Fortnite is well known for its massive selection of weapons, and that list keeps growing with each new season. We regularly see the return of staple items like shotguns and assault rifles, and with Chapter 5, even vehicles were given weapons. But while the spotlight is often on guns, there’s an entire melee weapon category in Fortnite that’s been evolving steadily, and sometimes, they even shape the meta.
Though Fortnite is typically seen as a third-person shooter, the roster of melee weapons is bigger than many players realize. In recent updates, Epic Games has made a habit of including at least one unique melee weapon per season, often tied to that season’s theme or collaboration. While they aren’t always the most effective tools in combat compared to long-range firearms, many melee items have become essential in specific modes, especially Zero Build, where mobility and utility are just as valuable as damage.
So what exactly counts as a melee weapon in Fortnite, and which ones are available right now?
What Counts as a Melee Weapon in Fortnite?
Before diving into past items, it’s important to know what melee weapons are currently available in-game, particularly if you’re trying to complete a quest or challenge. Here’s a rundown of the melee weapons you can use today:
Lightsabers
Fortnite’s ongoing Star Wars collaborations have brought lightsabers back into the mix. While they’ve lost some of their former power, they still allow players to chain melee attacks and now come bundled with Force powers like pushing or pulling opponents. They may not be meta-defining anymore, but they add flair and variety to your loadout.
Chapter 6 Melee Weapons
In Chapter 6, Epic has gone all-in on adding fresh melee tools. Each season so far has introduced at least one new melee item with a unique mechanic or twist. Some are directly tied to crossovers, while others are completely original.
These weapons often double as mobility tools, continuing the trend that began in Chapter 5. Items like the Nitro Fists and Kinetic Blade blended traversal with close-range damage, making them ideal for Zero Build and high-mobility gameplay styles.
Melee Weapons in Chapter 5: A Turning Point
Chapter 5 marked a real push in melee weapon development. Aside from the standard pickaxe (which has been in Fortnite since the beginning), we saw several new and experimental tools introduced:
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Chains of Hades: A fun item used to pull enemies toward you. Unfortunately, the lack of fall damage from being yanked off ledges meant this didn’t become the troll weapon it could’ve been.
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Ninja Turtle Weapons: Donatello’s staff, Leonardo’s katanas, Michelangelo’s nunchaku, and Raphael’s sai were introduced as part of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles collab. While each had different appearances, they worked similarly in combat, featuring a short combo and built-in dashing movement.
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Nitro Fists: More than just fists, they served as a combination of melee weapon and movement enhancer.
Weapons like these showed Epic’s focus on variety, allowing melee tools to do more than just damage. From lightsabers to Marvel-inspired gear, each addition added flavor and strategy to how players engage.
A Full List of Fortnite Melee Weapons (So Far)
Here’s a comprehensive list of melee weapons that have appeared in Fortnite over time, including standard tools, collab items, and even Creative-only assets:
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Pickaxe – The default harvesting tool, available in hundreds of cosmetic styles.
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Infinity Blade – Infamously overpowered sword from Chapter 1, vaulted within days.
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Donatello’s Staff
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Leonardo’s Katanas
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Michelangelo’s Nunchaku
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Raphael’s Sai
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Chains of Hades
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ODM Gear – Attack on Titan collab item with a mobility-first design.
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Thorne’s Vampire Blade – A mythic Kinetic Blade variant.
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Sideways Scythe – A dark, shadowy weapon introduced during the Sideways season.
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Kingsman Umbrella – A re-skinned lightsaber from Chapter 2.
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Kinetic Blade – Fan-favorite sword known for its teleport-like dash.
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Lightsabers – Returned regularly with Star Wars crossovers in various colors.
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Thor’s Stormbreaker
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Predator Claw – Unique melee item only available by defeating the Predator boss.
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Grapple Blade
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Shuri’s Panther Claws
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Chainsaw
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Typhoon Blade
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Kneecapper
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Scorpion’s Kombat Kit
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Sub-Zero’s Kombat Kit
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Hammer (Creative Mode Only)
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Sword (Creative Mode Only)
The Melee Weapon That Changed Everything: Infinity Blade
Perhaps the most memorable melee weapon in Fortnite history is the Infinity Blade. Introduced in Patch 7.01 on December 11, 2018, this mythic sword brought chaos to the game. It was removed just three days later, after players used it to dominate Epic’s high-stakes Winter Royale tournament.
The sword granted enormous buffs:
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75 damage per swing
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1 HP/s regeneration
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Siphon effect on eliminations
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Super jump and massive mobility boosts
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400 total HP and shield combined
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Structure destruction at an insane rate
One player famously used it to sweep an entire match during the tournament, exposing just how unbalanced it was. Although it looked visually impressive, pulled from a stone like a fantasy epic, it simply couldn’t be allowed in competitive play. Since then, Epic has been much more cautious with how powerful melee weapons can be in core modes.
Are Melee Weapons Viable in Fortnite Today?
While most players still rely on shotguns and rifles, melee weapons have carved out a niche, particularly in Zero Build and Creative. They’re often included as event items, quest objectives, or mobility-focused tools. The recent push for variety in Fortnite’s loot pool means you’re likely to see at least one melee item per season moving forward.
So whether you’re slicing through enemies with a lightsaber or dashing across the map with Nitro Fists, melee weapons continue to play a fun and sometimes surprisingly effective role in the Fortnite arsenal.
Would you like a ranked list of the best Fortnite melee weapons for Zero Build or competitive play next?
