The Mound: Omen of Cthulhu - Best Melee Weapons for Expeditions

Melee weapons in The Mound: Omen of Cthulhu are generally more reliable during expeditions than ranged weapons. Despite having a few obvious drawbacks, melee weapons also come with plenty of advantages. For instance, they don’t require ammunition, they don’t alert enemies to your presence, and they don’t become useless in the rain as some of the ranged weapons do.

Having said all that, some melee weapons are definitely a lot better than others. Things like reach, durability, damage, and other aspects are all worth considering before deciding which melee weapon to choose during expeditions. Also worth keeping in mind is that Patron Saints bonuses can significantly improve the effectiveness of some of these weapons.

With all that in mind, we decided to put together a handy tier list that ranks all eight standard melee weapons currently available in The Mound: Omen of Cthulhu. We excluded knives and daggers because they’re closer to backup weapons you can use when you don’t have anything else on hand, but they don’t count as primary weapons. We’re also skipping Aged and Decayed weapons since those are just weaker versions of standard weapons.

Best Melee Weapons Tier List

S Tier

Francesca Axe

Best all-round melee weapon

The Francesca Axe does excellent damage up close and can be thrown when an enemy is just out of reach. That combination makes it the most flexible melee weapon in the game. A clean throw can finish off an enemy or save a teammate who’s been pinned to the ground. Meanwhile, normal swings are still strong enough to carry you through an ordinary fight with no problems.

The only caveat of the Francesca Axe is that it needs to be recovered once thrown. Don’t throw it into a crowd you can’t safely enter, or at something standing near water, a drop, or dense foliage. Keep it in hand when the group expects a prolonged fight, then use the throw for a priority target. Throwing it at a weak enemy is a bit of a waste, especially if you miss and lose the weapon afterward.

Halberd

Best conventional melee weapon

The Halberd ties the Axe for the highest listed damage while giving you the reach of a proper polearm. This is the go-to weapon to bring along when you want to put the hurt on enemies from a respectable distance. The Halberd’s high durability also makes it a much better long-expedition choice than the lighter dueling swords.

One little drawback of the Halberd is that it only works well in open space. It was historically designed as a battlefield weapon, after all. Trying to fight with this weapon in caves and other confined spaces is not very effective and can easily result in a lot of friendly fire if you’re playing with a group. In open terrain, though, the Halberd is easily one of the best weapons in the game.

Machete

Best utility weapon

The Machete may not hit as hard as the Francesca Axe or the Halberd, but it’s still an S-tier weapon because of its utility. Players can use this weapon to cut tentacles and clear foliage blocking a route, which can mean the difference between quickly reaching an objective and wasting time forcing the group through a bad path.

The Machete is also one of the least expensive dedicated melee weapons, making it a sensible purchase even when you intend to use something heavier as your main weapon. Bring it along when the route is likely to be overgrown, or when your group needs a dedicated explorer whose main job is to deal with tentacles.

A Tier

Polehammer

A strong heavy polearm

The Polehammer deals less damage than the Halberd, but it still comes with considerable reach and a sturdy heavy hit. It’s a good choice for players who like the polearm playstyle but have yet to find or unlock the Halberd. Once you do, it’s going to be hard to justify going back to the Polehammer.

The difference between the two polearms is hard to ignore once both are available. The Halberd hits harder, lasts longer, and is just an overall better general-purpose weapon. The Polehammer is good, but it’s the polearm you pick whenever the Halberd isn’t available.

Conquistador Side Sword

Best short sword

The Conquistador Side Sword deals very respectable damage for a one-handed blade. It doesn’t have the reach of the polearms or a throwable attack like the Axe, but it shines in terms of ease of use and handling. There’s less concern about clipping scenery or needing enough room to set up a long swing with this weapon.

Choose the Conquistador Side Sword if you prefer to stay mobile in close spaces, especially when caves or dense jungle make a Halberd feel cumbersome. This is a dependable weapon that deals a fair amount of damage, it’s just not as broadly useful as the S-tier options.

B Tier

Spear

Best defensive reach weapon

The Spear has the lowest damage among the dedicated melee weapons, but its reach keeps it out of the bottom tier. The weapon lets you damage an enemy from a safer range than a sword or a knife, and it can be thrown similar to the Francesca Axe.

The Spear is a decent weapon designed for cautious players, or for the explorer assigned to hold an approach while the rest of the team revives, heals, or works on an objective. Its lower damage means fights last longer, though, and throwing it has the same recovery risk as the Axe.

C Tier

Rapier

Too fragile for a main expedition weapon

The Rapier is workable when a contract hands you one, but it struggles to justify a place over the stronger swords, polearms, and Axe. Its damage is lower, its durability is poor, and its short reach gives you little room for error during a frantic encounter.

The weapon can still do its job, but you have to play carefully to get good use out of it. Use the Rapier’s quick thrusts against isolated enemies, look for backstabs, and switch away before durability becomes a problem.

Serpent Hilt Smallsword

A Rapier alternative, not an upgrade

The Serpent Hilt Smallsword has the same damage, cost, and rank requirement as the Rapier. It belongs in the same tier for the same reasons mentioned earlier. The weapon is fast enough in close quarters, but too light and fragile to beat the heavier options over a full expedition.

Use it if you enjoy the weapon's feel or need a short blade you can use in cramped spaces. Otherwise, a Side Sword gives you more damage, while the Machete, Axe, and polearms bring more to the table as a whole.