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- Ever since its breathtaking debut season, The Walking Dead and its spin-off series like Fear the Walking Dead have been blockbuster staples of horror television. Amid the flesh-eating zombies, cut-throat characters, and bloody violence, the franchise has featured an array of unforgettable weapons which fans have come to love (or dread). From the sadistically creative to the succinct and dependable, these TWD weapons prove the show had quite the arsenal to pick from.
With or without their leader, Rick's group has continued to survive the apocalypse for 11 seasons on The Walking Dead. Whether it be herds of walkers or merciless villains aiming to take them down, these beloved characters always come out on top, usually with some help from their signature weapons.
As brutal as it was dreadful, Negan's (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) barb-wired baseball bat Lucille stands as one of the most iconic weapons in television history, but it certainly faced some competition with TWD assembling one hell of a creative and deadly arsenal throughout its run. Including guns, knives, a certain crossbow, and even a fire hose, these stand tall among the greatest The Walking Dead weapons of all time.
Updated on May 12, 2023, by Ryan Heffernan:
Ever since its breathtaking debut season, The Walking Dead and its spin-off series like Fear the Walking Dead have been blockbuster staples of horror television. Amid the flesh-eating zombies, cut-throat characters, and bloody violence, the franchise has featured an array of unforgettable weapons which fans have come to love (or dread). From the sadistically creative to the succinct and dependable, these TWD weapons prove the show had quite the arsenal to pick from.
14 Dale's Rifle
After his death in TWD's second season, Dale (Jeffrey DeMunn) has become a forgotten character, but he was an integral member of Rick's group in the show's early days with his level-headedness and his constant humanity. Another aspect of him that was nice to have around was his trusty hunting rifle which never seemed to be too far away.
During a time when survivors were still figuring out what exactly was happening and vast arsenals of military grade weaponry were far from attainable, Dale's rifle was one of the group's best defenses against walkers and other survivors alike. While it floated around the group following Dale's death, its final appearance came in season 3, episode 9. It is unknown what became of the rifle beyond that point in the series.
13 Tyreese's Hammer
An iconic weapon from the comics that translated well to the screen, Tyreese's (Chad Coleman) hammer proved to be an effective tool when it came to fighting off walkers or putting the dead out of their misery before they could re-animate. The perfect extension of the physically imposing man who wielded it, the hammer had a certain no-nonsense simplicity that was well-suited to the iconic TWD character Tyreese.
For much of the character's tenure on the show, Tyreese was seldom seen without his hammer in hand. Despite the obvious practicality of the weapon, it wasn't sighted after Tyreese's devastating death in season five with the whereabouts of the significant tool forever unknown.
12 Merle’s Bayonet-Arm
One for fans with long memories, Daryl’s coarse older brother Merle (Michael Rooker) featured briefly in the show’s first season before becoming a major figure in season three. Having been forced to cut his hand off to escape a mob of walkers, he re-emerges in the Governor’s employ flaunting a grisly bayonet-arm.
Primarily used on zombies, the ever-present blade helped make Merle an intimidating antagonist as the Governor’s right-hand man. Even when he later re-joined Rick’s gang and turned against the Governor, the contraption defined the resourcefulness and brutality of one of the series’ most complex characters in its early days.
11 Eugene's Fire Hose
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Whatever Eugene (Josh McDermitt) lacked in courage, brute strength, or combative ability, he usually made up for with his intelligence and ingenuity. While he did grow braver as the show went on, season five may boast the best example of Eugene in action against the undead.
With his friends under threat as a herd of walkers creeps up on them, Eugene takes action, leaping atop a fire engine and using its powerful hose to mow down the walkers in their tracks. Highly unconventional, a touch goofy, but surprisingly effective, the unlikely weapon proved to be the perfect embodiment of the man who wielded it and became a memorable comedic highlight of the series.
10 Sasha’s Sniper Rifle
TWD was loaded with side characters who would float in from the periphery, become major figures in the series, only to be killed a few seasons later. Not many of those characters though became as beloved as Sasha (Sonequa Martin-Green), Tyreese’s tough yet compassionate sister who came into the series in its third season.
While she excelled at being an interesting, jaded character who was kind-hearted and likable, a primary element of what made her such a fan favorite was her exceptional skill with long-range firearms. As such, her trusty sniper rifle became one of the series’ most lethal weapons before her demise in season seven.
9 Morgan's Staff
In the series' first episode, Morgan (Lennie James) saves Rick's life and brings him up to speed on recent apocalyptic events before he and his son go their own way. The much-loved character eventually returned to the series and even became one of its major protagonists, with his use of a wooden staff making him particularly eye-catching.
Not only a unique weapon for a zombie apocalypse, the staff also became symbolic of the character's tumultuous emotional journey and search for inner peace in the wake of his son's death. Morgan continues to use his handy staff to protect himself and others in Fear the Walking Dead.
8 Carol’s Knife
Carol (Melissa McBride) may have started the series as a hapless figure surviving on the good will of others, but she sure as hell didn’t last the duration of the show by staying that way. While many characters boasted a symbolic flamboyance through their weaponry, Carol was always far more understated, though no less deadly.
Carol was pretty handy with most weapons she used, but her military knife – complete with a knuckle guard – fast became a defining symbol of her. It even became so attached to the character that the image of it in a walker’s throat was used to tease Carol’s death as Daryl searched for her in the season three episode “Hounded”.
7 Rick’s Machete
As the series’ major protagonist for much of TWD’s 11-season run, Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) had no lack of defining accessories. From his Colt Python revolver to his Sheriff’s hat, much of the character’s identity came about from the resources he used to ensure the safety and survival of his group.
The famous machete made its first appearance in season three with Rick using it to clear out the prison, memorably using it to dispatch the murderous inmate Tomas (Nick Gomez) in a violent fashion. It would go on to become one of the central weapons featured in the series and paid homage to the hatchet Rick used so frequently throughout the comics.
6 Aaron's Arm
As TWD routinely depicted, the zombie apocalypse will create its fair share of amputees. When Aaron (Ross Marquand) joined the group in the series' fifth season, he didn't have a signature weapon, but that all changed in season nine when a gruesome incident crushed his arm, presenting the opportunity for him to don one of the show's coolest weapons.
Initially, the prosthetic arm was serviceable but not extraordinary, at least not until Aaron's friend screwed a spiked mace onto the prosthetic in season 10. The brutal, bludgeoning device had a bit more of a zombie-killing flair about it, and gave fans no small amount of bloody walker deaths to enjoy.
5 Ezekiel's Tiger Shiva
Before he ruled the post-apocalyptic Kingdom, King Ezekiel (Khary Payton) was a zookeeper, so it only makes sense a live tiger would be his best defense in the zombie-ridden world. When Shiva is introduced in Season 7, she was the show's only character to not be portrayed by a live actor.
As Ezekiel's guard animal, Shiva often protected him from threats in both human and undead forms. Unfortunately, the tiger's loyalty to Ezekiel cost Shiva her life in season eight when she saved the lives of him and his friends but was unable to save herself, being devoured by a herd of walkers but not before becoming one of the series' weapons, as well as a beloved animal character.
4 The Whisperers' Masks
As clever as it was conniving and sickening, the Whisperers' main method of murder consisted of making walker masks and blending in with herds as they meandered along. While the masks themselves didn't present a bodily threat, the Whisperers were able to use the disguise to maneuver great masses of the undead and orchestrate attacks on rival groups of survivors.
Symbolic of the world's deterioration into immorality and a survival at all costs mentality, the Whisperers' introduction was just as shocking to Rick's group as it was to fans of the series. While the evil gang was eventually defeated, they were able to use their stealth attacks to kill plenty of characters, including fan-favorite Jesus (Tom Payne).
3 Michonne's Katana
Michonne's (Danai Gurira) introduction to TWD was particularly striking for a number of reasons. After saving Andrea (Laurie Holden) in the wake of the horde attack at Herschel's farm, she made her first appearance wearing a hood, being trailed by two mouthless zombies, and wielding a katana in her hand.
The sword was an essential part of the character in the comic books and many fans were delighted to see both Michonne and her blade done justice on the show. While a defining aspect of the character's badass appeal, the katana was also used by The Governor to behead Hershel in season four.
2 Rick's Revolver
Appearing in the show's first-ever episode, Rick's trusty revolver has been in TWD since the very beginning, and has laid waste to no small amount of undead walkers and live adversaries over the run. The Colt Python certainly has a commanding presence, often used to help Rick state his intentions when he pulls it from its holster, but the gun has lived on even after its initial owner exited the series.
Most notably, Judith has been seen using it from time to time, but its symbolic status was also used as a reflective tool when Daryl took a lasting, nostalgic look at it when packing away weapons in season 11. An emblematic figure of the series, Rick's gun may not be the most striking weapon in TWD, but it certainly holds a special place in the hearts of fans due to its symbolic significance.
1 Daryl's Crossbow
Daryl Dixon (Norman Reedus) - himself a television icon - has had many defining factors, from his long, messy hair to his angel-winged vest, and even to his motorcycle. His most notable accessory though has always been his crossbow which has been used to kill countless zombies over the series' run.
While Daryl was initially loosely based on Dwight's character in the comics, he appeared in the first season as an entirely original character, making it all the more curious that he became such an iconic fan favorite. While no one can say for certain that he rose to such heights because of his famous crossbow, the memorable weapon of choice definitely didn't hurt him make his mark on the fanbase.