Guild Wars 2

I know the offhand axe can see some use alongside a sword main-hand but I have not seen anyone using main-hand axe in a very long time. Has anyone gotten any viable use out of it? What experiences have you had with them?

with torch (or even dagger) + shortbow, you can put together a great condition build.
PvE farning is a cinch.

Might be a good WvW roamer too. Not so helpful in zergs, but ok.

I use it quite a bit when I’m running a condi build.

Axe has been used for a long time.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=p2yMswEWaA4

PvP it is in almost every condition build.

Wvw it is very popular for tagging in zergs.

Pve it has no use.

I use mine when I go bunker/regen ranger. It’s pretty great way of stacking might on your pet if you run the fortifying bond trait. It’s also got great potential to put a lot of stacks of bleed if you use #2 at point blank

Waiting for long to use Axe+Dagger, kind of “Connor” style.
Necro’s autoattack would be nice skill #2 or #3 for us btw.
But if they make it one day, keep it a good melee!! please!!

I only play PvE, and I’ve found that the Axe’s best use there seems to be for tagging in group events. The low cooldown on the 2nd skill and insanely high number of targets makes it great for events like Arah and Grenth.

Also, in terms of DPS, it’s single target is one of the lowest the Ranger has. However, with 2+ enemies, it’s DPS skyrockets, since you essentially hit your main target twice per auto, doubling your damage and stacking might. Unfortunately, few dungeon bosses have enough trash around for you to consistently hit 2 targets, so other weapons tend to outshine it in that regard.

I’m getting somewhat mixed opinions here. Cuzican says PvE farming and no use for PvP or WvW and then Sube Dai says it’s got a place in PvP and WvW but not PvE? I’m always keen to stray from the norm as a player, it’s fun to make something unusual actually work. I mainly use my ranger for both group and solo PvE content, especially open world stuff. Does the axe have a place there or should I stick to GS and LB, a meta that’s getting pretty stale on me now.

Axe is great for tagging if you’re farming PvE or running with a zerg in WvW. Also nice for camps in WvW. A staple in most condition builds. For open world PvE however there’s nothing stopping you from running an Axe/X + GS power build.

I use it a lot in PvE, and not for condi, just straight up killing. The point of mainhand axe is simple – hit the target. Sword is fine and dandy when you’re alone – you need not to worry about mobs’ attention being diverted from you. But when doing group content i often found my ranger was not the main focus of mobs and “sword fighting” in some cases turned into desperate sword chasing, not always sucessful. Also getting rooted by sword made me sitting duck for ranged enemies, while axe auto allows full movement and i need not to be too concerned with my positioning – axe bounces have greater reach then the sword and auto seek enemies, so i need not to manage mobs to pile them together for some cleaves.

So in short when it’s face-to-face – sword. But if it’s a situation when rooting is lethal, or it’s a bunch of mobs that’s on a move and i need to reliably hit few of them – then axe it is, for it’s awesome bounce.

WvW I use axe / torch. Like someone said above it has its place. Zergs you are getting some AoE. That means bags.

Flipping camps? Trap, entangle, fire, AoE axe = short work of camp.

I’m finding my Ranger is much that of my Guardian. You will end up with multiple sets of weapons at the end of the day. Then you will use more than others once you find your comfort zone or favorite build.

Honestly that is why I’ve not made any ascended armor pieces yet on either of my main characters because I really haven’t found a set that would work for all builds I run. And I have two ascended weapon boxes that I’ve yet to use for the same reason

Axe is good. I use it but that is just me.

Yeh I will clarify my statement by saying that it is good for tagging in PvE.

If max damage is not a concern then it is superior to everything short of a bow hitting 5 targets with piercing arrows.

People used to run S/T and A/D a lot. Not sure if they still do. I used to use MH axe quite a bit, but now I am becoming more fond of my SB.

Remus Darkblight.1673:

I’m getting somewhat mixed opinions here. Cuzican says PvE farming and no use for PvP or WvW and then Sube Dai says it’s got a place in PvP and WvW but not PvE? I’m always keen to stray from the norm as a player, it’s fun to make something unusual actually work. I mainly use my ranger for both group and solo PvE content, especially open world stuff. Does the axe have a place there or should I stick to GS and LB, a meta that’s getting pretty stale on me now.

MH axe currently shines in condi builds, meaning it has a place in pvp and wvw roaming. People mention pve farming because the autoattack allows easy tagging of mobs.

As far as pve go, FrostSpotter and sword is (almost) all you want for dungeons. Other than that do whatever you want, no one cares what you’re running in open pve. If you wanna use axe for open world, then use axe. It’s designed to be a hybrid weapon, so you can easily come up with a decent open world build for it.

It’s my primary weapon for AOE tagging in a PVE zerg.

My BM/condi build uses dual Axe and S/D. Pretty fun, especially in WvW.

Axe based Beast master is my favorite build in zergs. I play it with GS and basically how it works is:

Stack might with axe, send in pet from the flank and get it inside enemy zerg. It’ll start doing 2k autos and you can sit there and laugh because no one actively focuses a pet in zergs. You do have to be very careful avoiding the initial well bomb or your pet is dead in half a second. The pets I use are river drake for cleave and lightning breath, and a snow owl for the single target deeps.

The GS I use more like as a finisher or a defensive weapon. Dat 7k maul on 5 low health targets is just glorious. For defense you have a block and stun, plus you can leap through healing spring for 2x healing burst.