Highlights

  • The best melee weapons in Cyberpunk 2077 have unique perks and designs that add a fun twist to combat.
  • Some iconic melee weapons can only be found in specific areas, adding a scavenger hunt element to gameplay.
  • From katanas to hammers, each melee weapon offers a different playstyle and strategy for players to explore and enjoy.

Cyberpunk 2077's base game holds many incredible weapons, but by far the most diverse and often silly set has to be melee weapons. The best melee weapons in Cyberpunk 2077 often have a quirk to them, an interesting perk or design that will make players chuckle, or feel like the coolest merc in Night City as they take on Arasaka and the rest of the corpos out to stop them and Johnny Silverhand for taking what they want.

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Cyberpunk 2077's best melee weapons often belong to iconic weapons that can only be found in specific areas and ways, rather than as random loot drops. Some iconic weapons can be missed, so it's best to keep an eye out for these weapons and discover the true potential of a melee-wielding warrior.

12 Cocktail Stick

How To Get: Found Inside The Clouds Dressing Room In "Automatic Love"

Cocktail Stick

Weapon Type

Katana

Iconic Modifier

When Optical Camo is active, hitting an enemy causes Bleeding. Bleeding caused in this way lasts longer than usual.

Attack Speed

2.1

Damage per Hit

133.0

Stamina Cost

6.4

Armor Penetration

+25%

A bright pink katana that used to belong to Evelyn Parker, players can wield the Cocktail Stick in her name to skewer their enemies within Night City. With an average attack speed and decent damage per hit, the Cocktail Stick is a good enough katana, but the Iconic Modifier is best reserved for players who have a flair for stealth, as to see any effect from it, they will need Optical Camo as one of their Cyberware upgrades. However, causing Bleeding is great, as it can stop enemies from dodging and dashing, as well as dealing at least 4% damage to their total health over time.

11 Cottonmouth

How To Get: Found On A Table Within Fingers' Clinic During "The Space In Between"

Cottonmouth cyberpunk 2077

Weapon Type

One-Handed Club

Iconic Modifier

Electrically charged and tipped with venom, it deals Electrical and Chemical damage. Small chance to apply Poison and/or Shock.

Attack Speed

1.3

Damage per Hit

179.0

Stamina Cost

9.6

Armor Penetration

+25%

What better way to stick it to the disgusting ripperdoc, Fingers, than to wield his cane in battle? V can pick this melee weapon up and swing it around, and whilst it may not be lethal, it sure will leave plenty of bruises. It's a weapon that is often underestimated due to its slow attack speed, but its stellar damage per hit makes it a weapon worthy of a Night City merc, especially when the tip of the weapon deals both Electrical and Chemical damage, adding both Shock and Poison to unsuspecting enemies.

10 Satori

How To Get: Found In Saburo Arasaka's AV On The Rooftop Landing Pad In "The Heist"

satori melee weapon

Weapon Type

Katana

Iconic Modifier

Allows you to leap towards distant enemies., When Satori is sheathed, hold the primary attack to perform a Quickdraw Attack that is guaranteed to inflict Bleeding.

Attack Speed

2.1

Damage per Hit

133.0

Stamina Cost

6.4

Armor Penetration

+25%

Satori is a truly intensive weapon, and extremely rare, as players can easily miss it during the panic of Act One's "The Heist". Finding this weapon on Saburo's personal AV whilst looking for a way out of the penthouse, players might be impressed by its competent swing speed, but even more impressed with its iconic modifier, which allows players to leap toward enemies, even if they are far away. This can lead to some great melee encounters, where players can easily catch up to foes wielding guns, showing that it's not always wise to bring a gun to a sword fight.

9 Jinchu-maru

How To Get: Looted From Oda Sandayu's Body In "Play It Safe"

Jinchu-maru

Weapon Type

Katana

Iconic Modifier

The last hit in a combo guarantees Crit damage. While Optical Camo is active, all hits are critical and allow you to leap toward your target. Increases damage against Elite enemies.

Attack Speed

2.1

Damage per Hit

148.0

Stamina Cost

6.4

Armor Penetration

+25%

A superior bout of damage to other katanas, the Jinchu-maru already shows promise for the best Cyberpunk 2077 melee weapons. Even the iconic modifier itself is worthy of acclaim, as players can continue to slash at their foes with guaranteed critical hits on the last hit.

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Even greater still, the use of Optical Camo can grant a promise of critical hits and the ability to leap towards targets, ensuring no one escapes the cyberpsycho wielding this. The extra damage against Elite enemies is always a cherry on top.

8 Sasquatch's Hammer

How To Get: Looted From Sasquatch's Body During "I Walk The Line"

Sasquatch's Hammer

Weapon Type

Hammer

Iconic Modifier

This monster drains a lot of stamina but inflicts massive damage. Very heavy weapon. When equipped, it significantly reduces movement speed and jump height and prevents you from sprinting, dodging, and dashing.

Attack Speed

0.8

Damage per Hit

527.0

Stamina Cost

16.0

Armor Penetration

+75%

Talk about a weapon with high risk and high reward, this iconic hammer from the leader of the Animals faction is going to require plenty of perks in Body due to how heavy it is to wield. Sasquatch's Hammer is the heaviest weapon in the game, and players will feel that with each slow swing, and the fact that their movement is greatly reduced. It's a good idea to bring plenty of armor for a fight with this one, and although that might not be for everyone, the fact that it has a knockdown chance of 30% for Fast attacks, 50% for Strong Attacks, and a damage multiplier of 220%, it's definitely worth wielding for the tanks out there.

7 Tinker Bell

How To Get: Found Within Edgewood Farm's Control Room In "The Hunt"

Tinker Bell melee weapon

Weapon Type

One-Handed Club

Iconic Modifier

Deals less damage, but with a chance to knock out a target using a Strong Attack.

Attack Speed

1.3

Damage per Hit

165.0

Stamina Cost

9.6

Armor Penetration

+50%

The Tinker Bell cannot be denied for being one of the creepiest items in the game thanks to its implication of use on vulnerable youths, but that doesn't mean V can't turn it into a force for good against the horrors of Night City, prodding at enemies with this electric weapon that deals Physical and Electrical damage. Whilst the damage reduction may not be impressive, the fact that it can non-lethally knock out targets, leaving them in a vulnerable state, means it's well worth the misfortune of having to repeatedly poke them with it.

6 Black Unicorn

How To Get: Automatically Added To V's Stash When Linking Account To GOG

black unicorn melee weapon

Weapon Type

Katana

Iconic Modifier

Attack speed is not affected by Stamina.

Attack Speed

2.1

Damage per Hit

148.0

Stamina Cost

6.4

Armor Penetration

+25%

A weapon taken from The Witcher series sounds like a no-brainer when it comes to using, and the Black Unicorn might tickle plenty of fancy for fans of CD Projekt RED's fantasy world, and especially new players since the weapon itself can be acquired as soon as they access V's Apartment's Stash, but only if their account is linked to GOG.

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When low or out of Stamina, players can still attack wildly, and fast, allowing constant opportunity for violence, and they will never be forced to slow down their rampage due to a lack of stamina, because this katana simply has no patience to wear out.

5 Butcher's Cleaver

How To Get: ​​​​​​​Found Within Rolland's Butcher Shop After Placide Uses It In "M'ap Tann Pelen"

Placide talking to a woman in Cyberpunk 2077

Weapon Type

Knife

Iconic Modifier

When your enemy is bleeding, the cleaver attacks faster and uses less stamina.

Attack Speed

1.8

Damage per Hit

201.0

Stamina Cost

8.0

Armor Penetration

+25%

Placide might not be the nicest character in Night City, from his behavior towards V and his decapitation of a chicken, but at least he leaves behind a Butcher's Cleaver, a weapon that can only be grabbed in this scene and never again. The weapon itself is somewhat mediocre, but the iconic modifier allows it to shine thanks to its bloodthirsty nature, in which players can attack faster with less stamina if they cause their enemies to have the Bleeding effect.

4 Caretaker's Spade

How To Get: ​​​​​​​Found Within The Central Area Of The Arasaka Tower Jungle Floor In "Knockin' On Heaven's Door"

caretakers spade cyberpunk 2077

Weapon Type

Hammer

Iconic Modifier

Heavy weapon. Slightly reduces movement speed and jump height. Restores 12.5% of Health after knocking out an enemy.

Attack Speed

1.2

Damage per Hit

240.0

Stamina Cost

16.0

A reference to the creepiest encounter in The Witcher 3's Hearts of Stone expansion, the Caretaker's Spade comes to Cyberpunk 2077, and whilst those in Night City might not know about the Caretaker, players might shudder in remembrance of this monster when they find it. The saddest part about this weapon is that it's heavy, and can only be found in the final mission path, meaning players can only use it after they have completed the main mission when there's not a lot left to do in Night City. However, the iconic modifier means that players can siphon health from their enemies, which keeps them as seemingly immortal mercs.

3 Scalpel

How To Get: ​​​​​​​A Reward For Completing "Big In Japan"

scalpel melee weapon

Weapon Type

Katana

Iconic Modifier

While Sandevistan is active, increases Crit Chance by 50% and hits apply Bleeding.

Attack Speed

2.1

Damage per Hit

148.0

Stamina Cost

6.4

Armor Penetration

+25%

An easy-to-obtain iconic weapon in Cyberpunk 2077, the Scalpel has a default damage modifier to add Electrical and Shock damage to foes. However, to make the weapon really shine, players should be using a Sandevistan. The ability to seemingly slow time to a stop should already prove why it's so useful, but with the Scalpel, players can increase the damage output of their katana, forcing enemies into submission as they are cut to ribbons before they can even register what's happened to them.

2 Headhunter

How To Get: ​​​​​​​Purchased From Melee Weapon Vendor In West Wind Estate With Patch 1.6

CP2077-Stash-Wall-Headhunter

Weapon Type

Knife

Iconic Modifier

Marks enemy on hit. Attacking the enemy's head with any weapon deals 200% damage, returns the Headhunter and clears the mark.

Attack Speed

3.1

Damage per Hit

106.0

Effective Range

26.0

Stamina Cost

4.8

Return Time

3.5

Headshot Damage Multiplier

+150%

A throwing knife is a great way to increase V's expanding arsenal, and it's a weapon that will require a touch of skill to use effectively. Players can throw this knife into enemies, which will mark them, essentially giving them a death sentence, as they will receive 200% more damage for the next hit. This can be used greatly in stealth, as players can hit an enemy twice and automatically have the Headhunter knife return to them, allowing for them to prey upon their next victim.

1 Sir John Phallustiff

How To Get: Found On The Bed After Sleeping With Meredith Stout In "Venus In Furs"

meredith-cyberpunk-2077

Weapon Type

One-Handed Club

Iconic Modifier

Strike your enemy in the face and watch their pride crumble as your Crit Chance rises!

Attack Speed

2.2

Damage per Hit

138.0

Stamina Cost

9.6

Armor Penetration

+25%

A crude weapon that needs no introduction, players can get their hands on Sir John Phallustiff if they side with Meredith Stout and end up having a one-night stand with her in Act Two. A parting gift can be found on the bed, just be sure to wash it, or wear gloves, as this rude weapon will certainly embarrass the wielder and whoever is unfortunate enough to get hit in the face with it. It's a funny weapon, and an effective one, as the increase Crit and Stun Chance is (of course) 69%, allowing for V to literally dominate over their enemies.

cyberpunk 2077 poster
Cyberpunk 2077

Platform(s)
PC , Xbox One , Stadia , PS4 , PS5 , Xbox Series S , Xbox Series X
Released
December 10, 2020
Developer(s)
CD Projekt Red
Genre(s)
RPG , Action