Melee weapons are your bread and butter in Hotline Miami. They are silent, allowing for stealthy takedowns, and never run out of 'ammo'. However, they require you to get up close and personal with enemies, increasing your risk. Different melee weapons have varying speeds, reach, and execution animations. Some, like the baseball bat or katana, are fast and have good reach. Others, like the lead pipe or hammer, are slower but can feel more impactful. The drill (Carl's starting weapon) is unique for its instant kill on Fat Guys. Mastering the art of throwing melee weapons to stun or disarm enemies before closing in is a fundamental skill.
- Baseball Bat: Good speed, decent reach.
- Lead Pipe: Slower, but powerful.
- Katana: Fast, long reach, quick executions.
- Knife: Fast, short reach, quick executions.
- Hammer: Slow, powerful, often leaves enemies downed for executions.
- Drill: Instant kill on most enemies, including Fat Guys (Carl's mask).