Just like its predecessor, Warhammer 40K Darktide is a great game that features tons of weapons for all classes. Whether you are a fan of ranged weapons or melee, you will find something that you’ll like. That is why this guide will show you the best melee weapons in Warhammer 40K Darktide.
Using melee weapons in Warhammer always felt good and it feels even better in Darktide. Slicing Elites like Ogryns in two is the best feeling. Plus, these weapons are ideal for dealing with hordes since you can move around while slicing and dicing. With that said, let’s dive right in and get started.
Warhammer 40K Darktide: Best Melee Weapons
As aforementioned, there is a large variety of weapons in Darktide. Since there are tons of melee options available, it can be a bit overwhelming for newer players. However, you can find out which are worth keeping and which weapons you should avoid.
We will update this list once we have more experience with the game. Also, keep in mind that while this list is numbered, it doesn’t mean that the last weapon is the “worst”. You can still use it to get amazing results and it might outperform other weapons on this list.
But, if you just want a quick answer, the best melee weapon in Warhammer 40k Darktide is the Catachan Mk I “Devil’s Claw” Sword. This is because it deals a lot of damage by virtue of it having downright insane stats. Couple that with high cleave damage, and you’ve got yourself a winner!
Starting off with one of the best melee weapons in Darktide, the Catachan Mk I “Devil’s Claw” Sword. As you can see in the image above, this sword deals a lot of damage while having insane stats. This is a crowd-control melee weapon that offers high cleave damage.
You can slice through your enemies without a second thought which makes this sword extremely satisfying to use. Plus, you can potentially slice multiple enemies at once if you do big horizontal swings. This is quite useful against hordes but your single-target damage will be lacking if you do that.
Moving on to one of my favorite weapons in Darktide, the Crucis Mk II Thunder Hammer. What more can you want than a massive hammer with a battery attached to it? While you won’t be slicing and dicing your way through enemies with this, you can obliterate them with a single swing.
The damage on this thing is absolutely insane, and you can use its horizontal swings to target multiple enemies at once. Plus, you can even take down armored units thanks to this bad boy since it can penetrate armor like butter. While your damage on subsequent targets is reduced, the first target will take an absolute beating!
When it comes to melee weapons, I love using chainswords. There is something extremely satisfying about slicing enemies in half. Plus, due to its cleave damage, you can target multiple enemies at once. This makes the chainsword great against hordes.
On top of that, it can easily shred through armored units as it deals +10% damage to them. If you are fighting a single target, you can use its special attack to rev up your sword and slice the enemy. Plus, it also staggers enemies as well which gives your team a chance to take down enemies without any worries.
If you are looking for a combat axe that deals tons of damage and can slice enemies without a second thought, this bad boy is perfect for you. What’s more, is that the Antax deals an insane amount of damage to the first target it hits. That’s not to say that it won’t deal damage to any subsequent targets.
Plus, if you hit the weak spots, you will deal +8% more damage to the target. It also deals enhanced damage to Specialists which makes it ideal against them. Overall, it is a light axe that allows you to sprint around the map without having to worry about its weight a lot.
Moving on to a dueling sword, the Maccabian Mk IV. This is a good old-fashioned sword that offers tons of mobility thanks to its lightweight. You can swing this sword around while sprinting without losing any movement speed. Plus, the swinging speed is also quite swift which allows you to hit enemies quickly.
You can also use its special attack to thrust the sword and deal penetration damage to armored enemies. However, keep in mind that if you use the thrust attack, you will swing the sword slower than normal. Finally, the critical strike damage is quite nice as it can easily kill enemies quickly.
This axe can be unlocked for both Zealots and Veterans. It deals an insane amount of damage and can easily penetrate through armored units. Plus, due to its relatively lightweight, you can easily sprint around while swinging this bad boy.
The best part about this tactical axe is that it offers tons of critical bonus. So, if you land a headshot and get a critical hit, chances are that the enemy will almost instantly get eliminated. Also, your first attack will deal +15% damage and all your subsequent attacks will have +15% power as well.
Moving on to a weapon that is unlocked from the start for the Ogryns, the Krourk MK IV Cleaver. This cleaver does a lot of damage and is a great starting melee weapon. While it might look like a massive sword in the hands of a normal person, it is extremely lightweight in the hands of Ogryns.
Since this is a lightweight weapon, you can easily move around and cleave whatever stands in your way. If you are fighting a stronger enemy, you can use its thrust attack to get +10% power. The best part is that you can stack it up to 3 times which increases your attack power a lot.
If you are a fan of massive combat axes this weapon will suit you well! It has a lot of damage – as expected from a combat axe – and provides decent mobility. While you won’t be freely sprinting around the map swinging this axe, you can move around relatively swiftly.
However, its main strength comes from swinging it rapidly. If you hit the enemy multiple times, you can get a +2 bonus critical chance. This can stack up to 5 times which is a great passive to have on a melee weapon. Also, this axe is great against unarmored units since it deals more damage to them.
This heavy eviscerator is a wonderful weapon that is extremely fun to use. It is like a chainsword but much larger! It is unique to the Zealot class and it helps them shred through armored units. If you are facing Elites or Specialists, you can use the Tigrus Mk II to shred right through them.
However, as you might have suspected, it is a heavy weapon that will reduce your mobility. Plus, swinging it around can be quite slow since it is a massive weapon. So, if you want to sacrifice a bit of your mobility but slice through armored enemies, the Tigrus Mk II is just for you.
Finally, let’s talk about the Orestes Mk IV Chainaxe. As I mentioned with the chainsword, it is extremely satisfying to cut the enemy in half. This is a weapon that can be used by Zealots and Veterans. The Orestes Mk IV can shred through armored units, which is always a welcomed addition.
On top of that, you can still be quite mobile while using this chainaxe which allows you to easily move around and dodge enemies. While the damage isn’t the best, you can use this to deal with armored units and deal extra damage to them.
Conclusion
And there you have it; those are the best melee weapons in Warhammer 40K Darktide. The game has a lot of variety in melee weapons, and all of them feel amazing! However, the ones mentioned above will give you the best results and allow you to kill a lot of enemies.
Which melee weapon is your favorite in Warhammer 40K Darktide? Do you prefer ranged weapons? Let us know in the comments below.
