Weapons

From Zombiepedia

The following article is a description of a large amount of different types of weapons and their usefulness in a zombie apocalypse. These weapons range from melee weapons, to firearms, to explosives, and even include fictional energy weapons.

Contents 1 Firearms 1.1 Handguns 1.2 Rifles 1.2.1 Sniper rifles 1.2.2 Carbines 1.3 Shotguns 1.4 Sub-machine guns 1.5 Machine guns 1.6 Minigun 2 Non-firearm projectiles 2.1 Bows 2.2 Crossbows 2.3 Sling 2.4 Slingshot 2.5 Throwing Knives 2.6 Shuriken 2.7 Blowgun 3 Mêlée weapons 3.1 Bludgeons 3.1.1 Martial weapons 3.1.2 Random Items 3.2 Slashing & piercing weapons 3.2.1 Blades 3.2.2 Pole weapons 3.2.3 Chopping weapons 3.3 Chainsaws 4 Explosives 4.1 RPG 4.2 Davy Crockett 4.3 Grenades 4.4 C4 4.5 Pipe Bombs 4.6 Land Mine 5 Incendiary 5.1 Torch 5.2 Blowtorch 5.3 Molotov Cocktails 5.4 Flamethrowers 5.5 Dousing with Fuel 5.6 Exploding Propane Tank 6 Laser Weapons 6.1 THEL

[edit] Firearms

A firearm is a weapon that fires either single or multiple projectiles propelled at high velocity by the gases produced through rapid, confined burning of a propellant. Because of the power of most firearms, with enough skill you will be able to take zombies out with a single shot from a safe distance. However, firearms require ammunition, which can weigh a person down, and they make noise, which can attract nearby zombies. When choosing a firearm, it is always advised that one selects a weapon that fires a common ammunition type and has low to medium recoil. High-powered rounds will strain the shooter, and exotic ammunition may be difficult to find during a crisis.

[edit] Handguns

Handguns are weapons that are designed to be drawn, aimed and fired with one hand (although it is always preferable to grip the weapon with both hands to steady it). They are usually small and have moderate recoil due to their small size and relatively light weight, making them easy to carry and use. Despite their status in many first-person shooters as beginner weapons, handguns are in fact more difficult to use than long guns. All handguns compromise performance for convenience (small size, light weight):

• They are fairly difficult to aim at long range, especially at a target as small as a zombie's head, and usually have simple sights not suited to long range targeting.
• While they invariably fire considerably smaller and less powerful loads than rifles, the recoil of a pistol is still more difficult to manage than that of a rifle, as the weapon is held in the hand and can't be braced against the shoulder.
• Their short barrels mean handguns simply can't compete with long guns in the accuracy and velocity departments.

For these reasons, handguns are best suited to close quarters combat, but even in this situation a compact shotgun, a compact submachine gun, or a rifle carbine is generally preferable. Despite its flaws, the handgun does have a great deal of value as a backup weapon, as it makes an excellent fall-back option if you run out of ammunition for, lose, or otherwise can't utilize your primary weapon for any reason (if you're knocked down and become pinned under a zombie, for instance). Pistols are also more widespread in urban and suburban settings than long guns, being carried by police officers, security guards, military personnel and citizens alike.

The two most common types of handguns are semi-automatic pistols and revolvers.

Semi-automatic pistols can fire as quickly as one can pull the trigger, and are fed through detachable magazines. They can hold a great deal of ammunition (an average 9mm pistol's magazine holds 15 rounds), and they can be affixed with accessories such as tactical lights and sound suppressors (to reduce the noise that they make). However, a semi-auto handgun is relatively complex compared to a revolver, with more moving parts, which increases the chances that a malfunction or jam will occur, especially if the weapon isn't carefully maintained.

Revolvers are fed through a chamber that rotates whenever the gun is cocked. They are known for being extremely reliable, low-maintenance weapons -- it is often said that a revolver will absolutely never jam, no matter how much abuse it is put through (although the hammer is susceptible to damage). Also, revolvers are often chambered for more powerful rounds than their semi-auto counterparts, such as the venerable .357 Magnum. However, revolvers hold less ammunition than semi-autos (most revolver chambers hold only 6 rounds), and can take longer to reload.

Recommended handguns include semi-autos chambered in 9mm, .40 S&W, and .45 ACP, and revolvers chambered in .38 Special and .357 Magnum (the latter is preferred, as it can also fire .38 rounds without a problem, increasing ammo versatility). All of these rounds are common, have low to medium recoil, and are powerful enough to kill with one shot to the head. Which round is best is up to the individual to decide. Smaller caliber handguns, such as the 9mm and the .38, have less recoil and, with the exception of revolvers, can hold more ammunition in a magazine, allowing the person wielding them to kill more zombies before reloading. Meanwhile, the more powerful ones, such as the .45 and the .357, can take on bandits, wild animals, and other non-zombie targets more easily. (This is true of most guns, by the way.) Larger calibers, such as the .44 Magnum and the .50 AE, typically constitute overkill against a zombie at anything less that the outer limits of a conventional pistol's range. Pistols firing such large calibers are loud, heavy, bulky, have heavy recoil and a small ammunition capacity.

Of particular note are handguns chambered in the .22 Long Rifle cartridge (or rimfire). Though underpowered by conventional standards, and unsuitable for fending off non-zombie attackers, the round is easy to transport (fifty rounds can fit in the palm of your hand), plentiful (no self-respecting gun store would fail to carry it), has negligible recoil, noise, and muzzle flash, and is effective at the close-quarters ranges where the handgun comes into its own. Some survivalists, such as Max Brooks, also make the claim that a .22 round can ricochet inside of a zombie's skull and turn the brain into Swiss cheese; this claim is unverified, and should not be treated as factual.

When using a handgun, always remember to properly aim it, preferably with both hands (although this may not be possible in some situations). Attempting to dual-wield handguns and/or fire them "gangsta style" by holding the gun sideways will only result in wasted ammo and a quick death. In close quarters, the handgun would actually be more effective held close against the body, using your free hand to perform tasks such as holding a light or fighting back with a light melee weapon. It is advised that a flashlight attachment be acquired for a handgun if possible, as this frees up a hand that would otherwise be holding a flashlight and allows for more accurate aiming at night and in dark interiors.

[edit] Rifles

Rifles are firearms that are designed to hit targets at long range. There are four types of rifles: bolt-action rifles, lever-action rifles, semi-auto rifles, and assault rifles. With bolt-action rifles, fresh cartridges must be loaded into the chamber through manual operation of the bolt. With lever-action rifles, cartridges are manually loaded through the operation of a lever near the trigger guard. Semi-auto rifles automatically load cartridges whenever the trigger is pulled. Finally, assault rifles are selective-fire weapons that can fire in either semi-auto or full-auto modes.

Rifles are among the best anti-zombie weapons for one simple reason: their long range. A single sharpshooter with one rifle can bust multiple zombie heads from over one hundred meters away before the zombies even have time to turn around and start walking to his or her position. In addition, it is easy to learn how to aim and fire a rifle, and most rifles allow for the addition of scopes to improve accuracy even further (see the sniper rifle section below). One's choice of rifle depends on personal preference - the slower fire rate of bolt-action and lever-action rifles can make the user less likely to shoot wildly in a panic, while semi-auto and assault rifles can take down zombies more quickly. However, when using an assault rifle, it is important to only use it in semi-auto mode, as full-auto fire only wastes ammo against zombies, aside from making a lot of zombie attracting noise. Also, some longer rifles may prove to be fairly bulky in close quarters.

Bolt Action Rifles may provide more than enough acquaintance if your location is in a relatively grassy flat area, their accuracy-bestowed upon them by their design and Bolt function is only off-set by the Bolt mechanism. In Urban settings, semi-automatic Rifles are recommended unless your trained to fire and reload multiple rounds in one minute Assault Rifles are more prudent.

There exist a wide variety of common rifle rounds, some of the most popular being the .223 Remington/5.56x45mm NATO, the .30-30 Winchester, the .243 Winchester, the 7.62x39mm Soviet M43, the .270 Winchester, the .303 British, the .30-06 Springfield, and the .308 Winchester/7.62x51mm NATO. Which one you use depends on what is most popular in your area -- for example, the .303 British round is more common in the UK, Canada and other Commonwealth nations than it is in the US. Also, one might want to consider having a rifle that fires a pistol round, such as .22 Long Rifle, .357 Magnum, or .45 ACP, as having a pistol and rifle that use the same round can greatly simplify the ammo situation.

[edit] Sniper rifles

Headshot! -- Counter-Strike

Sniper rifles are rifles that are designed to hit targets from very far away. Most sniper rifles are bolt-action, although there are some semi-automatic models that allow for higher fire rates in exchange for reduced accuracy due to recoil. A basic sniper rifle is easy to create -- you simply attach a scope to a regular rifle. However, a specially-designed sharp shooting weapon will possess greater accuracy and range than a regular scoped rifle, and some are capable of hitting targets from over a kilometer away, but these sniper rifles are rarely available to the population. If you plan on surviving the zombie apocalypse in a fortified structure or a wide open area, then it is highly recommended that you get a sniper rifle. However, if you are going to spend most of your time on the run, then it's advised that you look for another weapon - sniper rifles are tricky to aim at close range, and they are often bulkier than regular rifles. But dont use them due to there slow rate of fire

[edit] Carbines

Carbines are similar to rifles, only shorter and usually with lesser range. They were originally designed for mounted cavalry units, but later adapted for rear-echelon units and special forces units such as paratroopers. Thanks to their versatility in urban combat, they have been seeing more use among front-line troops. They are available in many forms -- some, such as the Hi-Point 995 and the Beretta Cx4 Storm, are designed to fire pistol rounds, while others, such as the M4A1, the AKS-74U, and the M1 and M2 carbines, are basically shortened rifles. Like rifles, they are easy to aim, making them good weapons for those unskilled with firearms. In particular, pistol-caliber carbines have extremely low recoil and make less noise than rifle-caliber weapons, and their use of pistol rounds allows for ammo interchangeability with a handgun. The smaller size and lighter weight of a carbine makes it easier to carry and manipulate in close quarters than a full-size rifle, although the shorter barrel also limits its accuracy and effective range, while the reduced weight increases its recoil (something for smaller shooters to keep in mind, especially when considering a rifle-caliber carbine).

[edit] Shotguns

Shotguns are commonly found in three varieties: break-action, pump-action, and semi-automatic. Break-action shotguns have hinged barrels, and are reloaded through opening the hinge and exposing the breech, allowing for used shells to be removed and new ones to be inserted. Break-action shotguns usually hold two rounds (double-barrel shotguns), although single-shot variants can be found. Pump-action shotguns are operated through a pump mechanism that ejects spent shells and loads new ones into the chamber. Semi-automatic shotguns are capable of firing as quickly as one can pull the trigger. They can fire faster, but they have more recoil, and as with all semi-auto weapons, it is easier to waste ammo when panicking.

While they are often glamorized in zombie films and games as the ultimate zombie-killing weapons, shotguns are not perfect weapons. First, they have a shorter effective range and less accuracy than rifles and carbines. Secondly, the ammunition for a shotgun is bulkier than pistol or rifle ammunition. Third, most shotguns have to be reloaded one round at a time, which is time-consuming (an exception is the Saiga 12 shotgun, seen at right). Finally, shotguns, particularly 12-gauge shotguns, have a tremendous recoil, which can startle and even injure an inexperienced or weak shooter. However, a shotgun can be very useful for pushing zombies back, for blowing open doors, or for fighting living humans that may pose a threat. Also, shotguns are versatile in the ammo that they can fire. Slugs, for example, eliminate most of the problems that shotguns have with range, while birdshot and buckshot can be used for hunting game in a survival situation.

If one is to use a shotgun for fighting zombies, he or she should do so with a knowledge of the weapon's limitations. It is recommended that a less-powerful ammunition type, such as 20-gauge, be used instead of the more powerful 12-gauge, especially if the shooter is of a smaller stature. 20-gauge shells have less recoil, they take up less space that can be used for other things, they are readily available, and they will still stop an attacker cold at the close ranges that a shotgun is used at. It is also recommended that a shotgun's barrel (but not its stock, which is necessary for absorbing the recoil) be sawed down to a reasonable length. A sawed-off shotgun is easier to carry and to aim in close quarters, and the reduced range and accuracy matters little for a weapon that is primarily used at close range. However, one must be careful if they attempt to modify any weapon, if the modification is not done correctly, it may reduce the weapons effectiveness or outright destroy it. Shotguns are best used like pistols - in close quarters and in indoor environments.

Shotguns and ammo are very easy to find, as they are common police, home defense, and hunting weapons in most countries.

But you will look badass... :)

[edit] Sub-machine guns

Sub-machine guns are compact automatic weapons that fire pistol-caliber rounds. They are easy to use and carry, they usually hold large amounts of ammunition (about 30 rounds per magazine), and the ammo is fairly common. They are comparable to pistol-caliber carbines in power, range, and accuracy. However, unlike most of the above weapons, they are not available to civilians, which will make it difficult for most people to obtain them. (As SWAT and special forces teams are overrun, however, it may become easier to obtain one of these weapons.) Also, when using a sub-machine gun, it is important to keep it on semi-auto mode, as fully automatic fire is only a waste of ammo against zombies(unless your fighting a large horde). The temptation to go full auto may be an argument against the use of these weapons by some people.

[edit] Machine guns

The primary use of a machine gun is to lay down suppressing fire to scare the enemy and get them to take cover. And zombies don't get scared. It's best to just forget about using these weapons. They're difficult to aim, fully automatic fire is a waste of ammunition (why fire ten shots into the torso and limbs to cripple the zombie, when one in the brain will actually kill it?), and even "light" machine guns like the M249 SAW are often much bigger and heavier than rifles. The only reason to use one is if you see it lying around, there's a big crowd of zombies after you, and the ammo can't be used in any of the guns that you're carrying. After you're done, just drop it and leave it behind.

Full-auto assault rifles with extended magazines also suffer from many of the same problems. The mag weight will make the rifle harder to aim, and it will tire out the person wielding the rifle. Also, if you find yourself in a battle with so many zombies that you don't have time to exchange the M4's 30-round clip, then a 100-round drum will not save you. They are, however, very useful for base defense against hostile survivors, if not zombies.

[edit] Minigun

This weapon is a 6-barrel, air-cooled, and electrically driven machine gun. The electric drive rotates the weapon within its housing, with a rotating firing pin assembly and rotary chamber, fed by a linked ammo strip. Miniguns are characterized by their extremely high rate of fire. Hollywood has shown the massive destructive potential of this weapon in the hands of action-movie stars like Arnold Schwarzenegger: Turning a man into a one-man weapon of mass destruction capable of shredding houses like paper and clearing acres of rainforest at a rate to put even the most aggressive logging companies to shame.

Unfortunately, this weapon ranks about as low as the chainsaw in terms of practical use against zombies.

• The first problem is noise: had Schwarzenegger really used a minigun without earmuffs, then he would have to communicate via sign language by now, since his eardrums would have been blown out long ago.
• Secondly, the minigun's extreme rate of fire means that, even assuming you can find any significant quantity of ammunition for it, it will chew through that ammunition in no time flat. Even firing in short bursts does little to mitigate this, as even a one-second burst from such a weapon expends several tens of rounds of ammunition.
• Thirdly, and perhaps most importantly, a minigun is not a man portable weapon. It can not be fired effectively on the move, as the onboard motor requires truck batteries to run if not connected to a generator, and the recoil of a rifle-caliber minigun can drive back a professional wrestler, to be used effectively this weapon must be stationary or vehicle mounted.

Miniguns are usually mounted only on aircraft, because their high rate of fire is a huge asset when you're firing from a fast moving vehicle, as you generally have only a very small window of opportunity to fire at any given target. The more rounds you can fire in that brief period of time, the better the chance of a hit. Thus, the only strength this weapon has is it's ability to lay down enormous amounts of suppressing fire in a very short time. In a zombie scenario, this could be useful for stationary defenders trying to hold a narrow chokepoint or as a mounted weapon on a vehicle, but in truth even for those purposes the Minigun is overkill. A single-barrelled light, medium or heavy machinegun (such as a 7.62 M60 or .50 caliber M2) would fulfill the same roles more effectively, as they don't require battery power and don't squander ammunition at such an incredible rate.

Although it could turn a small horde of zombies into a fine red mist in no time flat, the disadvantages of the minigun far outweigh what few advantages it has. Remember that if it looks good on camera, it's likely to get you killed in real life, and that's not counting the added threat of the undead!

[edit] Non-firearm projectiles

Not all projectile weapons use bullets. Some of them use strings, cables, and plain old upper body strength to propel small, pointy objects at zombie skulls. This section lists all projectile weapons that are not propelled by gunpowder.

[edit] Bows

Unless your name is Ted Nugent, Green Arrow, John Rambo or Sheva Alomar, it's not recommended that a bow be used in a survival situation, especially one involving zombies. The advantages of this weapon (they're silent, the ammo can be reused) are outweighed by its flaws. They require a lot of training and strength to use effectively (and even then, try getting a headshot against a moving target), they have a limited range, they have bulky ammunition, they have a slow fire rate, and if you get injured, you may be unable to use your main weapon. There's a reason why guns replaced bows on the battlefield - it requires much less training to use a firearm than a bow and arrow. And no, don't even try to put an explosive tip to the weapon. The weighted arrow will probably only fly far enough to blow you into bite-sized nuggets. Remember, this is the real world, not Resident Evil 5.

[edit] Crossbows

The main advantage of a crossbow over a rifle is that it is extremely quiet, and when on a rooftop that is surrounded by the undead, it is a useful tool. When one realizes how well a zombie can hear a distant gunshot, this makes the weapon very useful for someone looking to evade zombies instead of fighting them. Also, it eliminates the main problem that the traditional bow and arrow has as a survival weapon: it does not require a great deal of strength and training to use. And again, the ammo can be retrieved from dead zombies. The crossbow also has a surprising amount of stopping power, capable of stopping a large boar in one shot, depending on the strength of the crossbow and the size of the bolt. Several modern crossbows also allow for the addition of scopes or laser sights. However, it still has the slow fire rate, bulky ammunition, and limited range that the bow suffers from. Consider the crossbow as a weapon if your survival plan involves evading the zombies rather than fighting them outright.

[edit] Sling

A sling is a projectile weapon typically used to throw a blunt projectile such as a stone. A sling has a small cradle or pouch in the middle of two lengths of cord. The sling stone is placed in the pouch. Both cords are held in the hand, then the sling is swung and one of the two cords is released. This frees the projectile to fly on a tangent to the circle made by the pouch's rotation. The sling derives its effectiveness by essentially extending the length of a human arm, thus allowing stones to be thrown several times farther than they could be by hand.

The sling is very inexpensive, very lightweight, easy to build, silent, and you can find ammo for it practically anywhere. It has historically been used for hunting game and in combat. The sling was the weapon of choice for shepherds in the field due to its usefulness for fending off other animals, and an expert could easily bring down a lion with one well-placed stone. The most famous story of the use of a sling is the story of David and Goliath, in which the child shepherd David, armed with only a sling, defeats the giant warrior champion Goliath with a well-aimed shot to the head.

These may seem like perfect qualifications for use against zombies, but the sling has one critical disadvantage that seriously hinders its use as a weapon. It is highly inaccurate, and even an expert slinger with years of practice will have considerable difficulty hitting a human head at long range with enough force to do any real damage. So unless you are already an expert with the sling (or like David, have God's help), you may as well just throw rocks at the zombies, or better yet, use a rifle or crossbow.

[edit] Slingshot

Made famous by the likes of Dennis the Menace and Bart Simpson and used in Games like Earthbound, the slingshot uses the same principle as the sling. The forked Y-shaped frame has two rubber strips attached to the uprights, leading back to a pocket for holding the projectile. While easier to use and far more accurate than the sling, these advantages come at the cost of power and range. A slingshot barely has the power to bruise the skin on a zombie's head, let alone damage its skull. If you were to use it against a zombie, all you would do is get it's attention. Plus, it looks rather stupid and will probably just hit your friend.

[edit] Throwing Knives

Knives may be readily available, but not all of them are good for throwing. Additionally, it takes months of practice to develop one’s skill enough to hit a target the size of a human torso, even more months to hit one as small as a human head, a year or two to be able to hit a constantly moving head from a safe distance with the ability to puncture the skull, and considerable experience with zombies on top of all that to compensate for the stress of undead warfare. Unless you are already a circus-level knife thrower, or are in the Special Forces, it’s probably just easier to use a gun.

[edit] Shuriken

Also known in the West as the throwing star or the ninja star, these deadly little tools were made famous by the Shinobi of feudal Japan. More or less designed as both a distraction or a way to disable pursuing samurai, these little suckers can kill in the hands of a master. If one has enough skill or time, one can make a shuriken out of any flat piece of metal, and most are so small and light that you can fit as many as 25 in one of your pants pockets. Unfortunately, it takes a master to be able to repeatedly be able to hit a human head with a shuriken, and it is nearly impossible to do so with enough force to penetrate a zombie's skull and destroy the brain. Shuriken were not designed as killing weapons, but as nuisances and distractions. When they did kill, it was due to blood loss caused by hitting an exposed artery, not by penetrating the skull. In any event, the combination of the Meiji Restoration and the extensive death toll of the Japanese Home Islands during World War II means that the practice of Shurikenjutsu was nearly wiped out, and there are few masters today that teach it. In short, there are a variety of multi-purpose tools/weapons that ninja have developed, and there are far better and more useful ones than the shuriken.

being as that may if you are a survivor not trained in the dangerously over-rated art of ninjitsu (a hand to hand skill) and you plan on throwing one (after finding one of course) your probably give your self dangerously sharp precision cuts on i scalpal like edges that might not heal or even scab up with out bandages.

[edit] Blowgun

This weapons consist of a sleepy/poisonous dart blow through a tube, originally used by aboriginal tribesmen against European colonists. Since poison has no effect on the undead, you can forget this one entirely.

[edit] Mêlée weapons

Mêlée weapons are used in hand-to-hand fighting. Many zombie survivalists promote or even recommend mêlée weapons over firearms. One such proponent is Max Brooks (author of the Zombie Survival Guide), who has written in his book, with outstanding clarity, "Blades don't need reloading." They can range from simple tools to long blades designed for combat. Since ammunition will become increasingly difficult to come by, it is important to keep a quality close-quarters weapon handy. However, using mêlée weapons causes you to run the risk of exposing yourself to a zombie bite, especially if you are tired or injured. In addition, while a katana or a scimitar might be great to have during a zombie apocalypse, they're about as useful as bare hands if you don't know how to use them.

[edit] Bludgeons

Bludgeons are weapons that do damage through blunt force trauma. Such weapons can be found almost anywhere, even if you have to use a fallen tree branch. Finding one that can take repeated punishment of smashing zombie skulls is a bit trickier.

[edit] Martial weapons

This group is made up of weapons used for war. This group is mostly medeval items as the weight and cumbersomeness of bledgeoning weapons make them uneffective against most other types of melee weapons nowadays

• Maces

Maces are large weapons used by various nations across the globe during the Middle Ages. If ever there were a zombie outbreak in medieval Europe, the knights (or priests, since internal injuries were considered the province of God) who knew what they were doing would probably be using these. A single swipe of a well-made mace can cave in a steel helmet and the head unfortunate enough to hide under it. Its pronged (sometimes spiked) knob is also capable of breaking even the thickest bones. However, as may be expected, maces are somewhat rare these days. And being the heavy weapons they are, much skill and strength are required to use and carry them. A related weapon, the ball-and-chain-on-a-stick called the flail, has a similar effect, although you are just as likely to hurt yourself as you are zombies if you don't know what you're doing. However, if you can find one and have the considerable body strength required to effectively wield it, you have yourself a great close-range zombie-smasher.

• Flail

The flail immediatly conjours up images from the Dark Ages. A metal stick or ball attached to a handle via a chain, flails were swung in a circular arc and brought crashing down on an enemy's head. Even if they were wearing a helmet, the flail would deliver some serious blunt force trauma, and the helmet could become so distorted that the should the intended victim somehow survive the battle, they'd require a blacksmith to help pry the helmet off his head. An even more insidious weapon was the Morning Star (ironically, Venus Is "morning star"), which had numerous spikes on the ball itself, and when used on an unarmored human head, could cause such damage that most of the brain itself could be flung out of the shattered skull. However, don't even think of using this against the undead unless you absolutly know what the hell you're doing!!! Even fully trained modern experts wear kevlar helmets when demonstrating these weapons, because the whirling ball is so unpredictible that the user has a very good chance of smashing his own brain in with this thing.

• Bo

Bo are extremely long wooden or metal poles. These were the weapons of legendary Shaolin monks and one of the four primary weapons of Chinese martial arts. The wooden Bo is deceptively effective at breaking limbs and heads, the metal versions even more so. However, it's generally not advised, as unless you are one of the aforementioned Shaolin, you're more likely to kill yourself with the bloody thing than any of the shambling re-animated.

• Kanabo

A deceptively dangerous weapon from Japan, the Kanabo is a heavy, 2-3 foot long club made from either metal or wood, with rows of either round metal studs or spikes running down the length. The main problems with the Kanabo are that it is very heavy, hard to find, and has little to no secondary purpose (unless you are hunting and need a secondary method of putting prey down, which would need to be around the size of a elephant to not be overkill). In addition, the kanabo may smash a zombie's head a little too well, splattering infected brain matter all over you like watermelons at a Gallahger show.

• Nunchuku

Made famous by kung fu master and screen legend Bruce Lee, the nunchucks are ill-advised for use in zombie warfare. Nunchucks are designed for use against armed opponents, ones who’ll feel pain, who can be disabled, and will be intimidated and distracted by the lightning-fast and unpredictable movements of the one wielding them. Zombies don’t use weapons, they don’t feel pain, they’ll still try to get you even if they’re decapitated, and they won’t even notice a spinning nunchuck, let alone be intimidated by it. Also, nunchucks are a flail, and an amateur will likely break either his teeth, his nose, or give himself a concussion.

• Police batons, nightsticks, and Tonfas

A police officer's baton is specifically designed so that it doesn't kill people, only incapacitates them. It doesn't have the necessary power to crack a human skull. Best to ignore these, unless the situation dictates that you get out of an area as quickly as possible, leaving you little time to kill each and every zombie, in which case these would be useful in knocking aside ghouls in your way. On the other hand, the tonfa, made of thick hard wood or metal, is a far better choice.

[edit] Random Items

These are common household items normaly used out of desperation. If this is the only weapon you have don't let it go but if you have something better it's dead weight.

• Crowbars

Made to be sturdy due to their purpose of prying things open, this is an incredibly useful weapon. Not only can you bash zombies with it, but you can drive the curved end down through a zombie's head killing it instantly, but be careful not to get it stuck. They are also quite durable, and are readily available from any hardware store. Its only drawback may be its limited range. Along with the machete it is one of the best melee weapons and the best blunt weapon in the zombie apocalypse.

• Baseball bats

Baseball bats are big, they have a long reach, they can be found anywhere baseball is played (which is to say, anywhere in the United States), and most importantly, they have enough power to crack a skull open in one blow. However, actually doing so takes a great deal of upper body strength - the kind that steroid-fueled baseball players have. For most people, it will take several strong blows to the head after knocking the zombie down to kill it. For this reason, it's advised that you only use it if you're fighting one zombie at a time. Wooden bats are preferable due to their increased weight and durability - a lightweight aluminum bat will get turned into a useless piece of slag in no time. Baseball bats are most commonly found in sporting goods stores and at baseball fields, though they can also be found in homes, often as ad-hoc home defense weapons.

• Golf clubs

Easily found in homes and sporting goods stores throughout the U.S., these are better used against the living than the living dead. Don't plan on using your lucky 9-iron on an attacking ghoul, unless you plan to make him look funny with that 9-iron wrapped around his neck as he starts biting your face off.

• Cricket bats

Popularized by Shaun of the Dead, cricket bats can be found throughout Britain and other cricket-playing countries. They are similar to the American baseball bat, and slightly more durable, but with many of the same problems. When using one, consider using the narrow end to hit zombies with - it will increase the pressure on the skull, making it easier to crush it. However, doing this may strain the bat.

• Pipes

Pipes are generally to be found anywhere there is plumbing, which is basically anywhere a human would inhabit. There are several varieties of piping coming in a variety of different materials. These include lead, copper, iron, steel and PVC plastic. Ideally, the best piping to use as a weapon would be any pipe with a heavy weight. Steel and lead pipes would be best suited for the task of bashing heads, although, like bats, they still require a great deal of upper body strength. Iron pipes are somewhat rare these days, and copper pipes are typically not very thick. PVC piping should be ignored altogether. While durable and light to carry around, the PVC piping would probably do little more to a human target than inflict a headache or a broken nose, which is useless in the face of the unfeeling undead. (Actually if you think about it a PVC pipe with a jagged end would be good for jamming through a zombies head, just watch out for drainage)

• Carpenter's hammers

The way that a carpenter's hammer is weighted makes it easy to drive it through a zombie's skull. However, its short reach means that you will have to get uncomfortably close to a zombie to kill it. Consider switching to a better weapon when you find one. If you're fortifying a building, however, a hammer is invaluable for putting up and maintaining defenses. They can be found in hardware stores and in the average garage. You will also want to avoid putting the claw end through a zombie's head. It seems like a good idea until the claw gets stuck and the zombies take a chunk out of your neck.

• Sledgehammers

Sledgehammers are generally used in demolitions and heavy construction work. With a heavy end weighing as much as ten pounds connected to a long two-to-three foot pole, it can bash through a brick wall if given enough time and smash an unprotected skull like an over-ripe pumpkin. However, they are massively impractical weapons. Unless you're John Henry reincarnated (or have been working on the railroad all the live-long day for the past 20 years), you're going to get tired quick. And ten to one says you're already exhausted lugging the thing around everywhere. Every swing will also take precious time to recover from. So unless you plan on knocking down a lot of dry-wall, you should probably stick to a smaller hammer.

• Tire irons

Tire irons are used to replace flat tires in emergencies by prying the edge of a tire away from a wheel, typically coming in pairs. Since most are made of metal and have both heavy and blunt ends, they are sometimes depicted as ad-hoc weapons. In a zombie outbreak, the tire-iron is as effective as a crowbar, due to its similar shape. Although it can't pry open doors, it can be used to change tires, which can be important if you're using a car. If you can't find a crowbar, a tire iron makes for a great substitute.

[edit] Slashing & piercing weapons

Tools meant for chopping through thick material have the advantage of being made for heavy use, which means that they are very unlikely to break when you're using them against zombies. This makes chopping weapons ideal for fighting zombies with. Although addressed under machetes and axes, some other makeshift choices such as a meat cleaver could provide a back up weapon if there are no better choices.

Piercing weapons are designed to pierce enemies, causing blood loss and damage to internal organs. Against zombies, piercing weapons are to be driven into the skull. These weapons technically belong to the same category, though some are more adept at slashing than piercing and vice versa.

[edit] Blades

• Machetes

Ki ki ki... ah ah ah." -- Friday the 13th series

Machetes are built for chopping through thick material, such as brush and wood, or as seen in some Africa's countries and slasher films, flesh and bone. What's more, they are made for constant use. This means that, unlike most other blade weapons, machetes are very useful for zombie combat, as they can be used to decapitate zombies, split their skulls, or sever their limbs to make them easier to kill, all while requiring relatively little maintenance. Also, they're lightweight and easy to use, and they can be used for utility purposes, such as clearing brush or chopping wood. This blade stands next to the crowbar as one of the most useful melee weapons in a zombie apocalypse. As with any weapon, be sure to choose a high-quality machete, preferably one made of high-carbon steel. They can be found in most hardware and agricultural stores, even at your local Wal-Mart.

• Knives

A knife is a sharp blade, typically about four to ten inches long, attached to a handle. Two factors limit the usefulness of knives against zombies. First, their short reach requires one to get in close in order to attack, which presents a great deal of danger. Second, a knife can get stuck in a zombie's skull with difficult means of removing it (the short handle doesn't help much), leaving you vulnerable to attack. However, although knives are not great against zombies, it is important to keep one on you, as they are great for utility purposes (cutting rope, food, fabric, etc.) and for fighting off bandits.

• Trench knives

A combination of a brass knuckle handgrip with a long spike or knife blade on one end, these are among the best weapons to use if you are forced into close-quarter combat with the living dead. Originally developed for trench warfare in World War I, the brass knuckle can bash a human skull with enough force, and the knife or spike can puncture a metal helmet - to say nothing of a skull - with ease. The trench knife is small, lightweight, and due to its grip, easy to pull out, making it a very effective hand-to-hand weapon. Unfortunately, they are extremely rare nowadays, as very few were made after World War I. The few that do exist are most likely not in any condition to be used in combat, due to the fact that they are ninety-year-old museum pieces. If you want a good trench knife, you may have to have one custom-ordered before the zombie apocalypse. And be careful about this, since the manufacture, sale, and ownership of trench knives is very illegal in the United States.

• Bayonets

Bayonets effectively allow your rifle or shotgun to double as a spear. It's main advantage over a regular spear is that it does not take up as much space, due to the fact that it is attached to your main firearm. However, bayonets increase the length of a gun, which makes them less effective in tight, indoor areas, and they have the potential to cut and possibly infect their users. Ultimately, it's up to the personal preference of the one using the weapon.

• Katanas

Katanas are the much-celebrated traditional sword of the Japanese people. They come in many sizes and all share the same basic shape. Once the weapon that samurai would live and die by, katanas are now largely show pieces and ceremonial objects. A well-made katana is a highly effective weapon for battling the walking dead. Its light weight and very sharp edge means that it can easily cut through unarmored enemies (the comparative scarcity of iron in Japan meant that the Japanese never developed heavy plate armor like the Europeans, causing them to focus more on cutting than piercing). However, it requires a great deal of training and care to use safely and effectively. Also, a true katana is only sharpened the first three inches of the blade from the tip. Finally, most of the katanas found in the West are mass-produced in China, and are not particularly well made - a true katana made using traditional methods is a very difficult weapon to find, and will most likely be extremely expensive. Don't bother seeking one out unless you live near a museum, or have a traditional, authentic Japanese katana as an heirloom or ceremonial weapon.

• Nodachi

Considered the claymore of Japan, the nodachi is essentially an oversized katana. Translating into "field sword", the nodachi was used primarily against cavalry, and could easily cut a man in two. You may be thinking bigger is better, but the nodachi has most of the same problems as the European Longsword, with the added disadvantage of having the cutting edge only on one side. Being a field sword also means you won't be taking this indoors. It is also so long that you will have a very difficult time pulling it out of its sheath without assistance. Still, if you are in an open space and are surrounded by Gs, a nodachi's extra length is certainly preferable.

• European longsword

While contentious in its efficacy, the longsword of the European Renaissance and onward proved to be a versatile weapon, equally capable of engaging armored and unarmored opponents alike. While many hold conjecture that the longsword would have been too heavy to use effectively and instead suggest the katana, the actual difference in weight is negligible. Be they in plate armor or plaid, the Longsword is as swift as it is vicious-even in close-combat. A man of average weight and strength could easily pick up a longsword and cut through the rotting flesh of a zombie.

At less than 2.5 kg, the longsword could be easily used by an individual of average strength to carry and then apply in combat. While some argue that a great deal of training and maintenance would be necessary to use the blade, the reality is quite the opposite. With only two techniques called for (stabbing and slashing/decapitating strikes) the learning of forms is nigh-obsolete. As for the latter, per the construction of the blade, the only maintenance would be that of the norm; regular cleaning and sharpening.

Moreover, longsword variants do carry distinct advantages over those different kinds of curved blades, such as the scimitar or katana. The Claymore does so specifically; as a weapon with exceptional adeptness at the decapitation of oncoming, rapid, and armed opponents, the wielder could very well mow through the undead.

• Sabers

Sabers are curved blades designed for use by cavalry soldiers and officers as well as naval infantry/marines. They were designed for slashing and stabbing at enemies whilst mounted on a rapidly moving horse, and for the close confines of boarding actions against enemy vessels. Before you grab one and go all Zorro on the undead, remember that sabers are built for slashing and stabbing, which is not very useful against zombies if aimed at the body. Given practice, and used cautiously, a saber can remove limbs and quickly disable, if not kill, a zombie. A skilled user with considerable strength may even be able to decapitate or pierce the skull of a zombie.

They are relatively common in European museums, castles and manor houses. Any 17th-18th century example should, if kept in working order, make a good weapon.

• Fencing Swords

Essentially a foil or a raiper, these swords came into popularity after advances in firearm technology made heavy weapons and armor obsolete. To anyone who has see a fencing match (or any of the Zorro movies), you'll know just how fast these things can be. However, these swords are absolutly horrible to use against zombies. They lack the power or weight to sever bone, and the stabbing and slashing motions it was designed for will have little to no effect on your undead attacker. The only possible killing strategy would be to stab a zombie through the eye followed by an agile twirling motion to scramble the brain like an egg. Even master fencers will find this manuver next to impossible - there is only one recorded attempt that ended in success, and even then, the victor in question (the legendary Shaka Zulu) was using a spear. Best to leave these sharp metal sticks where they are.

[edit] Pole weapons

• Spear

"PERSIAN! Come and get them." - King Leonidas, 300

The spear is one of the most basic of human weapons. Spears with flint heads were first used by Neanderthal and Cro-Magnon man over 10,000 years ago, and were later used to great effect by Greek and Roman infantry in the classical age. Today, most spears are relegated to ceremonial roles, or are used by indigenous tribes in remote corners of the world. The spear offers a great range advantage over other melee weapons, with some exceeding three to five feet, and they are as easy to create as sharpening a broom handle or duct-taping a sharp object to the end of one. However, one can only stab with a spear, and once a zombie closes in, the spear becomes less effective. Most spears are metal tipped with a wood shaft, metal or plastic is not advised.

When using a spear, try aiming for the eye socket or under the jaw so that you can drive it up into the zombie's skull. Throwing a spear like a javelin is not advised, as it is nearly impossible to hit a target as small as a human head.

Two recommended variaties from antiquity ar the greek Hoplite Spear and the japanese Yari. The spear tips on these are nearly a foot or two long, and are bladed on either end, giving one more slashing options in a fight (although it still takes some skill to pull off a decapitation). In addition, the Yari's bladed cross section not only aids in decapitation (thrust into the throat and keep pushing), it also allows one to better push back approaching ghouls.

• Halberds and Pole Blades

Bills, voulges, pikes and Jis essentially fall into the Halberd category, just in different shapes. A halberd is a combination of a spear and a poleax, with a long sharp point on the top, a curving blade on one side and any number of hooks, spikes, or blunted edges. The halberd was originally a preening tool adapted for use against armored horsemen, with the numerous pointy ends designed to catch a rider’s cloak and drag him to the ground, the ax blade, spikes and spear tip for puncturing through plate armor and chain mail, and the curving edges and hooks designed to pry and cut off armor plates like a can opener. When used on an unarmored head, the halberd can easily bash open a skull and decapitate. Obviously, this makes it sound attractive as an anti-zombie weapon, but keep in mind that any hooks and spikes could get stuck in a zombie’s skull or snagged on one’s clothing, and it shares the same disadvantages in enclosed spaces as all pole weapons. The halberd can also be used to cut fruit off trees and move certain objects around high places.

Combining the cutting power of a curved sword with the reach of a spear, the Pole Blades are highly recommended if you are in an open field. Naginata, Guandaos, Glaives, and Swiss War Scythes, fall into this category. Although ineffective against chainmail and plate armor, the chances you'll encounter a zombie with anything more protective than a construction helmet are slim at best, so don't worry about that. The naginata for example, which is essentially a katana on a 7-foot stick, has been proven to be able to decapitate up to three human targets in a single lightning-fast swing, and can easily cleave off a skullcap, so you can imagine how useful they can be against zombies. A similar weapon is the Guandao, alegedly invented and named after the chinese hero Guan Yu, and although larger and heavier than it's japanese cousin, has enough power to cleave a man in two. However, you should switch to something shorter when indoors or other confined spaces, since their effectiveness is reduced to stabbing.

Realistically, unless you are a trained expert with these weaponry, the extended reach will only afford you increased innaccuracy in a high pressure situation. The ability to use these weapons as a swinging, rather than stabbing, tool is exceptionally rare, and without this ability, these weapons have few advantages over a spear.

• Javelins

Just as old as the spear, the javelin is a small, narrow, lightweight, spear-like weapon designed primarily for throwing. Most javelins are smaller in size than spears, with narrower bodies and heads. They were originally designed as hunting weapons, but later became military weapons. They evolved over time with the spear, and were used by many ancient armies, as well as by such societies as the Aztec and the Zulu. Javelins continue to be used today, namely by aboriginal tribes in remote areas of the world as a traditional weapon, and for recreational and sports purposes, with the Javelin Toss a recognized Olympic event.

At first glance, the javelin is identical to the spear. However, to make a proper throwing weapon, the javelin must be properly weighted, or it will fall short or be inaccurate. This makes it much more difficult for the lay-person to craft, as for most the art of making a javelin has been lost. However, sports javelins made of lightweight composite materials are something of a specialty item in most sporting equipment stores. Even then, it requires a good deal of skill to throw with accuracy.

The javelin can be very difficult to use as an anti-zombie weapon. While utterly silent, it is very difficult to hit a target in the head with one. Also, while a low-quality but reasonably effective spear can be created using household objects, a javelin requires precise crafting in order to fly far and be accurate. Overall, unless you are a skilled expert and are engaging a small number of zombies, it is recommended that some other weapon be used, such as a suppressed firearm or crossbow.

• Shaolin spade

The Shaolin spade is a Chinese weapon consisting of a long pole with a flat, spade-like blade on one end and a smaller, crescent-shaped blade on the other. In pre-Communist China, Buddhist monks often carried spades (shovels) with them when traveling. This served two purposes: they could bury any corpses they found with the proper Buddhist rites, and they could defend themselves against bandits. Over time, they were stylized into the monk's spade weapon. Extremely effective against the undead, as the crescent-shaped blade can easily decapitate any ghoul, and since this requires thrusting rathe than slashing, it's effectiveness doesn't drop by much when indoors. However, you are even less likely to find one of these (battle-ready or prop) than most other medieval weapons, unless you yourself are a shaolin monk yourself, which if you are, you'll probably only find redundant info here.

[edit] Chopping weapons

• Pickaxes

Pickaxes are tools used primarily in agriculture, mining, and stone-cutting. The iconic pickaxe is a two-pronged tool with a flat spade-like end and a spike. However, most are simply two "picks" or a single pick. Its history extends to prehistoric times. It's no longer used as a mining tool in most countries, who opt to use machines and explosives. However, it is still used as a home utility tool for cutting weeds. Although either end can do serious damage to a zombie if used to hit in the head (or a human, to anyone who has seen My Bloody Valentine films), their relative rarity these days, coupled with their heavy weight, make them generally undesirable.

• Axes

An axe can prove to be a very deadly weapon in the right hands. They are meant for cutting through thick, heavy material, which is why loggers and firemen alike still use them on a daily basis. They can easily split a zombie's skull in two with a single blow, and they have a long reach. However, they are also fairly heavy, and if you miss, it can take a while to set up another swing. If you're in very good shape, then consider this as a weapon. Axes can be found at hardware stores, fire stations, and logging sites.

• Hatchets

Hatchets are like small axes. Their shorter length means that they're lighter, and that it's easier to hit a zombie's head with the cutting edge. However, this also means that you have to get a bit closer to the zombie to swing at it. Overall, this is a good choice of weapon for people who aren't strong enough to swing an axe.

• Bearded Axes

Bearded axes are a large saxon axe with an exaggerated beard that tapers out to a point at the bottom. The traditional weapon of the saxon huscarl they have a large amount of power and can cleave a zombie skull easily as long as you have the necessary upper body strength. The pointed beard can also be brought down into a zombie skull for a very effective killing method. However these weapons can tire you easily and the long shaft makes it less effective in close quarters. These weapons are also far less common than a regular axe or hatchet. They are an effective weapon for a violent last stand but arent higly reccomended in any other situation.

• Poleaxes

Poleaxes are basically a small two bladed axe on a very long stick. Poleaxes were originally designed to cave in or punch through a medieval helemt making them very effective zombie killers. Obviously there is some open field potential to decapitate zombies with such a weapon but there are many problems that would be detrimental. For one there are very few if any in existence and those are probably show pieces. Secondly they will require a high level of skill to use well and a long stick will break over time due to the centrifugal forces associated with such combat.

[edit] Chainsaws

Thanks to movies like the Evil Dead series and video games, many people immediately think of chainsaws when they think of great weapons for killing zombies. This mentality will get a lot of people killed. Despite the much-needed morale boost you may get from wielding one, chainsaws are among the worst weapons for putting down the undead. A chainsaw is a complex machine, and as a rule, any machine with moving parts should be immediately discounted as an effective melee weapon against a zombie. They're heavy (usually 10 lbs.), they're loud, they can get jammed with zombie guts, they create splatter that can get in your face and infect you, they can easily cut the person wielding it (as seen in the Dawn of the Dead remake, and the reason why loggers who use these wear special clothing), the chain can break easily (there are gruesome stories of loggers who lost limbs when the chain snapped and flew off because of a simple nail embedded in the tree by an eco-terrorist), and when they run out of gas or batteries there's as much remaining killing potential as a handheld boom box. Finally, the "scare effect" of fighting a chainsaw-wielding lunatic is completely lost on the unfeeling undead. Do not, under any circumstances, consider using a chainsaw to fight even a single zombie. Instead, use it to clear brush in a safe zone, or better yet, scare off the occasional scavenger.

[edit] Explosives

In a zombie outbreak explosives can be very useful tools. However, their volatile nature makes explosives dangerous to the user as well as to their potential target. Generally explosives are also hard to come by, and it is very dangerous to try to manufacture explosives without the proper training and equipment. For this reason, explosives should generally not be handled unless one posseses adequate knowledge in respect to their usage. Explosive weapons have poor effect against the living dead however, as they rely on the shock of the blast to cause a balloon effect on living organs or Sudden Nerve Trauma, and since zombies require the destruction of the brain to kill, neither of these are going to happen. When used on an undead hoard, explosive weapons are likely to result in a lot of disfigured and dismembered (but still active) zombies. It is therefore recommended that they be used on either closely-packed hordes, or you use high-grade mining explosives. Here is a brief list of some explosives and explosive devices.

[edit] RPG

OH SHI-*WTF BOOM*

The Rocket Propelled Grenade Launcher has typically been portrayed as instant death for vehicles and pesonnel in television and movies. However, this is not the case against the undead or even for conventional warfare. The weapons name is self explanatory, it fires rocket propelled grenades. It is about as effective as its hand thrown counterparts in that it will dismember zombies but not gurantee a kill. One of the weapons flaws is its accuracy, it is notoriously hard to actually hit a target not because of weight, user error or any physical issues such as wind or gravity (though these do play a part), the problem lies in the rocket itself. In flight the rocket is incredibly unstable because its fins don't always open, become stuck or aren't angled properly.  Due to its bulk, weight and the weight of its ammunition this weapon is fairly unwieldly and is as with any form of rocket/grenade launcher arduos to carry. Missuse of an RPG will almost always result in injury to the user, usually from back blast, the firing mechanism, recoil or mishandeling of the warhead itself. In the event of a zombie outbreak this is not the weapon to look to, though when the infected are massed it can be very handy at dispersing the crowd, or as an anti-vehicle weapon against bandits. Common variants include the RPG-7, RPG-9 and the NH-75. 

[edit] Davy Crockett

As the first Act in the story known as the Cold War was coming to a close, the U.S. military had found a new solution to a not so old problem. At that time artillary strike were little more then semi-precise small missile bombardment. So the quest became "how do we make this more effective?" The Davy Crockett is a nuclear bomb akin to the rifle mounted grenade launchers of WW2. It closely resembles the Fat Man (it's ancestor) but it's about 1/10 of the size with the same power. It was originally fired from a tripod (requiring at least 3 men for transport and assembly (not including a man to carry the Davy Crockett), but later used a large recoilless rifle that was much lighter taking only two fit men to transport. It had to be fired from at least 3 miles away to be out of explosive range and the resulting explosion would spread irradiated particles that would have you glowing like a night light. This is highly ineffective against any thing short of actually fighting a heavily armored and armed Military force.

Using it for zombies however is kinda over doing it, to say the least. Now of course if you had crowded millions of zombie-folk into a city and needed a weapon to destroy said city that didn't drop from a plane, yes this weapon is perfect, but other than that it's mostly flawed, heavily. It's rare there's only one known davy crockett left and it's completely neutralized. even if you did find a sizable amount in some desert bunker no one alive is currently is 100% sure how to use one correctly and practice could be deadly as a a mini a-bomb is still a a-bomb and will blow you up. the final flaw however is that radiation causes things to mutate and that could make things far worst than it originally was.

[edit] Grenades

Weapons-grade explosives used by both the military and special divisions of some police units. There is a wide variety of grenades, ranging from fragmentation grenades, to smoke grenades and flash grenades (flash bangs). Although relatively easy to use, grenades, especially high explosive grenades, are hard to come by. However, if local police and military forces have been overwhelmed grenades may be possible to attain. Grenades are increasingly effective when fired from some kind of launcher, as it keeps the grenade at a safe distance for detonation. As with all explosives, grenades should be handled with extreme care, used preferably by those with proper knowledge and experience (such as ex cops, veterans, or police/military personnel). Grenades’ use on Zombies (Max Brooks) is dubious at best. Fragmentation grenades will usually only shred a zombie's body and organs and knock it over, unless one of the fragments or the blast itself damages the head and brain. A flash bang grenade, unless inserted into a zombie's mouth, is going to have even less of an effect, as a ghoul doesn’t need sight or hearing to find prey. Poison gas will have no effect at all, and incendiary grenades will only serve to turn the zombie into a shambling torch. (contrary to popular belief, Incindiary grenades do not explode into fire. They leak thermite that burns at around 5,000 degrees farenheit, and are only used to destroy equipment. You put the grenade on top of a radio and pull the pin. The radio is destroyed so the enemy cannot use it. Please do your homework.)

[edit] C4

A very powerful type of plastic explosive containing RDX. C4 is relatively easy to store and handle, though it is both difficult and dangerous to arm a C4 bomb. The equipment needed to arm a C4 bomb is hard to come by, as is the C4 itself. Homemade C4 is very dangerous to create, but is also quite stable. Gunfire and fire will not detonate it. Although useful for setting traps, C4 should only be handled by experts (such as military personnel or ordinance disposal officials).

[edit] Pipe Bombs

A type of homemade bomb, consisting of low explosives packed tightly into a pipe. The bomb is usually a short section of steel water pipe containing the explosive mixture and closed at both ends with steel or brass caps. A fuse is inserted into the pipe with a lead running out through a hole in the side or capped end of the pipe. Pipe bombs are designed to incapacitate targets through the shrapnel caused by the fragmentation of the pipe causing pain in the target and eventually killing it due to blood loss of the wounds pretty much like a fragmentation grenade, although it can create relatively large explosions,forget what you have seen in Left 4 Dead, its only use may be stunning a group of zombies a few seconds while you escape as they don't feel pain or die of blood loss. Pipe bombs are much easier to manufacture than C4, grenades, or other military grade explosives; though making them can be more dangerous than the zombies you'll be using them against.

[edit] Land Mine

Depending on the design, land mines are very useful for defending positions against conventional enemies. However, most mines, but not all, are designed as anti-vehicle with a limited anti-personnel capacity. Mines are designed to wound, not kill, by blowing off a leg, both legs, and the genitals. This is so that their army can spend money patching him up, and then send him to Ma and Pa civilian so they can look at their boy every day and wonder if fighting this war is a good idea. Zombies have no Ma and Pa civilian back home. The most these hidden bombs are going to do is create a lot of crawling, dismembered G's, which presents a hidden danger, especially in grassy fields where you are likely to step onto a zombie you wouldn't have seen otherwise. There is also the danger of unmarked minefields, which pose far more of a danger to the living than the living dead. If against all reason you do decide to use land mines, for the love of God please visually mark them so other people don't step on them, since zombies are going to wander onto an active minefield whether they are marked or not.

[edit] Incendiary

Depending on what type of zombie you’re facing, fire’s use ranges, although fire is still mankind’s greatest tool against the undead, used to sanitize and destroy zombie bodies. In facing zombies from George Romero movies, fire’s use is at it’s peak, since Romero Zombies are afraid of fire, giving you an extra way of defending yourself. Return of the Living Dead Zombies may or may not fear fire depending on the individual, but since the cause of reanimation is a chemical, attempting to burn a RotLD Zombie in anything short of a modern crematory oven will cause the chemical to rise into the atmosphere and rain down somewhere else, starting a whole new undead plague. Viral Zombies, those reanimated by such retroviruses like the T-Virus or Solanum, do not even seem to notice fire at all, and trying to use fire to scare one off will likely get you eaten ‘’and’’ burned alive. However, fire is invaluable in disposing dead zombies and sanitizing any viruses they may carry. There are several things you’ll want to know before you decide to go torch the undead. First, any zombie set on fire isn’t going to instantly turn into ash. It may take as much as half an hour for the fire to kill the brain, during which time you’ll have to deal with a shambling torch that sets fire to everything it touches. Second, fire has no ally. Using fire irresponsibly and recklessly is liable to start a house fire or wildfire, which may turn into a greater threat to your survival than the undead. Third, fire consumes oxygen to burn, which means using it in a confined space with poor ventilation will quickly suffocate the fire and you (this is the primary purpose of the flamethrower by the way), leaving the zombies free to chow down on your corpse unmolested. This article details fire’s use on Viral zombies.

[edit] Torch

The Torch is likely one of the first things man created after he discovered the secrets to fire. The torch is for all intents and purposes a stick with one end tipped with flammable material, often soaked in flammable oils or liquids. The Torch is a multi-use device. It can be used to set objects on fire, light dark areas or signal others in the dark. It's use as a weapon is limited, as it requires one to be in close range of it's target to set them alight--which might not happen to begin with--and makes for an inferior distance weapon when thrown.

[edit] Blowtorch

A handheld propane torch. They lack the heat necessary to puncture a human skull, and the flame is only a few inches long. Better used to set fire to something else.

[edit] Molotov Cocktails

A type of homemade incendiary weapon, usually consisting of petrol contained in a glass bottle with a cloth wick protruding out of the top. They are safer to manufacture than pipe bombs, though they are dangerous to handle when lit. Although easy to use and create, Molotov cocktails are rather ineffective against zombies, due to the fact that they take a fairly long time to kill a zombie, and until that time you'll have to deal with a zombie that sets everything it touches ablaze. Also, if thrown directly at a zombie, it's likely to bounce off harmlessly without breaking, depending on what kind of bottle you use. Be very careful about where you throw these fireballs-in-a-bottle, as you are likely to set fire to whatever structure you are taking refuge in. However, Molotov cocktails can be useful in the safe disposal of infected corpses or infected zombies.

[edit] Flamethrowers

Though it would seem like an awesome idea to use these portable fire-breathing dragons to turn a whole horde of G's into a wailing funeral pyre, flamethrowers are not particularly effective weapons when it comes to combating zombies. Firstly, being explosive and flammable, flamethrowers are dangerous to your safety as well as the safety of those around you. Although fuel is easy to come by, the combustibility of the fuel makes it dangerous to handle. Secondly, fire is not an effective way to kill zombies. Flamethrowers were designed as a part terror/part vacuum weapon, intended to suffocate enemy combatants trying to hide in caves by burning up all their oxygen, or terrify them with the prospect of being burned alive. Although fire will eventually incinerate the zombie, by this time it will probably have already attacked you, setting you on fire in the process. Shooting a zombie will only turn it into a shuffling, fuel-soaked torch, and while it's busy cooking it will set fire to everything it touches, which is not a good idea if you're trying to barricade yourself in your house. Third, flamethrowers have a relatively short range compared to guns, and are therefore only effective at the ranges where it would be more effective to use a handgun or a melee weapon. Fourth, the US military stopped making flamethrowers shortly after World War II, and retired them from service after Vietnam. Finally, what made flamethrowers so effective was the fear and pain they inflict upon the enemy. Since zombies feel neither pain nor fear, the effectiveness of a flamethrower is reduced almost to the point of uselessness. Fifth, the flamethrower weighs over seventy pounds, so do you really want to lug that around everywhere you go? Bottom line, flamethrowers are not effective when it comes to combating the undead, only disposing of them. Better used against huge, tightly-packed swarms you are fleeing from.

[edit] Dousing with Fuel

This is very tricky to do, since you first need to find a way to soak the zombie or zombies in question with enough fuel to get the job done without getting grabbed, a way to ignite the fuel, and a way to get far enough away to avoid getting burned alive. Only recommended in defensive moats and the Pied Piper Strategy.

[edit] Exploding Propane Tank

In theory, tossing a tank full of combustible fuel into a mob of ghouls and shooting it like in the movie ‘’JAWS’’ would be an excellent way to incinerate the whole hoard. It’s actually far more difficult to do in practice. Your average propane tank is designed to withstand a ridiculous amount of abuse. Handguns, shotguns, automatic weapons, even high-powered hunting rifles will do little more than dent the tank, let alone turn it into an instant firebomb. It takes at least an armor-piercing round just to puncture the fucking  thing, an even then you still need a way to ignite the escaping gas (trying to spark a bullet off the tank just isn’t gonna cut it, and neither will tracer rounds). Unless you have a minigun firing armor-melting SABOT rounds, it’s better to just leave the propane to cooking. With the Propane tank, if you were going to use this as a last resort or a means of escape like in the remake of Dawn of the Dead (2004 film), make sure you attach a flare or anything that will stay lit in order to ignite the gas once it escapes. The above is right, a single regular bullet will not make a propane/gas tank blow up just from a single shot alone.(Unless your using a freaking .50BMG sniper rifle, and those are illegal and hard to obtain in alot of places.)

[edit] Laser Weapons

Yes, thanks to Ronald Regan's "Star Wars" initiative, we now have Particle Beam Weapons, or laser cannons for the layman's usage. And it would seem as if they would be the perfect weapons in the war against the living dead: from a safe distance you could easily vaporize thousands of zombies in mere moments, just like War of the Worlds. Unfortunately, they're incredibly inefficient, requiring vast amounts of power relative to rate at which they kill zombies, and they require large, often stationary equipment. You are never going to be able to afford one. Unless you're dealing with advanced artillery-scale lasers that can take out a city block, truck-mounted lasers just aren't that efficient and against a river of undead, you'll get overwhelmed. Here is a noteworthy Particle weapon from World War Z:

[edit] THEL

THEL, or Tactical High Energy Laser is a weaponized deuterium fluoride laser developed in a joint research project of Israel and the U.S. The size of a WWII-era searchlight, it is designed to shoot down aircraft and missiles from unfriendly nations. THEL is the closest mankind has come to the Death Star's superlaser from Star Wars. When used on one or several zombies, it will have an awesome effect that you'll have see to believe. On high setting, it will vaporize the flesh right off a G, leaving a skeleton that shatters to dust a moment later, all of which takes 2-3 seconds. As cool to watch as this is, there are a ton of problems. First is the price tag. This thing is massively expensive, so don't just rush out to buy one at Wal-Mart. Second, they require a massive source of power. You'll usually find these on army bases, on HMMWVs (High Mobility Multi-Wheeled Vehicles) with a convoy of generator HMMWVs, or mounted on the nose of a special retrofitted 747. Third, being deuterium fluoride based, it uses very highly toxic chemicals. And finally, it takes several seconds for the thing to cool down before acquiring new targets, while a skilled marksman can put down a dozen Gs in the same amount of time. So unless you can get zombies to stand still in a nice straight line, don't expect to win the zombie apocalypse with this oversized phaser. It made for an awesome movie, Fire of the Gods, but as a zombie killer, it's a dud. However, the film helped save it for it's original purposes during the Road to New York: clearing out minefields set by ignorant folk during the U.S. retreat. The mines did little good against zombies, and many which lay unmarked and untriggered posed a hazard for U.S. troops. Israel also used it for it's original purpose: even with swarms of zombies devouring the Earth, terrorists still found the time and resources to launch rockets into Israel.