Dead Island 2 menu with brightly coloured symbols depicting several weapons, and a samurai sword with metal bolted to it named "Okami and Whiskey" in the main view.

Dead Island 2 Best Weapons and Where to Find Them

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Published: April 21, 2023 12:48 PM

Combat is the main fun thing to do in Dead Island 2, and weapons are super important when it comes to enjoying the combat. Whether it's a specific type of weapon you're looking for or just something powerful enough to blow heads off, getting your hands on the right weapon can make all the difference. This guide to the best 6 weapons in the game and where to find them will help you to upgrade your zombie-mutilating arsenal. 

Before we get into the guide, though, if you want to hear our opinions on the game, then you should check out our review.

Dead Island 2 Best Weapons And Where to Find Them

The weapons on this list are ranked not just by their damage and effects but also by how much of a pain in the butt it is to get the weapon in-game. Here's the 6 best weapons you can pick up in Dead Island 2.

6. Blood Rage

Dead Island 2 menu with a cyclone knife in the center and various boxes contain statistical information about the weapon surrounding the image.
It looks cool, but you do feel a bit like you're poking the zombies with a stick while you're using it. 

Blood Rage is a Legendary Headhunter knife shaped like one of those real-world Cyclone Knives that did the rounds in certain news publications a few years ago. This thing is pretty powerful, has a decent bleed effect, and still has a couple of slots open for flexibility. The only issues with the knife are that it has a slightly janky attack animation and a small hitbox that makes it a bit tough to use, and the fact that you can't unlock it until really far into the game, so you won't have it for that long. 

Where to Get it

To get your hands on Blood Rage, you need to complete the Lost & Found mission Fool's Gold since this knife is the quest reward for seeing that story through. 

5. Jade Dragon

Dead Island 2 menu showing a long-handled blade in the centre surrounded by boxes containing information on the blade's damage and effects
It ruins the elegance of the weapon a bit to staple a bit of metal to it, but it's also better for taking off zombies' arms, so what are you going to do? 

Jade Dragon is another great weapon, though this time, it's a bit easier to use than Blood Rage. This weapon is a fancier version of a Whispering Blade, is without any elemental affiliation to speak of, and even boosts toughness while you're wielding it. That makes this a perfect candidate for any who is trying to ensure even coverage of different elemental damages and effects throughout their arsenal. The only minor drawback is that you can't get this weapon until pretty far into the game, especially compared with the other entries on this list.

Where to Get it

To acquire Jade Dragon, you'll need to start the Sarah Sheppard questline and complete the quest "The Terror of Sound Stage 7". You should hear from Sarah via Radio at one of your safehouses randomly when you're visiting after a certain point in the story. Unfortunately, this quest is at pretty much the end of the entire questline, so you'll have to complete several missions to get the weapon. 

4. O-kami and Whiskey

Dead Island 2 menu showing a katan in the centre surrounded by boxes filled with statistical informaiton about the weapon.
This thing can really go at a pace, and that extra limb damage comes in handy if paired with maim-triggered skill cards. 

While the pun-based name does take it down a few points (or up a few points, depending on your perspective) O-kami and Whiskey is still an amazing weapon for Dead Island 2. You can get it relatively early as long as you're fastidious about checking for side quests, and it offers both a lot of open slots for you to customize it and the added bonus of increased limb damage and durability. If you accentuate these features, it becomes almost unstoppable, though if you lean into attack speed, that added durability won't do you much good for long. 

Where to Get it

To acquire O-kami and Whiskey, you'll need to re-visit Ricky's house in Beverly Hills and start his quest chain as soon as you get the option to. This weapon is a reward for completing the quest chain, but you can get it done relatively early if you keep checking in with him every few story quests. 

3. Raven

Dead Island 2 menu screenshot showing a modern military rifle with crude modifications int eh centre surrounded by boxes containing detailed statistical information about the weapon.
Considering how early on you can grab this thing, it's a pretty stunning option for headshot-hunting slayers. 

Raven is a powerful and modern weapon that you can unlock relatively early in the game, considering how powerful it actually is. Not only is it a Sharpshooter-style rifle that boosts damage while you're looking through the scope, but its unique ability grants stacking bonuses for each shot that hits. So as long as you keep hitting stuff, you keep doing more and more damage. The drawback is that this isn't so great for you if you're not the accurate type. 

Where to Get It

To get Raven, you have to complete the Lost & Found quest My Mailman Was a Zombie, which can be triggered as soon as guns are unlocked and you find the clipboard in Bel-Air by the mail truck. 

2. Black Magic

Dead Island 2 menu screenshot showing a baseball bat covered in colorful tattoo-style artwork as well as crude pipe-based modifications. The bat is surrounded by boxes containing statistical information about the weapon's properties.
If this list were based on style points alone, this weapon might have taken the number one spot. 

If you've not come across Black Magic already, then you're missing out. Not only does this weapon have a great sound and feel like most of the baseball bats in the game do, but it also does great damage and boosts heavy attack speed and damage whenever you kill a zombie. Combined with the added bulldozer quality making all heavy attacks critical, you can be pretty sure enemies are going down. Obviously, if you're playing as a Frenzy character like Jacob, this might not work as well for you, but damn if it still doesn't look cool though. 

Where to Get it

To get this weapon, you'll need to find its zombified owner in Venice Beach and break into her place of business. We've written a guide on getting your hands on Black Magic in Dead Island 2 to help you along a bit if you get stuck. 

1. Peggy

Dead Island 2 menu screenshot showing an old-fashion rifle surrouned by boxes containing statistical information about the weapon.
Not only is it a classy-looking rifle, but it also takes heavy ammo and removes body parts in seconds. 

If you've not come across Curtis Sinclair and his signature heavy rifle before, then you're missing out on a great weapon. Not only does this thing look extremely cool, but it packs so much of a punch that it will literally rip holes in zombies from a distance. Even specials can't stand up to this thing, no matter how far into the game you are. The only major drawback here is that it suffers from reduced ammo and accuracy, but who needs to aim when you can hip-fire and pray? 

Where to Get it

To get this beast, you'll need to complete Curtis Sinclair's quest line. You can start it by meeting Curtis via his intercom in Bel-Air at the start of the game. Make sure you save him and visit him every so often in Emma's mansion. After a while, he'll start giving you side missions, and you'll have to beat the quest Creature Comforts to get your hands on Peggy at last. 


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| Staff Writer

Will has been writing about video games professionally since 2016 and has covered everything from AAA game reviews to industry events and everything in… More about William

More Info About This Game
Learn More About Dead Island 2
Game Page Dead Island 2
Publisher
Deep Silver
Release Date
April 28, 2023 (Calendar)
Genre
Action, Horror
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