Sword & Shield Melee

Melee combat is the backbone of One More Delve. Every swing has physics-based weight, meaning how hard and how accurately you swing determines damage dealt. When the May 2026 parry rework made blocking and counterattacking significantly easier, melee became the de facto best build for dungeon progression.

Equipment Setup

Equip a one-handed sword on one hand and a shield on the other. Your third slot (shoulder) can carry a bow for emergencies or a second melee weapon.

How Melee Combat Works

One More Delve uses realistic physics for all weapons. Key rules:

• Swing force matters: Full swings deal maximum damage. Half-swings may deal reduced damage or not register at all.
• Collision detection: If your weapon clips an enemy mid-swing, the hit may be negated entirely. Keep a clean arc.
• Optimal range: Being too close causes weapons to phase through enemies. Give yourself roughly arm’s length.
• Enemies push in: Since the May 2026 enemy spacing update, enemies actively move toward you when too close — creating a constant need to reposition.

Parry and Block

Hold your shield up to block incoming attacks. After a successful block, you have a brief window to counterattack. The May 2026 update significantly widened this window, making melee survivability much higher than during Early Access launch.

Best Melee Weapons

The basic longsword deals 5 damage per clean hit. Two-handed weapons like hammers and axes deal more damage but require both hands and are slower. Experiment in the social hub’s practice area to find the swing arc that works for you.

Progression Path

1. Craft your first upgrade from dropped blueprints at the forge.
2. Prioritize weapon damage upgrades early — survivability comes from killing enemies fast.
3. Once you have a +2 or +3 weapon, shift focus to armor pieces.
4. Use coins from defeated enemies to buy new spell types at the hub shop.

See also: Weapons, Tier List, and How to Beat Boss 1.