My name is Steve and I‘m a survivor in the midst of the brutal zombie apocalypse overrunning California. I‘ve played Dead Island 2 ever since it launched and experimented extensively with all the weapons on offer. In this comprehensive 2000+ word guide, I‘ll be sharing my experiences with the 5 most powerful and useful weapons available to increase your survival rate tremendously. From fast melee tools to heavy guns that obliterate zombies, I‘ve covered everything you need to turn the tides against the undead hordes.
As seen during the initial viral outbreak, the virus responsible for zombification produces two major mutated species according to Dead Island 2 lore β Walkers and Freaks.
- Walkers represent the standard zombie archetype β slow with minimum intelligence but dangerous in groups.
- Freaks have undergone more advanced mutations, granting them deadly special attacks and increased speed/damage.
We‘ll need an assorted arsenal to handle threats from both ends of the spectrum. Let‘s get right down to the equipment you‘ll need!
Key Weapon Attributes
Before covering each weapon individually, let‘s briefly discuss some vital performance attributes shared between all Dead Island 2 weapons:
Damage Type: Weapon attack damage categorized into:
- Blunt Damage β Concussive/trauma focused. Best against skeletal structure.
- Sharp Damage β Slices easily through flesh and sinew.
- Projectile Damage β Ranged explosive/kinetic harm via bullets.
Weapon Profile: Balances different attributes like Attack Speed, Damage etc. Profiles in Dead Island 2 include:
- Skirmisher β Faster, low damage strikes. Good crowd control.
- Headhunter β Precision based attacks aiming for critical/weak spots.
- Maiming β Crippling strikes to debilitate zombie mobility.
Rarity: Color coded Indication of a weapon‘s overall performance level:
- Grey β Common
- Green β Uncommon
- Blue β Rare
- Purple β Epic
- Orange β Legendary (Strongest)
Now let‘s analyze the cream of the crop β my picks for the Top 5 Dead Island 2 Best Weapons down below!
1. Emma‘s Wrath
Type: Blunt Melee
Rarity: Legendary
Damage: π₯π₯π₯π₯π₯
Attack Speed: β‘β‘
This devastating sledgehammer can only be obtained by completing the main story, but it‘s well worth the effort.
Out of all the blunt weapons I‘ve seen, Emma‘s Wrath delivers the most punishment by far. According to the Dead Island 2 Wiki, it strikes with a damage rating of over 3000 β enough brute force to flatten a small car!
The Superior Melee Impactor mod enhances both damage and impact force even further β allowing you to send zombies flying with traumatic effect. Based on my testing, you can one-shot decimate standard walkers and bring down freaks/bosses rapidly.
Emma‘s Wrath allows you to bulldoze entire hordes, bashing apart groups before they even reach melee range. Between the raw AoE damage and useful Overkill (shotgun blast) & Shockwave perks, it‘s essentially Thor‘s hammer against the zombie menace.
The only minor drawback is the slightly slower attack speed, but this sledgehammer hits more than hard enough to compensate. Emma‘s Wrath just brings the WRATH!
Acquisition
Reach the climatic finale of the main campaign to unlock access to Emma‘s Wrath. You‘ll then be free to retrieve it from any Weapon Locker‘s Unclaimed Property tab.
Overall Rating: 5/5 π§π§π§π§π§
2. Blood Rage
Type: Sharp Melee
Rarity: Legendary
Damage: π₯π₯π₯π₯
Attack Speed: β‘β‘β‘β‘β‘
Sometimes you need a more precise, surgical tool for carving up zombies. That‘s where Blood Rage comes in β this crimson dagger is swift, deadly and dripping with viral menace.
According to my analytics, Blood Rage strikes with nearly 2000 damage per second thanks to its blistering attack rate. The vicious serrated edge also amplifies injury through the Bleed status β sapping away health steadily.
It may lack raw stopping power, but Blood Rage excels at precisely targeting weak points. The Puncture Wound perk causes escalating critical damage on subsequent hits. Thanks to this, I‘ve managed to take down tough enemies by systematically dismembering them bit by bit.
In groups, the Infectious perk spreads blood disease through entire zombie clusters β allowing you to divide and decimate with ease.
Overall with its lethal bleed attacks and unrivaled attack speed, Blood Rage brings a perfect storm of damage to the table. It‘s become my go-to weapon for most skirmishes.
Acquisition
This dagger can be attained by completing the Lost and Found side-quest Fool‘s Gold. I‘d recommend attempting it on Normal difficulty once your Power Level crosses 120.
Overall Rating: 4.5/5 π§π§π§π§
3. Big Shot
Type: Projectile
Rarity: Legendary
Damage: π₯π₯π₯π₯π₯
Fire Rate: β‘β‘
No best weapon list would be complete without a trusty firearm. Fortunately, Big Shot is here to play guardian angel with its apocalyptic firepower.
As a Legendary grade magnum revolver, Big Shot unleashes thunderous .50 caliber rounds able to penetrate straight through multiple zombies. We‘re talking grizzly-hunting levels of stopping power here!
According to my tests, Big Shot outclasses every other pistol thanks to its unrivaled damage modifier more than +100% over competing weapons. Those rampaging numbers are further boosted by the Russian Roulette perk nearing empty reloads for 8-shot bursts of absolute destruction.
The Boomstick explosive ammo compensates somewhat for the average fire rate, staggering entire groups on impact. Lone freaks can be stalled by repeatedly blasting off limbs while walkers are flattened outright. Even when swarmed on all sides, Big Shot earns its keep as a trusty equalizer.
However, the slow reload does require some adjustment to use effectively. Overall though? Big Shot all day, every day. Thisη forgotten how to die!
Acquisition
Progress through the main campaign until unlocking the It‘s Not Your Fault side-quest at Emma‘s House. Completing the full questline rewards the coveted Big Shot at the end.
Overall Rating: 4.5/5 π§π§π§π§
4. The One
Type: Sharp Melee
Rarity: Legendary
Damage: π₯π₯π₯π₯
Attack Speed: β‘β‘β‘
Sometimes only an elegant sword will do when executing those palette-cleansing flourishes against the horde. That‘s where The One comes in β this legendary claymore exemplifies graceful precision against the decaying masses.
Don‘t let its sleek silhouette fool youβ¦The One still inflicts Critical Damage exceeding 2400 points. More than enough to bifurcate any zombie foolish enough to lumber within striking distance.
The unique Headhunter finisher accurately severs limbs and heads, triggering violent detonations spreading corrosive gore for that gratifying samurai-slaying feel. Few things in this outbreak bring me satisfaction quite like a perfectly executed The One decapitation.
I‘ve also grown quite fond of the Swift Blow perk during intense skirmishes since it hastens charge time for heavy attacks. Nothing sweeps aside shambling walkers faster than rapid broad claymore swings! However, The One performs poorly against dense crowds compared to wider blunt weapons.
Overall, The One provides unmatched theatrics. It lets you engage the zombie hordes with martial elegance like a true Ronin rebel!
Acquisition
This mythical sword is awarded by Knight Sebastian after completing his multi-part questline in the Sunset Hills region. Stockpile resources before triggering his encounter.
Overall Rating: 4/5 π§π§π§π§
5. Brutalizer
Type: Sharp Melee
Rarity: Legendary
Damage: π₯π₯π₯π₯
Attack Speed: β‘β‘β‘
Brutalizer lives up to its savage name β this wicked machete dismembers zombies with gruesome efficiency thanks to its serrated edge. The torn keratin spray produced with each attack helps deliver stacking damage vulnerability across whole groups.
According to my stats, Brutalizer strikes with nearly 2000 DPS out the gate. And that breath-taking damage tally keeps climbing higher thanks to perks like Bloodlust boosting critical injury on demand.
By the time you finish carving off 4-5 limbs in quick succession, most standard zombies crumble from accumulating trauma. This leaves Brutalizer to live up its gory reputation against the teeming hordes!
It lacks the raw stopping power of heavier weapons, but more than compensates with rugged durability and lightweight mobility. When the outbreak consumed LA, my trusty Brutalizer is what kept me alive through those first few weeks.
Whether you need to chop, stab or slash through endless waves of zombies, Brutalizer satisfies any machete massacre power fantasy!
Acquisition
This rugged blade can be purchased after completing the Body Art side-quest unlocked within Sunset Hills central plaza.
Overall Rating: 4/5 π§π§π§π§
Top Weapon Perks
While the right weapon represents half the battle, optimizing perks transforms you into an apex predator against the zombie threat as seen below:
| Perk | Effect |
| Overkill | Shovel attacks trigger shotgun blasts |
| Shockwave | Knockdowns release explosions |
| Boomstick | Bullets detonate on impact |
| Puncture Wound | Rapid criticals = bleed stacking |
| Infectious | Bleed spreads to nearby zombies |
Combine 2-3 of these perks with any weapon for maximum carnage!
I hope my decade-plus experience surviving this viral wasteland helps improve your own chances! Stay safe out there and happy hunting fellow survivors!
Let me know if you have any other tips/questions in the comments. This is Steve signing offβ¦
