Axe vs. Other Single Target Weapons
Because Anet is focusind on LS Singelplayer storyinstances, not on balance. There are alot weapon/traits/utility corpes in the game since release.
All classes suffer from it.
What I gather is that axe is not a power weapon but a minionmancer weapon. For power or dps, use dagger; conditions use scepter, and so forth. The only area axe shows some effectiveness is with a MM build.
First immobilize on target (#3), stack vulnerability (AA), allow your minions to tear at target, then hit target with the #2 channel skill to down it. This does work well. Without minions, the axe doesn’t fare so well.
Its range is too short for its low damage. It requiring a target is potentially a huge disadvantage. Not being projectile based is an advantage but if you cant hit people when you lose target then its kind of weak. Projectile weapons can atleast be fired once the target is lost.
I’ve taken it upon myself to getting used to dagger main-hand builds rather than the axe that I’ve used for 2 years. The thing with dagger is… blood magic will get fixed/buffed one day, which will be huge, but nothing about the axe is going to be buffed anymore (most likely).
Because Anet is focusind on LS Singelplayer storyinstances, not on balance. There are alot weapon/traits/utility corpes in the game since release.
All classes suffer from it.
Pretty much this. Mesmer GS, Ele Staff and Ranger LB (now) are very powerful. Like the Guardian Scepter, its is awful, but is the only option to DPS as ranged (Staff is oriented to only utility/support).
They should give up a little on LS and focus a little more on balance, PvP and WvW. There are tons of useless traits, skills, entire weapons skill set (like Guardian Shield) and so on. The PvP is getting some love but the WvW will continue to be a mess. Sadly.
Sorry for my english.