Weapons - Dead Island 2 Guide - IGN (2024)

In Dead Island 2, you'll come across a wide variety of weapons you'll need to use to fight your way out of wave after wave of undead people. These weapons are essential to you as a slayer and range in rarity, type of damage, and level. In this IGN wiki guide, we review all the available weapons in the game and explain any essential info you need to know.

Weapon Stats

There are a few stats you need to check before deciding on which weapons to carry in your inventory, like:

Base Damage

It'll tell you the type of damage the weapon can do, whether that's projectile damage, blunt damage, or sharp damage.

ProfileThis stat will tell you how the weapon behaves. For example, tactical weapons boost agility, while demolition weapons have automatic critical hits. We'll explain better each weapon profile later in this guide.

Amount of Damage

The amount of damage a weapon inflicts varies based on different factors, like the type of zombie you're fighting, the kind of weapon you're using, the rarity, and its level.

Some zombies will be weaker to certain types of weapons. For example, you will significantly benefit from using sharp weapons on runners so you can maim their legs and prevent them from running in your direction. We explain in more detail the different strategies for each type of zombie in our Enemies guide, so go check that out.

The Weapon's Rarity

There are six rarity tiers in Dead Island 2:

• Improvised: Improvised weapons are the easiest to find, especially during the game's early hours. Sure, these weapons do as advertised, but they break super quickly, so you should work towards finding more quality weapons asap.
• Common: common weapons are slightly better than Improvised ones, and they're a decent option if you can't find anything better.
• Uncommon: Things start to change when you access uncommon weapons or higher. Not only does this weapon tier deal more damage, but they have one mod slot and one perk slot, so you can further upgrade them in workbenches.
• Rare: Rare weapons have all the perks of uncommon weapons plus an additional perk slot.
• Superior: Superior weapons have one mod slot and three perk slots.
• Legendary: Legendary weapons have one mod slot and four perk slots. They usually come with amazing fixed perks.

The Weapon's Level

A Weapon's level will determine the amount of power that weapon has. Generally, you'll find higher-level weapons as you level up, meaning the weapon's level scales with you and the zombies that roam Hell-A.

If you find yourself favoring a specific low-level weapon, you can use the workbench to scale that weapon to your current level for a price.

Where to Find Weapons

Luckily, weapons are scattered all over LA. You'll usually get them by exploring, progressing through the main story, and completing side or Lost & Found quests.

Investing in Fuses early on is a good tip. They'll let you unlock closed doors that usually have high-quality weapons inside.

Moreover, if you need clarification on whether a particular quest will give you a weapon as a reward, check the quest in your quest log, and you should see the rewards you'll get.

How to Repair Weapons

Sadly, weapons can't last forever, and some are likelier to break than others. When using a weapon, you can see how much juice it has left before it breaks by checking the icon on the lower right side of the screen. Once it turns red, that weapon breaks, and you won't be able to use it anymore.

You can upgrade weapons with perks and mods that'll boost or decrease your weapon's durability, so make sure you read what an upgrade does before installing it.

Finally, to repair a weapon, go to the nearest workbench and press the repair button. Doing so will cost you some cash, but once you've found a weapon you like, spending some money on it is worth it.

All Weapons Profiles

Now that you know how to pick your weapons, it's time you learn about weapon profiles. As we said earlier, a weapon's profile indicates how the weapon will behave in combat. By knowing what profiles mean, you can choose the best weapon for your situation.

Looking for a specific weapon profile? Navigate to a specific weapon profile using the links below:

• Maiming Weapons
• Frenzy Weapons
• Bulldozer Weapons
• Headhunter Weapons
• Tactical Weapons
• Demolition Weapons
• Sharpshooter Weapons

Maiming Weapons

Maiming weapons specialize in dealing extra damage to limbs, enabling you to sever them from a zombie's body and subsequently increase your stamina. These weapons are ideal when:

• Targeting specific zombie parts for collection
• Crippling a zombie to reduce its attack capabilities

Here is the full list of Maiming Weapons:

Frenzy Weapons

Frenzy Weapons deliver swift attacks in rapid succession. As you continue striking with a Frenzy weapon, the damage builds up until all hits become critical for a short period. Additionally, heavy attacks charge faster when using Frenzy weapons. Utilize these weapons when:

• Facing large groups of zombies
• Capitalizing on fast-paced combat situations

Here is the full list of Frenzy Weapons:

Bulldozer Weapons

Bulldozer Weapons are designed for destabilizing and stunning zombies. They can also be thrown to damage multiple enemies near the target. These weapons are particularly effective when:

• Dealing with apex Variants to make them more vulnerable
• Crowd control and keeping zombies at bay

Here is the full list of Bulldozer Weapons:

Headhunter Weapons

Headhunter Weapons are tailored for precise headshots, dealing significant damage to zombies. They also enhance agility, increase range, and maintain charging speed during heavy attacks. Utilize these weapons when:

• Aiming for quick and efficient zombie elimination
• Maintaining mobility in combat

Here is the full list of Headhunter Weapons:

Demolition Weapon

Demolition Weapons guarantee critical hits when targeting vulnerable zombies and also enhance toughness during reloads. These weapons are particularly effective when:

• Prioritizing high-damage attacks
• Maintaining survivability in intense combat situations\

Here is the full list of Demolition Weapons list:

Rapid-Fire Weapons

Rapid-fire Weapons enable you to fire bullets in quick succession. Landing a series of consecutive hits on zombies eventually grants a brief window of time where all shots become critical. Utilize these weapons when:

• Engaging multiple zombies from a distance
• Maximizing damage output in a short period

Here is the full list of Rapid-fire Weapons:

Tactical Weapons

Tactical Weapons enable players to perform critical hits, boost agility, and increase reload speed simply by blocking or dodging. These weapons are ideal when:

• Employing strategic gameplay
• Engaging in situations that require quick reflexes and adaptability

Here is the full list of Tactical Weapons:

Sharpshooter Weapons

Sharpshooter Weapons are designed to maximize precision and power during gameplay. They feature a unique Aim Mode that enhances damage output when activated, and they excel at dealing critical hits when targeting zombies' heads and limbs. To make the most of these weapons:

• Take your time to aim and ensure your shots connect with your targets for maximum damage
• Practice headshots and limb shots to increase your chances of scoring critical hits and efficiently eliminating zombies

Here is the full list of Sharpshooter Weapons: