephant Tusk”: Moderate damage against low-armored enemies.
  • High Damage Output:
    • “Club”: Swift takedowns against armored foes.
    • “Eltex Staff”: Restores health, boosts psychic levels (42%), decent damage.
    • “Knife”: Early-game excellence with high damage.
  • Powerful Choices:
    • “Warhammer”: Astonishing damage, high cooldown.
    • “Axe”: Deals sharp damage, effective against armored foes.
    • “Jade Knife”: Unique, deals blunt damage.
  • Utility Weapons:
    • “Bionic Arm”: High damage, boosts manipulation levels (12.5%).
    • “Ikwa”: High damage against regular enemies.
  • Specialized Picks:
    • “Zeushammer”: Rear weapon with high damage and stun ability.
    • “Gladius”: Versatile, avoid against armored enemies (low damage).
    • “Plasmasword”: Fiery weapon sets foes on fire, suitable for late game.
    • “Spear”: Stunning, high damage, cooldown against armored foes.
    • “Mace”: Armor-piercing, uranium version recommended.
  • Exceptional Weapons:
    • “Thrumbo Horn”: Considered one of the best with amazing damage output.
    • “Monosword”: Stunning, excels in any situation with low cooldown.
    • “Longsword”: Highest base damage, the best overall weapon in the game.

Stats of all the best Melle Weapons:

Melee Weapon NameTypeMarket ValueAvg DPSAvg AP (%)
BeerSocial Drug12.04.513.0
Elephant TuskEquipment Weapon80.06.8927.0
ClubEquipment WeaponN / A6.2719.0
Eltex StaffEquipment Weapon2000.04.6218.0
KnifeEquipment WeaponN / A6.518.0
WarhammerEquipment WeaponN / A6.8927.0
AxeEquipment WeaponN / A6.7120.0
Jade KnifeEquipment Weapon159.05.3519.0
Bionic ArmMedical Items - Body Parts1030.06.018.0
IkwaEquipment WeaponN / A6.7120.0
Zeus HammerEquipment Weapon2000.09.9542.0
GladiusEquipment WeaponN / A7.5223.0
PlasmaswordEquipment Weapon2000.07.8530.0
SpearEquipment WeaponN / A7.3538.0
MaceEquipment WeaponN / A7.0221.0
Thrumbo HornEquipment Weapon800.0N / AN / A
MonoswordEquipment Weapon2000.012.0883.0
LongswordEquipment WeaponN / A 8.633.0

Beer

Type Social Drug 
Market Value 12
HP 50
Deterioration Rate 0.5
Flammability 50%
Melee Avg. DPS 4.5
Melee Avg. AP 13%

The first Rimworld melee weapon that I would like to mention on this list is the Beer. Now, before you say it, I know that Beer is just a consumable item. However, it can be used as a Melee weapon as well. For those who don’t know, Beer’s primary function is to boost the mood of the characters. But if an enemy comes to your face while you have the Beer in your hand, then you can attack them with it.

While the amount of damage it will deal won’t be that much, it will still make a difference. However, do keep in mind that overuse of Beer can lead to alcohol addiction, and instead of boosting the mood of your characters, it will only make things worse. 

Beer bottle Rimworld
Beer
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How to get Beer in Rimworld: To get your hands on some Beer in the game, you will first need to plant and harvest the Hops plant. Once done, you can visit the Brewery, where you can convert 25 Hops for five units of Wort. Wort can then be placed in the Fermenting Barrel for six days to produce Beer. 

Elephant Tusk

Type Equipment-Weapon
Market Value 80
HP 150
Deterioration Rate 0.5
Flammability N/A
Melee Avg. DPS 6.89
Melee Avg. AP 27%

The Elephant Tusk is an amazing melee weapon, especially for the early stages of the game. The best part about it is that it is not that difficult to acquire, and it can help you take down the weaker enemies that you’ll most likely face at the start of the playthrough. For an early melee weapon, the weapon can do a good amount of damage with each hit.

However, keep in mind that the Elephant Tusk will fail to perform effectively against enemies who have armor on. The weapon can not be carried over to the later parts of the game as you’ll have much better options available by then.

Elephant Tusk Rimworld
Elephant Tusk
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How to get the Elephant Tusk in Rimworld: This is one of the easiest melee weapons to get in the game. All you need to do is kill an Elephant. If you manage to bring down an adult Elephant, then you’ll get a pair of tusks. However, make sure not to damage the Elephant a lot while taking it down. Otherwise, you’ll end up damaging the tusks, and you’ll have nothing to harvest from it. 

Club

Type Equipment-Weapon 
Market Value N/A
Mass 2 kg
Deterioration Rate N/A
Flammability N/A
Melee Avg. DPS 6.27
Melee Avg. AP 19%

Another great melee weapon that is ideal for the early stages of Rimworld is the Club. It looks like a baseball bat, but it comes with spikes at the top. If you ever wanted to look like Negan from The Walking Dead in Rimworld, then this is your chance. Just like the Elephant Tusk, this weapon can help you get through the start of the game, and you won’t have to worry about going through a lot of trouble to get it.

The best part is that since it can deal blunt damage, the Club can help you take down enemies with armor as well. This is something amazing for a weapon that can be acquired so early and easily in the game. 

Spiked Club melee weapon in Rimworld
Club
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How to get the Club in Rimworld: Unlike most of the other weapons available in the game, the Club can be crafted without completing any kind of research. All you need to do is visit a crafting spot, an Electric Smithy, or a Fueled Smithy to create this weapon. You can either use 40 pieces of wood, metals, or stone to craft it. However, if you’re willing to spend any time crafting it, then you can also purchase it from a Combat Supplier or a War Merchant. 

Eltex Staff

Type Equipment-Weapon 
Market Value 2000
Mass 1.2 kg
Deterioration Rate N/A
Flammability N/A
Melee Avg. DPS 4.62
Melee Avg. AP 18%

Next up on our list is the Eltex Staff. The reason why this weapon is one of the best weapons in Rimworld is that it can greatly benefit those who use Psycasts. It can give a boost to their power and help them perform well in combat. If you have this in your hands, then the staff will boost your Psychic Sensitivity by 42%. Furthermore, it will help you recover fast from heat.

The Eltex Staff can also be used as a melee weapon, as its capable of dealing blunt damage to enemies. However, keep in mind that it won’t deal a lot of damage, so you can’t expect a lot from it in terms of combat. But since the weapon will grant you other benefits, it’s definitely worth it. 

Eltex Staff best weapon for increasing Psychic Sensitivity
Eltex Staff
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How to get the Eltex Staff in Rimworld: Just like the Zeusshammer, the Eltex Staff is also available to only those who have the Royalty DLC in Rimworld. After you unlock the DLC, the weapon will become available for you to purchase from a Combat Supplier or a War Merchant. You can also expect to receive it as a reward for completing a quest. 

Knife

Type Equipment-Weapon 
Market Value N/A
Mass 0.5 kg
Deterioration Rate N/A
Melee Avg. DPS 6.50
Melee Avg. AP 18%

A simple yet reliable melee weapon, the Knife can deal sharp damage to its enemies. The thing that makes the knife one of the best melee weapons to use in Rimworld is its slow cooldown time, which comes at the cost of low damage output.

Despite this, the weapon is still something that can help you defend your colony from the enemy’s threat when you have no better weapons available.

For the early stages of the game, this weapon is perfect. However, we suggest you make a switch to a better weapon, such as the Longsword (a weapon we’ll talk about later), as soon as you get the chance. This is because the Knife isn’t the type of weapon you can trust against armored enemies. 

Knife Low Cooldown melee weapon Rimworld
Knife
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How to get the Knife in Rimworld: To get this melee weapon, you will need to visit a crafting spot, Fueled Smithy, or a regular Smithy where you can craft it for 30 Metals. Or, you can purchase it directly from an Outlander or Orbital Combat Supplier. Make sure to use Plasteel while crafting it, as the Plasteel Knife is the best version of it that can deal the maximum amount of damage with short cooldown times. 

Also Check: How To Cure Muscle Parasites in Rimworld  

Warhammer

Type Equipment-Weapon 
Mass 5 kg
HP N/A
Skill Required  Crafting 5
Flammability N/A
Melee Avg. DPS 6.89
Melee Avg. AP 27%

The Warhammer is the type of melee weapon that you can trust in multiple situations. It might have been given the title of a great weapon, but only if it was a little better. When it comes to combat, the Warhammer can deal massive, blunt damage to all enemies.

In fact, only a few other weapons are capable of dealing this amount of damage. But since the weapon deals blunt damage, you can’t expect it to make the enemies bleed.

However, no matter how tough the enemy’s armor is, the Warhammer can destroy it. Overall, this melee weapon is ideal for multiple situations. The only downside about it is its long cooldown period, but it’s something expected from a weapon of this much power.

Warhammer best weapon for blunt damage Rimworld
Warhammer
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How to get the Warhammer in Rimworld: The Warhammer is another weapon that you can get by purchasing the Royalty DLC. However, while this weapon can be purchased from Outelranders and Orbital Combat Suppliers, you can also craft it. To do that, you will first need to complete the Long Blades research and then visit an Electric of Fueled Smithy to create the Warhammer for either 150 Wood or Metals. 

Axe

Type Equipment-Weapon 
Tech Level Medieval 
HP N/A
Mass 1.5 kg
Skill Required  Crafting 3
Melee Avg. DPS 6.71
Melee Avg. AP 20%

The Axe is yet another melee weapon on our list that can deal sharp damage to its targets. Compared to most of the other melee weapons in the game, the Axe offers better stats. However, there do exist melee weapons that are even better than this one. In any case, this weapon can do a good amount of damage with each hit. You can even use it against armored enemies.

However, keep in mind that its armor penetration level is fairly low, so you shouldn’t expect a lot from it. Overall, the Axe is a decent weapon that can do wonders if in the right hands. 

rimworld best melee weapon
Axe
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How to get the Axe in Rimworld: The Axe also happens to be a DLC weapon, available only to those who have the Royalty DLC purchased. You can purchase this weapon from Combat Suppliers or War Merchants after getting the DLC. If you’re a fan of crafting, then you can create this weapon yourself. For this, you’ll first need to complete the Smithing research. Then, you can visit a Fueueld or Electric Smithy to craft the Axe for 50 Wood or Metals.

Jade Knife

Type Equipment-Weapon 
Market Value 159
HP N/A
Mass 0.5 kg
Melee Avg. DPS 5.35
Melee Avg. AP 19%

The Jade Knife is one of the unique weapons in Rimworld because of how you acquire it. The weapon is better than the regular Knife in every way, but there are better options available. Even though it is a knife, the weapon deals decent blunt damage to its enemies instead of sharp. However, you still can’t expect it to perform effectively against armored enemies. Overall, the Jade Knife is a decent weapon that can deal a good amount of damage to its enemies. 

rimworld Jade Knife
Jade Knife
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How to get the Jade Knife in Rimworld: Unlike the other weapons that can be either crafted or purchased from a specific location, the Jade Knife can be acquired by playing a specific scenario. If you’re someone who is interested in getting his hands on this unique weapon, then you’ll need to go through the Lost Tribe scenario. At the time of writing, there was no other way of acquiring this weapon.  

Bionic Arm

Type Medical items – Body Parts
Market Value 1030
Tech Level Spacer
Skill Required  Crafting 8
Flammability N/A
Melee Avg. DPS 6
Melee Avg. AP 18%

If you’re someone who likes to attack their enemies by landing punches on them, then it will be wise to get the Bionic Arm. This is because with the Bionic Arm equipped, the melee attack you’ll perform with your arm will deal 12 damage instead of 8 that you usually get from a normal arm. The best part is that you get the luxury to place the equipment either on your left or right arm.

Aside from dealing damage to the enemies, the Bionic Arm has some other benefits as well. For instance, it can increase the Manipulation of the characters by 12.5%. And since Crafting and Medicine are the kind of skills that are highly dependent on Manipulation, you should use the arm with characters who are highly skilled at them.

rimworld Bionic Arm best weapon
Bionic Arm
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How to get the Bionic Arm in Rimworld: This melee weapon can be purchased from either Exotic Traders or Outlanders bases. You can also craft it at the Fabrication Bench. For this, you’ll need 15 plasteel and four advanced components.

Ikwa

Type Equipment-Weapon 
Mass 1.1 kg
HP 100
Melee Avg. DPS 6.71
Melee Avg. AP 20%

Next up in our Rimworld melee weapon guide is the Ikwa. At first, you’ll think this is a Spear. However, it isn’t. The Ikwa is a smaller version of the Spear; a short spear handle is attached to a pointy blade. But even though the weapon is small and all, it is still capable of dealing a lot of heavy damage to enemies.

The damage it does with each attack is good, and you can trust this weapon in multiple situations. However, keep in mind that while the weapon does heavy damage, it still isn’t effective against armored enemies. Therefore, make sure to use it against regular enemies only. 

rimworld Ikwa weapon
Ikwa
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How to get the Ikwa in Rimworld: To get this weapon, you’ll need to craft it. You don’t have to worry about completing any kind of research for it. All you need to do is visit the Smithy and spend 50 Wood or Metals to make it. Make sure to use Steel for it when crafting as the Steel Ikwa is considered as the best version of this weapon as it deals the highest amount of damage. 

Zeushammer 

Type Equipment – Weapon 
Market Value 2000
Tech Level  Ultra
Mass 1.2 kg
Flammability N/A
Melee Avg. DPS 9.95
Melee Avg. AP 42%

The Zeushammer is an extremely powerful and rare melee weapon that is perfect for penetrating armor. As it deals blunt damage, the weapon can give a tough time to your armored enemies. Another amazing thing about the Zeushammer is that it can generate an EMP blast upon successfully hitting its target, something that can stun Mechanoids, turrets, and mortars.

The effect will last for around 4.5 seconds, but this will be enough for you to land other attacks on the stunned targets. Overall, this melee weapon can help you against enemies that appear in the late game as well. 

best weapon rimworld Zeushammer 
Zeushammer
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How to get the Zeusshammer in Rimworld: Unfortunately, the Zeusshammer is a DLC weapon and can not be acquired by everyone. It can be used by only those who have the Royalty DLC. If you get the DLC, then you’ll be able to purchase this weapon from a combat supplier or War Merchant. However, if you’re not planning to spend any money on it, then you can try your luck with quests, as you can receive a reward for completing one of them.

Gladius

Type Equipment-Weapon 
Tech Level  Medieval 
HP N/A
Mass 0.85 kg
Melee Avg. DPS 7.52
Melee Avg. AP 23%

The Gladius is the type of melee weapon that you should use against regular enemies and not armored ones. This is because its armor penetration level is close to zero. However, for normal enemies, this weapon can prove to be quite deadly.

It is considered an all-rounder weapon as it does a moderate amount of damage but with a moderate cooldown time. The Gladius is similar to the Axe in many ways, but it does more damage than it does. Overall, the Gladius is a great melee weapon that can perform well in different situations. 

rimworld Gladius melee weapon
Gladius
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How to get the Gladius in Rimworld: Just like the Axe, you will first need to complete the Smithing research before you can craft this weapon. Once done, head over to a Fueled or Electric Smithy to create the Gladius for 50 Wood or Metals. If you don’t want to craft it, then you can purchase it directly from an Outlander or an Orbital Combat Supplier. 

Plasmasword

Type Equipment – Weapon 
Market Value 2000
Tech Level  Ultra
Mass 2 kg
Melee Avg. DPS 7.85
Melee Avg. AP 30%

The Plasmasword is possibly the only melee weapon in Rimworld that can set your enemies on fire. The weapon can deal sharp damage to its targets, and its armor penetration is also decent. This means that it can be used against armored enemies as well, unlike some other melee weapons. In a 1vs1 fight, the Plasmasword can give you a great advantage.

This is because if you land a proper strike on the target, then there is a 50% chance of doing some extra Flame Damage. If that happens, then your enemy will be set on fire, and they will be unable to counter any of your attacks or perform any of their own as well. Overall, the Plasmasword is a great melee weapon that can turn the situation in your favor if you’re lucky enough.

rimworld Plasmasword melee weapon
Plasmasword
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How to get the Plasmasword in Rimworld: Just like some of the melee mentioned above weapons, the Plasmasword is also a DLC weapon and is available only to those who have the Royalty DLC. If you’re one of them, then you can purchase it directly from the Combat Suppliers or War Merchants. You can also receive it as a reward for completing a quest.

Spear

Type Equipment – Weapon 
Tech Level Neolithic 
Mass 2 kg
Deterioration Rate N/A
Melee Avg. DPS 7.35
Melee Avg. AP 38%

The Spear is another melee weapon in our best melee weapon guide that is capable of dealing heavy damage to its enemies. This means that even though its attacks are powerful, the cooldown times are high. This does not mean that you should avoid using this weapon, as it has the second-highest base damage among all melee weapons.

In some cases, the Spear performs better than the Gladius as it can deal more damage than it. You can also use the Spear against armored enemies, but you shouldn’t expect it to perform as well as the Blunt weapons. 

Spear melee weapon Rimworld
Spear
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How to get the Spear in Rimworld: You will first need to complete the Long Blades research. After you’re done, you can visit any Smithy to craft the Spear for 75 Wood or Metals. However, keep in mind that the Plasteel Spear is considered the best version of it, so make sure to use Plasteel while crafting it. You can also purchase this weapon from a Combat Supplier or a War Merchant. 

Also, Check: Rimworld Hydroponics Layout Guide

Mace

Type Equipment – Weapon 
Market Value N/A
Mass 1.25 kg
Skill Required  Crafting 3 
Melee Avg. DPS 7.02
Melee Avg. AP 21%

The Mace can deal blunt damage to its enemies, meaning that it can be used against armored targets as well. Unlike some other weapons, the Mace can not cause the enemies to bleed unless you destroy a part of their body with it. Since the weapon can be crafted, you can either use Plasteel or Uranium to make it.

However, the Uranium Mace is the best version of it as it offers the highest amount of damage. Furthermore, it also has a higher armor penetration level. Overall, the Mace is a good melee weapon that you can trust against enemies wearing tough armor. 

Mace melee weapon
Mace
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How to get the Mace in Rimworld: After you have completed the Smithing research, you can craft the Mace by visiting a Fueled or Electric Smithy. For it, you’ll need 50 Wood or Metals. As mentioned above, make sure to use Uranium while crafting the Mace to get the top version of it. You can also visit an Outlander or an Orbital Combat Supplier if you wish to purchase this weapon. 

Thrumbo Horn

Type Equipment – Weapon 
Market Value 800
HP 150
Mass 3 kg
Flammability 40%

The Thrumbo Horn is yet another melee weapon on our list that can be acquired by butchering a specific animal. For it, you’ll need to kill the Thrumbo, a sacred animal that appears in the game. However, the thing that makes it one of the best weapons to use in Rimworld is that it can deal a good amount of damage and can even work against armored enemies.

During the part of the game when the technology levels are low, the Thrumbo Horn can help you against all sorts of enemies. The best part is that after you’re done with using this weapon, or if you do acquire it while you have some other weapons in your arsenal, you can sell it to Exotic Good Traders for a lot of silver. 

rimworld Thrumbo
Thrumbo Horn
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How to get the Thrumbo Horn in Rimworld: To get the Thrumbo Horn, you’ll need to find and butcher a Thrumbo. 

Monosword

Type Equipment – Weapon 
Market Value 2000
Mass 2 kg
Tech Level  Ultra
Melee Avg. DPS 12.08
Melee Avg. AP 83%

The Monosword falls in the category of Ultra melee weapons, something which is enough to portray how powerful this weapon is. If you’re looking for a weapon that can deal a large amount of damage while having short cooldown times, then stop looking further.

This melee weapon is also considered one of the best ones to use against armored enemies among all the melee weapons in the game, and this one offers one of the highest armor penetration values. It can even cause armored enemies to bleed quickly, something that only a few other weapons can do.

Overall, the Monosword is an amazing melee weapon that can perform well in almost any situation and against every enemy. This is the kind of weapon that you should definitely try at least once, as it can even help you in the later stages of the game. 

Monosword best melee weapon rimworld
Monosword
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How to get the Monosword in Rimworld: To get this melee weapon, you’ll first need to get the Royalty DLC. After that, you can go ahead and visit a Combat Supplier or a Warmerchant to purchase it. Unfortunately, this weapon can not be crafted by using different materials. 

Longsword

Type Equipment – Weapon 
Tech Level  Medieval 
Mass 2 kg
Melee Avg. DPS 8.60
Melee Avg. AP 33%

Finally, we have the Longsword. This weapon has the title of best melee because of many reasons. If you craft the Longsword by using Plasteel, then you receive the best version of it. The Plasteel Longsword can do a lot of damage with each attack, and it offers the highest base damage among all melee weapons in the game.

Since it deals sharp damage, the Longsword can also make the enemies bleed. Overall, the Longsword is the best melee weapon in Rimworld. There isn’t any other melee weapon that comes close to it. After you learn how to use it properly, this weapon can help you dominate every single battle. 

rimworld Longsword
Longsword
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How to get the Longsword in Rimworld: Getting this weapon requires completing the Long Blade research first. After that, it can be crafted on any Smithy for 100 Wood or Metals. Other than that, you can also purchase it from an Outlander or an Orbital Combat Supplier. 

This concludes our Rimworld melee weapon guide. Keep in mind that until and unless you properly learn how the melee weapon works, you won’t be able to get the most out of it. Also, if you’re struggling in the game, then you can check out our Rimworld tips.

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Haddi is a Senior Writer at eXputer who loves to play games and talk about them like a fanatic. Hadi's years of experience in this industry let him provide a unique and critical perspective on games to share with his audience. His work is also featured on several other websites. You can hit him up on his gaming profile at Steam!

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