Dead Island 2's Best Weapons

In Dead Island 2, against zombies you can fight mainly with melee weapons like these: bats, hammers, and various knives. Stronger and more effective than these are the different weapon types you can use at range or up close throughout the game.

Compared to melee weapons, the number of firearms in the game is limited, but that doesn't stop them from being just as deadly as their swinging counterparts. I have no doubt players will find a weapon that suits them as they explore the world and the game, and the eight weapons I've listed below are Dead Island 2's best weapons!

Dead Island 2's Best Weapons 2023

8) Sporting Rifle

Since it's likely to be the first firearm players get their hands on, the Sporting Rifle is a deadly weapon that excels at picking off zombies from a distance. It's used when players are tasked with killing zombies on the second floor of a house.

The Sporting Rifle might not be the best weapon in many situations, especially if a player enjoys playing up close and getting their hands dirty, but it's still a great way to avoid large danger groups and play stealthily, since a player can easily thin out the numbers from a distance before heading inside.

7) Pistol

Another common weapon players will consistently find throughout their exploration of Hell-A is the Pistol. The Pistol fires much faster than the Sporting Rifle and is more effective at close range, letting players land a few solid shots on a zombie before switching to their favorite melee weapon to finish the job, or when their magazine runs dry.

One big issue with weapons in Dead Island 2 is the price of ammo, and rather than burning through the bullets of good firearms at every moment, players can defend themselves with the pistol when they truly need it.

6) Nail Gun

Not all weapons fire bullets, and that doesn't make them any less deadly. Alongside a regular pistol or rifle, players can also use the infamous Nail Gun to punch big holes in a zombie's head.

The Nail Gun is surprisingly rarer than a regular firearm, but considering the game is all about zombie hunting, it's no surprise that some primitive weapons do a good job. Players can attack zombies at much closer range with this weapon, and landing a hit directly on a zombie's head can undoubtedly deal lethal damage, since it drops them to the ground quickly.

5) Machine Pistol

In a game where bullets are worth so much, using a weapon that fires rapid, continuous shots might seem like a huge waste, and that's partly true. While the Machine Pistol might seem like it'll cause you a lot of trouble if used early in the game, later on, and especially toward the end when ammo becomes more plentiful, it will come in very handy and be a lifesaver.

Later in the game, players will easily find more ammo to collect and use around Hell-A. The Machine Pistol, especially if a player struggles with aiming, increases the chance of hitting multiple targets at once thanks to its spread and rapid successive shots, making it better suited for taking down groups of zombies.

4) Peggy

Given to the Slayer after completing the 'Creature Comforts' side quest in Bel-Air, Peggy is an incredible shotgun that requires a marksman's touch to get the most out of. As a named weapon, it's essentially a Sporting Rifle with better style.

That said, since it already has the High Caliber perk, Peggy is well suited to dropping enemies with lethal damage, but this makes the weapon much harder to use. Naturally, a player will want to keep their distance while using Peggy, which can mean the weapon sees less combat; those who enjoy playing as a marksman, or situations that call for fighting from range, should turn to Peggy as the right choice.

What Are Dead Island 2's Top 3 Weapons?

3) Shotgun

We've reached the top 3 weapons in our Dead Island 2 weapons article...

Setting aside weapons that work best at range and instead taking a step toward more aggressive firearms, the Shotgun is a deadly weapon that will keep players constantly hunting for ammo. Both the regular shotgun and the Assault Shotgun are incredibly useful against runners that charge straight at the player, as well as most of the Apex variants players are likely to encounter.

On top of that, shotguns also pack a lot of power, so if a shot to the gut doesn't kill a zombie, it will certainly drop them to the ground, leaving them wide open for a finishing blow to the head.

2) Auto Carbine

For those looking for a weapon that works better at medium to close range, they need look no further than the standard Auto Carbine. Like any assault rifle, the Auto Carbine is skilled at chewing through your ammo, but targeting the weakest parts of the undead and squeezing off shots one by one means players will likely kill using far fewer bullets.

Similar to the Machine Pistol, the Auto Carbine is also crucial for dealing with a group of zombies. This ranged weapon is guaranteed to deal a reasonable amount of damage to the entire pack, either killing them outright or leaving them with so little health that they can be finished off with a single blow.

1) Big Shot

The biggest of all the weapons found in Dead Island 2 is the legendary heavy pistol known as the Big Shot. Players will unlock this weapon after completing the 'It's Not Our Fault' side quest, another quest they'll come across while exploring Bel-Air toward the end of the game.

Unlike other heavy pistols, the Big Shot fires explosive rounds that blow up anything it hits. Known as Boomstick, this perk triggers an explosion the instant the weapon is fired, and these rounds have a chance to stagger zombies, leaving them vulnerable to another shot or even a melee hit.