Battle Ax?

[Xandyr]

I've not played battle ax since live (like issue 2), so I don't remember much about it. And I honestly don't recall seeing a single tank on homecoming with Battle Ax.

 So....it's that bad?

[Dark Dove]

12 minutes ago, Xandyr said:

I've not played battle ax since live (like issue 2), so I don't remember much about it. And I honestly don't recall seeing a single tank on homecoming with Battle Ax.

 So....it's that bad?

It's not in the running for the best attack sets.  It isn't that bad though, it plays a lot like War Mace but has more knockdown slotting so you can take advantage of more Force Feedback procs if you'd like, which makes the set feel pretty solid after a certain point.  It may be one of the worst sets comparatively but it is entirely playable still, it just doesn't shine as bright as the other sets.  Has good single target and AoE mix, and plenty of crunchy effects and control which is great on a tanker.

 

Go for it!

[catsi563]

I have an Ice Axe tank and shes absolutely brutal

 

Axe is a stronger set IMO then people tend to give it credit for, like DD says above it does play a bit like war mace its  abit slow on the draw and end heavy but it hits like a truck .   its also got 2 solid AOEs  on it

 

Axe also pairs well with pretty much any of the armor sets so youve got a glut of choices to use with it

[Haijinx]

Mace is almost the same but better. 

[csr]

My issues with Battle Axe on a Tanker are:

1.   You have to take Beheader, which sucks.  If you choose to go high recharge it's a wasted power pick.  If you choose to use it, then it lowers your DPS.
2.   Gash and Chop, which are simply better versions of Beheader.  So not much variety there.
3.   Swoop does major KU, so unless you're flying you tend to lose time and DPS waiting for the target to come back down.  And it's DPA just isn't good enough to justify that.
4.   Pendulum ignores the Tanker inherent arc buff since it's already at 180 degrees.  It should have been changed to 120 degrees and the Damage scaled to reflect that.

 

The combination of 1 and 2 means you don't get an interesting attack until level 16. 

Edited January 2, 2021 by csr

[Brutal Justice]

I feel like it’s a middle road performer.  The biggest issues I have with it are:

 

1.  It shares the same animations with mace and broadsword

 

2.  Considering 1.  Mace just does more damage, combine that with how smashing seems to be better than lethal at the late game.  

 

3.  Broadsword tanks get to take hack and skip the lame power while battle axe is stuck with

Beheader

 

4.  Broadsword also has parry.  

 

But really if it had unique animations I would roll one right now.  Unfortunately I already have a lvl 50 broadsword tank and a lvl 50 mace Bane so I don’t want to play another toon with the exact same animations again.  

[GastlyGibus]

I'll give the same answer I give to every question about powerset performance. There are no bad sets. There are only good sets and great sets.

Battle Axe is one of the good but not great sets. As others have noted, it's not the best, not by a long shot, but keep in mind that's coming from a perspective of min-maxing, which is not necessary in this game to be effective. Sure, you won't be putting out as much damage as other tanks, but that doesn't mean it's bad or worthless.

My best suggestion would be to roll one yourself and see how it fits for you. 

[Warboss]

I ran axers pretty regularly on live. Haven't really played them a lot here as the set is pretty "ho-hum" compared to about everything else. I do think the IO procs help, but overall the set would benefit greatly from a minor buff to recharge and damage. Alternately a moderate buff to recharge wouldn't be bad either.

[Haijinx]

4 hours ago, GastlyGibus said:

I'll give the same answer I give to every question about powerset performance. There are no bad sets. There are only good sets and great sets.
 

Except Regen

 

And Energy Melee.  Opps.  That one got fixed.   So just Regen. 

[Xandyr]

Re-made the very first toon I ever made on live...fire/ba tank.

 Pendulum hits EVERYTHING. The knockup/knockdowns aren't bad...they help a little with mitigation.  I just like carrying a big 'ol ax.

[loyalreader]

On 1/3/2021 at 11:48 PM, Haijinx said:

Except Regen

 

Nerf regen. 

 

(I apologize for the late reply)

[Troo]

Foul!

FOUL!!!

[Hyperstrike]

Invuln Axe (Build 2: Tanky Boogaloo)

 

Spoiler

Hero Plan by Mids' Reborn : Hero Designer 3.0.0.0
https://github.com/Reborn-Team/Hero-Designer

Click this DataLink to open the build!

Invax2 NewIO Boogaloo: Level 50 Magic Tanker
Primary Power Set: Invulnerability
Secondary Power Set: Battle Axe
Power Pool: Fighting
Power Pool: Leaping
Power Pool: Speed
Power Pool: Teleportation
Ancillary Pool: Soul Mastery

Hero Profile:
Level 1: Resist Physical Damage -- RctArm-ResDam(A), RctArm-ResDam/EndRdx(3), RctArm-ResDam/Rchg(3), RctArm-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(5), StdPrt-ResDam/Def+(5), GldArm-3defTpProc(7)
Level 1: Beheader -- SprMghoft-Acc/Dmg(A), SprMghoft-Dmg/Rchg(7), SprMghoft-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(9), SprMghoft-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(9), SprMghoft-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(11), SprMghoft-Rchg/Res%(11)
Level 2: Temp Invulnerability -- UnbGrd-ResDam(A), UnbGrd-ResDam/EndRdx(13), UnbGrd-Rchg/ResDam(13), UnbGrd-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(15)
Level 4: Gash -- SprGntFis-Acc/Dmg(A), SprGntFis-Dmg/Rchg(19), SprGntFis-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(19), SprGntFis-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(21), SprGntFis-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(21), SprGntFis-Rchg/+Absorb(23)
Level 6: Dull Pain -- DctWnd-Heal/Rchg(A), NmnCnv-Heal/Rchg(23)
Level 8: Resist Elements -- RctArm-ResDam(A), RctArm-ResDam/EndRdx(25), RctArm-ResDam/Rchg(25), RctArm-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(27)
Level 10: Taunt -- PrfZng-Dam%(A)
Level 12: Unyielding -- UnbGrd-ResDam(A), UnbGrd-ResDam/EndRdx(27), UnbGrd-Rchg/ResDam(29), UnbGrd-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(29)
Level 14: Resist Energies -- RctArm-ResDam(A), RctArm-ResDam/EndRdx(31), RctArm-ResDam/Rchg(31), RctArm-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(31)
Level 16: Kick -- FrcFdb-Rechg%(A)
Level 18: Invincibility -- LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A), LucoftheG-Def(33), ShlWal-ResDam/Re TP(33), Rct-ResDam%(33)
Level 20: Build Up -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(34)
Level 22: Tough -- UnbGrd-ResDam(A), UnbGrd-ResDam/EndRdx(34), UnbGrd-Rchg/ResDam(34), UnbGrd-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(36)
Level 24: Weave -- LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A), LucoftheG-Def(36)
Level 26: Tough Hide -- LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A), LucoftheG-Def(36)
Level 28: Whirling Axe -- SprAvl-Acc/Dmg(A), SprAvl-Dmg/EndRdx(37), SprAvl-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(37), SprAvl-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(37), SprAvl-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(39), SprAvl-Rchg/KDProc(39)
Level 30: Combat Jumping -- LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A), LucoftheG-Def(39)
Level 32: Hasten -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(40)
Level 35: Swoop -- SprBlsCol-Acc/Dmg(A), SprBlsCol-Dmg/EndRdx(40), SprBlsCol-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(40), SprBlsCol-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(42), SprBlsCol-Dmg/EndRdx/Acc/Rchg(42), SprBlsCol-Rchg/HoldProc(42)
Level 38: Cleave -- Erd-Acc/Rchg(A), Erd-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(43), Erd-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(43), ClvBlo-Acc/Dmg(43), ClvBlo-Dmg/EndRdx(45), ClvBlo-Dmg/Rchg(45)
Level 41: Pendulum -- Erd-Acc/Rchg(A), Erd-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(45), Erd-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(46), ClvBlo-Acc/Dmg(46), ClvBlo-Dmg/EndRdx(46), ClvBlo-Dmg/Rchg(48)
Level 44: Gloom -- SprWntBit-Acc/Dmg(A), SprWntBit-Dmg/Rchg(48), SprWntBit-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(48), SprWntBit-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(50), SprWntBit-Dmg/EndRdx/Acc/Rchg(50), SprWntBit-Rchg/SlowProc(50)
Level 47: Super Jump -- WntGif-ResSlow(A)
Level 49: Teleport Target -- RechRdx-I(A)
Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Gauntlet
Level 1: Prestige Power Dash -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Prestige Power Slide -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Prestige Power Quick -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Prestige Power Rush -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Prestige Power Surge -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Sprint -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A)
Level 4: Ninja Run
Level 2: Swift -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Health -- Pnc-Heal/+End(A), NmnCnv-Regen/Rcvry+(15), Mrc-Rcvry+(17)
Level 2: Hurdle -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Stamina -- PrfShf-End%(A), PrfShf-EndMod(17)
Level 50: Resilient Core Paragon
------------

 

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[Nemu]

I made a thread on Axe/Ninjitsu Scrapper which is a lot of fun. Axe lives in the shadow of mace but it's not half bad, everything does knock down/up so you can make liberal use of force feedback procs. It has a better feel imo than mace because knockup/down is FUN and visceral and of course the FF procs triggering adds to that feeling of fun when you see it happen. Scrapper criticals helps with the lethal damage and you won't feel lacking in your contributions. Tanker AoE changes doesn't really benefit Axe much, so it plays better on a scrapper.

 

 

[Golden Azrael]

Axe is fun.  Has knockdown.

 

Did it on my Brute all the way to L50.

 

It's uncompromising.

 

Comparing it to War Mace?  (Also fun.)  Why bother.  There's always somebody with a bigger one.

 

If you roll a Shield Def'/Axe, you'll do mighty fine.

 

Azrael.

[MrAxe]

On 1/2/2021 at 6:51 PM, catsi563 said:

I have an Ice Axe tank and shes absolutely brutal

Is that with or without an expensive build? I'm finally getting around to saving for and expensive build for mine (about time, was my old main on live) and he's far weaker than my other tanks when comparing standard IO builds.

[catsi563]

3 hours ago, MrAxe said:

Is that with or without an expensive build? I'm finally getting around to saving for and expensive build for mine (about time, was my old main on live) and he's far weaker than my other tanks when comparing standard IO builds.

She held up nicely before I got her an IO build with just SOs EA basically mitigates all end issues, and ices slow effect bolsters the defense of which makes ice a solid defense combined with  Axe hitting like a truck so damage wasnt generally an issue.

only real issues i have are when trying to gather a bunch together to hit EA with for the big defense boost if i wait too long or i goof and dont use hibernation fast enough and the mobs get some good RNG you can take it on the chin, But beyond that its one of the more fun builds to play in my experience

[Golden Azrael]

On 1/3/2021 at 11:48 PM, GastlyGibus said:

I'll give the same answer I give to every question about powerset performance. There are no bad sets. There are only good sets and great sets.

Battle Axe is one of the good but not great sets. As others have noted, it's not the best, not by a long shot, but keep in mind that's coming from a perspective of min-maxing, which is not necessary in this game to be effective. Sure, you won't be putting out as much damage as other tanks, but that doesn't mean it's bad or worthless.

My best suggestion would be to roll one yourself and see how it fits for you. 

 

I teamed my Brute Axe/Shield with a Brute Mace/Regen'.  Two good attack sets.  And on a brute, you hit progressively harder.

 

Brutal stuff.

 

As for an Ice/Axe tank.  I could see that working well.  They fall over on ice patch whilst you axe them into Oxo cubes.

 

Azrael.

Edited March 1, 2022 by Golden Azrael