Melee Weapons

If you’ve managed to sneak up on an opponent, instead of shooting them, consider performing a melee strike for a non-lethal takedown or an instant kill. Avoid using melee weapons during face-to-face confrontations as you’re likely to get shot in the face as you swing your weapon like a crazed madman. It takes two hits from your melee weapon to take out an opponent with a frontal attack. But it’s faster and safer to attack from behind. There are two categories of melee weapons in Hardline: blunt and sharp.

Blunt Weapons

By default, all players are equipped with a blunt weapon, carrying the police baton for law enforcement or baseball bat for the criminals. When attacking an opponent from behind, the blunt weapons allow for a non-lethal takedown. Your incapacitated opponent can then be interrogated, revealing the locations of their teammates on the minimap. More blunt weapons can be purchased, unlocked in Battlepacks, or earned by completing assignments. Although they look slightly different and have unique animations, all blunt weapons function the same way.

Weapon	Name	Faction	Cost/Unlock
	Police Baton	Law Enforcement	—
	Baseball Bat	Criminals	—
	Blackjack	Both	Battlepack Item
	Breaching Hammer	Law Enforcement	$1,000
	Collapsible Baton	Law Enforcement	$1,000
	Nightstick	Law Enforcement	Battlepack Item
	Gold Hammer	Law Enforcement	Complete Ground Vehicle Syndicate
	Gold Baton	Law Enforcement	Complete Air Vehicle Syndicate
	Crowbar	Criminals	Battlepack Item
	Golf Club	Criminals	Battlepack Item
	Lead Pipe	Criminals	Battlepack Item
	Sledge Hammer	Criminals	$1,000
	Gold Golf Club	Criminals	Complete Black Hat Syndicate
	Gold Lead Pipe	Criminals	Complete Gun Syndicate
	Gold Sledge Hammer	Criminals	Complete Elite Player Syndicate
	Gold Crowbar	Criminals	Complete Water Vehicle Syndicate

Sharp Weapons

If you’re not interested in interrogating your opponent, move in for the kill using a sharp weapon. These are mostly knives and bladed weapons designed for stabbing and slicing. Performing a melee strike from behind while using one of these weapons results in an instant kill. If performing a frontal attack, it can take up to two strikes to kill. And unlike Battlefield 4, there is no way to counter a frontal attack. With the exception of the criminal team’s machete, there are no sharp weapons available for purchase. Instead, they must be retrieved from Battlepacks or earned by completing assignments.

Weapon	Name	Faction	Cost/Unlock
	Knife	Both	Battlepack Item
	Boot	Both	Battlepack Item
	Bowie	Both	Battlepack Item
	Carbon Fiber	Both	Battlepack Item
	Scout	Both	Battlepack Item
	Survival	Both	Battlepack Item
	Trench	Both	Battlepack Item
	ACB-90	Criminals	Battlepack Item
	Machete	Criminals	$1,000
	Shank	Criminals	Battlepack Item
	Gold Knife	Both	Complete Gray Hat Syndicate
	Gold Boot	Both	Complete White Hat Syndicate
	Gold Scout	Both	Complete Game Mode Syndicate
	Gold Seal	Both	Complete Close Range Syndicate
	Gold Survival	Both	Complete Criminal Syndicate
	Gold Trench	Both	Complete Justice Syndicate
	Gold Machete	Criminals	Complete Progression Syndicate