With over 100 hours invested in exploring the vast universe of Starfield, I‘ve had the chance to get my hands on an array of unique and powerful melee weapons. While ranged weapons dominate most combat encounters, having a trusty melee weapon as a backup can mean the difference between life and death.
In this guide, I‘ll be counting down the top 6 melee weapons I‘ve discovered in terms of overall damage output, speed, and versatility. I‘ll also detail where to find each weapon, making tracking them down on your adventures through space a breeze!
#6 – Ripshank
Damage: 12
Weight: 0.43
While the Ripshank doesn‘t boast the highest damage, its lightning-fast attack speed allows you to rack up damage quickly. As a cheap early game option, the Ripshank is an easy weapon to obtain from vendors or loot drops. Utilize its speed to your advantage, striking between enemy attacks before dancing away to safety.
#5 – Combat Knife
Damage: 16
Weight: 0.36
A classic melee weapon, the Combat Knife offers balanced stats across the board. With decent damage and speed, the Combat Knife can be obtained from vendors or looted from humanoid enemies. I recommend utilizing the Combat Knife early on when ammo is scarce, or carrying it as a backup for close quarters situations.
Damage: 20
Weight: 1.49
With ornate engravings along its blade, the UC Naval Cutlass brings both style and substance to the table. While on the heavier side, its greater reach and impact make up for the added carrying weight. Use broad, sweeping strikes to cleave through groups of enemies or focus your efforts for maximized damage against individual targets.
I discovered my UC Naval Cutlass randomly looted from a chest early on. But they can also be purchased from high-level weapon vendors.
#3 – Barrow Knife
Damage: 22
Weight: 0.34
Don‘t let its diminutive size fool you – the Barrow Knife means business! Crafted from ultra-dense metals, the Barrow Knife punches far above its weight class in terms of raw damage. Its short, sturdy blade also allows for extremely rapid slashes. Dart in close to vulnerably opponents and let loose a flurry of precise strikes!
Barrow Knives are randomly sold by high-level weapon merchants. I advise checking in at every opportunity as their stock rotates frequently.
#2 – Wakizashi
Damage: 49
Weight: 1.35
This graceful, curved blade boasts speed and precision while retaining impactful damage output. The Wakizashi allows for flowing combinations utilizing both ends of the weapon for maximum efficiency. Alternate between the gleaming razor edge and blunt pommel mid-attack to outmaneuver opponents.
Wakizashis shine when facing agile enemies relying more on evasion than damage mitigation. I highly recommend the Blinding Rush and Cripple Movement melee skills to lock down targets, creating openings to unleash the full fury of your Wakizashi!
As a rare high-tier weapon, the Wakizashi can occasionally be found on challenging boss enemies or within locked chests hidden on hazardous planets.
#1 – Va‘Ruun Painblade
Damage: 62
Weight: 1.8
This vicious serrated sword, wrought from enchanted bone and sinew, reigns supreme as the undisputed king of melee weapons in Starfield.
Upon your first swing of the Va‘Ruun Painblade, you‘ll feel its power coursing through you. Each crushing blow unleashes a burst of soul energy, siphoning the life essence of anything unfortunate to be struck. This vampiric effect simultaneously heals your wounds while obliterating your opponents.
Think of this wicked, glowing blade as an extension of yourself – a conduit to channel and release magickal hellfire through sheer force of will! With some skill investment in critical hit Chance and damage buffs, you‘ll be cleaving through all challengers in a single gruesome blow.
As you may expect, the legendary Va‘Ruun Painblade doesn‘t give up its secrets easily. You‘ll have to quest through some of the most dangerous corners of space, proving your worth through blood and valor to obtain it. But believe me, wielding this wicked blade makes all the struggle worth it in the end!
So those are my picks for the top melee weapons available in Starfield as of writing this. While shooters rule the roost, sometimes you need to get up close and personal to finish the job. With these blades by your side, no enemy stands a chance at stopping your conquest across the stars!
Let me know which melee weapons have served you well on your journey, or if you have recommendations I haven‘t covered yet. And may our paths cross one day in the endless expanse of space!
