1) Crowbar

The crowbar is useful both as a weapon and for tasks like picking up flooring if you’re working on building! It’s also the most durable weapon in Project Zomboid, making it a great pick for a melee weapon.

Since crowbars are the more durable weapon, they’re extremely valuable tools to have. The only downside is that crowbars can’t be repaired once they break, so make sure you keep a spare weapon on your character.

Why the crowbar is great:

• Most durable weapon
• Not too hard to find
• Can be used as a weapon and a tool

How to get crowbars:

• Can be found impaled in zombies
• In crates in warehouses
• In garages and sheds

Crowbar stats:

• Is categorized as a blunt weapon
• It is a two-handed weapon
• Attack speed: 1
• Damage: 0.6-1.15
• Attack range: 0.61-1.25 tiles
• Base durability: 1050

2) Axe

Like crowbars, axes are valuable as both weapons and tools. Axes can be used to chop down trees for logs, which will be important for players trying to build their own base.

What the axe loses in durability, it makes up for with dealing more damage than the crowbar. Axes can be a bit more difficult to find, so always check crates in warehouses and stop by a hardware store. The axe has a 1:36 chance of lowering in condition.

Why axes are great:

• Deal good damage
• Useful as a weapon and tool
• Can be repaired
• 20% chance to crit

How to get axes:

• Storage crates
• Hardware stores
• In zombie's backs
• Park ranger cars
• Fire departments

Axe stats:

• Deals slash damage
• It is a two-handed weapon
• Attack speed: 1
• Damage: 0.8-2
• Attack range: 0.61-1.2 tiles
• Base durability: 455

3) Sledgehammer

One of the most sought after tools and weapons in Project Zomboid is the sledgehammer. Despite being notoriously hard to find, they’re extremely useful for any player. 

Sledgehammers are both extremely durable and useful for tasks like knocking down walls or doors and tearing down trees. Though it’s also useful as a weapon since it’s so durable. It’s slower than other melee weapons due to its weight, but the damage dealt by sledgehammers is even better than axes and crowbars.

Why sledgehammers are great:

• Useful as a tool and weapon
• High durability
• Knockdown and knock back
• Can be repaired

How to get sledgehammers:

• Crates and metal shelves
• Warehouses
• Hardware stores
• Construction sites
• Near road work with traffic cones

Item name stats:

• Is categorized as a blunt weapon
• It is a two-handed weapon
• Attack speed: 0.9
• Damage: 2-3
• Attack range: 0.7-1.35 tiles
• Base durability: 400

4) Wood Axe

It may seem bizarre to have two different axes on the list, since really how different could they be? Well, they’re actually very different! With separate stats and even a different weapon type categorization.

Wood axes have a few cons, such as their slow swing speed and are only usable with both hands, but it also has plenty of benefits. It only has a 1:25 chance of breaking if your character has level zero maintenance, which is great! It also has a high crit rate, and higher maximum damage than the normal axe.

Why wood axes are great:

• High damage
• High crit rate
• Can be used as a tool and a weapon

How to get wood axes:

• Hardware stores
• Industrial areas
• Garages
• Survivor buildings
• Carpenter’s houses

Wood axe stats:

• Deals slash damage
• It is a two-handed weapon
• Attack speed: 0.5
• Damage: 1.3-3
• Attack range: 0.61-1.35 tiles
• Base durability: 375

5) Machete

While machetes are difficult to find, they’re one of the only two weapons categorized as a long blade. They’re durable and deal great damage, which makes them a worthwhile melee weapon.

Like wood axes, machetes have a 1:25 chance of breaking if you haven’t leveled up maintenance. But if your maintenance is at level 10, the chance of your weapon lowering in condition goes down to 1:39.

Why machetes are great:

• High durability
• Long range
• Deals good damage
• Doesn’t weigh as much as other durable weapons
• Can be repaired
• Can be used as a tool to remove bushes

How to get machetes:

• Hardware stores
• Pawn shops
• Military surplus store
• Warehouse shelves
• Barricaded buildings
• Impaled in zombies

Machete stats:

• Is categorized as a long blade
• It is a single-handed weapon
• Attack speed: 1
• Damage: 2-3
• Attack range: 0.61-1.23 tiles
• Base durability: 325

6) Nightstick

Nightsticks can be found on police officer zombies, police cars, or in, you’d guessed it, police stations!

The nightstick is a blunt, single-hand weapon, with pretty decent durability. The durability and damage to nightsticks make them a good back-up weapon to keep on your character if a different weapon breaks.

Why nightsticks are great:

• Good durability
• Short range weapon
• Low weight
• Good attack speed

How to get nightsticks:

• Police zombies
• Cop cars

Police stations

• Impaled in zombies

Nightstick stats:

• Is categorized as a small blunt weapon
• It is a single-handed weapon
• Attack speed: 2
• Damage: 0.6-1.1
• Attack range: 0.61-1.2 tiles
• Base durability: 300

7) Lead Pipe

Tied with the nightstick for durability, is the lead pipe! It’s another low weight weapon that works well in a pinch, but deals a bit more damage than nightsticks.

The lead pipe has a good swing speed, and is considered the best blunt weapon available in Project Zomboid. The condition has a 1:20 chance to break for level 0 maintenance.

Why lead pipes are great:

• High durability
• Not too hard to find
• Good damage

How to get lead pipes:

• Warehouses
• Metal shelves

Lead pipe stats:

• Is categorized as a blunt weapon
• It is a two-handed weapon
• Attack speed: 0.93
• Damage: 0.7-1.2
• Attack range: 0.61-1.15 tiles
• Base durability: 300

8) Pickaxe

One of the most rare weapons in Project Zomboid is the pickaxe. These weapons can be used to fight zombies and as a tool to cut down trees or break doors. When it comes to breaking doors and chopping trees, the pickaxe is just as good as the normal axe! Though, it isn’t as durable.

It’s definitely worth looking around for a pickaxe due to how well it works for various tasks, but keep an eye on it to avoid needing to repair it in the middle of fighting. Since, its durability is considerably lower than a normal axe.

Why pickaxes are great:

• Can be repaired
• Can be used to cut down trees and break doors
• Deals good knockdown

How to get pickaxes:

• Tool stores
• Construction vehicles

Pickaxe stats:

• Deals slash damage
• It is a two-handed weapon
• Attack speed: 0.8
• Damage: 1-2.2
• Attack range: 0.61-1.5 tiles
• Base durability: 260

9) Pipe Wrench

If you’re looking for a weapon that’s a lot easier to find, but still pretty durable, then you should use a pipe wrench. Unlike pickaxes or machetes, it’s pretty easy to find a pipe wrench, even in normal houses.

The pipe wrench has good attack speed and knockdown, but isn’t the greatest at dealing damage. The condition for pipe wrenches is decent, with a 1:25 chance of breaking with no maintenance skills.

Why pipe wrenches are great:

• Easy to find
• Good attack speed
• Can be used as a tool for plumbing
• Good at breaking down doors

How to get a pipe wrench:

• Cabinets in bathrooms or kitchensGarages
• Tool and hardware stores
• Metal shelves
• Crates

Pipe wrench stats:

• Is categorized as a blunt weapon
• It is a single-handed weapon
• Attack speed: 1
• Damage: 0.5-1
• Attack range: 0.61-1.1 tiles
• Base durability: 250

10) Spiked Baseball bat

Baseball bats aren’t too hard to come across in Project Zomboid, and if you use the starter-kit, then it’s definitely the first weapon you’re using. Baseball bats can easily be improved with a hammer and a box of nails to make a spiked baseball bat.

The durability of baseball bats with nails isn’t great, but it makes up for that with dealing more damage than a normal baseball bat. The condition is 1:10 for a spiked baseball bat to break when used.

Why a spiked baseball bat is great:

• Good range
• Decent damage
• Deals knockdown

How to get spiked baseball bats:

• Can be found in barricaded houses
• Can be crafted with a baseball bat and nails

Spiked baseball bat stats:

• Categorized as a long blunt weapon
• Deals slash damage
• It is a two-handed weapon
• Attack speed: 0.95
• Damage: 1-1.5
• Attack range: 0.61-1.28 tiles
• Base durability: 150

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