Warhammer

The Warhammer is a melee weapon introduced in the Royalty DLC that does a significant amount of blunt damage and has a long cooldown. As a blunt weapon, warhammer attacks don't cause bleeding (unless a body part gets destroyed), and generally fares better against armor when compared to sharp weapons.

Acquisition

Warhammers can be crafted at the fueled smithy or electric smithy once the Long Blades research has been completed; with 150 Stuff (Metallic/Woody, 1500 for SMVs) and 18,000 ticks (5 mins) of work.

They can also be purchased from outlander and orbital combat suppliers, or found from outlander and pirate raiders drops.

Analysis

Warhammers and maces are the best blunt weapons that your colony can craft. They face competition with longswords and spears, sharp weapons, for overall damage. In general, Blunt weapons are weaker in DPS than sharp weapons, but have multiple advantages that can make up for it.

Warhammers are best made out of uranium, due to the metal's blunt damage multiplier.

Comparisons

Comparison to maces

Maces, costing 50 stuff, are 3x cheaper than the warhammer. Despite this, maces are better for raw DPS, dealing +2.7% more damage. So why would anyone use a warhammer at all?

Warhammers swing slowly, but with a larger strike. This is unlikely to make a difference at low qualities and non-uranium materials. However, a high quality (masterwork+) uranium warhammer can conistently 1-shot or 2-shot human opponents. If a mace would require 3 hits (6 seconds) to cause pain shock, the warhammer could require 2 hits (5.2 seconds). In addition, a high quality warhammer is more likely to destroy vital body parts, namely the head.

Once your colony can 1. afford the uranium cost and 2. create masterwork / legendary weapons, the warhammer is more consistent than the mace against humanoid (and smaller) enemies. This is most noticeable with the Strong melee damage gene. The mace would be slightly stronger against mechanoids, but spears and longswords would be even better.

Comparison to sharp weapons

Warhammers are weaker in DPS than both longswords and spears. A plasteel longsword has +15% more DPS than the equivalent quality uranium warhammer, and this does not include bonus damage from the Cut damage type. However, blunt weapons have multiple advantages, as listed below.

Blunt damage face less armor. Most enemies have little blunt armor, resulting in an "armor-piercing" effect. For example, a flak vest has 100% Sharp armor but only 40% Blunt armor. Almost all "armored" enemies in RimWorld follow this trend. A uranium warhammer is likely to have enough AP to completely ignore the Blunt armor of every enemy you see in the game.

Blunt weapons can stun enemies, though the chance is small. If a blunt weapon hits the torso or a equivalent body part (a scyther's thorax, a centipede 1st body ring...), then the target has a chance to be stunned for a short time. This is completely independent from EMP and mechanoid adaptation. A good uranium warhammer, hitting a human's torso, has roughly 12% chance to stun. Stun chance depends on the target's health scale and the damage done. See Damage Types for more information.

Blunt weapons have superior damage spread. If Stab damage destroys a finger, the finger is destroyed. If Blunt damage destroys a finger, the finger is destroyed and the arm is damaged too.

At good quality or lower, this results in the warhammer being better against high armor. However, since the spear has high AP, the spear ends up roughly equal against targets up to centipedes (and better against unarmored targets). At Masterwork or higher, the warhammer will often 1-shot / 2-shot humans, due to its superior damage spread. This is especially apparent with the Strong melee damage gene, where the warhammer is one of the best weapons against humans because it can very consistently 1-shot them.

Comparison to zeushammers

A uranium warhammer will always lose to a zeushammer or persona zeushammer of equal quality. However, since you can craft warhammers, it is much easier to obtain a high quality warhammer.

Against targets immune to EMP, a legendary uranium warhammer will beat an excellent persona zeushammer (before persona traits) and masterwork regular zeushammer. With a source of inspired creativity, like tortured artist or Word of Inspiration, it is relatively easy to create legendary weapons. A highly skilled Production specialist with inspiration is nearly guaranteed at creating legendary items.

Attack table

Feature	Toggle
Attacks
Quality

Warhammer				Handle (Poke)					Head (Blunt)					Human: Left & right fist (Blunt)					HP	Value
Quality	Material	DPS^[1]	AP^[1]	Dam.	Cool.	AP	DPS	Chance^[2]	Dam.	Cool.	AP	DPS	Chance^[2]	Dam.	Cool.	AP	DPS	Chance^[2]	HP	Value
Awful	Bioferrite	5.13	19.16%	7.92	2.6s	11.52%	3.05	8.33%	14.4	2.6s	21.6%	5.54	75%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	200	137
Awful	Gold	5.64	21.07%	8.8	2.6s	12.8%	3.38	8.33%	16	2.6s	24%	6.15	75%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	60	7530
Awful	Plasteel	6.21	19.16%	7.92	2.08s	11.52%	3.81	8.33%	14.4	2.08s	21.6%	6.92	75%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	280	745
Awful	Silver	5.64	21.07%	8.8	2.6s	12.8%	3.38	8.33%	16	2.6s	24%	6.15	75%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	70	780
Awful	Steel	5.64	21.07%	8.8	2.6s	12.8%	3.38	8.33%	16	2.6s	24%	6.15	75%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	100	175
Awful	Uranium	7.53	30.6%	13.2	2.86s	19.2%	4.62	8.33%	24	2.86s	36%	8.39	75%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	250	510
Awful	Wood	5.13	19.16%	7.92	2.6s	11.52%	3.05	8.33%	14.4	2.6s	21.6%	5.54	75%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	65	113
Poor	Bioferrite	5.7	21.31%	8.91	2.6s	12.96%	3.43	8.33%	16.2	2.6s	24.3%	6.23	75%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	200	205
Poor	Gold	6.28	23.45%	9.9	2.6s	14.4%	3.81	8.33%	18	2.6s	27%	6.92	75%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	60	11295
Poor	Plasteel	6.9	21.31%	8.91	2.08s	12.96%	4.28	8.33%	16.2	2.08s	24.3%	7.79	75%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	280	1120
Poor	Silver	6.28	23.45%	9.9	2.6s	14.4%	3.81	8.33%	18	2.6s	27%	6.92	75%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	70	1175
Poor	Steel	6.28	23.45%	9.9	2.6s	14.4%	3.81	8.33%	18	2.6s	27%	6.92	75%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	100	260
Poor	Uranium	8.41	34.18%	14.85	2.86s	21.6%	5.19	8.33%	27	2.86s	40.5%	9.44	75%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	250	765
Poor	Wood	5.7	21.31%	8.91	2.6s	12.96%	3.43	8.33%	16.2	2.6s	24.3%	6.23	75%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	65	169
Normal	Bioferrite	6.28	23.45%	9.9	2.6s	14.4%	3.81	8.33%	18	2.6s	27%	6.92	75%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	200	275
Normal	Gold	6.91	25.83%	11	2.6s	16%	4.23	8.33%	20	2.6s	30%	7.69	75%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	60	15060
Normal	Plasteel	7.59	23.45%	9.9	2.08s	14.4%	4.76	8.33%	18	2.08s	27%	8.65	75%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	280	1495
Normal	Silver	6.91	25.83%	11	2.6s	16%	4.23	8.33%	20	2.6s	30%	7.69	75%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	70	1565
Normal	Steel	6.91	25.83%	11	2.6s	16%	4.23	8.33%	20	2.6s	30%	7.69	75%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	100	350
Normal	Uranium	9.29	37.75%	16.5	2.86s	24%	5.77	8.33%	30	2.86s	45%	10.49	75%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	250	1025
Normal	Wood	6.28	23.45%	9.9	2.6s	14.4%	3.81	8.33%	18	2.6s	27%	6.92	75%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	65	225
Good	Bioferrite	6.85	25.6%	10.89	2.6s	15.84%	4.19	8.33%	19.8	2.6s	29.7%	7.62	75%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	200	345
Good	Gold	7.55	28.22%	12.1	2.6s	17.6%	4.65	8.33%	22	2.6s	33%	8.46	75%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	60	15560
Good	Plasteel	8.29	25.6%	10.89	2.08s	15.84%	5.24	8.33%	19.8	2.08s	29.7%	9.52	75%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	280	1865
Good	Silver	7.55	28.22%	12.1	2.6s	17.6%	4.65	8.33%	22	2.6s	33%	8.46	75%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	70	1955
Good	Steel	7.55	28.22%	12.1	2.6s	17.6%	4.65	8.33%	22	2.6s	33%	8.46	75%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	100	435
Good	Uranium	10.17	41.33%	18.15	2.86s	26.4%	6.35	8.33%	33	2.86s	49.5%	11.54	75%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	250	1280
Good	Wood	6.85	25.6%	10.89	2.6s	15.84%	4.19	8.33%	19.8	2.6s	29.7%	7.62	75%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	65	280
Excellent	Bioferrite	7.42	27.74%	11.88	2.6s	17.28%	4.57	8.33%	21.6	2.6s	32.4%	8.31	75%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	200	410
Excellent	Gold	8.19	30.6%	13.2	2.6s	19.2%	5.08	8.33%	24	2.6s	36%	9.23	75%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	60	16060
Excellent	Plasteel	8.98	27.74%	11.88	2.08s	17.28%	5.71	8.33%	21.6	2.08s	32.4%	10.38	75%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	280	2240
Excellent	Silver	8.19	30.6%	13.2	2.6s	19.2%	5.08	8.33%	24	2.6s	36%	9.23	75%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	70	2345
Excellent	Steel	8.19	30.6%	13.2	2.6s	19.2%	5.08	8.33%	24	2.6s	36%	9.23	75%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	100	525
Excellent	Uranium	11.17	47.7%	19.8	2.86s	28.8%	6.92	25%	36	2.86s	54%	12.59	75%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 0%	250	1535
Excellent	Wood	7.42	27.74%	11.88	2.6s	17.28%	4.57	8.33%	21.6	2.6s	32.4%	8.31	75%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	65	340
Masterwork	Bioferrite	8.86	33.1%	14.36	2.6s	20.88%	5.52	8.33%	26.1	2.6s	39.15%	10.04	75%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	200	685
Masterwork	Gold	9.78	36.56%	15.95	2.6s	23.2%	6.13	8.33%	29	2.6s	43.5%	11.15	75%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	60	17060
Masterwork	Plasteel	10.71	33.1%	14.36	2.08s	20.88%	6.9	8.33%	26.1	2.08s	39.15%	12.55	75%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	280	3495
Masterwork	Silver	9.78	36.56%	15.95	2.6s	23.2%	6.13	8.33%	29	2.6s	43.5%	11.15	75%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	70	3565
Masterwork	Steel	9.78	36.56%	15.95	2.6s	23.2%	6.13	8.33%	29	2.6s	43.5%	11.15	75%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	100	875
Masterwork	Uranium	13.5	57.64%	23.93	2.86s	34.8%	8.37	25%	43.5	2.86s	65.25%	15.21	75%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 0%	250	2560
Masterwork	Wood	8.86	33.1%	14.36	2.6s	20.88%	5.52	8.33%	26.1	2.6s	39.15%	10.04	75%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	65	565
Legendary	Bioferrite	10	37.39%	16.34	2.6s	23.76%	6.28	8.33%	29.7	2.6s	44.55%	11.42	75%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	200	1370
Legendary	Gold	11.26	43.73%	18.15	2.6s	26.4%	6.98	25%	33	2.6s	49.5%	12.69	75%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 0%	60	18060
Legendary	Plasteel	12.67	39.35%	16.34	2.08s	23.76%	7.85	25%	29.7	2.08s	44.55%	14.28	75%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 0%	280	4495
Legendary	Silver	11.26	43.73%	18.15	2.6s	26.4%	6.98	25%	33	2.6s	49.5%	12.69	75%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 0%	70	4565
Legendary	Steel	11.26	43.73%	18.15	2.6s	26.4%	6.98	25%	33	2.6s	49.5%	12.69	75%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 0%	100	1750
Legendary	Uranium	15.36	65.59%	27.23	2.86s	39.6%	9.52	25%	49.5	2.86s	74.25%	17.31	75%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 0%	250	4025
Legendary	Wood	10	37.39%	16.34	2.6s	23.76%	6.28	8.33%	29.7	2.6s	44.55%	11.42	75%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	65	1125

^{For the full effects of qualities, see Quality.}

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 Note: This is the actual base average derived from the melee verb system updated in 1.1.2610, it may sometimes disagree with the listed value in the in-game infobox.
It may also change depending on the stats and the melee verbs available to the wielder if the weapon is wielded by some other than a baseline human.
↑ Chance for attack to be selected, assuming the weapon is wielded by a baseline human. It may change depending on the melee verbs available to the wielder