Although the series is more known for high-tech weapons and high-octane firefights, Call of Duty also has memorable weapons for up-close and personal encounters. Few things are more infuriating than getting killed in a multiplayer match by a melee weapon, it feels like an invasion of personal space and is downright embarrassing. On the flip side, successfully stabbing an opponent is one of the best feelings in the game, everyone loves to feel like a commando.
The melee weapons have only gotten more varied and interesting as the series has progressed with every game adding wilder weapons to the fray.
10 Knife
The one that started it all. The knife is one of the first melee weapons in the game beyond the butt of a rifle. It has been featured in most games since the first Modern Warfare and is something of a staple for the franchise. The quick and swift slashing motion has been the bane of players throughout every multiplayer mode and an asset of zombie players for quick points without the loss of ammo.
9 Baseball Bat
A powerhouse melee weapon for the sports fan, the baseball bat has appeared in several Call of Duty games, included in multiplayer matches, zombie maps, and campaigns. There are several variants of the weapon, including a gruesome version with nails called "The Triple," featured in Call of Duty: WWII. The weapon changes a little bit each game but the slugger idea remains the same. The Black Ops III variant is even capable of hitting grenades.
8 Bayonet
The bayonet attachment for rifles has been an iconic melee option since Call of Duty: World at War. While most known for appearing in the WWII themed games from the series, it has also appeared in a few other games as well.
The range of the bayonet makes it incredibly effective for jabbing enemies at a distance, although some degree of precision is necessary for it to be accurate.
7 Riot Shield
The riot shield is one of the most annoying weapons to go up against thanks to its stopping power and ability to distract players from enemy sharpshooters in the distance. Few things are more frightening than turning a corner and coming face to face with a charging riot shield. There are plenty of disadvantages to using these bulky barriers, but a well-trained player equipped with one can be deadlier than any conventional player with a gun.
6 Nunchucks
Another fan favorite, these deadly swinging weapons are featured in Black Ops III and Infinite Warfare, in the zombies and multiplayer modes. Included as special weapons in the zombie maps, Revelations and Shaolin Shuffle, this fast melee weapon is superb for mowing down hordes of zombies, they can be a huge asset for later rounds when the zombie swarms get larger.
5 Axe
The axe has appeared in a good number of the games, sometimes also acting as a projectile that can be thrown. The brutal takedowns make this one of the most intimidating weapons to appear in the series, often finding a cozy spot in player's inventories for zombie maps when the undead get too close.
4 Sledgehammer
While it might be a bit over-aggressive, the sledgehammer is one of the most fun weapons in the whole series. Great for clearing out hordes of zombies or unsuspecting players, the takedowns are downright vicious.
It appears in WWII and Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War and comes in several variants with varying perks.
3 Golden Spork
Even Call of Duty can let down its hair and get silly with the weapons caches sometimes. The golden spork may not look like a killing machine, but this little eating utensil is a zombie slayer's dream weapon. It is one of the most powerful weapons in all of the zombie modes, able to kill enemies in a single hit up until round 34. The golden spork is featured in zombie maps, Mob of the Dead and Blood of the Dead, in Black Ops II and Black Ops 4 respectively, although players will have to do a series of tasks to unlock it.
2 Katana
The katana is a classic video game weapon with a long history of slicing and dicing foes. This Japanese blade appears in several games but is only playable in a few of the titles. While a sword may be an odd weapon for a high energy shooting game, the swift slashing motion makes it extremely viable for close quarters combat. In Black Ops 4 it can be upgraded to turn the player invisible.
1 Ballistic Knife
Perhaps the most iconic weapon of the Black Ops series is none other than this melee/projectile blade. The ballistic knife acts as gun and a knife at the same time and the one hit kill factor is a huge draw for any players confidant in their accuracy and reflex time. The dual blades are awesome too and makes running across the map to stab a sniper all the more intense.