Zombie Apocalypse Guide

Melee and Unarmed

The chapter talks about the advantages and disadvantages of different melee weapons, along with how to fight unarmed and how to win a melee fight toward the end in a zombie apocalypse.

Generally, weapons with more range are better in a melee fight, ex: in a fight with a guy with a sword and a guy with a combat knife, the swordsman is going to win. However, you are doing more than just fighting with this weapon, you are also carrying it. As such it may be better to have a weapon that has less reach but weighs less. The ability to holster or sheath a weapon (so that your hands are free) is also a must. Some examples of holsters would be a sword sheath with a sling, a belt holster, or a carpenter/hammer holster for hammers, hatchets, or similar tools.

The other thing to consider is that it is best if your tool has multiple uses other than fighting:

- For example, an authentic Japanese katana or a baseball bat may have range, but what else are you going to do with these besides fighting? Play baseball? Where is this zombie-free baseball field? What use does a katana have that other smaller (and lighter) tools could do much better?

- In general, when picking a tool, artificial or polyurethane handles/grips are better than hardwood handles, and metal (with rubber shock pads) is better and sturdier than either of the two.

- In addition, you are going to want to avoid "survival" marketed tools with folding parts and screw-on hollow handles that can store stuff. Take it from an engineering student that a solid connection is sturdier than a moving or rotating connection.

- With the same thought process as picking clothing make sure to pick tools/weapons that is either military surplus or marketed toward work

- Generally blunt weapons are preferable over cutting weapons against zombies, assuming both weapons are of the same caliber/lethalness. This is because cutting weapons increases the amount of blood that is spilled, which is an infection hazard when fighting zombies. While large weapons such as swords or baseball bats have a large reach, you have to keep in mind their weight and the fact that you will be fighting in cramped areas such as buildings, hallways, and tight stairways, often alongside allies. As such shorter weapons that can be held with one hand are preferable in the long term or when traveling. However, in the event that you know that you will not be fighting in close areas, a larger weapon with a longer reach is by most means superior.

Some preferable multiuse melee weapons are as follows

Hatchets - heavy weighted or camping hatchets are perfect for chopping through the bone in a skull, and if the blade gets dull, you can use the back side of it to the same effect as a hammer! In addition to fighting, hatchets can also be used to chop down and prepare firewood or break down fortifications (such as boarded-up windows or doors) on abandoned stores to loot them.

Hammers - hammers offer the blunt force necessary to cause significant brain damage and crack through bone to put down a zombie. However, with claw hammers try to hit them with the blunt end and not the claw part as it can get stuck in their skull. Hammers also add the ability to fortify buildings (hammer in nails) and some offer the ability to remove nails from barricades.

Bayonet Knife - A bayonet is a combat knife that adds the ability to turn a (compatible) rifle into a spear. A significant advantage! In addition to this use, it also offers all the tools and fighting capabilities of a normal combat knife.

Unpreferable weapons

Crowbar - yes, it is multiuse, yes it has some good bone-crushing weight to it, and is much more preferable than a baseball bat. What it lacks is the ability to be sheathed so that your hands can be free to climb, do parkour, or carry/drag a wounded ally. Think about it have you ever seen a crowbar sling or sheath? How do you plan to store it, if your hands are full of looted supplies or you're dragging an injured comrade? Yes, you could shove part of it in a backpack, but what if your backpack is already full of supplies? While it is much better than bare hands, disregard this tool if you have better options to pick from.