Long Blades

Long Blades are swords and machetes. The group holds the Katana, the Machete, the Sword and the Shortsword, plus simple and scrap metal versions. Every one of them trains the Long Blade skill. These are some of the deadliest melee weapons in the game, but they are rare. The Machete is far more common than any sword.

All Weapons Categories

Best Long Blades

The top pick for each role, by the game's own figures.

For	Name	Image	Stats	Spawn ID
Hardest hitter	Katana		8 damage	/additem Base.Katana
Longest reach	Simple Sword		1.4 range	/additem Base.CrudeSword
Best crit chance	Katana		35 crit chance	/additem Base.Katana
Most durable	Machete		13 condition	/additem Base.Machete
Lightest to carry	Simple Shortsword		1.5 weight	/additem Base.CrudeShortSword

Skill and Leveling

The Long Blade skill covers every weapon in this group. Its in-game text says it increases attack speed and damage and reduces muscle strain. A higher level also raises the critical chance. It helps the character push off a zombie that grabs from the front. Together with Maintenance, it slows the loss of condition.

Long Blade experience comes from hitting enemies with a long blade. Level 1 needs 75 XP. Level 10 needs 9,000 XP. Fast Learner raises the XP rate to 130 percent. Slow Learner lowers it to 70 percent, and Reluctant Fighter lowers it to 75 percent.

The skill adds flat bonuses at set levels. Level 3 adds 10 percent damage. Level 7 raises the damage bonus to 20 percent and adds 20 percent range. From level 8, each swing costs 10 percent less endurance.

Long Blade has its own skill books. Long Blade I: "Cool Swords!" covers levels 1 and 2. Long Blade II: "Fencing: A History" covers levels 3 and 4. Long Blade III: "Old Sword-Play" by Alfred Hutton covers levels 5 and 6. Long Blade IV: "The Zettels of Johannes Liechtenauer" covers levels 7 and 8. Long Blade V: "Wear Analysis of Selected Medieval Swords" covers levels 9 and 10. Each book adds an XP multiplier for its levels.

Damage and Reach

The Katana stands apart from every other melee weapon. It deals a flat 8 damage on every hit. Its critical chance is 35 percent, and it reaches 1.4. It is two-handed and weighs 2.

The Sword and the Machete each deal 2 to 3 damage. The Sword is two-handed and reaches 1.4. The Machete is one-handed and reaches 1.23. That free hand makes the Machete easy to pair with a flashlight. The Simple Sword deals 1.5 to 3 damage, and the Scrap Metal Sword deals 1.5 to 2.5.

Shortswords are one-handed. The Shortsword deals 1.5 to 2 damage. The Simple Shortsword deals 1 to 2. The Scrap Metal Chopper deals 1 to 2 and works much like a homemade Machete.

Broken blades still cut. The Broken Katana deals 1.5 to 2 damage. The Broken Sword deals 1.4 to 1.8.

Tools and Other Uses

The Machete is a weapon and a tool. It counts as a sharp knife in crafting. It can cut plants and butcher animals. The Scrap Metal Chopper has the same uses.

Swords earn their place through damage and reach. A Katana is also a store of good steel. Several forge recipes accept a Katana as their metal, including Forge Simple Shortsword Blade and Forge Scrap Metal Shortsword.

Durability and Repair

The Katana has 10 condition and a base 1 in 15 chance to lose a point per hit. The Machete has 13 condition and a 1 in 25 chance. The Sword has 13 condition and a 1 in 20 chance. The Scrap Metal Chopper has 10 condition and a 1 in 5 chance.

The Maintenance skill lowers the chance of losing condition. The Long Blade skill helps too. Maintenance XP comes from hitting things with any melee weapon.

Most long blades can be sharpened. The Machete, the Sword, the Shortsword and the simple and scrap metal swords are all sharpenable. Sharpen Blade uses a Whetstone. Sharpen Blade Poorly with File uses a File. Sharpen Blade with Grindstone needs the Grindstone workstation. Each of these recipes gives Maintenance XP.

Crafting

Swords come from the forge. Forge Simple Shortsword Blade needs Blacksmithing 6. Forge Crude Sword Blade makes a Simple Sword Blade at Blacksmithing 8. Forge Shortsword Blade needs Blacksmithing 7 and an Advanced Forge. Forge Sword Blade and Forge Machete Blade each need Blacksmithing 9 and an Advanced Forge.

A blade then needs a handle. Assemble Bladed Item fits the blade with a hammer or a mallet. It makes the Machete, the Sword, the Shortsword or the simple versions. It needs Maintenance 1. Dismantle Bladed Item takes the blade back off.

Welding gives a second road to a long blade. Make Scrap Metal Chopper needs Welding 5. Make Scrap Metal Shortsword needs Welding 6. Make Scrap Metal Sword needs Welding 8. All three need a Welding Torch and a Welder Mask. Forge Scrap Metal Sword makes the same sword at a forge with Blacksmithing 7.

A spare Machete blade is never wasted. Make Knife From Machete Blade turns a loose blade into a Machete Blade Knife. It needs Maintenance 2. Every forge recipe here must be learned first. The Blacksmith occupation and the Blacksmith Knowledge trait know most of them from the start.

Locations

The Machete is the most common long blade. It turns up in army surplus stores, pawn shops and survival gear. Police evidence rooms and drug shacks hold Machetes too. Farm and garden tool sheds have a small chance of one.

Swords are rare finds. The Sword and the Shortsword sit in medieval weapon displays. The Katana sits mostly in Japanese weapon displays. Pawn shops have a very small chance of a sword or a Katana. Scrap metal blades turn up only rarely in loot.

Long Blade skill books are easiest to find on medieval book shelves. Bookstores, post offices and survival gear caches hold them too. Whetstones are common in gun store knife cases, camping stores, butcher shops and carpenter workshops.

Notes

• The Machete and the Shortsword are one-handed, so they leave room for a bag or a light.
• Set of Long Blade Books holds all five Long Blade skill books.

All Long Blades