The Best Melee Weapons in Helldivers 2

In Helldivers 2, melee weapons offer a brutal way to dispatch enemies up close. They were introduced with the release of the Urban Legends Warbond as one-handed secondary weapons, offering their own set of advantages and drawbacks when pitted against traditional firearms. Some melee weapons offer speed, allowing for relentless chained attacks. Others deliver devastating damage with a single, well-placed thrust.

Hence, it all comes down to playstyle preferences and mission objectives when choosing a melee weapon. Whether players need a high-DPS option for aggressive combat or a single-target melee weapon to complement a shield.

However, the future of melee weapons in Helldivers 2 remains uncertain. While they add variety to combat, their overall effectiveness in large-scale battles is still up for debate. Other secondary weapons offer just too much value in comparison. For now, though, if players are looking to take the fight up close and personal, here are the best melee weapons in Helldivers 2, ranked from worst to best.

Related

Helldivers 2: Best Secondary Weapons, Ranked

Find the best secondary weapons in Helldivers 2 to help spread managed democracy faster. These powerful sidearms cannot be ignored.

4

CQC-19 Stun Lance

Spears Enemies With Powerful Thrusts

The CQC-19 Stun Lance functions like a spear, allowing players to target specific enemy weak points at a decent range with powerful thrusts. Each hit delivers a minor stun, canceling enemy attacks and making them unable to move for a short time.

While useful against high-priority solo targets in Helldivers 2, the Stun Lance’s narrow thrusting attacks leave players vulnerable against swarming enemies. Pairing it with the SH-20 Ballistic Shield Backpack

improves defense, but the limited crowd-control limits its effectiveness in full-scale combat, especially when flanked.

3

CQC-30 Stun Baton

Swings Faster and Wider

The CQC-30 Stun Baton is a variant of the Stun Lance. What makes it different and better is its faster attack speed. Unlike the Stun Lance, which relies on thrusting attacks, the Stun Baton swings rapidly in a wide arc, hitting all enemies within a short range. Like its counterpart, it also incapacitates enemies on impact. While the Stun Baton has the lowest damage per hit among all melee weapons, its relentless swings, even when stamina is drained, make it an excellent melee choice in Helldivers 2.

2

CQC-5 Combat Hatchet

The Highest DPS Melee Weapon

The CQC-5 Combat Hatchet combines the high damage of the Stun Lance with the fast attack speed of the Stun Baton. It is the deadliest melee weapon in Helldivers 2 at the time of writing, smashing enemies left and right with relentless broad swings. The only thing that the Combat Hatchet lacks is range and stagger. However, that should not matter against light enemies, which the Combat Hatchet can clear with each swing.

Digs Trenches for Cover

The Entrenchment Tool, also known as the Trench Shovel, shares the same stats as the Combat Hatchet but comes with a unique feature: it can dig through soft ground to create trenches. So, players get a hard-hitting melee weapon as well as a unique utility tool to dig trenches for cover.

Depending on the planet and terrain, because the Trench Shovel cannot dig through the pavements of the Illuminate-controlled urban cities, players can set up defensive positions. For example, digging trenches to protect Mortar Sentries or the entire squad from ranged attacks, especially against the Automatons. Their heavy units, like Devastators and Tanks, are lethal in open areas without cover.

As good as it is, the Entrenchment Tool cannot be equipped from the armory on the Super Destroyer before deployment. Like a few support weapons, the Trench Shovel can only be found at Points of Interest during missions, so players only have a chance to come across one. That said, its utility and effectiveness still make it one of the best melee weapons in Helldivers 2.

Systems

Franchise

Helldivers

Released

February 8, 2024

Developer(s)

Arrowhead Game Studios

Multiplayer

Online Co-Op

Engine

bitsquid

ESRB

M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Intense Violence

PS Plus Availability

N/A

Number of Players

1-4

OpenCritic Rating

Strong

Cross-Platform Play

PC & PS5

Expand