Escape From Tarkov Melee Weapons List

While they aren't exactly the strongest to use in-game, these Escape From Tarkov melee weapons will still help you out in a pinch. Furthermore, there are also a few quests that occasionally pop up in Escape From Tarkov that require mastery of melee combat, therefore knowing which ones are best can give you a helping hand. So, to see a full list of all of the Escape From Tarkov melee weapons including their damage, make sure to carry on reading down below.
- Find out whether Escape From Tarkov Twitch Drops are coming back this year.
Escape From Tarkov Melee Weapons List

Escape From Tarkov melee weapons have two attack commands - chop and stab - and they do different amounts of damage. While most players in a panic will opt for the classic left click chop, opting for a stab could be the key to securing the kill.
Furthermore, some of the melee weapons also have a dual purpose, like the use of the Red Rebel ice pick in some extracts, or the poison embedded into the Cultist Knife.
So, here's a full list of every melee weapon in Escape From Tarkov and their corresponding damage values:
Melee Weapon | Chop/Stab Damage |
6Kh5 Bayonet | 18/23 |
Antique Axe | 26/44 |
Bars A-2607 95H18 | 16/21 |
Bars A-2607 Damascus | 15/21 |
Crash Axe | 26/44 |
Cultist Knife | 18/23 |
ER FULCRUM BAYONET | 17/18 |
Freeman crowbar | 16/22 |
Kiba Arms Tactical Tomahawk | 25/35 |
Miller Bros. Blades M-2 Tactical Sword | 34/48 |
MPL-50 entrenching tool | 18/32 |
Red Rebel ice pick | 25/30 |
SP-8 Survival Machete | 28/37 |
UVSR Taiga-1 survival machete | 30/50 |
You will see most players donning the Red Rebel ice pick due to its use for extracts on maps like Reserve and Lighthouse. Overall though, the highest damage melee weapon in Escape From Tarkov is the M-2 Tactical Sword or the Taiga-1 - depending on which attack you use. Half Life fans might want to opt for a certain scientist's crowbar too.
Technically, Tagilla's hammer is the best melee weapon in the game (alongside the limited-time Halloween Scythe) but neither of them are lootable, so are not part of this list.
- Have a read of our Escape From Tarkov loot tier list to see which items you should be prioritising in your backpack.
Are Escape From Tarkov Melee Weapons Lost Upon Death?

Barring one, melee weapons are thankfully not lootable in Escape From Tarkov. This means that if you spend 3,000,000 Roubles on a Red Rebel for the extracts, you don't have to buy it again every time you die.
The only Escape From Tarkov melee weapon that is lootable is the Cultist Knife - but that only has two special uses anyway so you're not losing too much.
This also means that you cannot loot anyone else's knife from their body - so you, unfortunately, can't just pick up a Red Rebel from another PMC that you've killed. Some bosses do have the chance to spawn with a lootable melee weapon though like Shturman, so you can use that route if you so please.
So, that wraps up this guide on the Escape From Tarkov melee weapons, giving you a full list of every one in the game alongside their damage. If you want to see what the Escape From Tarkov best guns are though, don't miss our up to date guide.