Blunt weapons

Blunt weapons should be one of your first considerations when choosing a trusty companion during an apocalyptic scenario. While they don’t have quite the flare a chainsaw or even a firearm might, they’ll last longer and be more reliable than almost any other weapon type. Though they’ll be more durable than most weapons you’ll find, nothing is indestructible. Your weapon will eventually wear out or even break, regardless of what it’s made of. That said, a trusty and durable blunt weapon will definitely serve you well.

Melee Weapons

Melee weapons are the most practical category of weapon to choose from. They are the most durable, reliable, wieldy, and certainly the most abundant weapon type. They’re the perfect choice for your zombie slaughtering needs.

There are many external factors to keep in mind when choosing a melee weapon. While some factors might seem irrelevant, you’ll find that the little things you don’t pay attention to could cost you dearly, maybe even with your life. Here are a couple things you should consider before choosing the proper melee weapon:

Location: Your geographical location is something you should think about for survival in general, but it also can greatly affect the effectiveness of the weapon you’re wielding. For example, if you find yourself stuck in the middle of a city or any other highly populated area with small rooms and tight corridors, you’ll want a shorter, more wieldy weapon so you don’t get caught up in small spaces. Alternatively, if you live in a farm town, the open spaces will allow you to satisfy your affinity for using a scythe or a baseball bat.

What you have available to you: Availability of certain materials could mean the difference between chopping down hundreds of zed with a reliable sidearm and being thwarted by your own weapon failing you on your first few kills. Materials that could repair, maintain, or even modify your weapon of choice could determine the weapons lifespan, and most likely your own.

Something that’s just as important to consider as external factors is what fits you best. Your size and stature will play tremendous roles in the effectiveness of any weapon. For example, if you aren’t quite the athletic type and prefer to stay low profile, something small like a knife or crowbar will fit you best. On the flipside, if you were one of the greatest hitters in your high school baseball team’s history, something heavier like a baseball bat or even an axe will suit you perfectly. Picking a weapon to bash a zombie’s brains out with isn’t about using the biggest, baddest weapon you can find; using a weapon you’re effective with will increase your chance of survival when encountering the undead.

Here are some general examples that you may want to consider:

Tools
Many tools have that weapon like, swing-happy feel to them. Luckily, many tools can double as weapons against the undead, in addition to assisting you in your everyday apocalyptic life. Should Zed try to rise and tear down our houses, be on the lookout for tools such as crowbars or axes, or machetes.

Blades
A classic choice for bloodthirsty warriors and zombie kill squads alike. Blades have proven to be effective since the beginning of our history, and have only improved over the past few thousand years. Be careful, only certain blades will produce the desired result. While you may think you have an edge with a steak knife in hand, a zombie won’t react much to a knife in his liver. The best blades for the job are ones designed for piercing and stabbing, and less so for slashing and cutting. Also, make sure your blade has weight to it, if it doesn’t have enough momentum behind it then it likely won’t penetrate the skull, and your sorry ass is zombie chow.

Blunt Weapons

A favorite among zombie enthusiasts, you can’t go wrong with a blunt weapon. Brute force is a dependable ally when clashing with hoards of the living dead, and just as dependable is a blunt weapon. Simple, straight to the point skull-bashery will serve your needs well. A heavy, reliable blunt weapon will never let you down when you’re aching to crack some heads together.

While there are almost infinitely many choices of melee weapons to choose from, there  are weapons that seem like a good idea at first, and when you learn to regret your decision it’s already too late. Regardless of what you have seen in the movies, chainsaws and flamethrowers are more likely to get you killed than save you. They’re flashiness and the sense of security they give you will be short lived when you realize that you have attracted every zombie within a four block radius. Looking cool while killing zombies is important, but hopefully you value your life more than your appearance. Weapons that attract a lot of unwanted attention will get you killed, and as such, should be considered a no-no.