Active effects[]
All melee weapons deal melee damage and benefit from any melee specific effects and bonuses. Melee weapons also all have the capabilities to hit multiple enemies at once if they are within range. Most melee weapons also have their own individual movesets that they can initiate by continuously attacking, but there is a short time where the player may do other actions before continuing the weapon's combo, such as rolling or jumping.
Effect scaling[]
All melee weapons' damage scales based on either the player's 
Brutality stat or their 
Survival stat. Brutality scaling weapons are usually lighter, faster attacking weapons, such as the 
Balanced Blade or the 
Twin Daggers, while Survival scaling weapons are usually slower, heavier weapons like the 
Nutcracker or the 
Broadsword. Weapons that scale with both Brutality and Survival are usually weapons that are a sort of medium speed between light and heavy weapons, like the 
Shovel. Some melee weapons also have alternate scaling with 
Tactics (e.g. 
Valmont's Whip or the 
Shrapnel Axes).
List of melee weapons[]
This is a list of all obtainable melee weapons within the game.
| Icon | Name | Description | Blueprint location | Base DPS | Scaling |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 
|
Whip SwordRtC | Can be transformed in-between two attacks to deal critical damage for the next 1.5 seconds. Secondary Ability: Whip Can be transformed in-between two attacks to deal critical damage for the next 1.5 seconds. Sharp as the snake's fang. |
Dropped by Harpies ((1.7%)) | 217 (406) 2nd Mode: 203 (406) |
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Rusty Sword | Kills things. Sometimes... | Always unlocked | 138 |
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Balanced Blade | Damage increases up to +90% when you strike repeatedly. Inflicts critical hits after 10 successive hits. | Always unlocked | 147-279 (230-437) |
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Assassin's Dagger | Inflicts a critical hit when you stab your enemy in the back. Light but deadly if you know how to use it. |
Secret area near the start of the Promenade of the Condemned | 134 (402) |
|
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Spite Sword | Inflict a critical hit if you took damage less than 8 sec ago, or if you're cursed. A rusty weapon that reveals its power when things get tough. |
Drops from Buzzcutters (0.03%) | 144 (255) |
|
|
Blood Sword | Causes bleeding (3.5 DPS for 12 sec). | Drops from Zombies (100%) | 122 |
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Twin Daggers | Inflicts a critical hit on the 3rd consecutive strike. Two daggers for the price of one. Slice and dice... guaranteed to please. |
Always unlocked | 173 (257) |
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|
Broadsword | The second and third hits are critical. Slow and heavy, but deliciously vicious. |
Drops from Tutorial Knight's corpse in the Prisoners' Quarters | 176 (281) | 
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|
Shovel | Knocks back enemies and bombs. Any object can become a deadly weapon if it's moving fast enough... |
Drops from Swarm Zombies (0.4%) | 158 | 
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Cursed Sword | One hit and you're dead. So you like to play hardball, do ya? |
Drops from Conjunctivius (3rd kill) | 618 |
|
|
Sadist's Stiletto | Inflicts a critical hit if the target is bleeding or poisoned. Hit 'em where it hurts. |
Drops from Impalers (1.7%) | 109 (222) | 
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|
Swift Sword | Inflicts a critical hit if you have an active speed buff. Forget about taking your time. To get real results, strike hard and fast. |
Daily Run - First Completion | 137 (208) |
|
|
GiantkillerRotG | Inflicts a critical hit if the victim is an elite enemy or a boss. The bigger they are... |
Drops from the Giant (1st kill) | 127 (465) |
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|
Shrapnel Axes | Metal shards burst from the axes when you strike enemies, inflicting approximately 130 damage. | Drops from Demons (0.4%) | 187 |
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Seismic Strike | Provokes terrestrial shock waves that root victims. | Drops from Bombers (2+ BSC; 0.4%) | 131 |
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War Spear | Inflicts a critical hit when you strike several targets at the same time. Greater range but less speed. |
Drops from Hammers (10%) | 256 (435) |
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Impaler | Inflicts a critical hit if the victim is up against a wall. | Drops from the Concierge (4th kill) | 175 (450) |
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Symmetrical Lance | Inflicts critical hits for 6 sec if you quickly kill 2 enemies with this weapon. | Drops from the Hand of the King (1st kill) | 192 (288) |
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Rapier | Inflicts a critical hit immediately after a roll or a parry. It's all in the wrist... |
Drops from Scorpions (0.4%) | 156 (356) | |
|
Meat Skewer | The first attack pierces the enemy, placing you behind it. Your next attack inflict critical hits. Now you see me, now you don't. |
Daily Run - Tenth Completion | 181 (281) |
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Nutcracker | Inflicts a critical hit if the victim is stunned, frozen or rooted. | Always unlocked | 155 (386) |
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Spartan Sandals | Knocks back enemies, dealing damage where they land. Deals 90 extra damage if the enemy hits a wall. The final strike in the combo will knock back any enemy. This. Is. DEAD CELLS! |
Drops from Runners (100%) | 32 |
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|
Spiked Boots | Inflicts a critical hit if the kick interrupts an attack. | Drops from Thornies (0.4%) | 105 (324) |
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Hayabusa Boots | The last hit inflicts area-of-effect damage and pushes enemies back. | Drops from Dark Trackers (1+ BSC; 1.7%) | 161 |
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Hayabusa Gauntlets | Inflicts critical hits if the victim has less than 40% HP. UselessUselessUselessUselessUselessUsel... |
Drops from Lancers (0.4%) | 124 (243) |
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|
Valmont's Whip | Ignores shields. Inflicts a critical hit if the tip of the whip strikes the enemy. Popularized by the well-dressed Baron Belmont du Cul. |
Drops from Disgusting Worms (0.4%) | 109 (305) |
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Wrenching Whip | Ignores shields, pulls victims toward you and inflicts a critical hit on the 3rd strike. | Drops from Pirate Captains (0.4%) | 129 (187) |
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Oiled Sword | Douses the enemy with inflammable oil and inflict critical hits during 10 sec after hitting an enemy on fire. | Drops from Bats (1.7%) | 127 (215) |
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Torch | Burns your enemies (15 DPS for 2.7 sec). Talk about mood lighting! |
Drops from Spawners (1.7%) | 107 |
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Frantic Sword | Inflicts a critical hit when you have less than 50% health or more than 50% Malaise. The weapon of choice of fighters who like to live dangerously. |
Drops from Kamikazes (0.4%) | 137 (277) |
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|
Flawless | Inflicts critical hits if you haven't taken damage for at least 15 seconds. | Drops from Slammers (0.4%) | 115 (278) |
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Flint | Hold the attack to inflict a critical hit and create a flaming trail. The Concierge was always ready to give an extra hand. |
Drops from the Concierge (1st kill) | 224 (400) |
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Tentacle | Ignore shields and project you towards the enemy and inflicts a critical hit if you attack again while bumped. Free hugs! |
Drops from Conjunctivius (1st kill) | 78 (265) |
|
|
Vorpan | Inflicts a critical hit if the enemy is facing you. Grill. Fry. Burn. Reheat. |
Available in the Shop free of charge - 4th run onward only | 161 (289) |
|
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Flashing FansTBS | Repelling a projectile causes you to inflict critical hits for 8 seconds. Use the force Luke... |
Drops from Yeeters (0.4%) | 145 (246) |
|
 
|
Scythe ClawTBS | Inflicts a critical hit if you previously used the other claw. Recovered from the stinking carcass of Mama Tick. Might come in handy. |
Drops from Mama Tick (1st kill) | 85 (311) 2nd Mode: 165 (767) |
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Rhythm n' BouzoukiTBS | Inflicts critical hits if you strike at the right time. The last hit repeats indefinitely if you keep the tempo going. Hey, get rhythm when you get the blues! Come on, get rhythm when you get the blues... |
Drops from Giant Ticks (0.4%) | 133 (330) |
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Crowbar | Inflict critical hits when hitting bestial enemies or for 8 seconds after destroying a door. Surprisingly effective when eradicating parasites. |
Lore room in the Prisoners' Quarters | 174 (284) |
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Snake FangsFF | Teleports you to the nearest target. Poisons victims (4 DPS for 15 sec). Inflicts critical hits if the target has more than 5 poison marks. | Drops from Cold Blooded Guardians (1.7%) | 94 (150) |
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Iron StaffFF | The first hit allows you to parry melee hits. The combo inflicts critical hits after a successful parry. | Drops from Stone Wardens (100%) | 135 (404) |
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Ferryman's LanternFF | Kill an enemy to gather its soul. The last combo hit snatches a soul from Bosses. Secondary Ability: Soul Shot Charge to shoot souls as projectiles. If more than 3 souls are shot at the same time, they inflict critical hits. |
Drops from Apostates (0.4%) | 164 2nd Mode: 107 (429) |
|
| File:Katana Icon.png | Katana | Hold to dash through enemies in front of you inflicting critical hits. | Drops from Weirded Warriors (1.7%) | 187 (179) |
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Hattori's Katana | Hold to dash through enemies in front of you inflicting critical hits. | Drops from Weirded Warriors (1.7%) | 187 (179) |
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Tombstone | Kill an enemy with the last hit to bury it under a tombstone and doom nearby enemies. | Drops from Swarm Zombies (1.7%) | 250 |
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Oven Axe | Repeat the last hit combo to inflict critical damage. | Drops from Oven Knights (2+ BSC; 1.7%) | 215 (273) |
|
 
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ToothpickRotG | Strike harder by charging your attack, but the Toothpick will be broken for 6 seconds. | Drops from Ground Shakers (10%) | 195 (778) 2nd Mode: 82 |
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Machete and Pistol | The third attack uses the pistol to bump and inflict critical damage to nearby enemies. Hack, slash and shoot! |
Lore room in the Prisoners' Quarters | 117 (163) |
|
 
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Hard Light Sword | Deals critical damage depending on the number of gun marks on the target. Recharges Hard Light Gun's ammo. Secondary Ability: Hard Light Gun Marks its targets to make Hard Light Sword deal critical damage to them. Ammo doesn't recharge passively. An elegant weapon for a more civilized age. |
Lore room in the Prisoners' Quarters | 117 (280) 2nd Mode: 78 (469) |
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Pure Nail | Can attack while moving and upward. Attacking downward while airborne cause you to bounce on your enemies, dealing critical damage. My life's work achieved... What more is left...? |
Lore room in the Prisoners' Quarters | 155 (218) |
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Bone | Hitting with the second attack enables a whirlwind attack that deals critical damage. You don't want to have one to pick with that young skeleton. |
Lore room in the Prisoners' Quarters | 137.5 (156) |
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Abyssal TridentTQatS | The second attack is a charge that inflicts critical damage after a few moments. Interrupt it with the last attack to deal critical damage. Forking good weapon! |
Lore room in Infested Shipwreck; requires Forked Key | 106 (235) |
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Hand HookTQatS | The last attack throws the target behind you, bumping other enemies it hits. Enemies thrown on walls are dealt critical damage. You'll get hooked on throwing enemies on the walls! |
Drops from Armored Shrimps (1.7%) | 106 (318) |
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Maw of the DeepTQatS | The third attack throws the shark, rooting the enemy and causing it to bleed. Inflicts critical hits on rooted targets. The first weapon that moonlights as a terrible sea predator. |
Drops from Mutineers (1.7%) | 158 (270) |
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Bladed TonfasTQatS | The first attack makes you jump forward. Hitting with this attack causes your next combo with this weapon to deal critical damage. Stylish yet impractical. How was she able to use it with such deadly accuracy?! |
Drops from Kleio when killed last | 105 (231) |
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Wrecking BallTQatS | The third attack throws the ball and the fourth recalls it. I never hit so hard in love. |
Drops from Calliope when killed last | 210 (280) |
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Queen's RapierTQatS | Attacks that hit a target also slice through reality, hitting anything on their path again. Graceful and deadly, just like Her. |
Drops from the Queen (1st kill) | 57 (148) |
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Dagger of Profit | Inflicts critical hits for 3 seconds after picking up gold. Stonks. |
Drops from Agitated Pickpockets (1.7%) | 105 (211) |
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Gold Digger | Hits cause their target to drop [10 in base form, 15 in improved form] gold. Inflicts critical damage if you have more than 12000 gold. Au-some weapon. |
Drops from Gold Gorgers (1.7%) | 118 (206) |
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Panchaku | Inflicts a critical hit if the enemy is facing you. Feast of Fury |
Lore room in the Prisoners' Quarters | 121 (185) |
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King Scepter | You charge forward. Upon hitting a target, you bounce into the air spinning. Bouncing on an enemy deals critical damage and lets you charge again. Reign of Decadence |
Lore room in the Prisoners' Quarters | 75 (150) |
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Baseball Bat | Attacking a stunned or rooted enemy lets you strike frantically, dealing critical damage GOTTA GET A GRIP! |
Lore room in the Prisoners' Quarters | 156 (476) |
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Starfury | Successful attacks also create two falling stars that strikes another target if possible, dealing critical damage Along with other famous swords, this can be forged into the Zenith. |
Lore room in the Prisoners' Quarters | 57 (114) |
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- RotG: Rise of the Giant DLC
- TBS: The Bad Seed DLC
- FF: Fatal Falls DLC
- TQatS: The Queen and the Sea DLC