The Helldivers 2 melee weapons are a class of sidearms that Helldivers can use to spread managed democracy. The Helldivers 2 melee weapons work well alongside your primary weapons, providing unparalleled close-quarters supremacy when targets get close. But how do you acquire the Helldivers 2 melee weapons, and what are their differences?
As of the September 16, 2025, patch, there are six melee weapons, excluding the bayonets seen on some guns. These six Helldivers 2 melee weapons are acquirable in several different ways throughout Helldivers 2. These ways include the premium Warbonds and the Super Store, and once you acquire them, it’s time to learn their uses.
The Pros And Cons Of The Helldivers 2 Melee Weapons
The first of the Helldivers 2 melee weapons appeared on December 13, 2024, with the release of the Urban Legends Warbond. And many more melee weapons were released after that point, giving players more options for the melee playstyle. But let’s skip the short history of the Helldivers 2 melee weapons and let’s get into their pros and cons.
The pros and cons of the Helldivers 2 melee weapons are as follows:
The CQC-19 Stun Lance
The first melee weapon introduced in Helldivers 2 is the CQC-19 Stun Lance from the Urban Legends Warbond. The Stun Lance offers long-range, high-damage, stunning attacks at the palm of just one hand. The Stun Lance thrusts at 117 thrusts per minute and deals 110 damage, 220 with the Peak Physique armor passive.
On top of its formidable thrust rate and damage, the Stun Lance also stuns any enemy that isn’t already dead with the first thrust. However, keep in mind that the Stun Lance is more for single targets rather than swarms of enemies. And despite the descriptions of several melee weapons saying they have light penetration, they actually have medium penetration.
The CQC-30 Stun Baton
The CQC-30 Stun Baton appears in the Urban Legends page in the Super Store for the cost of 200 Super Credits. The Stun Baton is a smaller and faster version of the CQC-19 Stun Lance, much more suited for swarms. The Stun Baton swings at 150 swings per minute and deals 50 damage, 100 with the Peak Physique armor passive, with each swing.
Like the longer and more focused Stun Lance, the Stun Baton also stuns its targets. The stunning effect alleviates its low damage when encountering swarms of enemies.
The CQC-5 Combat Hatchet
The CQC-5 Combat Hatchet arrives in the Super Store for 200 Super Credits with the arrival of the Servants of Freedom Warbond. The Combat Hatchet stands as the first of the Helldivers 2 melee weapons that’s both short-range and high-damage. The Combat Hatchet features the range and swarm clearing of the Stun Baton and the damage of the Stun Lance.
Unfortunately, the Combat Hatchet doesn’t feature the stun effect, but with its pros, it doesn’t need it. The pros in question are the 150 swings per minute and 110 damage, 220 with the Peak Physique armor passive, per swing. Even with these pros, you must remember not to get swarmed by the dissident enemies of Super Earth.
The CQC-2 Saber
The next of the Helldivers 2 melee weapons is the CQC-2 Saber, a ceremonial blade suitable for combat. The Saber arrived in the Masters of the Ceremony Warbond as an unlockable item in said Warbond for 40 medals. Just like the Combat Hatchet, the Saber is a short-range, high-damage melee weapon, but it has its differences.
The Saber differentiates itself from the other Helldivers 2 melee weapons with its unique attack patterns. The Saber attacks in a diagonal right-to-left swing, then horizontal mid-level left to right, after that, a low right-to-left swing, back to mid left to right. With 150 swings per minute and 110 damage, 220 with the Peak Physique armor passive, the Saber might be the best at clearing swarms.
The CQC-42 Machete
Last but certainly not least is the CQC-42 Machete from the Dust Devils rotation of the Super Store for 200 Super Credits. The Machete is the most powerful melee weapon, featuring a staggering 170 damage, 340 damage with the Peak Physique armor passive. But to compensate for the high damage, the Machete has an extremely slow swinging speed, so time your attacks carefully.
The Machete also features a unique attack pattern, which swings as follows: The Machete swings from top right to bottom left, from top left to bottom right, from bottom right to top left, and finally from bottom left to top right. These swings prioritize horizontal attacks, making it perfect for hitting multiple enemies.
How Should You Use The Helldivers 2 Melee Weapons?
The Helldivers 2 melee weapons are exceptional at shredding groups of enemies, but you aren’t invincible when wielding said weapons. Enemies can catch you off guard in between swings or thrusts, and heavily armored units can rush right through you. Fortunately, you can dodge or take down these brutes with specialized support weapons, but what about the swarms you want to chop down?
Thankfully, the Helldivers 2 melee weapons are all one-handed, allowing you to equip the SH-20 Ballistic Shield Backpack. The shield lets Helldivers fight Super Earth’s enemies like the knights of old medieval history. With the shield, Helldivers can put up a near-impenetrable barrier between strikes to protect them from the forces of evil.
But don’t throw caution to the wind, Helldivers are still exposed when swinging or thrusting their weapons. So with this build, Helldivers 2 may as well become Dark Souls, and you should treat it as such lest you want to disappoint Super Earth. Now arm yourself, Helldiver, and fight for freedom and liberty like the knights of old!
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