"Seven At One Blow" Or How I Bought A 2H Axe &

[JohnathanStrange]

Like the tailor in the Brothers Grimm story, the one who killed seven flies with a swipe of his towel, embroidered a belt with the words, "Seven at One Blow" and set out on adventures, I bought a 2H axe (actually two or three kinds for variety) and went looking for trouble.

Some river pirates up to no good, stopped me, demanding my axe and my fancy horse. Naturally, I declined. In the ensuing encounter they had lined up just enough that riding by at full gallop I was able to kill several with one swing. Was it seven? Hard to tell 'cause everything was happening so fast.

Well, needless to say, I was surprised. I don't know how to use an axe effectively; my general tactic is to hit everything I can see and my good friend Borcha hits everything within reach whether he can see it or not - so things get pretty confusing.

How do you use an axe? How are you timing that swing? Most effective tactic? Best used on foot? What's your best strike?

 

[Ancientwanker]

Axes are ok. Only time they are really fun is when you are high level and popping shields in one pass from horseback.

I switched back to sword eventually though. The shield smashing abililty is slightly underpowered in my opinion.

 

[[bulletproof]]

Agreed. Even a great sword is better than a Heavy or Balanced War Axe (whatever the best axe is called) since the axe has such shorter range and is so slow.

You can kill more than one person with one swing of the axe? I didnt know that. I'll have to try.

And yes, the axe should be more effective on shields. That seems to be the only advantage over the sword, and it should cater to a different playstyle, but since that's so underpowered it isnt really effective at all. It should be an option - use of two handed swords for fast, quick kills and two handed axes for breaking through even the best shields in a hit or two. Right now, i just own an axe because it looks so cool.

 

[Zuwxiv]

Right now I'm using a balanced waraxe for melee... Its one handed, so I can keep my shield too. It's done 98 damage in one hit, so I'm satisfied with that. With my spirited charger I'm quite a nuisance.

I just hit at things as I'm running by.

 

[ShangTang]

I use an axe because I can't find any other one-handed weapon with a higher cut damage. Plus it's fun to slice open a dude's head from above.

 

[Morty]

Axe is the only choise for someone who values aesthetics in addition to power, a double bladed axe is the most beautiful tool of murder ever invented. And i dont know about them being underpowered in the game since my level 13 character can destroy most shields and kill swadian knights with one swing of a heavy double axe when mounted.

 

[Zuwxiv]

I'm working on a light cavalry character right now... He has a spirited charger, and I am aiming forthese:
Hardent/reinforced :
Leather Jerkin
Leather Boots
Helmet with Neckgaurd
Watered steel fighting axe (?)
reinforced large shield

All of those offer decent protection for minimal weight... That means about half the encumberance while still having power. And the fighting axe is the best one handed weapon that you can use with a shield. (I don't use lances, useless if you get stuck in melee.)

 

[Mechstra]

If he's a light cavalryman, then with all due respect he shouldn't be on a spirited charger.

 

[nightrunn3r]

actually, the best axe i've seen is a heavy Great Axe. 41 damage. I have them on 2 out of my 3 characters

 

[Gilglaurad]

Axe is the only choise for someone who values aesthetics in addition to power, a double bladed axe is the most beautiful tool of murder ever invented.

I think that the people who liks swords, archers, Katanafans, etc. would have a *somewhat* different opinion there

My charackter haven't used axes (except my Ranger to the beginning, because he started with it), instead of relying on more elegeant weapons like onehanded swords and bows.

Oh, and give that "light" cavalry man a spirtited courser, not a charger, Someone in leather riding a heavy-armoured Charger - something very trange looking

 

[Kothmac]

I use spirtited coursers over the other horses because I love how they look. I still lay the old-fashioned smack down though.

 

[Sir Gillits]

I currently use a heavy great axe and a balanced sword of war, it depends on what I feel like. IMHO the great axe looks cooler when you smash some poor bandit in the head with an overhead swing though.

 

[[bulletproof]]

Johnathan, I dont know what game you're playing, but I've tried all night and I havent been able to kill more than one enemy of any type at a time with any weapon. All melee weapons stop midswing when they make contact.

Maybe you were clicking really, really fast?


It would be cool to see heavy melee weapons swing fully through groups of enemies. It would be more, uhh, satisfying.

 

[Zuwxiv]

My leather light cavalryman only uses a spirited charger because its fast. Maybe in an upcoming version it should be slower to reflect the weight, but right now I think its the second fastest, and the armor ect makes up for one speed point.

And the fighting axe isn't the best weapon, but its the best one handed. That way you can keep a shield, an axe, and if you feel like it, a bow and arrows. But normally I don't carry a bow, because of the encumberance. I can do more damage in melee.

 

[Shellcaster]

I'm using the two handed sword of war atop my spirted charger.

It's deadly against mounted foes. I generally lead the charge and pass through the oncoming enemy at flank speed swiping left and right. I can take out two or three before wheeling and doing it again.

I also carry a spiked mace for taking prisoners and a great lance for running down the foot sloggers and archers.

The mace and charger are a great combination. With practice you can "bump" foot soldiers into dropping their defences and knock them out with the mace in the same action.

 

[drkpagan]

I play with a heavy bardiche, my fav tactic is to charge at someone, and since it's only damach is cut, i ride right next to them and half moon the thing across their head. I kill alot in one hit, never killed two at once though.

 

[Howzer]

Bwuahaha! my favorite technique is to charge a shielded/defending opponent and knock his guard, then "cut his head off" with my Sword of War. I generally do 120-150 on a headshot, unless he has a good helmet, then it's around 100. Other hits i generally get 50-70 damage, and on foot i do 25-40 damage, and 50-65 in the head.

 

[Nairagorn]

I've been using a bardiche also, quite a weapon. Sooooo slooooooow but the reach and damage more than make up for it. I'm pretty sure I've had some double or triple kills with it.

The strategy is different... timing is much more important. With a 2-hand battle axe (single edge, haven't use the double axe yet) I'd pretty much just go in swinging like a madman. The slow bardiche makes defense a bit more critical.

 

[GreenKnight]

I favor the heavy fighting axe myself. Yes, there is something a little inadequate feeling about charging into the fray with a one-handed weapon amidst an army of Vaegir knights, but I could never give up the arrow protection my reinforced Nordic shield gives me. Besides, even one-handed, I've been known to manage a few one hit kills to enemy cavalry in many fights. Mostly against Khergits. I love slaughtering those bums. But I alternate as well. The great lance for picking off infantry when I have a lot of room to charge, and when it's just a style thing, I break out the Nordic sword. Even balanced, its damage is pretty mediocre, but I'm still fond of it.

 

[Nairagorn]

I really really like the 1 handed fighting axe. that offensive power with a shield... possibly the best combination in the game.

Semi OT: I don't like piercing/slashing swords on horseback. Too often I've ridden at the enemy at a gallop, lined up the crosshair on their skull, and taken a little poke with my sword Only lances should do that on horseback.