Starfield All Melee Weapons Ranked
Some people feel like melee weapons in Starfield aren’t weapons at all. As you climb up the levels, you’ll get some high-quality equipment that can help. Having said that, make sure you pick a melee weapon that fits your fighting style out of all the melee weapons. Players who like to kill long-range will probably benefit more from a cutlass or wakizashi than something like an osmium dagger or Tanto. However, all of these weapons have some kind of use, except for the Ripshank. If you want to make a name for yourself in Starfield, make sure you get the right melee gear. Play styles should at least account for one or two situations where they run out of ammunition, and these are where melee weapons shine.
To keep things simple, this ranking is based on the damage of the weapon, and how useful it will be in a combat situation. As a bonus, there is consideration made to the value and weight of the object as sometimes the best use of a melee weapon is to sell it for ammunition. However, all of these weapons are considered if they will keep you alive, or if they’re even worth picking up. Melee weapons can’t be modified all that much making them limited in how you can better them. So in most cases, if for anything else this is a good guide to look at if you want to pick up a different weapon altogether.
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Ripshank
The first weapon on our list is the simple Ripshank; a weapon that not only deals the lowest amount of damage but is worth the least. In terms of its effectiveness in combat, this angular blade is great for quick swipes and stabs. When you’re looking for a weapon in the early game, even the Ripshank is considerably lower in quality compared to say the combat knife or rescue axe. They are an incredibly lightweight tool that can be found in almost every major settled area, being more of a work knife than anything else. Because of this, you’re more likely than not going to find them in areas where workers are commonly found, including markets, mining spaces, and construction.
| Base Damage | 12 Physical |
|---|---|
| Mass | .40 |
| Value | 365 Credits |
Their appearance mirrors workplace use as its bright yellow handle is slotted around the angled blade. The weapon looks like something you’d use on modern rigging than on a space adventure, with its saw tooth-like serrated edges. When you keep in mind that these are cheap tools used by millions, you’ll understand why they’re so simple. The Ripshank can do just about anything blue-collar, with a base damage of twelve and just under half a unit of mass.
Ripshank
Combat Knife
It’s a product of the United Colonies, who wanted soldiers to have better melee options. One of two weapons available to U.C. soldiers, the combat knife gives faster stabs and strikes than the cutlass. Furthermore, the combat knife may deal more damage, but it’s lighter and worth more on average than the Ripshank. They’re mostly found where the U.C. influences soldiers and vendors sell them. While they’re not great at controlling a fight past an early stage, they’re great against humans.
| Base Damage | 16 Physical |
|---|---|
| Mass | .36 |
| Value | 505 Credits |
The Combat Knife appears as a fixed version of some classic fold-open knives of the past; having a wide squared blade that works for both combat and work purposes. Like the Ripshank, this design is highly developed based on survival knives of the modern age. Its square blade is both easy to work with and retains an edge with ease. When starting your adventure, if you want a melee weapon for emergency, the combat knife isn’t a bad option, especially once you get some better perks. The only real downside to these weapons is that they don’t have the damage or range to compete with the next contender on our list, ranking it pretty low on the list.
Combat Knife
Rescue Axe
The Rescue Axe is the most potent starting melee weapon you could get your hands on, having good range and damage considering what it is. Being available right at the beginning of the game when dealing with the opening pirates; you’ll be able to axe murder your way to better items on the list with it. Dealing more damage than both the Ripshank, and the Combat Knife, the Rescue Axe shines through its extended reach. Operating on par with the Naval Cutlass, you can easily use this with any melee build with rush-down attacks. Even though they are effective, given their weight, they aren’t worth the credits that they’re worth.
| Base Damage | 17 Physical |
|---|---|
| Mass | 1.40 |
| Value | 650 Credits |
The rescue axe appears like a science fiction version of a fireman’s axe, having a crowbar and breaker bar on one end, and a pick, ripper, and axe head on the face. Being an incredibly durable-looking weapon, it’s designed for breaking into ship hulls or tough environments for survival. Undoubtedly in canon, these were intended for emergency services, but have long since been converted into deadly melee weapons. Rescue Axes can be acquired at any major vendor, and can typically be found anywhere spacer gear is sold along with cutters and spacesuits.
Rescue Axe
The U.C. Naval Cutlass is another option on this list that favors range over sheer damage; appearing more like a machete than anything else. This futuristic take on a classic weapon deals more damage than the rescue axe and swings faster. Unfortunately, this item sacrifices the ability to stab for sheer range and power. As the second major melee weapon available to the United Colonies, the Naval Cutlass can be seen in the hands of officers and spacers alike. Additionally, most major vendors in the United Colonies will sell these cutlasses as they are a great survival tool in jungle environments.
| Base Damage | 20 Physical |
|---|---|
| Mass | 1.4 |
| Value | 935 Credits |
While the U.C. Naval Cutlass is named after a famous sword type, the weapon in question is undoubtedly a machete. This comes from the overly defined edge of the blade, and the lack of a tip itself. The normal idea of the cutlass is to have fast slashes and stabs that can’t be replicated with the weapon in question. Sporting a one-handed grip, and knuckle guard, there’s a curved blade that works well for chops and cuts. Because of this, the weapon fits the bill as a post-modern machete over that of a sword or cutlass.
U.C. Naval Cutlass
Barrow Knife
In the spirit of a space adventure, the Barrow Knife is a new take on the classic Bowie knife. Featuring a full-tang blade and brass handle, the weapon has an old-world feel. They’re usually found in places controlled by the Freestar collective, but spacers across the galaxy prefer them. The Barrow Knives are a better version of the combat knife, with better damage, less weight, and a higher value. For boarding enemy ships, these weapons prefer quick, heavy cuts and stabs that are extremely effective in close-quarters combat.
| Base Damage | 22 Physical |
|---|---|
| Mass | .34 |
| Value | 1220 Credits |
Barrow Knives are great for collecting and selling; as they’re worth over a thousand credits a piece, unfortunately, this is hard to come by early game. However once you’ve reached around level 15, these knives start to become a lot more common. Alternatively, you can travel down to the broken spear in Cydonia and take one from one of the tables right from the get-go. As a melee weapon, it stands to be better damage-wise than any of the previously mentioned weapons on this list. Compared to the other knives on this list, the previous two don’t even begin to hold a candle to this classic knife design.
Barrow Knife
Osmium Dagger
The next weapon on our list is the Osmium Dagger, a weapon that is notably useful once you get your hands on it as it deals more damage than anything previously mentioned on this list. By a wide margin, the Osmium Dagger is one of the better fast-attacking knives in the game. Being found mostly on Va’ruun ships, at vendors, and given in quests, these sleek-looking knives are designed for stabbing. These knives weigh more than most other weapons on this list save the painblades, however, they sell for over two thousand credits a piece. Where these weapons shine is in combat against other humans as they can make short work of anything that gets too close.
| Base Damage | 28 Physical |
|---|---|
| Mass | 2.70 |
| Value | 2395 Credits |
Osmium Daggers look like a long straight bayonet-like weapon that has a brutal stabbing point. Having a white metal grip handle with gold inlay near the blade; the osmium core weapon uses weight in each strike. Because of the nature of how this weapon is constructed, there can be a significant increase in swings per minute than with more knives; using sheer weight rather than floating aerodynamics. What you end up with is the perfect shank weapon to stop any hearts who threaten you. Just remember that if melee weapons aren’t your thing, these are some of the best melee weapons to collect for a profit.
Osmium Dagger
Tanto
Being one of three classic weapons from Japanese culture, tantos are available in Starfield as a curved knife. Being expectedly more effective than anything else we have mentioned so far, for half a unit of mass they have better damage, and value than anything else here so far. Sporting forty damage per strike, with a value of over three thousand credits, the only hard part about tantos is the fact that they are rare. It appears to be a replica of an ancient design because this weapon is in such pristine condition. Additionally, it would be hard to see old earth knives like this making their way into combat as they’re older in design than even the old earth guns.
| Base Damage | 40 Physical |
|---|---|
| Mass | .45 |
| Value | 3075 Credits |
You can buy tantos from most vendors after level twenty, and they become more common after twenty-five. As a melee weapon, they’re better than anything else mentioned so far, but they fall short in damage and range. The Tanto is one of the fastest-striking melee weapons on this list, making it great for boarding ships or taking out close-quarters enemies. These weapons look like they’re from ancient times, with a black-wrapped handle, curved blade, and brass fixture for aesthetics.
Tanto
Wakizashi
Another old-world design that’s made its way into Starfield is the Wakizashi, which is a larger combat weapon than the Tanto. Wakizashis deal a little bit more damage, keeping a lot of the fast attacking properties of the previous weapon, however sporting extra range. These items are incredibly potent, being able to dispatch multiple opponents if used correctly. Unfortunately, where the Wakizashi falls off is in the fact that it’s both expensive and rare. These weapons can be purchased after level thirty in Cydonia and Akila City. In both cases, they’ll put you back a significant amount of credits for what is a relatively small bonus to damage.
| Base Damage | 49 Physical |
|---|---|
| Mass | 1.35 |
| Value | 6140 Credits |
The design fits the sword archetype, but it’s a little smaller than the special version. Whether they’ll make a standard version of the katana is unclear, but for now, this is the closest thing to standard arms. Compared to the katana, the wakizashi is notably smaller. These shortswords were designed for defense and practicality over anything else, making them perfect for boarding ships. However, if you can get one of these weapons from an enemy, you could make a lot of money.
Wakizashi
Syndicate Enforcer
The special version of these old-world weapons is the Syndicate Enforcer, a full-on katana that not only deals decent damage but also has excellent status effects. Being part of the Guilty Parties sidequest, you’ll find it in one of the hideout weapon cases. This quest can be found in Neon City, and once this weapon is acquired you have one of the best weapons available for melee damage. Sporting both the berserker and lacerate effects, this blade will make your enemy pay for bleeding and deal more damage the less armor you have. As a result, this weapon is devastating in the proper hands. That being said, it falls off when compared to the next two contenders on our list.
| Base Damage | 49 Physical |
|---|---|
| Mass | 1.35 |
| Value | 12894 Credits |
The Syndicate Enforcer is probably the only actual katana you can find in the game, having more reach than our other options. It sports a black finish with gold fittings, being the perfect weapon for any respectable crime boss or space samurai. Since its effects are perfect for unarmored combat, you can easily use this when doing side quests around cities and on planets. Additionally, as a unique weapon, it is only one of two in Starfield to have special effects added to it.
Syndicate Enforcer
Va’ruun Painblade
Next on the list is the second-best melee weapon in the game, only outclassed by a unique variant of itself. The Va’ruun Painblade is a heavy cleaver-like knife that is good for both defensive and offensive combat. Having a knife where the grip is in the center of the weight of the weapon grants better mobility and control, as a result making this weapon deadly effective. Dealing more damage than anything else mentioned, and being just under 2 units of mass, the Item can control most close-quarters situations. Not only are these weapons deadly and effective, but they sell for quite a bit of credits to boot.
| Base Damage | 71 Physical |
|---|---|
| Mass | 1.80 |
| Value | 11260 Credits |
In terms of appearance, the Painblade is nothing elegant, being a weighted cleaver with a handle near the center of its balance. As a result, the blade can easily parry and attack with simple motions which would be ideal for space combat. Their heavy weight and large blades allow the painblade to act as a buffer zone between the enemy’s blade and your own, something evident in its design. Since they are designed for heavy damage, they can effectively hold their own even against certain pistols and rifles.
The Va’ruun Painblades are some of the best weapons you can get in Starfield in terms of melee damage.
The Last Priest
The Last Priest is the best out of the melee group; not only because it’s a special variant of the Painblade, but also because it has a disgustingly powerful effect. Inflicting the elemental effect on targets, generates corrosive, radiation, poison, or incendiary damage on random targets. Because of this, and its high damage output, this weapon can seriously inflict a lot of casualties on ships. This blade can be acquired by siding with the hunter in Infinity’s End, either by killing the keeper or lying to him.
| Base Damage | 85 Physical |
|---|---|
| Mass | 1.80 |
| Value | 20268 Credits |
This weapon appears exactly like the previous version of the weapon except it has more base damage and is worth more. Because of the effects it causes, you can depend on the painblade in most situations. However, it won’t replace a good firearm. Since it deals the most damage, this weapon can easily help you against some of the more difficult close-quarters scenarios that can take place. Additionally, when all else fails, a melee weapon doesn’t run out of ammunition.
