Can knife/axe melee be viable?

[Chuck]

I play on hard difficulty, i want to be able to use either of these weapons as a stealth melee weapon. Instead of having to do a takedown i just want to do a power attack on their head and be done with it.

However, even against the weaker enemies, it isnt a one hit kill so they start freaking out. I just want to be a knife murderer, is there a perk im missing that lets this thing do more melee damage? Enough to one shot unaware enemies in melee?

['Strict]

Melee I wouldn't know but the thrown knife is a one-shot (in the head) on most regular enemies even without the perks for thrown weapons =)

[Chuck]

yeah the thrown is great and i use it all the time but I also want to be able to melee with it, because sometimes im a bit too close and throwing it from point blank would be a bit funky. If it doesnt one shot stronger enemies in melee with the power attack thats fine but at least the weak enemies should just drop from a charged stab to the head.

Even if its just in stealth, and it loses that one shot ability in combat.

[Driverben]

The new perk tree seems to have removed most things around increasing damage. You have to find stats on cyberware that increase melee damage, stealth damage, or some cyberware that specifically does blade/thrown damage. I'm doing a blunt build and have upgraded cyberware to have a decent amount of melee damage. It's % based, so you should see some decent increases with each stat boost.

[Chuck]

kinda sucks its not for throwables. Theres stuff for blades i think but im pretty sure that doesnt count for my kinda weapons. I think blades count for katanas and machetes, but knives and axes are considered throwables.

The knife heavy attacks are just so punchy and i really just wanna complete the whole "knife murderer" gig i got going on. I got the look, i got the behavior, but the knife is not that great in melee. It is only useful for throwing. Maybe the axe could be better for melee, ill have to try it out, but still, sucks i cant make it work for the knife.

[Driverben]

One of the gripes I've always had for CP is stealth kills. There's no actual stealth kill animations aside from just grabbing someone. It always bugged me because I wanted to do something similar but with Katanas. I will say that aiming for their head does do more damage with melee attacks. I've popped peoples heads with katanas and blunt weapons by charge attacking them while undetected.

[Chuck]

yeah ive tried to charged melee on their head but it rarely one shots them. It never made sense to me that takedowns never involved weapons. You just grab them and then do some neck snap.

Also, the only time i get knife melee to do respectable damage is using scorpion sting with accelerated toxin absorption. But that also means i have to hit them with a throwing knife first, which kinda defeats the purpose of using the knife in melee because for the most part, whatever you hit will be dead already, or once you get pounce for the juggler perk it doesnt matter because you can just do a finisher and probably one hit kill the enemy.

[Chuck]

Okay, update, i discovered something.

The "butchers cleaver" is considered a blade, but is a knife. It doesnt stab like knives do, but it is a one shot headshot on a charged attack, at least, the 2 people i just murdered experienced a one hit headshot. I dont know where to get it normally, i just bought it from the dogtown black market guy.

You cant throw it though. Thats what my backup knife is for.

NVM: Guess its just on crits. That or i missed. Either way its pretty 50/50 which for sneaking is kinda not what i want.

[Kuja Feralus]

I wish one could use a melee weapon for an instant takedown without having to grab the enemy first, like F is Grab but hit R with a melee drawn to stealth kill/knockout with melee/cyber-arms would be sick.

[Chuck]

Originally posted by Kuja Feralus:

I wish one could use a melee weapon for an instant takedown without having to grab the enemy first, like F is Grab but hit R with a melee drawn to stealth kill/knockout with melee/cyber-arms would be sick.

exactly this

[Dave from work]

Originally posted by Chuck:

I play on hard difficulty, i want to be able to use either of these weapons as a stealth melee weapon. Instead of having to do a takedown i just want to do a power attack on their head and be done with it.

However, even against the weaker enemies, it isnt a one hit kill so they start freaking out. I just want to be a knife murderer, is there a perk im missing that lets this thing do more melee damage? Enough to one shot unaware enemies in melee?

Yes, you can.
There's also a unique knife that pairs with a unique gun. (I wont spoil it for you, you can look that up if you want to.)
Their bonuses together are *chef's kiss*

Oh, and look for throwing dmg% when you're upgrading cyberware.

[Chuck]

Uh huh. This knife, the Fang i assume. That can be used as a stealth melee? I didnt see anything on it online that would suggest it could, or that it would be different from other knives apart from its synergy with its gun.

Then again, finding any up to date or accurate information on this game online is kinda impossible, at least, finding what i need.