Halloween: The Game Weapons Guide

Combat changes in 1.1.0

Patch 1.1.0 increases Kitchen Knife light-attack damage and headshot damage from thrown piercing weapons. Hatchet and Meat Cleaver combos have a longer delay after the initial strike. Michael gains resistance to repeated shoves from the same Civilian over a short period, and Bloodthirst 2–3 damage and attack-speed bonuses are reduced. Treat the 1.0.3 table below as dated adjustment history, not a current damage ranking.

Named weapons and the latest balance changes

Official notes reviewed September 29, 2026. Patch 1.0.3 names Wood Axe, Pickaxe, Rifles and Shotguns, as well as Hatchet challenges. The reference below replaces the older preview-only list; it is not an exhaustive inventory or damage ranking.

Weapon / class	What the official notes establish
Kitchen Knife	Named in the 1.0.2 weapon challenge fixes
Hatchet	1.0.3 lists targets for thrown kills, frightening victims by breaking doors/windows, and undetected Bloodthirsty executions
Wood Axe	Lower light/heavy damage and slower combos in 1.0.3; excessive durability loss also fixed
Pickaxe	Lower light/heavy damage and slower combos in 1.0.3
Rifles and Shotguns	Fewer spawns across maps in 1.0.3; Shotgun damage at close range increased
Other melee weapons	Overall melee durability reduced; heavy melee spawns reduced

Earlier official showcases also visibly include a baseball bat, sledgehammer and cleaver-like weapon. Visual identification does not establish every final menu name, variant or spawn location. The new notes describe adjustment directions, not a complete table of numerical damage, range, ammunition or durability.

Choosing a starting weapon

Michael’s killer level unlocks starting-weapon choices. Using an individual weapon advances its separate progression, with rewards such as executions and tints. See progression and starting items and the selected Hatchet challenge targets.

A loadout video is a dated example, not a current ranking. Middi’s September 19 discussion at 00:31–00:47 favours the Pickaxe for slashing. The damage and combo-speed changes above were published afterwards. We have not measured which weapon now wins a controlled comparison.

When Civilians should fight or leave

The official multiplayer overview describes fighting back to create an opening. An interruption can protect a grabbed teammate or give you time to reach an exit; it does not mean an extended fight is safe.

1.0.3 reduces the melee-damage benefit of high Capability, increases its low-stat effectiveness and reduces Heavyweight and drunk melee bonuses. Michael also gains more damage resistance and temporary protections after recovering from a down, including stagger immunity. Old one-hit or repeated-knockdown advice may therefore fail.

Use the opening to reassess the route and your equipment. Guns and rare defensive items belong in that plan, but the available sources do not establish guaranteed loot spots. Nichols Hardware’s setting is not proof that a particular weapon spawns there every match.

Knockdown, detention and executions

Michael cannot be killed according to the official overview. Knocking him down and detaining him are different outcomes: detention needs an authority figure and the required interaction before he recovers. Do not treat any weapon hit as a completed detention or an assist that automatically satisfies a challenge.

For grab versus melee decisions, use the grab guide. For task wording, check the Progressive Challenge index; for equipment and evacuation, use items and NPC rescue.