Sledgehammer

 

Sledgehammer
Production information
Type	Tool/melee weapon
Technical specifications
Damage	10 (melee bulb variant) (SS:T) 25 (SSBD) 40 (SS:T) 130 (SS3 & SS3VR:BFE)
Rate of fire	60 swings per minute
Operation	Swing to strike
Range	Melee
Usage
Used by	Sam Stone NETRICSA Bad Bulb Bomb Ugh-Zan Jr. Any playable character (Co-op or multiplayer mode)
Counterparts	Axe Military Knife
Game information
Entity name	SledgeHammer

 

"Gimme some skulls and one of these, and it's a party."

―Sam Stone

 

The Sledgehammer is a melee weapon introduced in Serious Sam 3: BFE. It makes more appearances in Serious Sam's Bogus Detour, Serious Sam 3 VR: BFE, and Serious Sam: Tormental. The weapon replaces the Military Knife from Serious Sam 1.

Overview

The sledgehammer can function as both a melee weapon and a tool. The amount of attacks the sledgehammer has makes it a versatile choice for clearing multiple weak enemies in groups, making it significantly more useful than the military knife from Serious Sam 1. It is also the only weapon the player can use while sprinting at the same time.

In Serious Sam 3, the weapon has three separate attacks: a swift downward swing (used with the primary fire key) that, if enemies are close together in front of the player, can kill/damage multiple enemies at once; a horizontal right-to-left swipe (used with the secondary fire key) that can take out several enemies at a time; and by pressing the reload key (R by default), a spinning swing that can clear multiple enemies within close proximity all around the player. Each attack has a varying speed of execution, with the downward and spinning swing taking slightly more time to initiate. When the player is not around enemies, performing swings will take much more time. However when in close proximity to hostiles, the playable character will automatically raise the sledgehammer above their head, making swings much quicker to deliver.

Aside from being used as a weapon, the sledgehammer can also serve as a useful tool for breaking down wooden barricades and doors. Additionally, some secrets that appear in the Serious Sam 3 campaign are hidden behind a closed door, and can only be accessed by breaking it.

In Serious Sam: Tormental, the player can switch to the sledgehammer by pressing the scroll button key. Bad Bulb uses a weaker version of the sledgehammer called melee bulb. This weapon has a piercing effect that can damage multiple enemies at close range.

Appearances

Serious Sam 3: BFE

The sledgehammer is the first weapon Sam acquires in the campaign. There are two varieties of sledgehammers that appear in the Serious Sam 3 campaign; one with a wooden shaft, and one made entirely of metal which is obtained in The Lost Temples of Nubia. They are both identical in statistics and performance.

In Jewel of the Nile, the sledgehammer is replaced by the Axe, which is identical in terms of damage output and performance.

Serious Sam's Bogus Detour

The sledgehammer spawns in one of two locations in the first level, Knee Deep in Sand. The first location is near a beach on the eastern part of the map, and the second spawn is next to a lake opposite a pyramid. It then appears again in Path of Feast/Fear.

Serious Sam: Tormental

The sledgehammer is one of the default weapons the player starts with after finishing the Tomb stage.

Tactics

Serious Sam 3: BFE

• The sledgehammer is a brilliant weapon to use against swarms of Hatchling Antaresian Spiders or small groups of Juvenile Antaresian Spiders.
• The weapon is powerful enough to kill traditional enemies, such as Gnaars and Kleers, in a single strike. Slightly tougher enemies, such as Hatchling Arachnoids and Sirian Werebulls, only require two.
• When using the sledgehammer against Kleers, the player should wait for them to leap, then immediately sidestep out of the way and strike them. This is much more efficient than striking them head on, as this can be risky and is more likely to result in the player taking damage from the Kleer's leap attack.
  • Alternatively, the player can sidestep out of the Kleer's path, wait for them to pause, and then kill them with the sledgehammer before they turn around to attack again.
• It is not very effective against large or tougher enemies, such as Adult Arachnoids, Major Bio-mechanoids or Scrapjacks, especially considering the fact that Scrapjacks have a powerful melee attack that does a lot of damage. Reserve using the sledgehammer on these stronger enemies just to finish them off after weakening them.
• The weapon shouldn't be used against explosive enemies, such as Beheaded Kamikazes, for obvious reasons.

Serious Sam's Bogus Detour

• The sledgehammer is a more powerful melee weapon than Fists, but the player still needs to be careful when using it against small or large groups of enemies to avoid being swarmed.
• It is a particularly effective weapon against melee enemies, such as Gnaars, Infected Fish and Orc Butchers.
• It can also be effective against Infected Tortoises, provided that the player avoids their bite attack in time.
• When attacking Infected Tortoises with this weapon, go around them and attack with the sledgehammer at the same to reduce the chances of taking damage from them.
• It is not recommended to use the sledgehammer against tough enemies like Orc Captains or Scrapjacks due to their high health and dangerous attacks.
• The sledgehammer is a great weapon for clearing large groups of Crabs, should the player wish to use it against them.

Serious Sam: Tormental

• The sledgehammer is good to use on weak enemies like Croakueens or Gonks or to whack away tougher enemies like the Cerebull.
• It is a useful weapon to keep enemies away when being overwhelmed at close range.

Related achievements

Serious Sam 3: BFE

	Berserker
	Kill 3 enemies in one sprint with the Sledgehammer.

	Bone Crusher
	Smash 20 Kleers with the Sledgehammer.

	Circle of death
	Kill at least 3 enemies in one spinning Sledgehammer attack.

	Hammer Time
	Frag 20 players with the Sledgehammer.

Serious Sam Fusion

	Berserker
	Kill 3 enemies in one sprint with the Sledgehammer.

	Bone Crusher
	Smash 20 Kleers with the Sledgehammer.

	Circle of Death
	Kill at least 3 enemies in one spinning Sledgehammer attack.

Upgrades

	Heavy Hitter
	Your melee weapons do 50%-100% more damage.

Behind the scenes

• The sledgehammer had a different style in the Serious Sam 3 reveal trailer.

Trivia

• In Serious Sam 3, the sledgehammer, along with the axe, is the only weapon that can be used while sprinting.

Gallery

Serious Sam 3: BFE

Worldmodel.

Ditto, metal version.

Viewmodel.

Alt viewmodel.

HUD icon.

Serious Sam's Bogus Detour

Sprite.

HUD icon.

Serious Sam: Tormental

The sledgehammer in Serious Sam: Tormental.

Melee bulb variant used by Bad Bulb.

Sledgehammer used by Bomb.

Sledgehammer used by NETRICSA.

Sam holding the sledgehammer.

List of appearances

• Serious Sam 3: BFE (First appearance)
• Serious Sam's Bogus Detour (non-canonical appearance)
• Serious Sam 3 VR: BFE
• Serious Sam: Tormental (non-canonical appearance)