Two Handed Axes

Skill Overview

The axe, as a tool and as a weapon, has existed since long before the cataclysm and is said to be almost as old as the spear or the bow. The first examples of recorded history show axes in use in many domestic and agricultural roles, most notably in construction and woodcutting. Their place in warfare is equally ancient, and several surviving military textbooks from as early as the reign of Tulcas detail their proper use on the battlefield. Most primitive axes were almost always wood hafted weapons, the heads of which were made of carved bone, or stone chipped to an edge. Bronze heads and shafts came about much later and were common by the time of the founding of the Republic. More recently, increasing numbers of axes are making good use of the strength of iron and boisin since the typical small axe-head requires less metal to craft than most gladii and even some fighting dirks.

In combat, the preferred axe is usually a one-handed variant with a single blade. Two-handed axes are not unheard of, but because of the skill and sheer strength required to successfully wield such a weapon in combat they are not common outside of logging. There are exceptions, however. The Blackroots are well known for their two-handed battle-axes and have a distinct fighting style for their use. (Blackroot tribesmen are also generally much stronger than the denizens of surrounding lands and so are more capable of handling such large axes in combat).

The main advantages of the axe, as opposed to simply using a sword or club-type weapon, are that the axe is better at chopping and slashing than a blunt weapon and can typically cause more grievous wounds than a sword. On the other hand, the axe is a poor defensive weapon and is more unwieldy and slower in use than a well-balanced gladius. Usually, if the bearer of the axe is inexperienced or poorly trained, it's a trivial matter for a skilled swordsman to get inside of the axe's arc and stab away. However, given an experienced wielder who knows how to use it, an axe can be a very deadly weapon.

For guidance on using the skill set, see the Two Handed Axes Guide.

Skill Info Ranks Taught by Trainer
Skills/Actions Difficulty Hands Range Wound Prerequisite Clobris Hroth
Two-Handed Axes - - - - - 300 500
2H Axe Wide Grip Stance Easy 2 - - - 90 175
2H Axe Basic Slash Easy 2 Either Cut - 300 500
2H Axe Chop Easy 2 Either Cut - 300 500
2H Axe Haft Strike Easy 2 Short Bruise - 300 500
2H Axe Swat Easy 2 Short Bruise - 300 500
2H Axe Cross Chop Average 2 Either Cut 20 Ranks in 2H Axe Chop
20 Ranks in 2H Axe Overhead Chop		 300 500
2H Axe Hip Slash Average 2 Either Cut Wide Grip Stance
20 Ranks in 2H Axe Basic Slash		 300 500
2H Axe Overhead Chop Average 2 Either Cut 20 Ranks in 2H Axe Chop 300 500
2H Axe Stepping Slash Average 2 Either Cut 30 Ranks in 2H Axe Basic Slash 300 500
2H Axe Woodcutter Slash Average 2 Short Cut - 300 500
2H Axe Backhand Strike Difficult 2 Short Pierce - 300 500
2H Axe Falling Strike Difficult 2 Short Cut 10 Ranks in 2H Axe Chop 300 500
2H Axe Haft Sap Difficult 2 Short Bruise 10 Ranks in 2H Axe Haft Strike 300 500
2H Axe Up Slash Difficult 2 Either Cut 10 Ranks in 2H Axe Chop
10 Ranks in 2H Axe Basic Slash		 300 500
2H Axe Feint Average 2 Short - - 300 500
2H Axe Swinging Disarm Average 2 Short - - 100 175
2H Axe Hook Average 2 Short - - 300 500
2H Axe Ankle Hook Difficult 2 Short - - 300 500
2H Axe Arm Hook Difficult 2 Short - - 300 500
2H Axe Crossing Block Easy 2 - - - 300 500
2H Axe Haft Block Average 2 - - - 300 500
2H Axe Head Block Difficult 2 - - - 300 500
2H Axe Swat Block Difficult 2 - - - 300 500
2H Axe Accuracy Difficult - - - - 100 100
2H Axe Grip Impossible - - - - 100 100

Directions to Clobris (Iridine): Walk to Bronze Lane, Ex2, NEx2, Nx1, Ex6, Sx1
Directions to Hroth (Stromheim): Travel to Stromheim through the Rock Valley wilderness.

Additional Notes

  • Pick axes will modify moves that inflict CUT damage to instead inflict PIERCE damage.

Skill Details

#2H Axe Wide Grip Stance wgrip

A combat stance to set warriors apart from lumberjacks, this posture will help the user land their blows more easily.

When you see this in use you see:

Hroth spaces his hands wide apart on the haft of his two-handed tin axe, squatting slightly and leaning forward with his shoulders.

#2H Axe Basic Slash slash <target>

A basic slashing maneuver that is the foundation of many more advanced slashing techniques. Aims at the midsection by default.

When you see this in use you see:

Hroth makes a wide horizontal slash at a thug with his two-handed tin axe, but misses.

#2H Axe Chop chop <target>

A basic chopping maneuver which is the foundation of more advanced chopping techniques. Aims at the upper body by default and cannot be aimed at the lower body.

When you see this in use you see:

Hroth raises his two two-handed tin axe above his head and chops down at a thug, but misses.

#2H Axe Haft Strike strike <target>

A basic technique of rotating the haft of the axe forward to inflict a bludgeoning attack at a target. Aims at the midsection by default.

When you see this in use you see:

Hroth slides his lower hand up the grip of his two-handed tin axe and swings the haft at a thug, but misses.

#2H Axe Swat swat <target>

A basic technique of swatting at a target with the head of the axe to inflict bludgeoning damage. Aims at the upper body by default.

When you see this in use you see:

Shifting his grip on his two-handed tin axe apart, Hroth swats downward at a thug with the head, but misses.

#2H Axe Cross Chop cchop <target>

An angular chop that packs more of a punch that a basic chop. Aims at the upper body by default.

When you see this in use you see:

Clobris lifts the tip of his two-handed tin axe and turns, making a swift downwards diagonal chop at a thug, but misses.

#2H Axe Hip Slash hslash <target>

An advanced slashing technique in which the user rotates their upper body to add more force to the swing, dealing higher damage than a basic slash. Aims at the midsection by default.

When you see this in use you see:

Hroth slides his grip on his two-handed tin axe together and twists with his hips, swinging a wide-arced slash at thug, but misses.

#2H Axe Overhead Chop overhead <target>

A chopping technique with its roots in splitting logs for firewood, this technique has the user hoist the entirety of the axe above their head and bring it down with full force to inflict massive damage. Aims at the upper body by default and cannot be aimed at the lower body.

When you see this in use you see:

Hroth lifts his two-handed tin axe high above his head holding it at the base of the haft with both hands, before leaning forwards and directing a heavy chop at a thug, but misses.

#2H Axe Stepping Slash sslash <target>

This maneuver has the highest damage potential of any single move for the weapon. Aims at the midsection by default. Cannot be used in Berserk posture and will change the user's posture one step towards Berserk.

When you see this in use you see:

Stepping forward aggressively, Clobris swings his two-handed tin axe in a heavy-handed slash aimed at a thug! He suffers a cut to his left thigh.

#2H Axe Woodcutter Slash break

This maneuver allows the user to target a shield and damage it. The higher the ranks in the maneuver, the more damage will be done to the shield. You may still use the skill on a non-shielded opponent. Aims at the midsection by default. Note: Woodcutter Slash cannot trigger follow-through hits from the Cunning Opportunist trait.

When you see this in use you see:

Clobris plants his feet into the ground, draws back his two-handed tin axe, then twists into a wide, heavy slash aimed at a thug, but misses

#2H Axe Backhand Strike bstrike <target>

This maneuver reverses the slashing movement of a previous strike, and can only be used after a slashing attack. Aims at the midsection by default.

When you see this in use you see:

With his weapon turned, Hroth stabs suddenly at a thug with the butt end of his two-handed tin axe, but misses.

#2H Axe Falling Strike pchop <target>

A parting attack in which the user chops down at their target before stepping to a safe distance away from them. Aims at the midsection by default.

When you see this in use you see:

Clobris steps back, slides both hands to the butt end of his two-handed tin axe, then brings it up, over and down at a thug in heavy longarm strike!

#2H Axe Haft Sap sap <target>

Powerful bludgeon attack that has the potential to stun an opponent when it lands. Aims at the target's head and cannot be aimed elsewhere.

When you see this in use you see:

Hroth slides both hands together near the head of his two-handed tin axe, then snaps the haft towards a thug! He suffers a bruise to his head.

#2H Axe Up Slash uslash <target>

This maneuver reverses the momentum of a downward strike, slashing back upward at the opponent. Aims at the midsection by default.

When you see this in use you see:

Twisting the angle of his two-handed tin axe's blade, Hroth slashes upward at a thug, but misses.

#2H Axe Feint feint <target>

A basic technique to fake the target out with a swift thrust with the goal of disrupting the target's guard. Aims at the midsection by default.

When you see this in use you see:

Clobris leans forward, feigning a thrust at thug with his two-handed tin axe.

#2H Axe Swinging Disarm fling <axe>

A technique to employ when a user's axe is snared to an opponent's weapon, arm, or ankle to follow-up with a variety effects depending on what the weapon is snared to. The move can also be used defensively when the user's axe is snared by an opponent's weapon-snaring move.

When you see this in use you see:

Clobris twists suddenly, swinging his two-handed tin axe free and knocking a thug off balance!
Clobris twists suddenly, swinging his two-handed tin axe free and flinging a nicked dagger to the side!

#2H Axe Hook hook

A maneuver in which the user attempts to snare an opponent's weapon with their axe. Successful follow-ups of Swinging Disarm will attempt to disarm the opponent, potentially flinging their weapon to the ground.

When you see this in use you see:

Clobris makes a wide swing at a thug, but misses.
Clobris makes a wide swing at a thug. He manages to cast the blade of his two-handed tin axe over the tin dagger of a thug, hooking it tightly!

#2H Axe Ankle Hook pin <target>

A technique in which the user attempt to snare an opponent's ankle with their weapon. Successful follow-ups of Swinging Disarm will attempt to topple an opponent over, leaving them in a prone. The maneuver will damage the target's foot if the move is successful but does not fully snare the target.

When you see this in use you see:

Clobris aims a horizontal swing at a thug's feet, but misses.
Clobris aims a horizontal swing at a thug's feet. His two-handed tin axe fails to catch his feet but cuts viciously across a thug nonetheless.
Clobris aims a horizontal swing at a thug's feet. He manages to hook the blade of his two-handed tin axe onto his ankle.

#2H Axe Arm Hook ahook <target>

A technique in which the user attempt to snare an opponent's arm with their weapon. Successful follow-ups of Swinging Disarm will attempt to bring an opponent to their knees, leaving them in a kneeling stance. The maneuver will damage the target's arm if the move is successful but does not fully snare the target.

When you see this in use you see:

Clobris aims a wide overhead swing at a thug's arm. He manages to hook the blade of his two-handed tin axe onto his forearm and twists, binding it tightly!

#2H Axe Crossing Block

A blocking technique to deflect most stabbing attacks aimed at the user with the haft of the axe.

When you see this in use you see:

Hroth holds his two-handed tin axe vertically and swings it in front of him, blocking the attack.

#2H Axe Haft Block

A basic blocking technique to deflect most slashing attacks against the user with the haft of the axe.

When you see this in use you see:

Hroth blocks the attack with the haft of his two-handed tin axe.

#2H Axe Head Block

An advanced technique using the head of the axe to deflect various attacks normally difficult to avoid aimed at the user.

When you see this in use you see:

Hroth raises the head of his two-handed tin axe in front of him, deflecting the attack.

#2H Axe Swat Block

An advanced defensive technique in which the user swings their axe to swat oncoming attacks away with the head of the axe. Particularly useful for many techniques attackers will use to try and target the user's axe.

When you see this in use you see:

Hroth uses the broad head of his two-handed tin axe to knock aside the attack with a brute-force swat!

#2H Axe Accuracy

With enough training in Accuracy, you are able to raise your perception in combat situations. A grandmaster in this skill will be equivalent to low-end great perception.

When you see this in use you see:

(This is a passive skill that improves your perception, making it easier to hit targets.)

#2h Axe Grip

With enough training in Grip, you are able to raise your dexterity in combat situations. A grandmaster in this skill will be equivalent to low-end great dexterity.

When you see this in use you see:

(This is a passive skill that improves your dexterity, making it significantly easier to hit targets.)

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