Learn how to craft and use the Machete
Knives are great for silently taking out unaware enemies in 7 Days to Die, but their short range and low damage make them risky to use in open combat. So why not forge a larger and longer blade capable of deadly stealth takedowns and lopping off zombie’s heads? Enter the Machete, a wicked, bladed weapon that deals significant stealth damage and leaves behind bleeding wounds that drain enemies over time.
This guide will walk you through crafting a Machete in 7 Days to Die and offer advice on utilizing it best.
How to craft a Machete in 7 Days to Die
Forging a quality blade of this size will take some specialized components and sturdy metal. You’ll also need to reach the final tier in the Blades crafting skill and have a functional Workbench before you can successfully assemble this weapon. The amount of crafting materials required will depend on the quality of the blade being constructed:
| Materials | Quality 1 | Quality 2 | Quality 3 | Quality 4 | Quality 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Machete Parts | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Forged Steel | 10 | 20 | 30 | 40 | 50 |
| Wood | 10 | 20 | 30 | 40 | 50 |
| Leather | 3 | 6 | 9 | 12 | 15 |
| Duct Tape | 3 | 6 | 9 | 12 | 15 |
| Blades Crafting Skill | 39 | 48 | 57 | 66 | 75 |
- Machete Parts can be found by scrapping Machetes, searching weapon chests and gun safes, or may be purchased from traders.
- Forged Steel can be crafted at a Forge or salvaged from advanced devices like vending machines and street lamps.
- Wood may be harvested from trees, scavenged from trash, or reclaimed from structures.
- Leather may be obtained by salvaging furniture and vehicles or harvested from animal carcasses.
- Duct Tape may be crafted by combining Glue and Cloth Fragments, scavenged, or purchased.
- The Blades crafting skill can only be improved by finding and reading issues of the Knife Guy skill magazine.
Machete Overview
Base Stats
Machete Stats by Quality
| Property | Quality 1 | Quality 2 | Quality 3 | Quality 4 | Quality 5 | Quality 6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Melee Damage | 20.2 | 22.3 | 24.6 | 25.3 | 27.6 | 29.8 |
| Power Attack Damage | 40.2 | 42.3 | 44.6 | 45.3 | 47.6 | 49.8 |
| Sneak Damage | +400% | +400% | +400% | +400% | +400% | +400% |
| Block Damage | 21.3 | 23.5 | 25.9 | 26.7 | 29.1 | 31.4 |
| Stamina Cost | 19.2 | 19.2 | 19.2 | 19.2 | 19.2 | 19.2 |
| Attacks / Minute | 55 | 55 | 55 | 55 | 55 | 55 |
| Max Durability | 288 | 365 | 442 | 519 | 596 | 673 |
| Mod Slots | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
Mods
The Machete accepts the following mods. Note that only one mod of any category may be attached at a time except accessory mods.
- Blade: Tempered Blade, Serrated Blade
- Accessory: Burning Shaft, Structural Brace, Wood Splitter, Bunker Buster, Grave Digger, Diamond Tip Blade, Iron Breaker
- Tech: The Hunter, Rad Remover
- Grip: Fortifying Grip, Ergonomic Grip
Tips and tricks for using the Machete
As a member of the Blades weapon class, the Machete scales in power with the player’s Agility attribute and the Deep Cuts perk. The attack speed of this weapon can also be increased by investing in the Whirlwind perk.
Machetes leave behind a bleeding wound from each hit that penetrates armor. Power attacks leave behind additional wounds dependent on what level of Deep Cuts you have reached. Bleeding wounds deal damage over time that ignores armor and can apply additional debuffs depending on what perks you have. Additional levels of Deep Cuts allow more bleeding wounds to be stacked, increasing damage and further debilitating enemies.
Though capable of being used in open combat, the Machete is better suited to hit-and-run tactics. Inflicting bleeding wounds and then retreating can weaken or kill enemies while you avoid taking hits. This is especially useful for ranged-focused characters or more vulnerable melee fighters.
The sweeping attack pattern of the Machete is unique among the blade class. Though it is more useful for fighting crowds as it allows the player to strike multiple enemies at once, it does make precise strikes more difficult. This means it can be harder to line up headshots or attack through tight spaces like broken doors or windows.
As a bladed weapon, the Machete excels at rapid strikes and is capable of easily dismembering enemies. It is also the best tool for harvesting resources from rotting remains and animal carcasses.
Machetes deal incredible amounts of damage to unaware enemies and can kill most entities that haven’t spotted the player in a single hit. This damage can be further increased by investing in the Hidden Strikes perk. The challenging part is getting close enough to use the Machete this way.
Final thoughts on the Machete
We love the design The Fun Pimps cooked up for this wasteland shortsword. The spiked knuckle guard and curved blade look absolutely killer. Though looks can’t kill, this wicked blade doesn’t need to rely on anything but its own power to put down zombies.
Looking for some more pointers to help you survive Navezgane? Check out our 10 Tips for Getting Started or our in-depth Beginner’s Guide.
