# One-handed Axe weapon class: un-viable attack speed **URL:** \ **Category:** Wicked Feedback\ **Tags:** weapons\ **Created:** [July 25, 2025, 7:58am UTC](https://forum.norestforthewicked.com/t/one-handed-axe-weapon-class-un-viable-attack-speed/19987 "2025-07-25T07:58:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ylineuvos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/71e660/32.png) [@Ylineuvos](https://forum.norestforthewicked.com/u/Ylineuvos)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2025, 7:58am UTC](https://forum.norestforthewicked.com/t/one-handed-axe-weapon-class-un-viable-attack-speed/19987/1 "2025-07-25T07:58:15Z")
One handed axes as a weapon class feel very weird. They are a great middle ground between heavier and faster weapons, but at the moment suffer from a very sluggish attack speed. I think the best example in my game time (120 ish hours on steam) is the Hunter’s axe, which Filmore sells in the very beginning. It has a great, wide attack string, that can’t correctly shine since most mobs will be able to react even before the first hit connects. It feels this way even after using an exalted willow ring for +15% overall speed. For an introductory weapon to a whole item class, it leaves a really bad taste since the first available Cleric’s mace is a LOT quicker to use. Several other axes have a rather odd attack string animation, that doesn’t really fit the archetype of axe wielding (Imo). I’m basing these views on a small period of HEMA training especially with axes and shields. Bungling and over the top haymakers fit great-weapon classes much better comparing to a one-handed layman hunter’s armament. This also makes the axes with more eccentric attack strings inefficient in restoring focus. I have two suggestions for this: 1. Give a noticeable bonus to attack speed for the whole weapon class. Making axes at least as fast as 1h hammers/maces would make them much more enticing choice. 2. Possibly add a 3rd strike to axes with only 2 attack strings. Weapon animations are the lifeblood of weapon popularity, and giving more choices increases replayability value. (also it would just make me quite happy!) ---
**Author:** ![veleslav27](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex003/user_avatar/forum.norestforthewicked.com/veleslav27/32/4877_2.png) [@veleslav27](https://forum.norestforthewicked.com/u/veleslav27)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2025, 8:20am UTC](https://forum.norestforthewicked.com/t/one-handed-axe-weapon-class-un-viable-attack-speed/19987/2 "2025-07-25T08:20:14Z")
Axes totally suck and you are on point when it comes to reasons - speed and movesets. Why are they slower than maces? Shouldn’t they be faster if they are a middle ground betwen maces and swords? And their attack patterns are really weird - why is Tongue Splitter’s whole attack pattern about stabbing? How? Who came up with that? Please Moon, change this asap, axes are getting the short end of the stick one again. ---
**Author:** ![Silas-Inservio-Pax](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex003/user_avatar/forum.norestforthewicked.com/silas-inservio-pax/32/10458_2.png) [@Silas-Inservio-Pax](https://forum.norestforthewicked.com/u/Silas-Inservio-Pax)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2025, 9:37am UTC](https://forum.norestforthewicked.com/t/one-handed-axe-weapon-class-un-viable-attack-speed/19987/3 "2025-07-25T09:37:07Z")
I would love to see axes get revised in totality. As Vel mentioned it does not make sense they are slower than hammers/maces. If weapons do not have a charged attack I refuse to use them outright, they serve no purpose for me, what is up with that? I’d like 1h-weapons to follow much stricter rules with exceptions possible of course; Swords fastest (rapiers a level above that of course) Axes a good middleground. Hammers/maces slowest with damage to compensate. ---
**Author:** ![ShortCat](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex003/user_avatar/forum.norestforthewicked.com/shortcat/32/10265_2.png) [@ShortCat](https://forum.norestforthewicked.com/u/ShortCat)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2025, 8:15pm UTC](https://forum.norestforthewicked.com/t/one-handed-axe-weapon-class-un-viable-attack-speed/19987/4 "2025-07-25T20:15:55Z")
I support the claim that one handed axes can have thematically awkward animations with a lot of stabbing. On the other hand, the claim that all 1H axes are slow and underperforming is not true. In NRFTW every weapon class has bad as well as great varaints; so does the 1H axe weapon class: - The **Hunter’s Axe** , the introductory weapon of this class, is indeed a\*\*. It is slow and unwieldy. - **Royal Hewn Axe** is a 2-line joke. - **Tongue Splitter** is an even bigger joke…that’s not funny. - **Reclaimer** - that should have been the first axe you find in the game. - **Ripper** is also slow, however its charge attacks are just slightly faster than regular attacks and save the weapon from being unuseable. - **Boarskin Tusk** is a fast 1H axe. Unfortunatelly it has no charge attacks. - **Shroudcleaver** is even faster. It even has charge attacks. The first charge attack has a brocken hitbox though and cannot hit anything. - **Jade-Spined Axe** is S-tier. ---
**Author:** ![Ylineuvos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/71e660/32.png) [@Ylineuvos](https://forum.norestforthewicked.com/u/Ylineuvos)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2025, 6:12am UTC](https://forum.norestforthewicked.com/t/one-handed-axe-weapon-class-un-viable-attack-speed/19987/5 "2025-07-26T06:12:24Z")
Valid, good points! A lot of the better axes mentioned are ones that haven’t yet dropped for me. Hence my view (Boarskin tusk excluded, running with it atm) Perhaps leaving the better axes as is, but bringing the lower performance ones on par would be a better suggestion. ---
**Author:** ![Junn](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex003/user_avatar/forum.norestforthewicked.com/junn/32/7454_2.png) [@Junn](https://forum.norestforthewicked.com/u/Junn)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2025, 8:15pm UTC](https://forum.norestforthewicked.com/t/one-handed-axe-weapon-class-un-viable-attack-speed/19987/6 "2025-07-26T20:15:16Z")
I think that weapons should be balanced also according to damage, poise and aoe. Rappiers are focused as singe target weapons, and affects the gameplay because you need to deal wirh foes 1 by 1. While other weapons are entirely focused on aoe damage like scynthes. So weapons speed isn’t the only factor to consider. Anyways, I do think that some weapons are not worth at all and need balance, but balancing is very complex because beside these factors you have a moveset: some does charge attack and roll atack and others don’t, some have 3-4 combo moveset and others only 2.