An in-depth guide on the Stone Sledgehammer
Sometimes, you just need something big and heavy to smash through obstacles. In 7 Days to Die, the simplest solution to that problem is the Stone Sledgehammer. This weighty melee weapon is literally just a big, heavy rock tied to a stick, which makes it pretty decent at smashing things like doors, walls, and skulls.
This guide will walk you through crafting a Stone Sledgehammer in 7 Days to Die and offer advice on utilizing it best.
How to craft a Stone Sledgehammer in 7 Days to Die
Our character is pretty crafty, so putting together a Stone Sledgehammer will only cost a few base materials:
| Material | Quality 1 | Quality 2 | Quality 3 | Quality 4 | Quality 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small Stone | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| Plant Fibers | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| Wood | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| Sledgehammer’s Crafting Skill | 1 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 10 |
- Small Stones can be collected from the ground, mined from ore boulders and rocky terrain, or reclaimed from concrete or brick structures.
- Plant Fibers can be collected by harvesting tall grass or shrubs or occasionally found in trash piles.
- Wood can be harvested from trees and shrubs or reclaimed from wooden structures.
- The Sledgehammers crafting skill can only be improved by finding and reading issues of the Get Hammered skill magazine.
Stone Sledgehammer Overview
Base Stats
| Property | Quality 1 | Quality 2 | Quality 3 | Quality 4 | Quality 5 | Quality 6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Melee Damage | 18 | 19.8 | 21.6 | 23.4 | 25.1 | 27 |
| Power Attack Damage | 40.5 | 42.3 | 44.1 | 45.8 | 47.7 | 49.5 |
| Sneak Damage | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Block Damage | 28 | 30.8 | 33.6 | 36.3 | 39.2 | 42 |
| Stamina Cost | 22.3 | 22.3 | 22.3 | 22.3 | 22.3 | 22.3 |
| Attacks / Minute | 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 |
| Max Durability | 100 | 120 | 140 | 160 | 180 | 200 |
| Mod Slots | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
Mods
The Stone Sledgehammer accepts the following mods. Note that only one mod of any category may be attached at a time except accessory mods.
- Accessory: Structural Brace, Wood Splitter, Bunker Buster, Grave Digger, Iron Breaker, Burning Shaft
- Tech: The Hunter, Rad Remover
- Grip: Fortifying Grip, Ergonomic Grip
Tips and tricks for using the Stone Sledgehammer
As a member of the Sledgehammer weapon class, the Stone Sledgehammer scales in power with the player’s Strength attribute and the Skullcrusher perk. The attack speed of this weapon can also be increased by investing in the Big and Fast perk.
Sledgehammers are specialized weapons that excel at dealing massive damage with a single blow. However, these weapons are especially slow and cost a lot of stamina to swing. Like Clubs, Sledgehammers can also knock enemies to the ground, though less frequently. Adding the Weighted Head mod to your hammer can improve your chances of knocking down enemies and increase damage.
Sledgehammers are the only melee weapon class that actually deals more damage to blocks than they do to enemies. That isn’t to say they are weaker in combat, but they can easily be used to splinter doors, break open safes, and even smash through walls. This makes sledgehammers ideal for Breachers and allows them to be used to create a quick escape route if things go south on a scavenging run.
The raw power of the sledgehammer class is balanced by their lack of speed and heavy stamina requirements. Players planning to use a sledgehammer as their primary weapon should seriously consider investing in perks that increase their overall stamina and stamina recovery. Equipping the Ergonomic Grip modification can also greatly help with managing stamina.
Sledgehammers are designed for loud, in-your-face combat, so they naturally lack subtlety.
Not only do sledgehammer melee attacks create much more noise than other weapons, but they also cannot benefit from sneak damage. This means attacks will deal normal damage regardless of whether or not the enemy is aware of you.
The Stone Sledgehammer, in particular, requires caution to use effectively. Though powerful, this weapon may not have enough punch to kill enemies in one strike. Be sure not to overcommit when attacking enemies head-on, and we strongly suggest utilizing heavy armor to prevent injuries since stealth is largely out of the question anyway.
Final thoughts on the Stone Sledgehammer
It may be a rock on a stick, but try getting hit in the face with a 12-inch diameter stone and see if you can get back up. It might be crude, but The Fun Pimps designed this weapon as an early, primitive, but surprisingly effective breaching device. No more scrambling to find an exit before you’re surrounded; just smash your way out!
Looking for some more pointers to help you survive 7D2D? Check out our 10 Tips for Getting Started or our in-depth Beginner’s Guide.
