Meat Tenderizer

2 weapons: +1 Armor; -2% Speed
3 weapons: +1 Armor; +3 Max HP; -4% Speed
4 weapons: +2 Armor; +3 Max HP; -6% Speed
5 weapons: +2 Armor; +6 Max HP; -8% Speed
6 or more: +3 Armor; +6 Max HP; -10% Speed

MeleeBlunt MedicalPrimal DreadTiers I–IV

Unlock: Available from the start
Starting weapon for: 45 characters

Community builds that use it

ArchaeologistMeat Tenderizer with HP Regeneration while working the dig sites; the item that recycles for more materials completes the economy. Early waves are slow because there is little time to dig.
PoacherMelee weapons, especially Meat Tenderizer, make it easy to kill inside the hunting area, which builds large % Damage; ranged builds need careful positioning.
VariantMeat Tenderizer is recommended so random item swaps do not ruin the run; the mutation tumour grows strong after about wave 10.

Stats by tier

Tier I Common
Damage
15 (+100% Melee Damage, +100% HP Regeneration)
Cooldown
1.5s
Crit
x1.75 (3% chance)
Range
175
Tier II Uncommon
Damage
25 (+115% Melee Damage, +115% HP Regeneration)
Cooldown
1.44s
Crit
x1.75 (3% chance)
Range
175
Tier III Rare
Damage
45 (+130% Melee Damage, +130% HP Regeneration)
Cooldown
1.34s
Crit
x1.75 (3% chance)
Range
175
Tier IV Legendary
Damage
75 (+150% Melee Damage, +150% HP Regeneration)
Cooldown
1.25s
Crit
x1.75 (3% chance)
Range
175

Damage in brackets is added from your stats before %Damage multiplies the total; see the damage formula or the calculator.

DPS at tier IV

61.3 DPS with no stats, 85.9 at 20 Melee Damage and 122.7 at 50 (single target, every projectile hits, crits averaged): #20 of 58 weapons that scale with Melee Damage. Full ranking or your own stats.