Summary
Warhammer 40k: Rogue Traderoffers players the chance to experience the grimdark future of the 41st millennium like never before. In the game, players control a powerful and influentialRogue Trader, who enjoys privileges far beyond the average citizen of the Imperium.
To help players battle across their region of space, the game supplies a myriad of weapon types for the Rogue Trader and their companions to equip. These go from devastating Plasma Guns to giant two-handed Power Swords and even the iconic Chainsword. Some of the best choices in the game are one-handed melee weapons and offer players excellent defense against humanity’s enemies.
Updated July 18, 2025 by Andy Chapman: With the recent release ofSpace Marine 2, the grimdark setting of Warhammer 40k has seen a rise in popularity. In addition to Space Marine 2, the CRPG, Rogue Trader, has also seen an increase in new and returning players, partly due to the recent release ofVoid Shadows, Rogue Trader’s first major DLC.
Warhammer 40k has never been so popular and has moved from a niche hobby setting to being a mainstream sci-fi franchise. This article has been updated with additional entries to include a wider range of one-handed melee weapons featured in Rogue Trader.
14Life-Draining Sword
Steal Enemies' Health
The Life-Draining Sword is a great option for a secondary weapon in the early game chapters, especially for melee builds walkingthe heretical road. The sword has two forms of attack: Strike (1 AP) and Brutal Strike (2 AP).
Although the damage is quite low compared to many weapons on this list, the sword offers additional effects. When hit, the target has the potential to suffer from the bleeding effect. On top of this, the wielder restores their wounds equal to 25% of the damage dealt if the target is bleeding.
13Bloodseeker Klaive
Effective When Surrounded
The Bloodseeker Klaive can be acquired early on inRogue Traderand is perfect as a main weapon for melee builds in the early chapters of the game. Players are given the power sword as a gift afterrecruiting Jae on Footfall.
The Bloodseeker Klaive deals decent damage for a weapon this early in the game, as well as good armor penetration. The weapon offers players two attacks to use: Strike (1AP) and Cleave (2 AP). In addition, the Klaive’s area attack has an increased area of effect; this means the weapon is great when a character is surrounded and needs to attack multiple enemies.
12Melee
A Solid Side-Arm Weapon
This simply named sword is a perfect addition for players to equip within the early game chapters and can be an effective tool against lower-level enemies. Melee has three attack types: Strike (1 AP), Cleave (2 AP), and Onslaught (2 AP).
Offering moderate armor penetration and a good amount of damage for an early-game weapon, this can be a highly effective choice for players to wield. With the addition of Onslaught, which works as an area attack, affecting the adjacent cells around the wielder, this weapon becomesmore than the averagepower sword.
11Bloodthirster
Debuff Powerful Enemies
Bloodthirster is one of the best one-handed weapons players can acquire in the early game ofWarhammer 40k: Rogue Trader. The power sword offers moderate damage and armor penetration and is an excellent choice for melee builds or as a secondary for ranged characters.
The weapon offers two attacks: Strike (1 AP) and Brutal Strike (2 AP). In addition, every hit by Bloodthirster decreases the target’s Weapon Skill, Ballistic Skill, Strength, Toughness, and Perception by -5. This makes it an excellent weapon against tougher enemies, weakening them over time.
10Hekatarii Blade Of Bloodthirst
A Dangerous Close-Combat Weapon
Ideal as a secondary weapon for melee builds with theDrukhari Weapon Proficiency, the Hekatarii Blade Of Bloodthirst is a perfect weapon to duel-wield. The blade can be acquired later in the game during the Commorragh section. After players have completed the second arena fight in Chapter 3, they will be able to loot this weapon.
The Hekatarii Blade Of Bloodthirst has only one attack, Rending Strike (1 AP), but inflicts additional +(AGI bonus / 2) damage to targets for each common negative effect on them and -10 to their Weapon Skill. The blade also gives a further +10 to the wielder’s parry.
9Lawbringer
Dominate Enemies With A Single Attack
Players will find this powerful weapon in Commorragh during Chapter 3 ofRogue Trader. While in the Mangled Sector, players will find a safe containing the weapon. Players must pass either an Athletics and Tech-Use check or a Demolition check.
Lawbringer is a strong weapon choice for the mid-section of the game. It offers three varied normal attacks: Strike (1 AP), Power Swing (2 AP), and Harsh Shove (2 AP). In addition, it has a fourth attack, Lawbringer (2 AP), which ends the character’s turn but inflicts a further +30 Machine Damage on enemies.
8Carnage
When One Kill Just Isn’t Enough
This heavy-hitting chain axe offers the potential to inflict massive damage over time, with its decent damage output and considerable armor penetration. Players can purchase Carnage from Ryzza, an NPC merchant who is found in the Adeptus Amasecus bar on Footfall.
Carnage has three attack types: Strike (1 AP), Swing (2 AP), and Sweep (2 AP). In addition to this, each time a character successfully hits an enemy with Carnage, the critical damage increases by 25%. This makes the chain axe a perfect primary weapon for melee characters charging into battle.
7Sharpened Venom Blade
High Damage Output For Mid-Game
The Sharpened Venom Blade is a powerful weapon of Xenos origin and can be found during Chapter 3 ofRogue Trader,during the Commorragh section of the game. With a high damage output, this weapon can cause serious damage to lower-level enemies and is an ideal primary melee choice for characters with the Drukhari Weapon Proficiency skill.
The Sharpened Venom Blade has two forms of attack players can use: Venomous Strike (1 AP) and Venomous Slash (2 AP) for multiple enemies. In addition to this, the weapon gives the wielder +10 to parry while inflicting -10 on the enemy’s Weapon Skill.
6Singing Retribution
Weapon of the Bloodspun Web
This powerful blade is one of the weapons introduced inRogue TradersDLC,Void Shadows. While mainly equipped by Kibellah, other characters can use the sword, and it is a great choice for close-combat melee characters. The weapon is extremely effective if duel-wielded with Whispering Mercy.
Offering standard Strike (1 AP) and Cleave (2 AP) attacks, the weapon does additional AGI bonus damage against enemies with more than 50% wounds. This makes it a strong weapon for opening attacks against strong enemies. To acquire Singing Retribution, players must complete Kibellah’s storyline inVoid Shadows.
5Auto-Striking Power Sword
Effective Against Melee Enemies
A powerful weaponfor players to use during the latter stages ofWarhammer 40k: Rogue Trader. The Auto-Striking Power Sword can be acquired from the body of an NPC on Footfall during Chapter 4. The weapon is a perfect choice as the main weapon for melee builds or an offhand choice for ranged characters.
The weapon has two attacks: Strike (1 AP) and Cleave (2 AP). In addition to these, every time the wielder of the sword successfully parries an enemy, they counterattack with the attack that costs the least AP. On top of this, the sword gives an increase of 30% to parry and -10 to the weapon skill of hitting enemies.
