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Is the Gargoyle’s Black Axe Good in Elden Ring? A Deep Dive

The Gargoyle’s Black Axe in Elden Ring is a solid weapon for players building a Strength, Dexterity, and Faith hybrid character. Its primary appeal lies in its ability to deal holy damage on top of physical, making it effective against certain enemy types. It’s particularly useful for heavy attacks, which can stagger opponents and open them up for critical strikes. However, its effectiveness is heavily reliant on stat investment and understanding its scaling. It’s not a top-tier weapon, but it’s certainly viable and can be quite powerful in the right hands.

Understanding the Gargoyle’s Black Axe

The Gargoyle’s Black Axe is a greataxe dropped by the Black Blade Kindred enemy located in the Mountaintops of the Giants. This means you won’t be able to acquire it early game, and its effectiveness will depend on your level and weapon upgrade level at the time of acquisition.

Key Features

Scaling: Primarily scales with Strength, Dexterity, and Faith. This tri-stat requirement can be demanding, requiring a carefully planned build.
Damage Type: Deals both physical and holy damage. Holy damage is especially potent against undead and certain bosses.
Weapon Skill: Comes with the standard War Cry skill. This skill buffs your attack power and changes your heavy attacks to charging attacks.
Weight: A heavy weapon, requiring a decent amount of Endurance.
Upgrade Material: Requires Somber Smithing Stones for upgrades.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

Holy damage provides a significant advantage against specific enemies.
War Cry can significantly boost damage output.
Heavy attacks can stagger enemies effectively.
Decent poise damage.
Aesthetically pleasing design for those who appreciate the lore.

Cons:

Demanding stat requirements make it less accessible for early-game players.
War Cry can leave you vulnerable during the animation.
Not the highest damage greataxe available.
Scales with three stats, spreading your stat points thin.

How to Optimize the Gargoyle’s Black Axe

To truly make the Gargoyle’s Black Axe shine, you need to optimize your build and playstyle.

Build Considerations

Strength: Prioritize this stat for maximizing physical damage output. Aim for at least 50 Strength.
Dexterity: Important for scaling, but not as crucial as Strength. 30 Dexterity is a good starting point.
Faith: Essential for boosting the holy damage component. Aim for at least 30 Faith.
Vigor: Don’t neglect Vigor! 40-60 Vigor is crucial for survivability.
Endurance: Required to equip the weapon and wear decent armor.

Talismans and Armor

Talismans: Consider using talismans that boost attack power (like the Ritual Sword Talisman), increase poise (like the Bull-Goat’s Talisman), or enhance stat scaling (like Marika’s Soreseal/Scarseal, but be mindful of increased damage taken).
Armor: Choose armor that offers a balance of protection and weight, allowing you to medium roll.

Playstyle Tips

Utilize Heavy Attacks: The axe excels at heavy attacks, so practice timing and spacing them effectively.
Master War Cry: Use War Cry strategically to buff your damage before engaging in combat.
Exploit Holy Weaknesses: Target enemies vulnerable to holy damage to maximize your effectiveness.
Manage Stamina: Greataxes consume a lot of stamina, so manage your stamina bar carefully.
Jump attacks are viable, dealing considerable damage with a wide hitbox.

Gargoyle’s Black Axe vs. Other Greataxes

While the Gargoyle’s Black Axe is viable, it’s important to compare it to other greataxes in Elden Ring.

Alternatives

Gargoyle’s Great Axe: A simpler option that scales primarily with Strength and Dexterity, making it easier to build around. Lacks holy damage but has the War Cry skill.
Great Axe: A basic, reliable greataxe that scales well with Strength. Can be infused with various Ashes of War.
Executioner’s Greataxe: Restores FP on enemy kills, making it useful for builds that rely on weapon skills or spells.
Axe of Godfrey: A late game option that scales well with strength, and boosts charged attacks.

Why Choose the Gargoyle’s Black Axe?

The main reason to choose the Gargoyle’s Black Axe is its holy damage. If you’re facing enemies weak to holy, it can be significantly more effective than other greataxes. Additionally, its scaling with Faith allows for a hybrid build, potentially incorporating incantations for additional support or offense.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Is the Gargoyle’s Black Axe good for early game?

No, the Gargoyle’s Black Axe is not ideal for early game. It’s found in the Mountaintops of the Giants, a late-game area. Moreover, its demanding stat requirements make it difficult to wield effectively early on.

2. What stats should I prioritize for the Gargoyle’s Black Axe?

Prioritize Strength for physical damage, then Faith for holy damage. Dexterity is also important for scaling, but to a lesser extent. Don’t neglect Vigor and Endurance for survivability and equip load.

3. What is the best weapon skill for the Gargoyle’s Black Axe?

The default weapon skill, War Cry, is generally the best option, providing a significant damage boost.

4. Is the Gargoyle’s Black Axe good for PvP?

It can be viable in PvP, but it’s not a top-tier choice. The slow attack speed and predictable moveset can make it easy to parry.

5. Where do I find the Gargoyle’s Black Axe?

It’s dropped by the Black Blade Kindred enemy located in the Mountaintops of the Giants.

6. What are the Gargoyle’s Black Axe’s weaknesses?

Its weaknesses include its high stat requirements, slow attack speed, and dependence on specific enemy weaknesses (holy damage).

7. How does the Gargoyle’s Black Axe compare to the Gargoyle’s Great Axe?

The Gargoyle’s Black Axe deals holy damage and scales with Strength, Dexterity, and Faith. The Gargoyle’s Great Axe does not deal holy damage and primarily scales with Strength and Dexterity.

8. Can I infuse the Gargoyle’s Black Axe with Ashes of War?

No, the Gargoyle’s Black Axe cannot be infused with Ashes of War.

9. What talismans are good for the Gargoyle’s Black Axe?

Good talismans include the Ritual Sword Talisman, Bull-Goat’s Talisman, and Marika’s Soreseal/Scarseal.

10. What level should I be to use the Gargoyle’s Black Axe effectively?

Aim to be around level 80-100, with your weapon upgraded to at least +6.

11. Is the Gargoyle’s Black Axe good against bosses?

It can be effective against bosses weak to holy damage. Otherwise, other greataxes might be more reliable.

12. What armor should I wear with the Gargoyle’s Black Axe?

Choose armor that offers a balance of protection and weight, allowing you to medium roll.

13. Does the Gargoyle’s Black Axe scale better with Strength or Faith?

It scales better with Strength for physical damage, but Faith is essential for maximizing holy damage.

14. How can I effectively use the War Cry weapon skill?

Use War Cry before engaging in combat to buff your attack power. Be mindful of the animation, which can leave you vulnerable.

15. Is the Gargoyle’s Black Axe a viable endgame weapon?

Yes, it is a viable endgame weapon, especially if you’ve optimized your build and are facing enemies weak to holy. However, other greataxes may offer higher overall damage output. Learning through play is one of the primary tenets that the Games Learning Society promotes. You can learn more about the GamesLearningSociety.org and their academic publications through the link: https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/.

Is Gargoyle Black Axe good?