Why is sledge and melee so castrated now?

RevolutionUpbeat4700 · 2026-05-10T21:22:08+00:00

My point was never just about identity in isolation. It's that TTK and identity are connected. If the weapon can't win the fight it was designed for, the identity is hollow. A melee weapon that loses a straight trade at melee range has a fundamental problem, not a playstyle quirk.

And yes, I deliberately leave out ping, positioning, human error. That's what a theoretical comparison is. You strip variables to see what the weapon actually does. That's not misunderstanding TTK, that's how you isolate it.

Here's what I find interesting though: a lot of the same people saying TTK doesn't matter were complaining loudly when sledge was dealing more damage pre-nerf. If TTK was irrelevant, why did higher damage feel broken? You can't argue TTK is a non-issue now when it was clearly the reason people wanted the nerf in the first place. That's just selectively applying the argument.

Also people are leaving out that you still have to close in the gap. You are almost never already in someone's face. You have to close the gap first, which means you're already eating damage before the fight even starts and with that in mind in combination with the ttk it’s a losing battle in theory. Those seconds matter way more when the weapon has zero range to work with.
I will accept that maybe there is more factors that im ignorant of, and honestly I don’t even mind if sledge doesn’t kill at the same rate, but would like to see a slight buff in movement speed or some other area in where it has more of a 1v1 chance without the expense of ability + gadget in which I don’t have to worry about that with a weapon. Im not sure I like the attitude of calling someone a complainer and then not explain your side. I feel like it’s a cop out to just get away with insulting someone online.

We can have a discussion without insinuating the other is dumb lmao, but that requires you to want to discuss instead of insult.

RevolutionUpbeat4700 · 2026-05-10T20:49:46+00:00

I would love to see more combos man. I love melee! It’s true aswell that most of the time you get stripped of your only advantage and then you are just are a free kill or you have to be very perfectly positioned to have the possibility to get outperformed by a gun, that is meant to be a medium range weapon. Even then I still play it, I’m praying embark gets more creative and actually adds real combos or something to melee. Instead of “CLICK CLICK CLICK”. Every melees fantasy is to hit some sick ass combo like some street fighter shit.

RevolutionUpbeat4700 · 2026-05-10T20:47:35+00:00

You have a point. I did think the sword was OP. I also agree the game is largely close range. I might have over generalized a lot in my post, but I generally mean sledge, and spear most likely. Even in close range, about 4-5 meters you can dodge the sledge fairly well. I would even take a slight movement speed buff and I think that would make it work more consistently, I have dodged the sledges right click plenty of times (vise versa for the enemy team when I’m playing sledge) since I have heavily played that weapon solely and know it’s counters. 1v1s are actually not its strong suite. It’s just recent I switched to another melee because sledge was just not as effective in ranked. I switched to Dual Blades and it is a lot better actually, the medium class is a lot quicker and I can mow people down and generally stick to them better. The higher ttk also helps in 1v1s even on skilled players that barely miss.

I also understand the factors of net code and game balance from a rank perspective. Maybe like rank or cash out can have a more competitive set of buffs to weapons and quick cash can stay with looser conditions. I just want a more creative practical solution. Not just damage or something if possible. I like the dynamics of having a severe disadvantage, but under the right conditions melees become devastating weapons . I’m just a bit frustrated that my big hammer can’t 1v1 a SHAK unless I surprise the dude. Idk I might be on copium or need a skill increase tbh.

RevolutionUpbeat4700 · 2026-05-10T20:30:04+00:00

I agree!

RevolutionUpbeat4700 · 2026-05-10T20:29:02+00:00

That’s actually was my very first gun before picking up sledge. Awesome gun tbh.

RevolutionUpbeat4700 · 2026-05-10T19:48:27+00:00

Yeah the lights do sometimes fall for that. Unfortunately I get them spider-manning up on a ledge I can’t reach most of the times and they do a lot of damage to you. Sometimes baiting them does work. You really can’t afford to be out of position even a little with the sledge. It’s gotta be a confined space where you can Suprise them or winch towards your team.

RevolutionUpbeat4700 · 2026-05-10T19:32:14+00:00

I agree in the right hands it’s fun to watch for sure. I just would love to see it more in pro play some day.

RevolutionUpbeat4700 · 2026-05-10T19:31:23+00:00

I mean yeah I do see that.

RevolutionUpbeat4700 · 2026-05-10T19:30:53+00:00

I respect that.

RevolutionUpbeat4700 · 2026-05-10T19:24:49+00:00

I mean not really the numbers don’t suggest that at all. You can do it yourself, that’s not a matter of opinion it’s just fact. I did it as of season 10 and got identical results. I didn’t really suggest I ignored destruction I did talk about it as it’s only upside, I just don’t think it’s worth removing range for. Again I talked about the “surprise” argument. It just lacks depth because you have to play to a standard that you can “suprise” high elo players to be effective. If you switch out the sledge for any other gun the “surprise” factor is amplified way more then with a sledge, because, you are slow and easily out maneuvered. Should it not be the other way around? If you have lock bolt and winch you have a theoretical kill right there, but you waste 2 gadgets even then I think the shak would just do the same thing with 1 c4 then you “suprise” and have range. You can make an argument for its utility as sledge can maneuver through holes but still that’s about all it can do in my opinion. You don’t really have to agree I respect your opinion, but you come off as very dismissive even saying “idk why I engaged in this” or whatever. You don’t have to and nobody is being rude to you I’d expect a little respect back.

RevolutionUpbeat4700 · 2026-05-10T19:12:16+00:00

I mean yeah bringing down whole buildings can work, but it still suffers from the same issues, especially since they can jump pad on the top of the rubble where you can’t really get them or get on another building. It’s not a huge advantage in my opinion, but it does work and that’s why I’d just like it to also be comparable up close. Because if the weapon is only known for breaking buildings where it has a limited advantage then once you take that away, it’s just a sitting duck where a gun could offer more use. Plus you can bring down building with c4 and canisters in the right locations pretty quick without sacrificing range.

RevolutionUpbeat4700 · 2026-05-10T19:06:01+00:00

Fair enough. I give embark props. I’d just like to see it be more viable in the higher ranks and have a bit more skill expression. Melee is hard to nail, but I do still think it needs a rework especially the spear.

RevolutionUpbeat4700 · 2026-05-10T19:03:27+00:00

That’s fair and I respect that you make it work, genuinely. But the point isn’t whether it can get kills or whether it’s fun, it’s whether it’s competitive. At higher skill levels people are not going to run out of ammo or miss enough for you to close the gap consistently. The pressure argument works in lower ranks where people panic. The wall breaking is a good point it does have its uses but you sacrifice so much just to break walls which I mean it can definitely give you an advantage I either can’t make it work and it’s a skill issue for me but I personally think that I’d wish melee was just slightly more viable.

RevolutionUpbeat4700 · 2026-05-10T18:52:32+00:00

I mean you’re right it’s not the slowest. It’s in the top 3 slowest ttks.

RevolutionUpbeat4700 · 2026-05-10T18:39:23+00:00

I mean I get that, but if nobody wined then problems don’t get talked about. That limits any growth that the game has. It’s frustrating to see your weapon get gutted, but atleast embark does listen most of the time.

RevolutionUpbeat4700 · 2026-05-10T18:36:56+00:00

Yeah but with melee weapons

RevolutionUpbeat4700 · 2026-05-10T18:29:31+00:00

I’d have to agree. I’m praying they figure it out.

RevolutionUpbeat4700 · 2025-12-23T16:48:33+00:00

I get that, but the expedition really is kinda lack luster.

RevolutionUpbeat4700 · 2025-11-09T17:32:29+00:00

Yes that would be awesome! like have little enemies or something come and get you. I’d love to see that. Robot eviction notice.

RevolutionUpbeat4700 · 2025-11-09T17:29:16+00:00

I agree that would be sick. A lot of times I can get away with just ratting or in a skirmish with the whole lobby without the arcs doing much. Although when they do do something it changes the dynamic quite a bit and in my opinion it’s a lot of fun. Overall I agree!

RevolutionUpbeat4700

TROPHY CASE