Guild Wars 2

I really like the axe, I have since launch to be honest. However I forgot this weapon even exists. Have their been any changes announced for HoT

Azure.8670:

Have their been any changes announced for HoT

According to the core spec preview Axe Training will be nerfed! :P

I always thought that Axe could be our go-to Life Siphon weapon.

Autoattack hits so low that it could easily be a siphon.

Axe is actually used in spvp why it’s mid-range attack and it’s skill 2 that deal high damage and grant 12% of lifeforce. But someone prefer the dagger why immobilize and auto attack, but it’s a risky weapon why it’s melee range and our lack if defensive ability and stability.
Sometimes you see it in www but in www 99% of time you use the staff.
In PvE is used only in some situations and if you go direct damage you use dagger.

It just takes too long to do anything, the vul on AA is nice but it’s so slow you’ll die before you stack up any meaningful amount: the 2 is great honestly, but the fact it’s a channel hurts it’s viability horribly because one stun or dodge and you loose a lot of damage. The 3 I love, just wish it granted life force….

Axe needs a bit better of an identity. It doesn’t know exactly what it wants to be, and besides the 3 skill does nothing well.

Rym.1469:

I always thought that Axe could be our go-to Life Siphon weapon.

Autoattack hits so low that it could easily be a siphon.

That would be nice.

Bhawb.7408:

Axe needs a bit better of an identity. It doesn’t know exactly what it wants to be, and besides the 3 skill does nothing well.

The only thing it doesn’t do well is the auto attack, which as it happens is the only reason why scepter or dagger are taken at all. Imagine you had Rending Claws on either scepter or dagger, they’d be the worst weapons ever. But if the axe had either the dagger’s or scepter’s auto attack instead, it would easily be our best weapon.

TheLastNobody.8319:

the 2 is great honestly, but the fact it’s a channel hurts it’s viability horribly because one stun or dodge and you loose a lot of damage.

Arguably that could also be an advantage because if it wasn’t a multi hit channel it would lose its entire damage when stunned or dodged instead of just some of it.
Also, there are other benefits to this, like being semi immune to blindness and having a better chance to proc sigils or traits, especially if they don’t have an icd: Barbed Precision, Chilling Force, vamp traits…

Axe 2 is flat out bad, objectively, compared to every other similar skill.
Ghastly Claws takes 2.25 seconds to deliver 2.88 coefficients of damage, with the utility of 12% LF.
Whirling Wrath does the same damage on up to 5 targets, while also being a whirl finisher
Volley deals more damage at double the range and while being a projectile finisher
Rapid Fire deals significantly more damage, almost a full 1.0 coefficient more, at again double the range, while stacking vuln, and being a projectile finisher
Blurred Frenzy while being the only one to deal less damage, it gives Blur for the full effect
Hundred Blades good ol’ 100b of course roots you for the effect, while dealing almost double the damage of Ghastly Claws cleaving.

Every similar ability except for Blurred Frenzy deals more damage, most of them at similar or higher ranges, with better utility. And these aren’t necessarily on weapons that are considered good either, a lot of these weapons have problems of their own, and are still stronger than Axe. Ghastly Claws is absolutely in need of help, it just flat out doesn’t do enough.

Axe 3 needs a blast finisher. That’s the only way Axe 3 == GM trait makes sense. That’s the only way Axe mastery == cool down reduction for 2 skills makes sense. They have to be very good skills.

Axe 2 is boring, but its fine for what it is.

Axe 1 should hit harder. If it needs to stack less vulnerability, that’s ok.

Axe is probably the worst weapon in the game, but it isn’t too far from being useable.

I did some testing years ago, and it still holds true.

Scepter, with all power gear does more dps then Axe. Or is so close really does not matter, Anet took away the old mist test weapons and the target dummies HP is so low its sometimes hard to tell. But Axe is that bad, scepter as power will drop the target just as fast while having +300 range and better utility.

Axe really does need an identity – it’s identity seems like it was supposed to be team based. Scepter is condition, dagger is power and/or life siphon (which never took off). Axe #3 is clearly “team based” because you get retaliation that scales up with more opponents (which you shouldn’t be fighting multiple opponents unless you’re in a team fight). Axe #2 is whatever but axe #1 is vulnerability which scales for allies.

I think just giving axe #1 cleave and increased damage would fix it, honestly. This has been my favourite weapon to fight with since ever but axe #1 sucks so bad. Maybe give protection or weakness on axe #3 as well as retaliation and cripple? Or give it a stun or a blast finisher, I don’t care.

Do anything to axe, at all.

Just don’t force me into greatsword >.> I like using off-hand dagger for condition removal.

Zefrost.3425:

Axe really does need an identity – it’s identity seems like it was supposed to be team based. Scepter is condition, dagger is power and/or life siphon (which never took off). Axe #3 is clearly “team based” because you get retaliation that scales up with more opponents (which you shouldn’t be fighting multiple opponents unless you’re in a team fight). Axe #2 is whatever but axe #1 is vulnerability which scales for allies.

I think just giving axe #1 cleave and increased damage would fix it, honestly. This has been my favourite weapon to fight with since ever but axe #1 sucks so bad. Maybe give protection or weakness on axe #3 as well as retaliation and cripple? Or give it a stun or a blast finisher, I don’t care.

Do anything to axe, at all.

Just don’t force me into greatsword >.> I like using off-hand dagger for condition removal.

I have to disagree, staff is supposed to be the team support weapon, aoe on every skill. Aoe regen, aoe cc for peels, aoe chill and poison, and 4 used to be a condition transfer from allies (should be again, but not as strong). Axe already fits the role of ranged power weapon it is just terrible at it, mainly cause it’s 600 range. Cripple to help kite, vuln for burst set up, and a burst skill.
The first change that should happen is a buff to 900 range. That automatically gives it a place as a ranged power weapon which nothing fills currently. Then, the auto needs to get reworked and the damage on 2 needs to go up a little. Also, we will be getting 10 short range aoe skills on reaper, probably don’t need anymore.

Bhawb.7408:

Axe 2 is flat out bad, objectively, compared to every other similar skill.
Ghastly Claws takes 2.25 seconds to deliver 2.88 coefficients of damage, with the utility of 12% LF.
Whirling Wrath does the same damage on up to 5 targets, while also being a whirl finisher
Volley deals more damage at double the range and while being a projectile finisher
Rapid Fire deals significantly more damage, almost a full 1.0 coefficient more, at again double the range, while stacking vuln, and being a projectile finisher
Blurred Frenzy while being the only one to deal less damage, it gives Blur for the full effect
Hundred Blades good ol’ 100b of course roots you for the effect, while dealing almost double the damage of Ghastly Claws cleaving.

Every similar ability except for Blurred Frenzy deals more damage, most of them at similar or higher ranges, with better utility. And these aren’t necessarily on weapons that are considered good either, a lot of these weapons have problems of their own, and are still stronger than Axe. Ghastly Claws is absolutely in need of help, it just flat out doesn’t do enough.

To play devils advocate, Ghastly Claws traited produces no projectiles and that can be seen as an advantage, since projectile defense starts to get popular among other classes (we can’t have nice things of course). And the damage always seemed ok, although i wouldn’t mind vuln on it.

Rym’s idea for a good siphon on auto attack seems nice.

Axe AA could stack vulnerability a lot faster. The slow ramp in vulnerability stacking just encourages auto attacking. No finishers also hurts it.

Axe 2 could siphon, too, in addition to LF generation .

Playing Dagger/WH & Axe/Focus my current build evolved from the Hybrid necro (thanks Nemesis) which used scepter as main and axe as the secondary. I found the Axe to be more fun and made a full power build adding more power and toughness to survive close and getting rid of most condition dmg. Also switching in and out of DS for might and more vun stacks. The last part is important because I had intended to use Axe as my main weapon and Dagger as may second. Turns out I went the other way around and now use axe for exactly the same thing as the Hybrid build which is to quickly regain LF and stack vun. But in this build its more to do so while stepping out of melee to readjust or kiting.

The feeling I get with Axe is it’s 3 skills are almost all good.. but that’s the problem. All 3 of them are lacking. Not a lot individually but when all 3 skills on a weapon fall short, even just a little, you stop using that weapon.

1. Rending claws is a good idea. It just always felt slow to me.
2. I personally love Ghastly Claws and in the right circumstances (considering reaper touch can stack a TON of vun in a short time and I stack vun and might in DS) I can burst pretty high with my build and get a ton of LF back too. But under pressure those circumstances don’t always happen.
3. Unholy Feast need more damage and I’d prefer it with better range

All in all Axe is an ok second weapon and having Axe/Focus gives a LOT of Vun stacking with good LF regeneration. It would need some work to be a primary weapon. Not bad as just a utility but sucks if you really like the mid range play style

One of the NA WTS Power Necros is running D/D Axe/WH, which is interesting.

And I will say that focus is just meh to me because spinal shivers is such a slow easy to dodge skill. Yet such a wonderful passive proc.

nekretaal.6485:

Axe is probably the worst weapon in the game, but it isn’t too far from being useable.

Guard shield says HI!

nearlight.3064:

One of the NA WTS Power Necros is running D/D Axe/WH, which is interesting.

And I will say that focus is just meh to me because spinal shivers is such a slow easy to dodge skill. Yet such a wonderful passive proc.

No one takes Focus for Spinal Shivers (maybe when Reaper comes out) but Reapers Touch is a skill worth taking Focus for. Its that good. For a single target I can put 16 stacks of Vun wit 1 skill gain a ton of LF and regeneration to boot. Its a godly skill

Spinal Shiver evem though slow is not bad with boon removal and chill. Its just not ultra spamable..

That said Focus pairs with Axe because in a short time with Reapers Touch and axe1 I can solo stack 25 stacks of vun in a short time. not shabby. If my chill from Spinal hits I’m detroying my target with my dagger/wells in seconds. Not to mention that RT & Axe2 replenish LF super quick

As said before Axe is a good complementing 2nd weapon that could be a primary weapon with tweeks

Bhawb.7408:

Axe 2 is flat out bad, objectively, compared to every other similar skill.
Ghastly Claws takes 2.25 seconds to deliver 2.88 coefficients of damage, with the utility of 12% LF.
Whirling Wrath does the same damage on up to 5 targets, while also being a whirl finisher
Volley deals more damage at double the range and while being a projectile finisher
Rapid Fire deals significantly more damage, almost a full 1.0 coefficient more, at again double the range, while stacking vuln, and being a projectile finisher
Blurred Frenzy while being the only one to deal less damage, it gives Blur for the full effect
Hundred Blades good ol’ 100b of course roots you for the effect, while dealing almost double the damage of Ghastly Claws cleaving.

Every similar ability except for Blurred Frenzy deals more damage, most of them at similar or higher ranges, with better utility. And these aren’t necessarily on weapons that are considered good either, a lot of these weapons have problems of their own, and are still stronger than Axe. Ghastly Claws is absolutely in need of help, it just flat out doesn’t do enough.

To add to this. Whirling Wrath does significantly more damage because it has bonus projectiles which add to the damage. Blurred Frenzy is a really strong way to keep dealing damage when you need to dodge, resulting in no DPS loss from stopping the auto attack (its actually a slight increase). So yeah all those examples are significantly better than ghastly claws.

Akrasia.5469:

nearlight.3064:

One of the NA WTS Power Necros is running D/D Axe/WH, which is interesting.

And I will say that focus is just meh to me because spinal shivers is such a slow easy to dodge skill. Yet such a wonderful passive proc.

No one takes Focus for Spinal Shivers (maybe when Reaper comes out) but Reapers Touch is a skill worth taking Focus for. Its that good. For a single target I can put 16 stacks of Vun wit 1 skill gain a ton of LF and regeneration to boot. Its a godly skill

Spinal Shiver evem though slow is not bad with boon removal and chill. Its just not ultra spamable..

That said Focus pairs with Axe because in a short time with Reapers Touch and axe1 I can solo stack 25 stacks of vun in a short time. not shabby. If my chill from Spinal hits I’m detroying my target with my dagger/wells in seconds. Not to mention that RT & Axe2 replenish LF super quick

As said before Axe is a good complementing 2nd weapon that could be a primary weapon with tweeks

I mean I agree to an extent. I think axe is a good secondary weapon right now if you’re not feeling staff. But you literally just use 2/3 and maybe the offhand skills and switch to dagger, the auto is just bad in pvp if you’re actually trying to kill something. You really don’t have the time to stack vuln, especially in a meta so cleanse heavy that condition necro isn’t even in the meta for anymore. The tourney necro that I mentioned says he uses axe over staff for more damage overall, but he literally only uses the warhorn skills and the 2 skill on axe before switching to dagger, and he takes chill of death over axe training.

The focus has an offensive niche, while the OH dager is defensive, and warhorn is purely utility. I think you have to use the offhand that best fits your needs and wants. The 4 skill is good, and the 5 skill is just too slow to hit. On OH dagger, only the 4 skill is really good, while with WH both skills are good and useful. Thats how I rationalize my choice of offhandfor a power necro.

Still because chill of death exists, and currently the focus trait isn’t work taking, that means you don’t really need the focus, yet you can still get what the focus can offer to an extent. I think the rework to spiteful talisman is a good thing for the weapon, but because there will be a lot more offensive options from the reaper it still won’t see much play. Even though I have doubts about the reaper GS, it still means that there will even less of a reason to use axe when it comes out, as there will simply be more options.

Vizardlorde.8243:

nekretaal.6485:

Axe is probably the worst weapon in the game, but it isn’t too far from being useable.

Guard shield says HI!

Guardian shield has a knock back and on-demand protection. (I’ll neglect to mention the projectile defense because the mechanic is terrible)

All of the guardian offhand weapons are really strong. That Guardian focus does the same job as shield better than shield does, doesn’t make shield bad.

axe is getting nerfed even more in the upcoming trait change, because axe mastery is getting kitten’d good and hard.

Considering Axe mastery is getting the shaft, If you want Axe to be your primary weapon, I don’t think so. Unless they buff the Axe mastery trait between now and release.

However it does combo well with a focus.

Axe will be viable.

1. Don’t use it.
2. ANET sees horrible statistics.
3. ???
4. Rework
5. Profit !

There is no great single-hand weapon choice for necro, at least in wvw. So its not up against a lot of competition and thats what saves it.

Dagger requires melee which is inadvisable in wvw, and scepter is too low damage for power.

Even if dagger is melee its still vastly superior to axe in WvW. Dagger has two ranged skills that are the same range as axe. Dagger 2 does the same damage as axe 2 but it also heals you. So yeah there really is no reason to use an axe ever. Unless you are abusing the weapon power + axe training for DS damage. But after axe training nerf axe will be gone from “viable” uses. And it will be staff/gs for DS weapon power abuse.

Malchior.1928:

Axe will be viable.

1. Don’t use it.
2. ANET sees horrible statistics.
3. ???
4. Rework
5. Profit !

Considering from start, each year, we get a “10% profit buff” on axe – it looks like axe will be viable in early 2020.

Axe needs a major rework. Vulnerability is too cheap and easy to come by, especially with how slow it stacks, and the channel has limited benefit.

you realize they don’t care and wont change that weapon.

spoj.9672:

Even if dagger is melee its still vastly superior to axe in WvW. Dagger has two ranged skills that are the same range as axe. Dagger 2 does the same damage as axe 2 but it also heals you. So yeah there really is no reason to use an axe ever. Unless you are abusing the weapon power + axe training for DS damage. But after axe training nerf axe will be gone from “viable” uses. And it will be staff/gs for DS weapon power abuse.

As a power necro I prefer the lifeforce recharge, so as a #2 axe is > dagger #2. I can always use more lifeforce. Axe #3 is really really good in wvw where dagger #3 is single target so meh. Dagger #1 better damage & effects but its melee so situational use for backliner. If Dagger #1 was ranged I would agree but its not.

Lets be honest both weapons are bad for the back line. You just sit on staff or in DS for that anyway. The point is dagger is far superior when you do get close. And that is going to happen sometimes.

Lifeforce isnt really an issue in WvW as far as i remember. And you have it on dagger auto anyway. Axe 3 is like the only advantage. But its insignificant when you consider how god awful the rest of the weapon is.

I mean sure you can choose to use axe and try to justify it any way you like. But the weapon is beyond bad and thats not going to change unless it gets a rework.

spoj.9672:

Dagger 2 does the same damage as axe 2 but it also heals you.

That’s not true, especially with Axe Training.
And not only is the damage of Ghastly Claws higher, but more importantly: the channel is shorter, the cd is much lower and there is close to no precast on Ghastly Claws while Life Siphon has a windup of about 3 hours.
As for life force vs healing: I’d actually prefer healing but since there’s no life force on the auto auto attack of axe I’m fine with lf regen, which happens to be situationally more reliable that the dagger’s auto attack.

spoj.9672:

The point is dagger is far superior when you do get close. And that is going to happen sometimes.

*IF you get close.
Sometimes (especially in WvW) it’s impossible to get close to your opponent, and sometimes you don’t want to be close even if you could.

spoj.9672:

I mean sure you can choose to use axe and try to justify it any way you like. But the weapon is beyond bad and thats not going to change unless it gets a rework.

Don’t get me wrong, I’ll take any damage buff and a much better trait than our current Axe Mastery, plus a whirl and blast finisher on #2 and 3, and whatever else people have been suggesting. But the real reason why the axe isn’t considered viable is the auto attack. I can argue all day about axe 2+3 being better than dagger’s and scepter’s combined, but there’s absolutely no excuse for Rending Claws.

So when I “justify” using the axe then it’s because I don’t have to use its auto attack. And for my build Ghastly Claws + Unholy Feast simply outperform anything the scepter or dagger could do instead.

Yeah technically axe 2 is slightly better for damage than dagger 2. But generally speaking its about the same. Its not worth noting the difference.

Still dont see how ghastly claws can outperform anything. It has lifeforce going for it. Thats it. It hits like a wet noodle.

I dont think ive ever been in a situation where i cant reach an enemy in WvW where an extra 600 range would help. If you cant catch someone with dagger, axe isnt going to help much either. In a large scale fight you are going to want dagger and staff because of cleave, range and aoe. (the only type of fight i would say you dont want to be near someone). I cant see a single valid use for axe. Its not worth taking just for skill 3. No matter how good that skill is.

Bhawb.7408:

Axe 2 is flat out bad, objectively, compared to every other similar skill.
Ghastly Claws takes 2.25 seconds to deliver 2.88 coefficients of damage, with the utility of 12% LF.
Whirling Wrath does the same damage on up to 5 targets, while also being a whirl finisher
Volley deals more damage at double the range and while being a projectile finisher
Rapid Fire deals significantly more damage, almost a full 1.0 coefficient more, at again double the range, while stacking vuln, and being a projectile finisher
Blurred Frenzy while being the only one to deal less damage, it gives Blur for the full effect
Hundred Blades good ol’ 100b of course roots you for the effect, while dealing almost double the damage of Ghastly Claws cleaving.

Every similar ability except for Blurred Frenzy deals more damage, most of them at similar or higher ranges, with better utility. And these aren’t necessarily on weapons that are considered good either, a lot of these weapons have problems of their own, and are still stronger than Axe. Ghastly Claws is absolutely in need of help, it just flat out doesn’t do enough.

Bwahb I’m surprised at you.

There is one advantage to using the ax. It completely ignores any and all ranged reflects.

So does every other necro weapon except for lifeblast and staff auto. So its not really an advantage. :P

Not unless it gets everything but skill 3 reworked.

Clearly not as they made the auto attack animation make you look autistic. I cry every time.

spoj.9672:

Lets be honest both weapons are bad for the back line. You just sit on staff or in DS for that anyway. The point is dagger is far superior when you do get close. And that is going to happen sometimes.

Lifeforce isnt really an issue in WvW as far as i remember. And you have it on dagger auto anyway. Axe 3 is like the only advantage. But its insignificant when you consider how god awful the rest of the weapon is.

I mean sure you can choose to use axe and try to justify it any way you like. But the weapon is beyond bad and thats not going to change unless it gets a rework.

I think of staff as an AoE version of War’s rifle. Don’t count on it for ranged dps. It’s going to jello.

If staff’s only problem was lack of ranged DPS it would be fine. It also lacks any other kind of usefulness, except that it is less useless than whatever you’d try to replace it with.

spoj.9672:

I dont think ive ever been in a situation where i cant reach an enemy in WvW where an extra 600 range would help. If you cant catch someone with dagger, axe isnt going to help much either. In a large scale fight you are going to want dagger and staff because of cleave, range and aoe. (the only type of fight i would say you dont want to be near someone). I cant see a single valid use for axe. Its not worth taking just for skill 3. No matter how good that skill is.

Not true at all, 600 range often means you get to burst someone down as opposed to standing inside red circles of death. Or to finish people off, say a downed Guardian who’s going to do aoe knockback if you get within melee range, you could safely burst the singled down without getting interrupted. 600 range really do make a huge difference in group vs group or ZvZ situations in WvW.

Between lag and red circles of death, a necro may find it difficult and unwise to get within range to utilize dagger properly. Where as if you use axe/focus combo, focus 4 + axe 2 is a very good combo burst that does not require melee range. You can easily pull it off after the zergs clash, right after you DS 5, 4. Any power necro that do GvG/ZvZ in WvW should take axe as swap to staff, and rotate through the weapons accordingly. Only time I’d recommend dagger in WvW is if you are solo roaming or doing small havoc gank groups.

I’d love to see axe get better, but it’s really a preferred choice for power necros in WvW as a swap to staff.

gavyne.6847:

spoj.9672:

I dont think ive ever been in a situation where i cant reach an enemy in WvW where an extra 600 range would help. If you cant catch someone with dagger, axe isnt going to help much either. In a large scale fight you are going to want dagger and staff because of cleave, range and aoe. (the only type of fight i would say you dont want to be near someone). I cant see a single valid use for axe. Its not worth taking just for skill 3. No matter how good that skill is.

Not true at all, 600 range often means you get to burst someone down as opposed to standing inside red circles of death. Or to finish people off, say a downed Guardian who’s going to do aoe knockback if you get within melee range, you could safely burst the singled down without getting interrupted. 600 range really do make a huge difference in group vs group or ZvZ situations in WvW.

Between lag and red circles of death, a necro may find it difficult and unwise to get within range to utilize dagger properly. Where as if you use axe/focus combo, focus 4 + axe 2 is a very good combo burst that does not require melee range. You can easily pull it off after the zergs clash, right after you DS 5, 4. Any power necro that do GvG/ZvZ in WvW should take axe as swap to staff, and rotate through the weapons accordingly. Only time I’d recommend dagger in WvW is if you are solo roaming or doing small havoc gank groups.

I’d love to see axe get better, but it’s really a preferred choice for power necros in WvW as a swap to staff.

“Burst”. Yeah axe does not have any burst. Dagger has 2 600 range skills. So if you cant kill or snare with those then its over. The snare is better on dagger than on axe. And the 2 is nearly the same damage. I really doubt that 600 range auto attack is going to make the difference. Chances are you will use lifeblast after you use axe 2 and 3. So why are you using axe in the first place when you can use dagger 2 and 3, maybe catch up and melt their face? Or dont catch up and do the same as you would on axe (use DS). They do the same thing in that situation.

spoj.9672:

“Burst”. Yeah axe does not have any burst. Dagger has 2 600 range skills. So if you cant kill or snare with those then its over. The snare is better on dagger than on axe. And the 2 is nearly the same damage. I really doubt that 600 range auto attack is going to make the difference. Chances are you will use lifeblast after you use axe 2 and 3. So why are you using axe in the first place when you can use dagger 2 and 3, maybe catch up and melt their face? Or dont catch up and do the same as you would on axe (use DS). They do the same thing in that situation.

It’s not just about the 600 range skills. Dagger 3 is single target, Axe 3 is aoe. For WvW, any and all type of aoe helps. Hard to argue against aoe cripple, boon stripping, and gaining retaliation all at the same time. And it’s on a shorter timer than Dagger 3.

Also Axe 2 gives lifeforce without having to get in melee range, which synergize well when you’re going through your rotations and have already used DS. You get to burst while gaining some lifeforce, again, without having to step within melee range.

I just realized you don’t WvW, so I don’t even know why I’m trying to explain this to you. Any WvW necros that play in group/zerg situations know axe is preferred over dagger. We’ll just agree to disagree. Thread title is “will axe ever be viable”, and those of us that WvW on a regular basis are simply saying Axe is very much viable right now, it’s actually the preferred choice over dagger if you play GvG or ZvZ in WvW.

Hey just a cool note guys but unholy feast ignores line of sight.

Except you cant finish off people with AOE so its rather pointless. You are only going to be able to use single target attacks after the snare. So a hard snare from dagger 3 is better than a soft snare from axe 3.

Zerg is a zerg so it makes almost no difference. For groups dagger is better. Ive played enough WvW to at least know that much. x)

Its the difference between having a weapon in your hands you can use and a weapon you cant. Axe still isnt great but its useable. Axe #3 excepted.. thats “rock star” move. :P

Vulnerability cap stays at 25.
Therefore, axe still sux and is in need of rework.

The one niche axe has is in a GvG type of environement. Pug zergs aren’t organized or skilled enough that you need to worry about being trained down.

Whole weapon needs reworked.

Anchoku.8142:

Vulnerability cap stays at 25.
Therefore, axe still sux and is in need of rework.

Vuln stacking with axe would suck even if there was no limit.

I honestly think scepter could be better for backlining on a power build than either power weapon. It has a nice big aoe, and it’s 900 range. It almost wins out right there.

Don’t underestimate that 600 range on axe vs dagger. From my experience (been WvW’ing since headstart), it’s literally the difference between getting flattened by the melee train and getting some nice damage in between DS and wells.

That said, I switch between dagger and axe depending on the situation. If the fight requires me to stick a bit to the melee train (for example close quarters in a keep), I’ll switch to dagger. In GvG, I prefer dagger as well for the immobilize and burst down with LB.