The Definitive Guide to One-Handed Axes in Elden Ring: Finding the Best
Determining the absolute “best” one-handed axe in Elden Ring is nuanced, as weapon effectiveness often depends on your build and playstyle. However, considering factors such as base damage, scaling, versatility, and available Ashes of War, the Highland Axe consistently emerges as a top contender. While other axes may excel in specific areas, the Highland Axe offers a strong balance of power and adaptability that suits a wide range of builds and situations, making it the best overall one-handed axe in Elden Ring.
Why the Highland Axe?
The Highland Axe stands out for several key reasons:
- Solid Base Damage: It possesses a respectable base damage output, ensuring it remains relevant throughout the game’s progression.
- Good Critical Damage: With a critical damage stat of 110, it excels when landing critical hits, particularly after breaking an enemy’s stance.
- Passive Buff to Roars: A unique trait, the Highland Axe passively enhances the power of Roars, making it ideal for builds that utilize these skills.
- Versatile Scaling: While its default scaling is with Strength and Dexterity, it can be infused with various Ashes of War to change its scaling. This allows it to become viable for Faith builds, particularly when paired with the Flame Art infusion via the Red-Hot Whetblade. This infusion shifts its scaling to Faith, adding fire damage.
- Adaptable Playstyle: The Highland Axe’s versatility means it can be paired with different Ashes of War to suit any player. Lightning-based Ashes of War further enhance its Dexterity scaling, offering a hybrid option.
Other Contenders for Best One-Handed Axe
While the Highland Axe is considered the best overall, there are other axes that deserve consideration:
The Warped Axe
The Warped Axe is notable for its high Strength scaling. If you’re focusing on a pure Strength build, the Warped Axe can output serious damage. However, its lack of versatility compared to the Highland Axe puts it in second place.
The Stormhawk Axe
The Stormhawk Axe is another strong option, and like the Highland Axe, is frequently mentioned as a top-tier weapon. However, the Highland Axe often edges it out due to it’s versatility with its ability to be infused and scale with fire, and its overall better stat balance.
The Iron Cleaver
The Iron Cleaver is an early-game option that boasts high base damage. It’s particularly effective when used with the Axe Talisman, which boosts charged attacks. However, its limited scaling and lack of unique qualities prevent it from competing with the Highland Axe long-term.
The Ripple Blade
The Ripple Blade is the best option for Arcane builds due to its A scaling with Arcane. While it may be common, when paired with weapon greases like Poison, Bleed, Rot or Sleep, it becomes incredibly powerful.
Considerations When Choosing an Axe
When choosing an axe, consider the following:
- Your Build: Your chosen attributes (Strength, Dexterity, Intelligence, Faith, Arcane) should greatly influence your choice of axe.
- Desired Playstyle: Do you prefer a hard-hitting weapon, a fast and agile weapon, or a versatile one?
- Available Ashes of War: The ability to customize your weapon with different Ashes of War is crucial. The Highland Axe can utilize a variety of Ashes of War, making it adaptable to your playstyle and enemy type.
- Critical Hits: If you favor breaking enemy stances and landing critical hits, consider axes with high critical damage.
- Special Passives: Some axes have unique passive abilities that can drastically enhance their effectiveness.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are 15 frequently asked questions to further enhance your understanding of one-handed axes in Elden Ring.
1. Is the Highland Axe better than the Battle Axe?
Yes, the Highland Axe is a direct upgrade to the Battle Axe. It has very similar stats, but the Highland Axe has a higher critical damage stat (110) and a passive boost to Roars.
2. What is the strongest one-handed axe in terms of pure damage?
While the Warped Axe has the highest Strength scaling, and therefore is very powerful, the Highland Axe generally offers better overall power due to its base damage and ability to scale with different stats via Ashes of War.
3. Can I use the Highland Axe effectively with a Faith build?
Absolutely! With the Red-Hot Whetblade, you can infuse the Highland Axe with “Flame Art,” making its damage scale with Faith. This adds fire damage that is scaled with Faith, making it a viable option for faith builds.
4. Which Ashes of War are best for the Highland Axe?
The best Ashes of War depends on your build. However, options like Lightning Slash (for Dex/Faith hybrid builds), Blood Tax (for Arcane builds), or other elemental infusions can further enhance its power.
5. Is the Jawbone Axe any good?
The Jawbone Axe is a solid axe that scales with both Strength and Dexterity and has decent base damage. While it’s not considered the “best”, it is a strong choice that can be enhanced with infusions like Quality, Cold, or Heavy.
6. What does the passive buff to Roars on the Highland Axe do?
The Highland Axe increases the damage of your Roar skills. This makes it particularly effective for builds that heavily use roar type abilities and is not available on other weapons.
7. Where can I find the Red-Hot Whetblade?
The Red-Hot Whetblade is found in Redmane Castle in the Caelid region, which allows you to add fire affinity to weapons, changing their scaling to Faith.
8. Can any axe be infused with Ashes of War?
Yes, most axes, including the Highland Axe, can be infused with Ashes of War as long as they do not have unique skills. This allows for a high degree of customization.
9. Is the Hand Axe a good option in Elden Ring?
The Hand Axe is considered one of the weaker weapons. While readily available early game, it’s quickly outclassed by other options.
10. Does the critical damage stat make a difference?
Yes, the critical damage stat determines the damage dealt when you land a critical hit. The Highland Axe’s 110 critical damage makes it particularly effective in these situations.
11. Is the Stormhawk Axe comparable to the Highland Axe?
Yes, the Stormhawk Axe is a good weapon, but the Highland Axe is generally considered more versatile due to its greater customisation options and its slightly better stat balance.
12. What is better for splitting logs in real life, an axe or a maul?
While this is outside the game, mauls are generally better for splitting large and dense logs due to their weight and head shape.
13. Are Axes or Swords stronger?
In real life, an axe generally carries more force behind it than a sword due to its weight and head shape. In the game it is dependent on the weapon.
14. Which is better for damage, swords or axes?
In Elden Ring the damage output of axes and swords is variable and depends on the specific weapon. However, axes generally have greater critical hit potential.
15. Is there a best melee weapon in Elden Ring?
The “best” melee weapon in Elden Ring is subjective, however, the Moonveil Katana is widely considered powerful due to its special ability and the ease at which it can be obtained early in the game.
Conclusion
While the Warped Axe has greater strength scaling, and the Ripple Blade is the obvious choice for Arcane builds, the Highland Axe is the best one-handed axe in Elden Ring due to its blend of good base damage, versatile scaling, and the unique passive that buffs Roars. Its adaptability with Ashes of War and its ability to become a strong Faith weapon make it a valuable choice for a wide range of builds and playstyles. Therefore, if you are looking for the best overall one-handed axe in Elden Ring, the Highland Axe will not disappoint.