---
key: mechanic/roguelike--family-10
type: mechanic
id: roguelike--family-10
lang: en
title: Melee
summary: >-
  An attack reaches its target only at close range. The player chooses position
  and timing while preserving a response to the next threat.
updatedAt: '2026-10-21'
status: active
url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/roguelike--family-10/'
jsonUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/mechanic/roguelike--family-10.json
markdownUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/mechanic/roguelike--family-10.md
aliases:
  - Melee combat
tags:
  - Roguelikes and roguelites
  - Mechanics catalog
sourceIds:
  - source-12dcc47c9ced2cfc
sources:
  - id: source-12dcc47c9ced2cfc
    title: Hades
    url: 'https://www.supergiantgames.com/games/hades/'
    verifiedAt: null
relations: []
placements:
  - catalogId: roguelike
    id: family-10
    title: Roguelikes and roguelites
    url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/mechanics/roguelike/#family-10'
    categoryIds:
      - section-1
supersededBy: []
attributes:
  preview:
    updatedAt: '2026-10-21'
    title: Melee combat
    description: >-
      An attack reaches its target only at close range. The player chooses
      position and timing while preserving a response to the next threat.
    image:
      src: images/mechanics/hades-melee.webp
      width: 1440
      height: 810
      crop:
        x: 300
        'y': 83
        width: 863
        height: 637
      game: Hades
      sourceUrl: 'https://www.supergiantgames.com/games/hades/'
      originalUrl: >-
        https://images.ctfassets.net/5owu3y35gz1g/5LpElH2nmE7iS4v593VJvo/55f74bd209f45dc179c5279926cb2ea5/hades_09-dec-2019_05.jpg?w=1920&q=80
      credit: Supergiant Games
      rights: © Supergiant Games. All rights reserved.
      caption: A sword strike among enemies
      alt: >-
        Hades: Zagreus makes a close-range sword strike with a visible arc while
        a nearby enemy raises its weapon.
      markers:
        - x: 43
          'y': 58
          label: The sword arc shows the melee attack area
        - x: 59
          'y': 30
          label: A nearby windup creates the next threat
    tips:
      - Match the hit area to the visible weapon arc.
      - Keep the next threat readable during the player’s attack.
    examples:
      - title: Hades
        url: 'https://www.supergiantgames.com/games/hades/'
endsAt: null
provenance: >-
  Original editorial design catalog consolidated from project discussions on
  2026-10-20. Complete discussion item lists and contextual limitations are
  preserved; linked primary sources support specific techniques, not the entire
  classification. English translation was prepared with machine assistance and
  editorial review.
license: CC-BY-4.0
codeLicense: MIT
attribution: gamemechanics.pro contributors
catalogKey: catalog/roguelike
---
# Melee

id: roguelike--family-10
type: mechanic
key: mechanic/roguelike--family-10
lang: en
status: active
url: https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/roguelike--family-10/

An attack reaches its target only at close range. The player chooses position and timing while preserving a response to the next threat.

## At a glance

![Hades: Zagreus makes a close-range sword strike with a visible arc while a nearby enemy raises its weapon.](https://gamemechanics.pro/images/mechanics/hades-melee.webp)

[Hades](https://www.supergiantgames.com/games/hades/) · © Supergiant Games. All rights reserved.

1. The sword arc shows the melee attack area
2. A nearby windup creates the next threat

- Match the hit area to the visible weapon arc.
- Keep the next threat readable during the player’s attack.

- [Hades](https://www.supergiantgames.com/games/hades/)

## How it works

Melee attacks require choosing a position, moment and method of influencing the enemy.

## Variants

### Variants and applications

<a id="family-10-variants"></a>

- Attack when moving into an enemy-occupied cell <a id="variant-roguelike-10-01"></a>
- Light and heavy attacks <a id="variant-roguelike-10-02"></a>
- Charged Strikes <a id="variant-roguelike-10-03"></a>
- Streaks and combos <a id="variant-roguelike-10-04"></a>
- Different stances and battle modes <a id="variant-roguelike-10-05"></a>
- Attacks by direction or sector <a id="variant-roguelike-10-06"></a>
- Hit multiple targets <a id="variant-roguelike-10-07"></a>
- Increased weapon range <a id="variant-roguelike-10-08"></a>
- Backstabs and positional bonuses <a id="variant-roguelike-10-09"></a>
- Counterattacks <a id="variant-roguelike-10-10"></a>
- Attacks after dodging, jumping or dashing <a id="variant-roguelike-10-11"></a>
- Interrupting the preparation of someone else's attack <a id="variant-roguelike-10-12"></a>
- Finishings when the condition is met <a id="variant-roguelike-10-13"></a>
- Two-weapon combat <a id="variant-roguelike-10-14"></a>
- Switching weapons as part of a combat sequence <a id="variant-roguelike-10-15"></a>

## Context and limits

A wide author's map of classic turn-based roguelikes, modern roguelites and hybrids. Families describe options for organizing a run, and not mandatory features of the genre. Constant metaprogression is not found in all roguelikes. Related systems can be combined; the list is not a closed standard.

## Connected materials


## Sources and provenance

Original editorial design catalog consolidated from project discussions on 2026-10-20. Complete discussion item lists and contextual limitations are preserved; linked primary sources support specific techniques, not the entire classification. English translation was prepared with machine assistance and editorial review.

- [Hades](https://www.supergiantgames.com/games/hades/) (id: source-12dcc47c9ced2cfc)

CC-BY-4.0 · gamemechanics.pro contributors