What is the best workshop weapon?

[Claytonium]

I'm on that prometheus level where you find dead guys. I keep getting killed by that kangaroo bunny-lion with the spikes. I think I'll quit the mission and come back with a good bow or crossbow. What one should I pick? And should I bring a spear, too, or just a good knife?

[Cucu]

We used the Larkwell bow since we got it, with flintstone arrows, or crafted hunting rifles (T4), but only when we built up to T4 anyway. What helped when nothing else helped were small buildings to stand on, like /¯| two vertical beams, a platform on them, ramps to walk up and maybe remove them afterwards. That usually completely takes you out of danger except for needlers and bosses (and bird-like...), it's called to "cheese" the fight. Just two ramps leading up often do when in a hurry.
Inaris "Ventura" knife is what we use to give wolf-like creatures a rubdown when one made it up close again. Its 100% chance to resist annoying basic wound feels so liberating.

[william_es]

Best melee weapon in my opinion is a knife.
If you're talking workshop only, then the one with electroshock. Shock will stun them in place while doing damage over time. You can use the stuns to just keep hitting it more, or use it to run away, throw down some ramps and get elevation on the enemy.

In missions I make a cold steel knife and then put the electroshock attachment on it. The cold steel has it's OWN damage over time, and also applies "freeze", which slows movement speed and decreases the enemy melee damage. Then the electroshock stun + dot goes on top of that. So two dots and two status effects at the same time. I'd say hands down it's the best weapon. I can melee a polar bear to death while standing still right in front of it. No idiotic jousting. The polar bear is just frozen most of the time while a continuous list of damage numbers scrolls up screen, then it dies.

For stalkers (the bunny/tiger/mantis things), you are best getting some elevation on them and then shooting them with a bow/crossbow/gun. They really are beasts, have a huge damage reduction, and dodge projectiles. They're a pain.

Sometimes after they've broken the bottom most ramp, I edge downwards slowly and see if I can crouch down and hit them with a knife. Then I let the cold steel electroshock knife do most of the heavy lifting.

PS

For bows, the larkwell martinez compound bow is great. The next one higher that needs red exotics works too. DO NOT go to the last one that needs red exotics unless you also plan to buy the elemental damage arrows (poison/fire/cold). It's main gimmick is it boost the arrow damage. Without those arrows, it's sort of pointless. Rifles are great too, but you'd have to reach that tech level in a mission. The bow you can land with right out of the pod.

Don't skimp on arrows too. Buying 1 or 2 packs of larkwell martinez arrows can make a HUGE difference.

[AvinHonsus]

There's no such thing as cheesing. You're playing the game with the tools they gave you. You are strategically placing things to maximize damage against and enemy. I never understood the cheesing aspect when you're using everything the game gave you. You're just using them creatively.

[Cucu]

Originally posted by AvinHonsus:

There's no such thing as cheesing.

Yes and no, you're right, it's all done by using game mechanics only. But when you do a geyser co-op, build two opposite platforms on which players stand, and ALL enemies just run underneath these platforms and wait to be killed there, you must call it rather "cheesed" than a fight.
For example, I simply can't tell anyone who is proud of mastering a specific fight that I could easily manage three times his enemies without mentioning that it would be god-mode-like, so I mentioned the phrase "cheese the fight" to show and communicate awareness that no skills other than know-how is required.

[Claytonium]

Thanks, guys. I went back to the space station and bought the Larkwell Martinez bow with some regular arrows and some boom boom arrows. I built a rickety tower out of wood and killed the praying mantis bunny guy with no trouble at all. I didn't realize bringing a workshop weapon to some of the hunting or boss-fighting missions would make them so much easier and faster. Thanks!