Even though the Simulation genre gets a lot less attention than other genres like FPS and RPGs, it still has one of thebest and most influential gamesin the gaming community. From being able to pilot a commercial airline to managing an entire kingdom, the possibilities are endless. Another popular Simulation sub-genre is construction and management, which games likeSim CityandRimWorldmasterfully bring to life.

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But,RimWorldis more than a simple top-down construction and managementindie gamesince it also features a unique combat system that players will need to master to keep their colonies safe. And while players have access to a wide variety of weapons, melee-type weapons are more than viable against other colonists, raiders, or mechanoids. But with so many melee weapons available inRimWorld, players will need to know which ones will keep the enemies at bay.

7Elephant Tusk - Early Game

The early stages ofRimWorldcan be one of the most challenging phases in the game since players will need to fend off raiders, mechanoids, and wild fauna until they manage to build a shelter. And the best part is that players can obtain the Elephant Tusk melee weapon by slaying an elephant which is quite common to find roaming about the plains.

But, players should not go overboard while defeating an elephant since damaging it too much will also damage the Elephant Tusk. And while this melee weapon is best used at the start of the game, players can use it against armored raiders or mechanoids later in the game.

Elphants in RimWorld

6Club - Early Game

Another suitable melee weapon for players inRimWorldis the Club, even if it may seem less durable than the Elephant Tusk. The Club is one of the best blunt-type melee weapons since it has superior DPS compared to other weapons. And, just like inother popular survival gameslikeMinecraftorRust, players can upgrade the Club’s quality to Uranium, which is the highest inRimWorld.

Moreover, players have two different attacks they can perform with the Club: Poke (deals nine damage) and Blunt (deals 14 damage and has 21% armor penetration). Fans can craft the wooden Club with 40 wood, which is always in abundance inRimWorld.

Wood needed to craft the wooden Club in RimWorld.

5Knife - Early and Mid-Game

Despite having a low damage output, the Knife merits being included as one of the best melee weapons inRimWorldsince it has the shortest attack cool down compared to other weapons. On top of that, players can make the Knife at a Crafting Spot ideal during the early game when players don’t have access to other crafting-related buildings.

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The only downside of the Knife is that players will need to research Smithing before they can start to craft them. But, once researched, players can easily equip all of their colonists with them since they are cheap and easy to craft.

4Warhammer - Mid-Game

The world ofRimWorldis often harsh and unforgiving, especially since many powerful raiders and mechanoids are waiting for unprepared colonists. And most of the time, these enemies come equipped with heavy armor which can absorb the blows of most weapons. Fortunately, the Warhammer is one of the best armor-piercing melee weapons inRimWorldsince it has over 30% armor penetration.

And to counter the heaviness of the melee weapon, players can use the Nimble Trait (one of the best Traits inRimWorld). Unfortunately, players can only obtain the Warhammer if they have the Royalty DLC, which also includes other useful tools and weapons.

A Jade Knife in RimWorld

3Gladius - Mid-Game

The Gladius is one of the best well-rounded melee weapons inRimWorldsince it has a decent amount of DPS while having a moderate cooldown rate. And since it’s classified as a Sharp Weapon, players can inflict Bleed on enemies after a few swings. Players should remember that the Gladius only performs well against un-armored enemies and hardly does any damage against heavily armored raiders or mechanoids.

Gamers will need a colonist with a crafting level of 3 or more to craft the Gladius, which is why it’s a mid-game melee weapon. Moreover, it takes 12,000 Ticks (3.3 minutes) to craft, but players can cut the time in half with specific research projects (the same can’t be said for more brutal survival games where some crafting recipes can take hours to complete).

Different units uisng a Warhammer in RimWorld.

2Bionic Arm - Late Game

A unique feature ofRimWorldis colonists have a chance of getting injured, which will force players to amputate any of the injured body parts. That means players can create super colonists by placing bionic body parts, especially with the Bionic Arm since it’s a melee-type weapon. The Bionic Arm primarily deals Blunt damage and has a passive 18% armor penetration.

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Player using the Gladius melee weapon in RimWorld

Colonists with a Bionic Arm will also gain a 25% buff to Manipulation, which allows them to perform certain tasks at a faster rate. But, of course, players will need to consider some downsides to the Bionic Arm, like constant repairs or malfunctions.

1Eltex Staff - Late Game

The Eltex Staff is one of the few melee weapons inRimWorldthat cannot be crafted and can only be looted (Imperial Bestowers) or bought (Combat Supplier or War Merchant). But, despite being difficult to obtain, most players consider the Eltex Staff one of the best support melee weapons inRimWorldsince it can reduce Neural Heat and buff other Psycasts (colonists with psychic abilities).

Sadly, the physical damage output of the Eltex Staff is one of the lowest in the game, so players should avoid using it as a primary attack weapon. Players can further increase the Eltex Staff’s support capabilities by equipping a colonist with the complete Eltex loadout (Eltex Robe, Eltex Shirt, Eltex Vest, and Eltex Helmet).

Player installing a Bionic Arm on a colonist in Rim World.

Player using the Eltex Sraff for a ritual in RimWorld