Best Weapons

✅ Pros

• Extremely cheap to craft — duct tape, two sticks, and rope
• Lets you kill enemies from a completely safe distance
• Three arrow types for different situations and game stages

❌ Cons

• Flashlight gets put away in caves — shooting blind
• Needs constant ammo that takes up inventory space
• Zero block — you can only dodge

💡 Key Tip

The early arrow shortage is solved with the 3D printer in the entertainment bunker or the firefighter axe bunker. Print an extra 20 arrows — combined with stone arrows you'll have 40, which lasts a good while. Always carry flares for unexpected cave trips.

⚔️ Combat Tactics

Keep enemies at range and aim for weak spots — head, legs, lower back. Leg shots cripple the enemy for about 6 seconds (they drop to one knee). That's your window to pepper them with arrows or finish them with a melee weapon. Against multiple targets, shoot each one in the legs to keep them from swarming you. If an enemy charges — dodge sideways and keep firing. The bow dominates everything on the surface, but in caves, bring a melee weapon or a gun with a flashlight.

✅ Pros

• Excellent block (80%) — very forgiving for new players
• High damage, especially after solafite upgrade
• Frequently severs limbs mid-combat
• Chops trees — a must-have for base building

❌ Cons

• Below-average speed — can't spam swings mindlessly
• Takes practice to learn enemy attack timings
• Power attacks drain a lot of stamina

💡 Key Tip

Upgrade the axe with 6 solafite at the first opportunity — the damage jump is massive (32.7 to 49.5). It's one of the most efficient solafite upgrades in the game. Keep this as your primary weapon — it handles both mutants and cannibals with ease.

⚔️ Combat Tactics

Stick to the "power swing — block — repeat" rhythm. Land one solid power hit, immediately raise your block, and wait for the enemy to finish their attack chain. Then dodge and power swing again. Against groups, focus all damage on one target at a time. Unarmored cannibals often lose a limb after just 1–2 power swings — once that happens, they're out of the fight for good.

✅ Pros

• Huge attack range — enemies can't reach you
• Carry up to 5 spears at once
• Throwing mode saves you when cornered
• Easy to craft and easy to replace

❌ Cons

• Can't sever limbs — health damage only
• Cannot be upgraded with solafite
• Heavy stamina drain during extended attacks
• Standard thrusts struggle against multiple enemies

💡 Key Tip

You can pick up spears from dead spear-wielding cannibals — don't waste resources crafting extras. Spears thrown by enemies can also be looted from the ground after a fight. Always target the same limb — damage accumulates, and the enemy will eventually collapse or lose the ability to attack.

⚔️ Combat Tactics

Close in to spear range — you'll hit them, they can't hit you. Stab the legs or head repeatedly in the exact same spot. After a few accurate leg hits, the enemy drops to a knee. If you're cornered or outnumbered, switch to throwing. Aim for the head or legs, then quickly retrieve the spear and finish the downed enemy.

✅ Pros

• Fastest melee weapon in the game — 126 hits per minute
• Power attack is very quick compared to axes
• Can be found on the surface with no combat
• Solafite upgrade gives nearly +50% damage

❌ Cons

• Extremely short range — you'll eat hits to land yours
• Rarely severs limbs in combat
• Mediocre block (50%) — won't always save you
• Can't chop trees — combat use only

💡 Key Tip

The machete is for experienced players who can read combat rhythm. The short range makes it punishing for beginners — enemies will frequently interrupt your attacks. If you're not confident in your skills, stick with the modern axe — it forgives mistakes with its block. The machete demands aggression and constant movement.

⚔️ Combat Tactics

Stay as mobile as possible — circle behind enemies, strike when they're not expecting it. Exploit the speed: land a quick flurry, then dodge out. Use power attacks when a cannibal is barely standing or when a mutant is stuck in a long recovery animation. Never trade hits face-to-face — with that short range, it's a death sentence.

✅ Pros

• Massive damage vs cannibals — 70 to the body, more to the head
• The most common ammo type in the game (9x18)
• 100+ meter range — enemies die the moment they appear
• Accepts attachments: laser, flashlight, suppressor

❌ Cons

• Very weak against mutants (12.2 body damage)
• Ammo can't be crafted — scavenge only
• Slower reload if you're holding something in your left hand
• Solafite upgrade doesn't boost damage

💡 Key Tip

Use the pistol only when you really need it. The ammo is common, but it's not infinite. Always keep at least 10 spare rounds or 2 full magazines on you. Attach the weapon flashlight — combined with your main flashlight, caves become significantly brighter.

⚔️ Combat Tactics

Keep enemies at least 5 meters away. Always aim for the head — unarmored cannibals drop in one shot. Avoid using it against mutants unless absolutely necessary — low damage per round means you'll burn through precious ammo. The pistol shines as a last-resort weapon when you're cornered or surrounded by blind mutants. It's not meant to be your primary weapon due to ammo scarcity.

✅ Pros

• Massive damage — 57.7 after solafite upgrade
• Excellent block (80%) — very forgiving
• Frequently severs limbs with power attacks
• Biggest solafite damage boost of any weapon in the game

❌ Cons

• Low speed — only 66 hits per minute
• Requires the shovel to reach — not an early-game find
• Power attacks drain a lot of stamina
• Demands a patient, methodical playstyle

💡 Key Tip

Upgrade the firefighter axe with 6 solafite at the first opportunity — the +50% damage boost is the most efficient use of solafite in the game. Use it as your primary weapon until you find the katana. Grab it as soon as you have the shovel.

⚔️ Combat Tactics

Same tactic as the modern axe, but even deadlier: one clean power swing — block — repeat. Wait for the enemy to finish their attack chain, dodge, then power swing again. Don't swing wildly — stamina runs out fast. Against solo mutants: swing, block, wait out their animation, swing again. Against groups, focus damage on one target at a time.

✅ Pros

• Very high damage — 100 vs cannibals, 50 vs mutants
• Completely silent — won't alert enemies
• Clean built-in sight for accurate aiming
• Headshot multiplier exceeds 4x

❌ Cons

• Extremely long reload — 4–5 seconds
• Bolts are very rare, can't be crafted or printed
• Flashlight gets put away during reload
• Nearly useless against groups of enemies

💡 Key Tip

Always retrieve your bolts after every fight — they can disappear over time, and finding new ones is incredibly difficult. Max capacity is 20. Pair the crossbow with a solid melee weapon, like the firefighter axe.

⚔️ Combat Tactics

Only shoot when fully aimed at the head or legs. With the long reload, every shot has to count. Against crowds, switch to a melee weapon. Grab your bolts immediately after a kill — don't wait for the fight to end. The crossbow is a weapon for patient, precise players.

✅ Pros

• Highest damage in the game — 180+ against cannibals
• Knocks enemies back on impact
• Often severs limbs in a single point-blank shot
• Can give it to Virginia — she has unlimited ammo with it

❌ Cons

• Buckshot only works at 1–2 meter range
• Rare ammo — buckshot must be conserved
• Slow pump action and reload
• Slugs are practically useless

💡 Key Tip

Only use buckshot — slugs deal pitiful damage. Take the shotgun into the most dangerous caves. Don't waste buckshot on regular cannibals. Once Virginia stops being afraid of you, hand her the shotgun — she fires it with unlimited ammo and is surprisingly effective.

⚔️ Combat Tactics

Close in to 1–2 meters and only fire when all the pellets will connect. Right after shooting, step back during the pump action (1.5 seconds), then close in again and fire. Don't stand still — the enemy shouldn't be able to land a hit. One point-blank shot often tears a limb off a cannibal and sends them flying several meters back.

✅ Pros

• Noticeably more damage than the crafted bow
• Built-in sight makes aiming easier
• Same three arrow types as the crafted bow
• Great for surface exploration and cannibal fights

❌ Cons

• Useless in caves — flashlight gets put away
• Must fully draw the bowstring for max damage
• Cannot be upgraded with solafite
• Only available after finding the shovel

💡 Key Tip

Always draw the bowstring all the way back — otherwise your damage drops significantly. This weapon shreds everything on the surface, but for dark mutant-filled caves, bring a shotgun or a solid melee weapon instead.

⚔️ Combat Tactics

Same approach as the crafted bow: keep your distance (5+ meters), aim for the legs (cripples for ~6 seconds), then finish with headshots using your best arrows. Against groups, hit each one in the legs to control the crowd. Stick to the surface with this one — for caves, bring something heavier.

✅ Pros

• Best overall stats of any weapon in the game
• Blazing speed — 120 hits per minute
• Long reach — outranges most enemies
• Insane limb sever rate — 2–3 hits to the same spot

❌ Cons

• Very weak block — don't try to parry
• Only available close to the endgame
• Found in a tough bunker with dangerous enemies
• Heavy stamina drain during long attack chains

💡 Key Tip

Upgrade the katana with 6 solafite the moment you get it — damage jumps from 32.7 to 49, making it several times deadlier. Watch your stamina on higher difficulties — it drains fast during long attack flurries. Don't trade hits face-to-face — use your speed and mobility, circle behind enemies.

⚔️ Combat Tactics

Wait for the enemy to wind up an attack. Dodge it and immediately counter — unleash a long, rapid flurry before they recover. Hit the same spot repeatedly (head, leg, arm) — after 2–3 hits the limb comes off. Against large mutants that can't be stunned, be cautious: they can still swing back even mid-combo. Circle around, keep dodging, never stand still. This is a weapon for an aggressive, high-mobility playstyle — stay on the move and don't give enemies room to breathe.

✅ Pros

• The only optical scope in the game
• High damage vs cannibals — 100 to the body
• Huge range — 100+ meters
• 2.8x headshot multiplier

❌ Cons

• Extremely rare ammo — very hard to stockpile
• Slow bolt cycling — 3 seconds
• Flashlight gets put away while aiming
• Weak against mutants — only 35 body damage

💡 Key Tip

Conserve ammo — use only in extreme situations. Rifle rounds are the rarest ammo type in the game. Check cave corners and suspicious spots — sometimes rounds are just lying on the ground, not in crates. Avoid using it against mutants altogether — you'll burn through precious ammo for little damage. Use the katana or shotgun for mutants instead.

⚔️ Combat Tactics

Stay at least 5 meters away and place your shots precisely — aim for the legs, lower back, or head. Most cannibals drop from a single headshot. The rifle is useless against crowds — the bolt action is far too slow. This is a weapon for single, precise long-range shots, not active combat. Always carry a melee weapon as backup.