Melee Weapons - Red Dead Redemption 2 Guide - IGN (2024)

Melee weapons can be used in close combat or stealth scenarios. Some of these weapons can also be thrown for added functionality.

Upon starting your adventure, Arthur will only have his trusty fists to fight with, but you'll soon gain a Hunting Knife, and can buy additional melee weapons to use in certain rough and tumble situations. There are also several unique melee weapons scattered across the map that can be collected.

Antler Knife

The Antler Knife is a unique weapon. It functions like the hunting knife, but has a different appearance.

How to Obtain the Antler Knife

This knife can be found northwest of Hanging Dog Ranch, which is located slightly above Little Creek River. If you exit the large barn from the northwest side and proceed straight northwest, you will encounter a bear carcass further up the hills embedded with this knife.

Broken Pirate Sword

How to Obtain the Broken Pirate Sword

This rad sword can be found in a wrecked boat on the tiny islands south of Saint Denis’ southern bridge. It has the same stats as the Machete, but is way cooler looking to whip out in a fight.

Civil War Knife

The Civil War Knife is a unique weapon. It functions like the hunting knife, but has a different appearance.

How to Obtain the Civil War Knife

This knife can be found southwest of Van Horn in the basem*nt of Fort Brennand. Look on top of a crate to pick it up.

Cleaver

This deliciously devious blade can help you chop more than animal carcasses.

How to Obtain the Cleaver

Cleavers can be bought from Fences after "Dear Uncle Tacitus" in Chapter 5.

Double Bit Hatchet

The Double Bit Hatchet is a unique weapon. It functions like the regular hatchet, but has a different appearance.

How to Obtain the Double Bit Hatchet

You can find this hatchet in a stump northwest of Wallace Station in a tree stump.

Hatchet

The Compendium states "...this powerful one-handed weapon can be swung to deliver a large amount of damage to an opponent. In a pinch, it can also be thrown at a target to take them down from a distance."

How to Obtain the Hatchet

Hatchets can be bought from Fences after "Dear Uncle Tacitus" in Chapter 5.

Hewing Hatchet

The Hewing Hatchet is a unique weapon. It functions like the regular hatchet, but has a different appearance.

How to Obtain the Hewing Hatchet

You can find this hatchet in a stump on the southern shore of Moonstone Pond, which is north of Emerald Ranch in the eastern Grizzlies.

Hunter Hatchet

The Hunter Hatchet is a unique weapon. It functions like the regular hatchet, but has a different appearance.

How to Obtain the Hunter Hatchet

You can find this hatchet in a stump directly south of Window Rock, which is west of Fort Wallace, just across the river.

Hunting Knife

Beyond being a more damaging melee weapon, the Hunting Knife is imperative for being able to skin and butcher your hunting kills to get the pelts you need.

With the hunting knife equipped, you can also sneak up on unaware enemies and kill them by sticking your knife into the enemy to avoid loud engagements.

The hunting knife is the only melee weapon that can be customized at a gunsmith to change its appearance.

How to Obtain the Hunting Knife

This weapon is in the player's inventory at the beginning of the game.

Jawbone Knife

The Jawbone Knife is a unique weapon. It functions like the hunting knife, but has a different appearance.

How to Obtain the Jawbone Knife

This knife is the reward for completing "A Test of Faith", the side quest for Deborah MacGuiness.

John's Knife

John's Knife is a unique weapon. It functions like the hunting knife, and only differs slightly in appearance.

How to Obtain John's Knife

This knife is added to the player's inventory after "Motherhood" in Epilogue 1.

Machete

Much like the Hunting Knife, the Machete can be used for quiet lethal attacks, as well as impromptu sword fights, or hacking your way through thick undergrowth. It boasts more damage than a knife - but not by too much.

How to Obtain the Machete

Machetes can be bought from Fences after "Dear Uncle Tacitus" in Chapter 5.

Ornate Dagger

The Ornate Dagger is a unique weapon. It functions like the hunting knife, but differs significantly in appearance.

How to Obtain the Ornate Dagger

This knife can be picked up after solving the riddle of the Mysterious Writings in Saint Denis.

Rusted Double Bit Hatchet

The Rusted Double Bit Hatchet is a unique weapon. It functions like the regular hatchet, but has a different appearance.

How to Obtain the Rusted Double Bit Hatchet

You can find this hatchet in a stump in Annesburg.

Rusted Hunter Hatchet

The Rusted Hunter Hatchet is a unique weapon. It functions like the regular hatchet, but has a different appearance.

How to Obtain the Rusted Hunter Hatchet

You can find this hatchet in a stump by a shack in-between O’Creagh’s Run and Elysian Pool.

Stone Hatchet

The Stone Hatchet is a unique weapon. It functions like the regular hatchet, but has a different appearance.

How to Obtain the Stone Hatchet

You can find this hatchet at the Native Burial site, but only if you have an active Grand Theft Auto Online account.

Unarmed

Fists are best used when settling certain saloon disputes - especially when your intent is to beat down and intimidate but not necessarily kill.

When fighting unarmed, you can grapple with opponents in an attempt to push them back, and block attacks to wait for an opening to hit them where it hurts. Press and hold the X button on Xbox (Square for PS4) to block incoming strikes, then lash out with B on Xbox (Circle for PS4). If you press Y on Xbox (Triangle on PS4), you can grapple an opponent, and continue your beatdown, or hold Y/Triangle to try choking them out.

Viking Hatchet

The Viking Hatchet is a unique weapon. It functions like the regular hatchet, but has a different appearance.

How to Obtain the Viking Hatchet

You can find this hatchet in a tomb northeast of Beaver Hollow.

Wide-Blade Knife

The Wide-Blade Knife is a unique weapon. It functions like the hunting knife, but has a different appearance.

How to Obtain the Wide-Blade Knife

This knife can be found in a dead body deep inside Beryl’s Dream Mine, west of Mount Shann. Blow up the rocks at the entrance to get inside.

The Best Melee Weapon

Here is the best melee weapon in the game and how to find it.

Hatchet

How to Obtain the Hatchets

The standard hatchet can be bought from Fences after "Dear Uncle Tacitus" in Chapter 5. All the unique hatchets can be located and collected at any time.

Notes

• The weapons with an "Accuracy" stat can be thrown. Once thrown, they are removed from the player's inventory. Thrown melee weapons can be retrieved, and thus returned to inventory, to be used again.

• When a unique melee weapon is thrown, a gold handgun will appear on the mini-map and the main map representing the location of the thrown weapon. If the player moves away from the weapon far enough that it is out of range of the mini-map, then the weapon will disappear. It will then respawn at its original location.