There are numerous weapons of various description available to you in Dead Island 2, but not all weapons are created equal. Ignoring for a moment the differences in level, rarity and equipped mods, some weapons are just not as well-suited for surviving a zombie apocalypse as others. On this page we’ll provide a tier list of the best weapons in the game, according to our experiences, preferred playstyle and build.

The Maiming Build¶

Given the number of weapons you can find and the diverse [Skill Card] loadouts you can equip, your preferred playstyle may vary. That said, we hit upon a fairly [effective build] that largely makes use of weapons with the Maiming profile and various skill cards that give us boons whenever we maim enemies. Maiming weapons also inflict critical hits when you strike limbs, so the playstyle is simple - get close to enemies and start swinging at their legs. Break or sever these limbs and you’ll gain boons from your equipped skill cards and you’ll rack up hefty damage via critical hits. Improving your weapons with upgrades that further boost Limb Damage, Critical Multiplier, Damage and Attack Speed (and later on, perhaps some “Zombie Part” upgrades) will further increase the rate at which you hobble enemies, and in so doing, keep yourself hale and hearty.

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The undisputed master of maiming, the katana allows you to chew through zombies with satisfying alacrity.

S Tier Weapons¶

The best of the best, these weapons do what you need them to do better than any others. As long as they’re of sufficient rarity, you should upgrade them and keep them leveled,

Katana¶

Arguably the best weapon type in the game, that katana has a lot going for it - fast attack speed, decent damage, 1.4x Critical Multiplier and 1.4x Limb Damage and the Maiming profile. All you have to do is aim for your enemy’s legs and watch the limbs go flying. Any enemy not killed outright by your furious assault will end up prone, reduced to crawling feebly at you - not completely helpless, but a crippled zombie is significantly less threatening. With wide, sweeping attacks, the katana mulches fodder and deals significant damage to apex variants, as long as you keep hitting their limbs. The only downside with this weapon is its low Force stat, which is somewhat disappointing against bosses, although the katana’s raw damage helps smooth that potential shortcoming over quite nicely.

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A tier weapons, like the machete, are workhorse weapons that’ll get you through much of the game, capable of dicing up hordes and apex variants alike.

A Tier Weapons¶

While not quite as good as the best weapons, they’re still excellent tools for slaughtering zombies, and unless you’re absolutely spoiled for the absolute best weapons in the game, you’re probably going to want to keep some of these handy, even if you just use them to put down fodder and switch to your better weapons when apex variants show up.

Cleaver, Machete, Tactical Sword and Zombie Sword¶

The workhorse Maiming profile weapons in Dead Island 2, these weapons may not be as fast as the katana and their Critical Multiplier and Limb Damage stats aren’t as good, but they tend to be more durable and more readily available, both of which are greatly appreciated in the early-game. Their attack range and radius is fairly generous - there’s honestly not much bad to be said about any of these weapons save that they’re not quite as good as katanas.

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B tier weapons generally demand a rangier, more methodical approach to zombie limb trimming.

B Tier Weapons¶

Suboptimal in some way as compared to higher tier weapons, these are worth keeping around until you find something better. If you really enjoy their playstyle, however, they’re fine substitutes for higher tier weapons, so long as you’re aware of their limitations.

Military Axe and Zombie Axe¶

Serviceable enough weapons, these two axes are similar to the machete in their range, damage output (including their Critical Multiplier and Limb Damage), Force, you name it… they just swing considerably slower. They’re serviceable enough, but as long as you peruse the weapons offered by merchants and rummage through crates regularly, you should have enough better weapons to relegate these axes to the sale list, unless you’re just aesthetically fond of axes. In that case, they’ll arguably underperform compared to the S tier and A tier weapons, but not enough to preclude their use.

Claymore, Heavy Wrench, Mace and Whispering Blade¶

Chonky heifers, these weapons are fairly slow, but powerful, having more Damage and Force than most other weapons on this list, and in the case of the Claymore and Whispering Blade, a generous attack arc. Their Attack Speed and decent - but not outstanding - Critical Multiplier and Limb Damage stats keep them on the fringes of this list, but they’re usable enough if you’r going for a maim build and can adjust to the slower playstyle.