Dying Light 2: Stay Human is Techland's open-world action RPG set 20 years after a zombie apocalypse in the sprawling city of Villedor. The parkour system lets you run, climb, and glide across rooftops with fluid first-person movement unmatched in the genre. Faction choices between Survivors and Peacekeepers permanently alter the city layout with new parkour tools or combat traps. Night gameplay transforms the experience — volatiles roam the streets while interiors become lootable dark zones. Four-player co-op lets friends join your story with all progress carrying back to their game.
Your choice of equipment defines your damage output and playstyle. This guide ranks every major option, explains what makes each one strong, and tells you which builds they pair best with.
Equipment Rankings
| Equipment | Tier | Best For | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Artifact Machete | S | Brawler builds, all-around combat | Fast one-handed weapon with excellent swing speed and moderate damage. |
| Korek Charm weapons | A | Runner (Parkour Focus) | Solid choice. |
| PK Crossbow | A | Ranger builds, Peacekeeper-aligned players | Unlocked by assigning 4 facilities to Peacekeepers. |
| Bows | B | Stealth gameplay, daytime exploration | Silent ranged weapons perfect for stealth during daytime. |
| Artifact Two-Handed Hammer | B | Tank builds, high single-target damage | The highest per-hit damage weapon type. |
S-Tier: Artifact Machete
Fast one-handed weapon with excellent swing speed and moderate damage. Artifact tier (gold) comes with 4 mod slots for maximum customization. Fire mod + electric mod creates devastating elemental combos. The most versatile weapon class.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | S |
| Best For | Brawler builds, all-around combat |
| Key Mechanic | parkour system |
| Recommended Build | Brawler (Combat Focus) |
How to get it: Available from mid-game onward. See our walkthrough for the exact progression point.
Best builds using Artifact Machete: Pairs naturally with Brawler (Combat Focus) thanks to stat scaling synergies.
A-Tier: Korek Charm weapons
Korek Charm weapons is a strong option in Dying Light 2: Stay Human.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Runner (Parkour Focus) |
| Key Mechanic | faction alignment |
| Recommended Build | Runner (Parkour Focus) |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Korek Charm weapons: Pairs naturally with Runner (Parkour Focus) thanks to stat scaling synergies.
A-Tier: PK Crossbow
Unlocked by assigning 4 facilities to Peacekeepers. A powerful ranged weapon with craftable bolt types: regular, fire, electric, and explosive. Limited ammo but devastating against special infected and human enemies at range.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Ranger builds, Peacekeeper-aligned players |
| Key Mechanic | night gameplay |
| Recommended Build | Tank (Two-Handed) |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using PK Crossbow: Pairs naturally with Tank (Two-Handed) thanks to stat scaling synergies.
B-Tier: Bows
Silent ranged weapons perfect for stealth during daytime. Headshots kill most regular zombies and human bandits instantly. Different bow tiers increase damage and accuracy. Arrows can be recovered from corpses.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Stealth gameplay, daytime exploration |
| Key Mechanic | crafting and upgrading |
| Recommended Build | Ranger (Ranged Focus) |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Bows: Pairs naturally with Ranger (Ranged Focus) thanks to stat scaling synergies.
B-Tier: Artifact Two-Handed Hammer
The highest per-hit damage weapon type. Charged heavy attack sends enemies flying and one-shots most regular infected. Slow swing speed makes you vulnerable in groups. Best used with Ground Pound from elevation for AoE.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Tank builds, high single-target damage |
| Key Mechanic | co-op progression |
| Recommended Build | Medic (Support Co-op) |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Artifact Two-Handed Hammer: Pairs naturally with Medic (Support Co-op) thanks to stat scaling synergies.
Equipment Progression Path
The order you should acquire equipment as you progress:
- Starting gear → Enough to clear Old Villedor
- Korek Charm weapons → Your first real upgrade, available early
- PK Crossbow → Mid-game upgrade with good scaling
- Artifact Machete → Best-in-slot, aim for this by late game
- Upgrade to max → The power spike from max upgrades is enormous
Equipment Tips
- Always upgrade your primary equipment before diversifying — one strong option beats three mediocre ones.
- Match your equipment to your build's stat priorities for maximum scaling.
- Assign first 3 facilities to Peacekeepers for the PK Crossbow, then switch to Survivors for parkour infrastructure
- Check our tier list for how equipment rankings affect overall build effectiveness.
More Dying Light 2: Stay Human Guides
- Dying Light 2: Stay Human Dying Light 2: Stay Human Overview
- Dying Light 2: Stay Human Best Builds
- Dying Light 2: Stay Human Tier List
- Dying Light 2: Stay Human Walkthrough
- Dying Light 2: Stay Human Beginner's Guide
- Dying Light 2: Stay Human Tips & Tricks
- Dying Light 2: Stay Human Combat Guide
- Dying Light 2: Stay Human Boss Guide
- Dying Light 2: Stay Human Maps & Locations
- Dying Light 2: Stay Human Crafting Guide
- Dying Light 2: Stay Human Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy Dying Light 2: Stay Human, check out these related guides:
- Palworld Weapons Guide — survival game with similar mechanics
- Rust Weapons Guide — survival game with similar mechanics
- ARK: Survival Evolved Weapons Guide — survival game with similar mechanics
