In a world of irradiated horrors, rogue robots, and trigger-happy raiders, sometimes the most satisfying solution is up close and personal. Forget plasma rifles and mini-nukes, there’s a primal thrill in carving through the apocalypse with a flaming sword, crushing skulls with a radioactive sledgehammer, or silently slitting throats under the cover of darkness. Whether you’re a stealthy shadow, an unkillable tank, or a whirlwind of blades, Fallout’s melee arsenal turns every battle into a brutal ballet. Strap on your Power Armor, sharpen your claws, and let’s dive into the weapons, and warrior builds, that make the wasteland bleed.
Best Melee Weapons in Fallout 3
Shishkebab
- Details: A flaming sword dealing 24 base damage + 8 fire DoT. Requires Mechanics 75 to craft using schematics from the Scrapyard locker.
- Location: Obtain via The Superhuman Gambit quest (side with The AntAgonizer or loot her corpse).
Super Sledge
- Details: Devastating 45 damage with knockback. Ideal for Power Armor users.
- Location: Guaranteed spawn in Evergreen Mills’ armory (northwest of map).
Deathclaw Gauntlet
- Details: Ignores DR, dealing 50 damage. Requires Broken Steel DLC.
- Location: Loot from Deathclaw Sanctuary nests (east of Rockbreaker’s Last Gas).
Auto Axe (The Pitt DLC)
- Details: Chainsaw-like 30 damage with rapid attacks.
- Location: Reward for completing The Pitt’s main questline.
Best Stealth Melee Weapons (Silent, Fast, and Lethal)
Fallout: New Vegas
Blood Nap (Lonesome Road DLC)
- Details: 28 damage with x5 crit multiplier.
- Location: Loot from marked grave near Ulysses’ Temple (requires Demolition Charge to access).
Chance’s Knife
- Details: 18 damage + x1.5 crit chance.
- Location: Goodsprings Cemetery (dig up grave northwest of town).
Fallout 4
Pickman’s Blade
- Details: 15 damage + 25 bleed DoT. Silent and lightweight.
- Location: Complete Pickman’s Gift quest in Pickman Gallery (northeast Boston).
Kremvh’s Tooth
- Details: 27 damage + 10 poison DoT.
- Location: Underwater at the bottom of Dunwich Borers quarry.
Fallout 76
Stealth Bloodied Machete
- Details: 40 damage (with Bloodied effect at 20% HP).
- Location: Craft via Plan: Machete (dropped in Ash Heap events) or trade.
Vampire’s Combat Knife
- Details: 12 damage + health regen per hit.
- Location: Legendary drop from Daily Ops or player vendors.
Best Perks for Stealth Melee
- Ninja (F:NV/F4): x3.5 sneak damage multiplier.
- Mister Sandman (F4): +25% night-time sneak damage.
- Cloaking Effects: Use Chinese Stealth Suit (F:NV/F76) or Chameleon armour for invisibility.
Best Tanky Melee Weapons (High Damage Resistance & HP Sustain)
Fallout: New Vegas
Oh, Baby!
- Details: 45 damage super sledge with +10% crit chance.
- Location: Devil’s Throat Crater (on Dog, a dead super mutant).
Fallout 4
Atom’s Judgement
- Details: 60 damage + 100 radiation.
- Location: Reward from Children of Atom in Far Harbor DLC.
Fallout 76
The Tenderizer
- Details: 65 damage + 40% ignore armour.
- Location: Meat Week event reward (seasonal).
Best DPS Melee Weapons (Max Damage Output Per Second)
Fallout: New Vegas
Thermic Lance
- Details: 40 DPS energy weapon.
- Location: Sold by Gun Runners at level 20+.
Fallout 4
Furious Power Fist
- Details: 23 damage + +15% per hit (max 5 stacks).
- Location: Dropped by Swan (Boston Common pond).
Fallout 76
Auto Axe (Vampire’s)
- Details: 50 DPS + health regen.
- Location: Crafted via The Pitt Expedition plans.
Final Verdict
- Stealth Build: Pickman’s Blade (F4) or Blood Nap (F:NV) for silent lethality.
- Tank Build: Atom’s Judgement (F4) or The Tenderizer (F76) for survivability.
- DPS Build: Auto Axe (F76) or Furious Power Fist (F4) for rapid kills.
Legendary Effects Tier List
- Bloodied: +80% damage at 20% HP.
- Furious: +5% damage per hit (max 45%).
- Vampiric: Heal 3% HP per hit.
- Instigating: Double damage vs full-health targets.
Tip: Pair Bloodied with Radicool (F76) for max damage.
