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.