Dead Cells is about trying different builds and dying. Every run you play, you can experiment with various weapons, skills, and mutations. In this article, we will look at the best melee weapons that will help you defeat The Hand of the King and earn the next boss cell.
11. Valmont’s Whip (Best for long-range critical damage)
This weapon is great for Brutality or Tactics builds. You will usually use it as your main weapon. It deals critical damage when the tip of Valmont's Whip hit an enemy. It has a higher skill ceiling, but when you master this weapon, you can one-shot even Ground Shakers in the Cavern biome with it.
Why Valmont's Whip is great:
- This weapon is a great long-range melee weapon option.
- Valmont's Whip is one of the few weapons in the game that completely ignores shields.
- It works well with roots and freezes. Some weapons that synergize with Valmont's Whip are the Ice Bow, Spartan Sandals, or The Boy's Axe.
Valmont's Whip full details:
- Valmont's Whip is a melee weapon that ignores shields and deals a critical hit when the tip of it strikes an enemy.
- It deals 109 Base DPS (305 Critical hits).
- It deals 60 damage on base hits (168 Critical hits).
- The legendary version of this weapon has an affix: Increases your movement speed for 5 seconds after a critical hit.
How To Get Valmont's Whip:
Valmont's Whip Blueprint drops from Disgusting Worms. It has a 0.4% drop chance and costs 20 cells to unlock.
10. Frantic Sword (Best for 5BC)
The weapon of choice of fighters who like to live dangerously.
At first sight, this weapon doesn't sound that good. You have to be at 50% HP to deal critical hits. So, this weapon can be a little bit tricky, but as you progress in the game and reach the final difficulty, Hell (5 boss cells), you are introduced to a new game mechanic: malaise. This is the point at which Frantic Sword jumps from mediocre to the god-tier weapon. To reach the full potential of this weapon, you will have to get good at the game.
Why Frantic Sword is great:
- Works well with high-speed Brutality builds.
- One of the best weapons for 5 boss cells difficulty.
- It synergizes with mutations like Disengagement, Frenzy, or Berserker.
Frantic Sword full details:
- The Frantic Sword is a weapon that deals more damage when the player is at or below 50% health or has at least 50% malaise.
- It deals 137 Base DPS (277 Critical hits).
- It has a 5-hit combo that deals a total of 235 (474 Critical hits) base combo damage every 1.71 seconds.
- The legendary version of this weapon has an affix: 1% HP recovered per melee attack, up to 50%.
How To Get Frantic Sword:
Frantic Sword Blueprint drops from Kamikazes. It has a 0.4% drop chance and costs 25 cells to unlock.
9. Bladed Tonfas (Best for running through biomes)
This weapon comes with a 4-hit combo. The first hit of the combo leaps you in front of the nearest enemy. This is a great way to close the gap and kill enemies fast. However, the combo is a little bit tricky, and you need to get used to it.
Why Bladed Tonfas is great:
- Works well with fast Brutality builds.
- It can work both as a support weapon and as the main weapon.
- The leap that this weapon offers works great with fast builds that utilize speed buffs.
Bladed Tonfas full details:
- The first attack makes you jump forward. Hitting with this attack causes your next combo with this weapon to deal critical damage.
- It deals 105 Base DPS (231 Critical hits).
- It has a 4-hit combo that deals a total of 235 (474 Critical hits) base combo damage, every 1.62 seconds. The first hit of the combo is a leaping attack, which, if it strikes an enemy, will make the rest of the combo deal critical hits.
- The legendary version of this weapon has an affix: Increases your movement speed for 5 seconds after killing an enemy.
How To Get Bladed Tonfas:
Tonfas Blueprint drops from boss Kleio in Lighthouse, when she is killed last (in Lighthouse you fight three bosses, Calliope, Euterpe and Kleio). It costs 100 cells to unlock.
8. Snake Fangs (Best for poison builds)
Snake Fangs work with Brutality or Tactics builds. They have a unique mechanic that teleports you to the nearest enemy. You can use this mechanic in many ways. You can make deadly poison build with Snake Fangs and other weapons and items that give or improve poison status.
Why Snake Fangs are great:
- It can work as a support weapon to help you close gaps and finish the enemy with a weapon like the Infantry Bow or the Sadist's Stiletto.
- It can also work as your main weapon in poison builds. The best support weapon options are the Alchemic Carbine or the Blowgun.
- Snake Fangs can come in handy when you fight the first boss, Conjunctivius. You can instantly teleport to him each time he repositions.
Snake Fangs full details:
- Teleports you to the nearest target. Each hit inflicts a mark of poison that deals 4 DPS for 15 seconds. Inflicts critical hits if the target has more than 5 poison marks.
- It deals 94 Base DPS (150 Critical hits).
- It has a 2-hit combo that deals a total of 60 (96 Critical hits) base combo damage every 0.64 seconds.
- The legendary version of this weapon has an affix: Applies 2 stacks of damage over time effects instead of 1.
How To Get Snake Fangs:
Snake Fangs Blueprint drops from Cold Blooded Guardians. It has a 1.7% drop chance and costs 80 cells to unlock.
7. Meat Skewer (Best for dodging attacks)
Another fast Brutality weapon. This weapon allows you to dash through the enemies, placing you behind them. You can close the gap while also doge attacks.
Why Meat Skewer is great:
- You are invincible during the dash; you can dodge an enemy attack or projectiles.
- Meat Skewer can work as a support weapon for the Assassins Dagger.
- It synergizes with mutation Combo or Frenzy.
Meat Skewer full details:
- The player will dash through the enemy, granting them invincibility during this dash. Two critical strikes will then be applied if the player had previously dashed through the opponent.
- It deals 181 Base DPS (281 Critical hits).
- It has a 3-hit combo that deals a total of 130 (201 Critical hits) base combo damage every 0.72 seconds.
- The legendary version of this weapon has an affix: +75% damage for hits in the back.
How To Get Meat Skewer:
Meat Skewer Blueprint can be obtained by completing 10 unique daily challenge runs. It costs 50 cells to unlock.
6. Nutcracker (Best for lockdown builds)
The first Survival weapon on the list. Survival weapons are known for being slower but dealing more damage per hit. Nutcracker is all about utilizing stun, freeze, or root status effects.
Why Nutcracker is great:
- The best support items and weapons that work with Nutcracker are Wolf Trap, Stun Granade, The Boy's Axe, Ice Bow, or Frost Blast.
- You can use the mutation Kill Rhythm and the support weapons like the Ice Bow or the Frost Blast, to kill enemies faster.
- Nutcracker, like other slow weapons that scale with survival, works best when combined with a shield or the mutation Armadillopack.
Nutcracker full details:
- Inflicts a critical hit if the victim is stunned, frozen, or rooted.
- It deals 155 Base DPS (386 Critical hits).
- It has a 3-hit combo that deals a total of 295 (733 Critical hits) base combo damage every 1.9 seconds.
- The legendary version of this weapon has an affix: Victims root nearby enemies for 2 sec upon death.
How To Get Nutcracker:
The Nutcracker is available from the beginning of the game.
5. Pure Nail (Best for boss cheesing)
Pure Nail is a brutality weapon that lets you land hits while moving. This weapon is a reference to the Pure Nail, the fully upgraded form of the main weapon in Hollow Knight.
Why Pure Nail is great:
- Due to this weapon's fast animation speed and low attack cooldown, it works well for alternating between attacks with another weapon to increase damage output.
- This weapon is great in builds that utilize speed buffs.
- The ability to attack while airborne above enemies provides a significant advantage against some bosses, such as the Hand of the King and the Concierge.
Pure Nail full details:
- Can attack while moving and upward. Attacking downward while airborne causes you to bounce on your enemies, dealing critical damage.
- It deals 155 Base DPS (218 Critical hits).
- It has a 2-hit combo that deals a total of 135 (170 Critical hits) base combo damage every 0.8 seconds.
- The legendary version of this weapon has an affix: Biters crawl from the dead.
How To Get Pure Nail:
In the Prisoners' Quarters, there is a chance for a lore room to spawn with a bench in it. When examining the bench, the nail drops. Picking it up will unlock it permanently.
4. Rhythm n’ Bouzouki (Best for players with rhythm)
This weapon will test if you have an ear for music. It deals critical damage when you press the attack button in the correct rhythm. You will need a little bit of practice with this weapon.
Why Rhythm n' Bouzouki is great:
- This weapon has the highest attack range for a melee weapon, in the game.
- Use some defense support items and weapons in your build, so Rhythm n' Bouzouki can be your main damage-dealing weapon.
- The Rhythm n' Bouzouki, like other survival weapons, works best when combined with a shield or mutation Armadillo Pack.
Rhythm n' Bouzouki full details:
- Inflicts critical hits if you strike at the right time. The third hit with the weapon can be repeated continuously if the timing is correct.
- It deals 133 Base DPS (330 Critical hits).
- It has a 3-hit combo that deals a total of 265 (660 Critical hits) base combo damage every 2 seconds.
- The legendary version of this weapon has an affix: Burns the enemy.
How To Get Rhythm n' Bouzouki:
Rhythm n' Bouzouki Blueprint drops from Giant Ticks. It has a 0.4% drop chance and costs 60 cells to unlock.
3. Rapier (Best for burst damage)
This is the best Brutality weapon on the list. You will deal critical damage after you parry with a shield or roll. With this weapon, you go all in on damage. This is the best burst damage weapon you can get.
Why Rapier is great:
- The best build with this weapon is fast burst damage. Use skills such as the Phaser or Grappling Hook, as well as the mutation Scheme.
- If you have Rapier in your backpack and use the mutation, Porcupack, you will deal critical damage every time you roll.
- The gameplay with this weapon is fairly straightforward, and it is also one of the best in the game. Therefore, this weapon is great for beginners.
Rapier full details:
- Deals critical damage for 0.8 seconds after a roll or a parry.
- It deals 156 Base DPS (356 Critical hits).
- It has a 4-hit combo that deals a total of 133 (303 Critical hits) base combo damage every 0.85 seconds.
- The legendary version of this weapon has an affix: Increases your movement speed for 5 seconds after a critical hit.
How To Get Rapier:
Rapier Blueprint drops from Scorpions. It has a 0.4% drop chance and costs 5 cells to unlock.
2. Gold Digger (Best for gold build)
Great Survival weapon that revolves around gold. It has good animation, straightforward gameplay, and high damage. This weapon is more viable on higher difficulties because you earn more gold when you kill them.
Why Gold Digger is great:
- Gold Digger works well with mutation Get Rich Quick.
- If you have Gold Digger in your backpack and use mutation, Porcupack. Rolling through an enemy will trigger the gold drop, making it a perfect match-up with the weapon Dagger of Profit.
- Gold Digger, like other slow weapons that scale with Survival, works best when combined with a shield or the mutation Armadillopack. The best shield to pair with his weapon is the Greed Shield.
Gold Digger full details:
- Hits cause their target to drop [10 in base form, 15 in improved form] gold. Inflicts critical damage if you have more than 12000 gold.
- It deals 118 Base DPS (206 Critical hits).
- It has a 3-hit combo that deals a total of 260 (486 Critical hits) base combo damage, every 2.2 seconds.
- The legendary version of this weapon has an affix: Stuns the victim.
How To Get Gold Digger:
Gold Digger Blueprint drops from Gold Gorgers. It has a 1.7% drop chance and costs 80 cells to unlock.
1. Scythe Claws (Best for high damage combo)
Scythe Claws are the only two-handed melee weapon on this list, but their range and insane damage per hit make them the best weapon in the game. You will have to get used to alternating between them to keep the combo going.
Why Scythe Claws are great:
- They synergize very strongly with the mutation Kill Rhythm, as alternating attacks will have significantly faster attack speed while also dealing critical damage.
- Scythe Claws, like other slow weapons that scale with Survival, works best when combined with the mutation Armadillopack and shield in your backpack.
- The Left Scythe Claw's crit has the highest base damage of any weapon in the game.
Scythe Claw full details:
- Alternating claws between each attack will inflict extremely strong critical hits, as long as they consistently hit enemies each time.
- Both claws have a "shockwave" effect that damages enemies behind any enemy struck with them. The shockwave deals roughly half the damage of the actual hit.
- It deals 85 Base DPS (311 Critical hits).
- It has a 2-hit combo that deals a total of 140 (510 Critical hits) base combo damage every 1.64 seconds.
- The legendary version of this weapon has an affix: Victims root nearby enemies for 2 sec upon death.
How To Get Scythe Claw:
Scythe Claw Blueprint drops after you kill boss Mama Tick for the first time. It costs 100 cells to unlock.
