Aiming distance weapons can be tricky in Starbound. There's often so much happening on screen that it can be hard to locate the crosshair. Melee weapons, on the other hand, are incredibly accurate. A player needs to try to miss with a melee weapon; if the enemy is within range, swing the weapon.
Melee weapons typically do more damage than distance weapons in Starbound. The trade-off is simple. Melee weapons force the player to get closer to the enemy, but the player can also kill the enemy much faster. Most melee weapons can also hit multiple enemies with one attack. Fortunately, there's a wealth of wondrous melee weapons to be obtained in Starbound. This list will include melee weapons that also have a secondary function that causes them to act as a distance weapon.
10 Supernova Gauntlet
- Size: One-handed
- Damage: 10.5
- Rate Of Fire: 3.3
Gauntlets aren't a very popular weapon in Starbound. The reason for this is their poor range; players need to get their character right next to the enemy to score a hit. This poor range forces many players to leave gauntlets in storage. This range is countered with an incredibly high rate of fire; this helps bring the Supernova Gauntlet's damage in line with most of the weapons listed here.
The special ability of this weapon is activated by performing a combo with another gauntlet equipped on the other hand. This allows combos to be finished with a double-fisted Supernova Rush attack. This dash has great range and can hit multiple enemies as the character dashes forward.
9 Ixodoom's Claw
- Size: Two-handed
- Damage: 26
- Rate Of Fire: 1.0
This mighty axe is dropped by the boss Ixodoom in the Ceremonial Hunting Grounds. This huge two-handed axe does a tremendous amount of damage per swing. When swinging this weapon, the player must wait one second as the character heaves the axe into a ready position. Once ready, the axe actually swings pretty fast when released.
The special ability of Ixodoom's Claw is a spray of slime. This slime emits several blobs of slime in a widening spread shot. This slime not only damages enemies, but it also slows their movement speed by 80% and reduces jump height.
8 Soulseeker
- Size: One-handed
- Damage: 23.3
- Rate Of Fire: 0.8
There are better swords than Soulseeker in Starbound. It does average damage, doesn't have a combo attack, and lacks a special ability, but its attacks do at least knock most enemies back. This sword isn't here because of its damage potential or overpowered special.
The Soulseeker is on this list because it is something unique in Starbound; this is the only one-handed broadsword in the game. This allows the player to carry a distance weapon (like a grenade launcher) in one hand and Soulseeker in the other. Doing this gives the player a level of flexibility not found in most melee builds.
7 Violium Broadsword
- Size: Two-handed
- Damage: 33.4
- Rate Of Fire: 1.2
The Violium Broadsword is essentially a lightsaber. Its blade is retracted when not in use, leaving the character holding the handle. This sword strikes for considerable damage and has a three-hit combo that does above-average damage - for a broadsword. This legendary blade requires the Separators' Table to be crafted.
The Flipslash is the special ability of the Violium Broadsword. This launches the player forward in a spinning attack, making the character resemble Yoda when he was fighting Count Dooku. This does decent damage, but more importantly, it gives some protection and makes killing flying enemies a lot easier.
6 Hokucide
- Size: Two-handed
- Damage: 27.5
- Rate Of Fire: 1.0
The Hokucide is a two-handed sword with a curved blue blade. If one goes by the stats, this sword appears no better than the standard broadsword. When upgraded at the Weapon Upgrade Anvil, this becomes one of the most damaging melee weapons a player can use.
The special ability of Hokucide is called Great Wave. This sends out a wave of water that knocks enemies back. This wave doesn't do any damage, but it also doesn't use any energy either - there is a bit of a cooldown time between waves though. A combo followed by a wave is a great way to keep enemies away while doing significant damage in the process.
5 Lucaine's Energy Whip
- Size: Two-handed
- Damage: 37
- Rate Of Fire: 0.9
The only whip to make this list, Lucaine's Energy Whip is made of pure electrical energy. This weapon is unique in that it is the only two-handed whip in the game. Like the other whips, Lucaine's Energy Whip has fast attack speed and a great range. The damage dealt by this whip is over twice that of the next-best whip.
This electric whip can fire a large electric orb as a projectile. This orb does a fair amount of damage but can also pierce enemies and bounce off walls up to five times. This weapon has the added benefit of illuminating the area when carried; when it strikes, it gets much brighter for a moment.
4 Solus Katana
- Size: Two-handed
- Damage: 23.9
- Rate Of Fire: 1.2
The Solus Katana makes an excellent primary weapon. The damage is not as high as some of the weapons on this list, but it makes up for this with a faster combo than many other weapons. This sword also provides some illumination when exploring dark caverns.
Kunaiblast in the Solus Katana's special; which projects three flaming knives. These knives explode when they hit the enemy or after sitting on the ground for a few seconds. If used on a target in melee range, all three of these knives typically hit; otherwise, they fan out while flying through the air. Using the Kunaiblast while in the air halts the player's fall, making it great for avoiding fall damage.
3 Asuterosaberu DX
- Size: Two-handed
- Damage: 36.2
- Rate Of Fire: 1.1
This is one of the most popular melee weapons in Starbound. First and foremost, this is one of the most damaging melee weapons in the game. Asuterosaberu DX also covers a large area when it's swung and has a fast swing animation. This weapon's combo does more than most swords.
Astral Tear is this weapon's special; it cuts a hole in reality. This hole remains for about six seconds and damages enemies that are caught in its hitbox. The damage is reduced by one-fourth, but this tear in reality is great for zoning purposes.
2 Protector's Broadsword
- Size: Two-handed
- Damage: 32
- Rate Of Fire: 1.3
This weapon is crafted from the Broken Broadsword and is one of only two normally attainable tier 7 weapons in Starbound. In terms of damage per swing, there are few melee weapons that can top the Protector's Broadsword. This sword's attacks also have a high knockback rating.
The special ability of the Protector's Broadsword is the ability to be empowered. This empowering cause the player's energy to begin depleting - it also causes the sword's blade to glow white. The damage is increased while empowered, and when the player runs out of energy the sword sends out a wave of energy that damages all enemies in its path.
1 Firestorm's Fury
- Size: Two-handed
- Damage: 30
- Rate Of Fire: 1.0
This is, in most players' opinion, the best melee weapon in Starbound. The base damage is fantastic, and each hit causes knockback; this is great for keeping enemies at a safe distance. This knockback effect doesn't prevent all three combo swings from landing and allows the player to safely spam this combo. Hits from this sword also cause the burning status effect of the target, which inflicts persistent fire damage.
This melee weapon's special ability turn it into a distance weapon. Firestorm's Fury can act as a flamethrower to burn approaching enemies. The range of this flamethrower is quite good; the damage is also quite good, and it can hit multiple enemies.
Starbound is available on PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PlayStation Vita.