Melee weapons in Fallout games are often overlooked since ranged weapons seem to be the most viable choices most of the time. In Fallout 4, melee builds are more viable than in any other Fallout game, and you have some excellent perk choices to make up for the weaknesses of melee combat.
That being said, knowing what weapon to pick will make your playthrough a lot easier; luckily for you, Fallout 4 has a lot of strong melee weapons. From Shishkebabs to weapons with bleed effects, we will give you some of the best melee weapons in this game.
The Best Melee Weapons in Fallout 4
There are quite a lot of excellent melee weapons and combinations; you might be surprised by a few of them. Not all melee weapons are the same, and some may require different playstyles and tactics. Nevertheless, all of these weapons are viable in some way.
1. Atom’s Judgement
This is one of the best weapons in the game; it does 40 damage and 100 radiation damage. It is a unique Super Sledge that you get in the Far Harbor DLC. The best way to utilize this weapon is, funnily enough, to invest in the Intelligence tree.
Nuclear Physicist means that you can do double the radiation damage; Nerd Rage helps with damage when low, and Medic perks mean that you will heal more from stimpacks. The Chemist perks also help with your chems lasting longer, so your Psychos and Jets will be even better than they already are.
Atom’s Judgement Best Perks
Combining this with the Big Leagues perk from Strength gives you an extremely effective weapon. The Blacksmith perk at Strength level 4 allows for better weapon modifications, which helps too. Rooted is great for stealth kills or when enemies are in your face.
The high base damage of this weapon makes it such that all the bonuses, while useful on any melee weapon, are even better on this one. Coupled with the Ninja and Moving Target from Agility perks, you have a deadly combination of stealthy and loud playstyles.
Where to Find this Great Melee Weapon in Fallout 4
You can find Atom’s Judgement in the Far Harbor DLC by doing quests for the Children of The Atom.
2. Throatslicer
This weapon has a rather graphic name for a good reason: It has one of the highest DPSs for a melee weapon in the game. Paired with all the perks and a cutlass modification, it has low AP cost in VATS, a high damage output, and fast attacks.
Perks that Go Well with this Melee Weapon
With the Blitz and Ninja perks, stealth playthroughs will be a breeze. Furthermore, due to how strong Blitz is, you will practically teleport next to people if you use VATS; this applies to all melee weapons, but especially with this blade and its low AP cost.
Where to Get the Throatslicer
You can find the Throatslicer–a unique variant of the Disciples blade–in the Nuka World DLC to help complete your Fallout 4 melee build.
3. The Harvester
This is a ripper-type weapon, which means it has the lowest single-hit damage output of all melee categories but also some of the fastest attacks and the highest potential for DPS in the game.
Rippers are unique in the way that they are like mini-chainsaws and constantly attack when the attack button is held. The Harvester has a staggering effect, allowing for the constant stunning of enemies.
How to Get a Good Melee Build with the Harvester in Fallout 4
The Harvester benefits the most from the same perks as other melee weapons do: Blitz, Ninja, Big Leagues, and others for damage resistance and health. This weapon is one of the best in the game, even though it has low base damage.
Where to Find the Harvester
You can find this weapon in the Far Harbor DLC, at Echo Lake Lumber in the red trunk on the top floor of the main building.
4. Kremvh’s Tooth
This weapon is a unique machete, which means it attacks faster than super sledges but slower than knives and rippers. The opposite is true of the base damage of the weapon. However, this particular machete has a legendary attachment that gives it poison and bleed damage.
Combining decent base damage, this weapon is a strong contender for one of the best melee weapons in Fallout 4 in its own right.
Related Guide: Comparing New Vegas vs Fallout 4
How to Use This Weapon’s Mod on Other Melee Weapons in Fallout 4
However, if you wish to take this melee weapon to the next level, you should know that the legendary effect of “Kremvh’s Tooth” comes from a mod, not the weapon itself. Thus, you can remove the mod and place it on another Legendary Machete, thereby granting both bonuses at once.
This combination is not intuitive at first, but it is a great strategy if you happen to stumble upon another machete with great statistics.
Where to Find It
This weapon can be found at the bottom of Dunwich Borers. It may be a bit difficult to obtain with power armor, and we recommend using some sort of rebreather for it.
5. Grognak’s Axe – All Around One of the Best Melee Weapons in Fallout 4
This axe is seemingly the most normal weapon on this list; it is just an axe, and that’s about it. However, this weapon is different in that it has a very low AP cost for a two-handed weapon. It boasts a good combination of attack speed and high base damage, with bleed on top as well.
Where to Find Grgnak’s Axe
The great thing about this axe is the stagger is similar to that of The Harvester. You can get this great melee weapon in Fallout 4 by lockpicking an advanced-level display case at Hubris Comics.
6. Pickman’s Blade
This weapon is great and is almost identical to the Throatslicer variant of the Disciple Blade. The differences are that Pickman’s Blade has a bit less damage, but is better at stealth and easier to obtain. They are very similar weapons, and both are viable.
What this weapon lacks in damage, it makes up for it in speed and bleed damage.
Location
You can find this melee weapon while playing Fallout 4 inside the Pickman Gallery.
Final Thoughts on the Best Weapons for Your Fallout 4 Melee Build
Melee weapons in Fallout 4 offer a viable and exciting alternative to ranged weapons, with various playstyles to suit different gamers. The six best melee weapons in the game include Atom’s Judgement, Throatslicer, The Harvester, Kremvh’s Tooth, Grognak’s Axe, and Pickman’s Blade.
These weapons all have unique characteristics, such as high base damage or speed, bleed or radiation effects, and staggering abilities. Combining these weapons with the right perks can create powerful and versatile builds for both stealthy and loud playstyles.
To make the most of your melee build in Fallout 4, explore the DLCs like Far Harbor and Nuka World, and invest in Intelligence, Strength, and Agility perks.
For more info on this amazing RPG, check out our guide on how to reach the max level in Fallout 4.
For now, have fun in your games!
