What is the best melee weapon in Warframe?

By computed burst DPS from base stats, Venato Prime ranks first of 224 melee weapons. That is a statistical ranking, not a verdict — it excludes mods, arcanes and Incarnon evolutions.

Melee weapons Tier List

All 224 melee weapons ranked by damage computed from Digital Extremes’ published stats.

What is the strongest melee weapon on paper?

Venato Prime — highest computed burst DPS of 224 melee weapons.

“On paper” is doing real work in that sentence. This is base-stat damage only: no mods, arcanes, Incarnon evolutions or faction damage, and no allowance for how the weapon actually handles.

Full ranking

#	Weapon	Band	Score	Burst DPS	Sustained	MR
1	Venato Prime	A	100 out of 100	412	—	14
2	Sarofang Prime	A	100 out of 100	411	—	16
3	War Prime	A	94 out of 100	389	—	15
4	Thalys	A	91 out of 100	374	—	12
5	Ekhein	A	90 out of 100	370	—	10
6	Masseter Prime	A	90 out of 100	370	—	14
7	Gram Prime	A	88 out of 100	363	—	14
8	Hespar	A	87 out of 100	361	—	12
9	Vitrica	A	87 out of 100	360	—	13
10	Coda Caustacyst	A	86 out of 100	355	—	17
11	Cobra & Crane Prime	A	86 out of 100	354	—	14
12	Galatine Prime	A	86 out of 100	353	—	13
13	Synoid Heliocor	A	85 out of 100	352	—	11
14	Orthos Prime	A	85 out of 100	352	—	12
15	Tatsu Prime	A	85 out of 100	351	—	14
16	Volnus Prime	A	84 out of 100	348	—	14
17	Arum Spinosa	A	84 out of 100	348	—	11
18	Argo & Vel	A	84 out of 100	348	—	0
19	Guandao Prime	A	84 out of 100	348	—	12
20	Fragor Prime	A	84 out of 100	346	—	12
21	Pride	A	84 out of 100	345	—	14
22	Wrath	A	83 out of 100	343	—	14
23	Dual Keres Prime	A	83 out of 100	340	—	14
24	Prisma Ohma	B	82 out of 100	340	—	12
25	Edun	B	82 out of 100	340	—	0
26	Korumm	B	81 out of 100	335	—	13
27	Azothane	B	81 out of 100	333	—	0
28	Nepheri	B	81 out of 100	332	—	13
29	Pulmonars	B	80 out of 100	331	—	11
30	Coda Motovore	B	80 out of 100	331	—	17
31	Sampotes	B	80 out of 100	331	—	0
32	Reaper Prime	B	80 out of 100	330	—	10
33	Quassus Prime	B	80 out of 100	330	—	13
34	Slaytra	B	80 out of 100	330	—	13
35	Scindo Prime	B	80 out of 100	330	—	8
36	Innodem	B	80 out of 100	329	—	14
37	Syam	B	80 out of 100	329	—	0
38	Arca Titron	B	79 out of 100	327	—	10
39	Halikar Wraith	B	79 out of 100	327	—	13
40	Galariak Prime	B	79 out of 100	326	—	14
41	Kestrel Prime	B	79 out of 100	326	—	11
42	War	B	79 out of 100	324	—	10
43	Kuva Ghoulsaw	B	78 out of 100	323	—	13
44	Harmony	B	78 out of 100	322	—	10
45	Heliocor	B	78 out of 100	322	—	9
46	Dual Viciss	B	78 out of 100	320	—	14
47	Coda Mire	B	77 out of 100	319	—	17
48	Okina Prime	B	77 out of 100	318	—	12
49	Vastilok	B	77 out of 100	316	—	9
50	Gunsen Prime	B	76 out of 100	315	—	12
51	Stropha	B	76 out of 100	312	—	10
52	Sancti Magistar	B	76 out of 100	312	—	8
53	Sibear	B	75 out of 100	311	—	6
54	Venato	B	75 out of 100	309	—	9
55	Verdilac	B	75 out of 100	309	—	13
56	Ninkondi Prime	B	74 out of 100	306	—	14
57	Hate	B	74 out of 100	306	—	8
58	Paracesis	B	74 out of 100	304	—	10
59	Vaykor Sydon	B	74 out of 100	303	—	11
60	Kronen Prime	B	73 out of 100	302	—	13
61	Coda Hirudo	B	73 out of 100	300	—	17
62	Masseter	B	73 out of 100	299	—	8
63	Wolf Sledge	B	72 out of 100	299	—	7
64	Nikana Prime	B	72 out of 100	299	—	12
65	Venka Prime	B	72 out of 100	298	—	14
66	Pangolin Prime	B	72 out of 100	298	—	14
67	Silva & Aegis Prime	B	72 out of 100	298	—	12
68	Skana Prime	B	72 out of 100	297	—	12
69	Tenet Agendus	B	72 out of 100	296	—	14
70	Karyst Prime	B	72 out of 100	295	—	12
71	Nami Skyla Prime	B	71 out of 100	293	—	11
72	Volnus	B	71 out of 100	293	—	9
73	Cobra & Crane	B	71 out of 100	292	—	10
74	Tenet Exec	B	71 out of 100	291	—	16
75	Dual Zoren Prime	B	70 out of 100	291	—	13
76	Kuva Shildeg	B	70 out of 100	287	—	13
77	Tenet Livia	B	70 out of 100	287	—	14
78	Caustacyst	B	69 out of 100	283	—	7
79	Tenet Grigori	B	69 out of 100	283	—	14
80	Ceti Lacera	C	68 out of 100	281	—	12
81	Praedos	C	68 out of 100	280	—	14
82	Sarofang	C	68 out of 100	280	—	8
83	Spinnerex	C	68 out of 100	280	—	12
84	Jat Kusar	C	67 out of 100	277	—	11
85	Machete Wraith	C	67 out of 100	276	—	11
86	Zenistar	C	66 out of 100	273	—	6
87	Telos Boltace	C	66 out of 100	273	—	11
88	Corufell	C	66 out of 100	273	—	8
89	Lesion	C	66 out of 100	273	—	9
90	Rakta Dark Dagger	C	65 out of 100	270	—	8
91	Broken War	C	64 out of 100	266	—	10
92	Pennant	C	64 out of 100	265	—	7
93	Tipedo Prime	C	64 out of 100	265	—	10
94	Bo Prime	C	64 out of 100	264	—	5
95	Twin Krohkur	C	63 out of 100	260	—	10
96	Kesheg	C	63 out of 100	258	—	7
97	Dakra Prime	C	62 out of 100	256	—	10
98	Keratinos	C	62 out of 100	256	—	9
99	Tekko Prime	C	62 out of 100	256	—	12
100	Destreza Prime	C	62 out of 100	256	—	10
101	Pupacyst	C	61 out of 100	252	—	7
102	Fang Prime	C	61 out of 100	252	—	10
103	Sigma & Octantis	C	61 out of 100	252	—	10
104	Redeemer Prime	C	61 out of 100	250	—	10
105	Kogake Prime	C	61 out of 100	250	—	10
106	Glaive Prime	C	61 out of 100	250	—	10
107	Prisma Obex	C	61 out of 100	250	—	10
108	Quassus	C	60 out of 100	249	—	8
109	Krohkur	C	60 out of 100	249	—	9
110	Tatsu	C	60 out of 100	248	—	7
111	Shaku	C	60 out of 100	248	—	10
112	Skiajati	C	60 out of 100	247	—	11
113	Broken Scepter	C	60 out of 100	246	—	7
114	Sun & Moon	C	59 out of 100	243	—	0
115	Dorrclave	C	59 out of 100	243	—	8
116	Secura Lecta	C	57 out of 100	237	—	8
117	Ohma	C	57 out of 100	236	—	8
118	Korrudo	C	57 out of 100	236	—	9
119	Tak & Lug	C	57 out of 100	234	—	9
120	Ether Reaper	C	57 out of 100	234	—	4
121	Dex Nikana	C	56 out of 100	233	—	8
122	Jat Kittag	C	56 out of 100	230	—	5
123	Dragon Nikana	C	56 out of 100	229	—	8
124	Mios	C	55 out of 100	228	—	8
125	Furax Wraith	C	55 out of 100	227	—	9
126	Prisma Skana	C	55 out of 100	227	—	8
127	Sydon	C	55 out of 100	227	—	5
128	Coda Pathocyst	C	55 out of 100	227	—	17
129	Prova Vandal	C	55 out of 100	226	—	8
130	Karyst	C	55 out of 100	225	—	6
131	Guandao	C	55 out of 100	225	—	4
132	Cassowar	C	54 out of 100	225	—	5
133	Dual Kamas Prime	C	54 out of 100	224	—	8
134	Tonkkatt	C	54 out of 100	224	—	9
135	Ghoulsaw	C	54 out of 100	224	—	7
136	Serro	C	54 out of 100	223	—	6
137	Ruvox	C	54 out of 100	223	—	14
138	Ankyros Prime	C	54 out of 100	223	—	8
139	Rumblejack	C	54 out of 100	222	—	8
140	Dark Sword	C	54 out of 100	222	—	8
141	Anku	C	54 out of 100	221	—	3
142	Twin Basolk	C	53 out of 100	221	—	7
143	Vericres	C	53 out of 100	220	—	8
144	Gunsen	C	53 out of 100	217	—	8
145	Dual Ether	C	52 out of 100	216	—	8
146	Cerata	C	51 out of 100	210	—	7
147	Magistar	C	51 out of 100	210	—	1
148	Ninkondi	C	51 out of 100	209	—	8
149	Dual Keres	C	51 out of 100	208	—	7
150	Hirudo	C	50 out of 100	208	—	7
151	Lacera	C	50 out of 100	208	—	7
152	Sheev	C	50 out of 100	206	—	5
153	Falcor	C	50 out of 100	205	—	8
154	Pathocyst	C	49 out of 100	203	—	9
155	Halikar	C	49 out of 100	203	—	7
156	Destreza	C	49 out of 100	202	—	7
157	Endura	C	49 out of 100	202	—	7
158	Ether Daggers	D	49 out of 100	202	—	6
159	Ether Sword	D	49 out of 100	202	—	7
160	Prisma Machete	D	49 out of 100	201	—	7
161	Galatine	D	49 out of 100	200	—	3
162	Fragor	D	49 out of 100	200	—	2
163	Scoliac	D	48 out of 100	200	—	6
164	Prisma Dual Cleavers	D	48 out of 100	200	—	9
165	Kreska	D	48 out of 100	199	—	6
166	Tipedo	D	48 out of 100	198	—	3
167	Dual Ichor	D	48 out of 100	198	—	6
168	Nami Solo	D	48 out of 100	198	—	6
169	Scindo	D	48 out of 100	197	—	2
170	Dual Cleavers	D	48 out of 100	196	—	5
171	Gazal Machete	D	48 out of 100	196	—	5
172	Tonbo	D	47 out of 100	193	—	3
173	Tekko	D	46 out of 100	191	—	6
174	Sarpa	D	44 out of 100	182	—	8
175	Xoris	D	43 out of 100	179	—	4
176	Furax	D	43 out of 100	179	—	5
177	Mire	D	43 out of 100	179	—	5
178	Atterax	D	43 out of 100	177	—	5
179	Amphis	D	43 out of 100	177	—	5
180	Okina	D	43 out of 100	176	—	5
181	Gram	D	42 out of 100	175	—	2
182	Orthos	D	42 out of 100	175	—	2
183	Ripkas	D	42 out of 100	173	—	5
184	Galvacord	D	42 out of 100	173	—	6
185	Orvius	D	42 out of 100	173	—	5
186	Heat Dagger	D	41 out of 100	169	—	3
187	Boltace	D	40 out of 100	166	—	4
188	Redeemer	D	39 out of 100	162	—	4
189	Venka	D	39 out of 100	161	—	4
190	Bo	D	38 out of 100	158	—	0
191	Plasma Sword	D	38 out of 100	157	—	4
192	Amanata	D	38 out of 100	156	—	2
193	Dual Raza	D	37 out of 100	151	—	6
194	Nikana	D	37 out of 100	151	—	4
195	Obex	D	36 out of 100	150	—	4
196	Cadus	D	36 out of 100	150	—	4
197	Ack & Brunt	D	36 out of 100	149	—	3
198	Kronen	D	36 out of 100	148	—	3
199	Ceramic Dagger	D	36 out of 100	147	—	3
200	Dark Dagger	D	36 out of 100	147	—	2
201	Prova	D	35 out of 100	146	—	3
202	Dex Dakra	D	35 out of 100	146	—	6
203	Pangolin Sword	D	35 out of 100	143	—	3
204	Heat Sword	D	34 out of 100	138	—	3
205	Dual Heat Swords	D	34 out of 100	138	—	3
206	Kogake	D	32 out of 100	132	—	2
207	Ankyros	D	31 out of 100	126	—	2
208	Dual Zoren	D	30 out of 100	123	—	2
209	Nami Skyla	D	29 out of 100	120	—	2
210	Dual Kamas	D	29 out of 100	118	—	1
211	Glaive	D	29 out of 100	118	—	1
212	Machete	D	28 out of 100	116	—	1
213	Kama	D	28 out of 100	115	—	1
214	Jaw Sword	D	28 out of 100	114	—	0
215	MK1-Furax	D	26 out of 100	108	—	0
216	Lecta	D	25 out of 100	104	—	0
217	Fang	D	25 out of 100	103	—	0
218	Skana	D	25 out of 100	103	—	0
219	Dual Skana	D	25 out of 100	103	—	0
220	Silva & Aegis	D	24 out of 100	100	—	0
221	Kestrel	D	24 out of 100	100	—	0
222	Cronus	D	24 out of 100	100	—	0
223	MK1-Bo	D	24 out of 100	99.0	—	0
224	Dark Split-Sword	D	2 out of 100	10.0	—	0

Methodology

Rankings are computed from Digital Extremes’ own published weapon stats. Damage per shot = base damage × (1 + crit chance × (crit multiplier − 1)) × multishot. Burst DPS multiplies that by fire rate. Sustained DPS accounts for magazine size and reload time, and is left blank where either is missing. These figures use BASE stats only: no mods, arcanes, Incarnon evolutions, faction damage or status synergy, and no allowance for how a weapon feels to use. This is a statistical ranking, not a verdict on what is best.

Weapons whose stats we cannot compute are left out entirely rather than ranked last — an unstatted weapon is unknown, not bad, and putting it at the bottom would be a claim we cannot support.