Strong weapons can completely change how you play Survive The Apocalypse, but some go way beyond “strong” and feel almost unfair. The Chainsaw is one of those weapons. It’s not just good—it can melt enemies, control crowds, and carry you through late-game waves with very little effort.
Getting it isn’t guaranteed though. You’ll need to farm a specific location and rely a bit on luck. Here’s everything you need to know, from unlocking it to using it properly.
How to Get the Chainsaw
The Chainsaw can only be obtained from the Nuclear Power Plant. This is a high-risk area, but also one of the best places for top-tier loot. To get it, you need to:
- Wait until daytime
- Go to the Nuclear Power Plant
- Clear all 3 waves of enemies
- Defeat the final boss inside
- Enter the final room and open the special chest
The Chainsaw has about a 1 in 3 chance of dropping from that final chest.
If you don’t get it, you have two options:
- Wait 15 minutes for the reactor to reset
- Switch servers and try again immediately
Because of the RNG, it may take a few runs before you finally get it.
Best Way to Clear the Nuclear Plant
The waves inside can get overwhelming, especially with enemies like screamers and muscle zombies.
To clear it faster: Use grenades and molotovs before enemies reach you. This softens entire waves and makes the fights much easier. Grenades are especially effective against bosses, letting you deal huge damage quickly.
Positioning also matters. Try not to rush into groups, and avoid damaging yourself with explosives. Once the boss is down, skip the early loot and head straight to the final chest room, since that’s where the Chainsaw drops.
Why the Chainsaw Is Overpowered
Once you finally get it, the difference is immediate. Unlike most melee weapons:
- You don’t need to spam clicks
- Just hold the attack button
- It deals continuous damage extremely fast
It hits multiple times per second, which makes it far more consistent than weapons like the sledgehammer.
Even though the sledgehammer can one-shot enemies, it attacks slowly. The Chainsaw, on the other hand, keeps dealing damage nonstop, making it better in most situations.
Another big advantage is that it has:
- Unlimited usage (no ammo or energy required)
- Built-in slow/stun effect on enemies
- Strong performance against both single targets and groups
Chainsaw vs Sledgehammer (Quick Comparison)
When tested against tougher enemies like brutes:
- Sledgehammer: around 25 seconds to kill
- Chainsaw: around 15 seconds to kill
That gap becomes even bigger in real fights where multiple enemies are attacking at once.
The Chainsaw also makes crowd fights much easier because it constantly damages everything in front of you.
Best Class Combo: Berserker
The Chainsaw becomes even stronger when paired with the Berserker class. This combo works so well because:
- Berserker increases damage through rage buildup
- The Chainsaw hits very fast, which builds rage quickly
- The Smash Down ability triggers often, clearing groups instantly
Together, they turn you into a walking damage machine, especially during events like Blood Moon or large enemy waves.
Tips to Use the Chainsaw Effectively
To get the most out of it, don’t just stand still. Move around enemies while holding attack. This keeps you safe while still dealing damage. Against bosses, circle around them to avoid hits while draining their health.
For large groups, use a simple “spin” movement—keep moving around enemies while holding attack to hit everything nearby. Also, take advantage of the slow effect. Once enemies get hit, they move much slower, giving you full control of the fight.
The Chainsaw is easily one of the strongest weapons in Survive The Apocalypse right now. Between its fast damage, unlimited usage, and crowd control, it outperforms most other melee options without needing complicated setups.
It may take a few runs at the Nuclear Power Plant to get it, but once you do, the game becomes much easier—especially if you’re aiming for high days or long survival runs.