Elden Ring: Every Axe, Ranked

Highlights

• Axe weapon class in
  Elden Ring
  focuses on raw damage over speed, making them versatile for various playstyles.
• Notable options like Smithscript Axe and Stormhawk Axe offer great scaling and unique weapon skills for players.
• Mixing and matching axes based on preferred playstyle and build can lead to powerful combinations in
  Elden Ring
  .

Players have a lot of options when it comes to dealing out death in Elden Ring. For example, the axe weapon class comes with a surprising number of move sets and passives. Known for their serious damage, the axe weapon class trades off attack speed for raw damage output.

These weapons have slower attacks than other weapons, but when wielded in one hand, they are still more versatile than greataxes and can be used alongside the best shields in Elden Ring. Players interested in wielding an axe should keep an eye out for these excellent options.

Update June 25, 2024, by Joe Grantham:Elden Ring is by no means a simple game, and understanding how the stats on weapons work and how scaling affects damage output can be tricky, even for advanced players. As such, this list has been updated to provide clear and concise information on the best axes in Elden Ring, with the maximum damage and the maximum scaling being the two most important factors. Players will also be informed of the stats that are required to wield these weapons in the first place, and also where to find these deadly axes. Lastly, with the release of the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, there are now some new axes in Elden Ring to try out.

17 Hand Axe

Max Base Damage: 286

Scaling from both Str and Dex, the Hand Axe is a great starting weapon for those who want to hit a little harder. Its attack speed is fast, allowing players to get more hits in before they run out of stamina, making it a more forgiving weapon than most axes. Additionally, it can be buffed with spells and consumables, increasing its damage output.

However, what makes it suitable is its ability to be infused with Ashes of War, making it a great starting weapon for those who want to go for a quality build. This axe can be bought from the merchant in East Limgrave.

16 Warped Axe

Max Base Damage: 303

The strongest in terms of Str scaling, the Warped Axe can dish out serious damage. This weapon has high B strength scaling at +25, making it perfect for strength builds. Additionally, it has a special move set that gives it a slightly faster attack speed than most axes.

However, the true strength of this weapon is its incredible scaling when infused with heavy infusion. This gives it an S scaling in Str, allowing it to deal monstrous damage. The Warped Axe is dropped by the Omen enemies that wield it, which can be found in the Cliffbottom Catacombs, Abandoned Coffin Site of Grace, and the Subterranean Shunning-Grounds.

15 Celebrant’s Cleaver

Max Base Damage: 306

Celebrant’s Cleaver is one of the weaker axes in the game, which is a little disappointing, considering players must reach Altus Plateau to acquire it. More specifically, it can be found in Dominula, Windmill Village, where it is dropped at random by certain Celebrants.

Thankfully, any player who does pick up a Celebrant’s Cleaver should have a good chance of wielding it, as it has low stat requirements. While it doesn’t have the most base damage in the game by a long stretch, it is also not the worst, with many weaker weapons to be found. The Wild Strikes skill is fairly standard and causes the wielder to advance slowly while swinging their axe wildly.

14 Iron Cleaver

Max Base Damage: 306

The Iron Cleaver is extremely dangerous, especially with the Axe Talisman. It has a surprisingly fast attack speed for an axe, allowing players to get a few hits when they get close enough quickly. Additionally, the axe can be buffed and infused, allowing players to use the Heavy infusion, giving it an S scaling for Str.

However, what sets this axe apart is its move set, particularly the charged heavy attack, which is a fantastic running swing for roll-catching in PvP. This cleaver is dropped by the misbegotten enemies wielding the weapon, which can be found in Castle Morne.

13 Forked Hatchet

Max Base Damage: 309

The shortest of all the axes, the Forked Hatchet makes up for it with its excellent Dex scaling and fast attack speed, allowing players to apply its innate bleed build-up fast. The axe can be buffed and infused, making it a versatile weapon that can change Ashes of War.

Additionally, infusing it with a Blood infusion increases its damage output significantly due to its attack speed, making it deadly up close. The Forked Hatchet is also relatively easy to get early in the game. Players can obtain this axe from Imps wielding it.

12 Battle Axe

Max Base Damage: 313

As the starting weapon for the Hero Class, the Battle Axe isn’t anything to get too excited about, but as long as it is upgraded a little, it can remain a decent option for much of the early game. It has low Strength and Dexterity stat requirements, making it accessible for most Tarnished. Players who don’t start off as members of the Hero Class can purchase the Battle Axe from the Twin Maid Husks at the Roundtable Hold.

Outside of its solid base damage and average Strength scaling, there isn’t much more to the axe. The Wild Strikes skill allows players to swing wildly in front of them for as long as they hold down, but they will be slowed and locked out of other options, such as dodging.

11 Highland Axe

Max Base Damage: 313

The second longest axe, the Highland Axe , is a formidable weapon that scales equally from both Str and Dex, making it an excellent choice for quality builds. However, its true value lies in boosting roar skills, allowing players to buff hit with devastating attacks. Combined with the roar medallion, the Highland Axe becomes a force to be reckoned with, capable of inflicting significant damage.

Additionally, merely having the axe in their possession grants them the benefits of the passive skill, enabling players to use stronger weapons later on and still benefit from it. Players can venture into Stormveil Castle to obtain the weapon and find it in the room with Grafted Scion. Look for the body beneath the giant painting of Godfrey.

10 Smithscript Axe

Max Base Damage: 320

• Only available with the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC.

The Smithscript Axe is an oddity as it has four stat requirements, which makes it inaccessible to many builds. However, it also scales with all of these stats, so almost anytime players are leveling up, there’s a good chance they are improving the damage of their axe, which is already solid.

To find the Smithscript Axe, players will first need to head to the site of grace known as Taylew’s Ruined Forge. From here, they should follow the path until they come to a ladder, at the bottom of which they can jump to platforms and take a left. The axe is at the back of the room.

9 Jawbone Axe

Max Base Damage: 318

One of the harder weapons to get, the Jawbone Axe scales mainly with Str and Dex. It deals decent damage and is one of the strongest axes for base damage. It can also be infused with Ashes of War, allowing players to use it with a Quality, Cold, or Heavy infusion, further boosting its damage.

However, the Jawbone Axe is unique because it’s the only axe that deals strike damage, making it perfect for killing Crystalians, Claymen, and Deathbirds. This axe is dropped by ancestral followers, usually found in the Siofra River.

8 Ripple Blade

Max Base Damage: 183

The Ripple Blade is the third longest axe and scales with Arcane, making it a good weapon for builds prioritizing the stat. Unfortunately, it can not be infused with Ashes of War. It can also be buffed, increasing players’ damage output through grease and spell buffs.

Though the weapon is not known for its raw damage output, what sets this axe apart is its uncanny ability to apply status ailments well due to its Arcane scaling. With high Arcane, this quickly becomes one of the best Elden Ring Axes. The Ripple Blade can be purchased from Pidia, Carian Servant at Caria Manor.

7 Sacrificial Axe

Max Base Damage: 325

The Sacrificial Axe is a good weapon that scales primarily with Str and Dex for aggressive players who like to face enemies head-on. Though the weapon has poor range, it makes up for it by being the second strongest in its weapon class regarding raw damage. The weapon can also be infused with Ashes of War, further boosting its damage, especially on Flame, Sacred, or Magic infusion.

However, what sets this axe apart is its passive ability to provide 4 FP when an enemy dies close by. Furthermore, players do not need to kill the enemy; if it is within range when they die, the FP will be given. Players strong enough to defeat the Deathbird in the Weeping Peninsula beside Castle Morne can obtain this weapon.

6 Messmer Soldier’s Axe

Max Base Damage: 325

• Only available with the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC.

One of the new axes from the DLC is the Messmer Soldier’s Axe , a strong and simple weapon that players can customize with other Ashes of War. It has decent scaling and low stat requirements, making it an easy pickup for most Tarnished.

As its name suggests, this axe – along with parts of the Messmer Soldier set – belong to Messmer soldiers, and if players slay them enough, the weapon should eventually drop. There are some of these soldiers to the east of the Gravesite Plain. Equipping Talismans that are great for farming and exploration can help with this process.

5 Stormhawk Axe

Max Base Damage: 333

The strongest in terms of base damage, the Stormhawk Axe can pack quite a punch. With equal scaling in both Str and Dex, it is the best axe to use with a quality build compared to the rest. Additionally, if paired with an armor set with high poise, the weapon can be a monster in PvP.

The Thunderstorm weapon skill, however, is what truly makes this weapon powerful. This skill allows the player to create a powerful vortex of wind and lightning that damages enemies within range. Additionally, it buffs the player’s axe with lightning at the end of the skill. Players can get two of these in the game without killing Nepheli Loux, as well as one in Leyndell, Royal Capital, and another in Castle Sol.

4 Icerind Hatchet

Max Base Damage: 346

The Icerind Hatchet is one of the best axes in Elden Ring thanks to the buildup of Frostbite it applies to its attacks. When combined with the weapon’s physical damage, players will soon be taking down large bosses with ease. The Hoarfrost Stomp skill it comes with spreads mist along the ground and helps build up Frostbite on enemies.

This axe also happens to be one of the best for Dexterity scaling, as when it has been maxed out with Somber Smithing Stones, it has a rating of B. The Icerind Hatchet can be found fairly early on in the Liurnia of the Lakes region. By heading southeast from the Temple Quarter Site of Grace, players will find it in a chest hidden inside a ruined bell tower.

3 Forked-Tongue Hatchet

Max Base Damage: 356

• Only available with the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC.

Despite not having the best scaling, the Forked-Tongue Hatchet is nonetheless a fantastic axe, thanks to its high base damage and hemorrhage build-up. With Dragonform Flame, players will spew fire from a dragon’s maw in an arc. The ground will even continue to burn for some time.

Similarly to the less powerful Forked Hatchet, it is dropped by certain Imps in Catacombs, but only those found within the Land of Shadows.

2 Death Knight’s Twin Axes

Max Base Damage: 406

• Only available with the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC.

Perfect for a lightning god build alongside Elden Ring’s best lightning spells, the Death Knight’s Twin Axes is one of the best new weapons from the DLC. Technically one weapon, players will wield an axe in both hands and deal both physical and lightning damage with vicious swings. Incredibly, the weapon skill turns the Tarnished momentarily into a fork of lightning that surges forward.

To get their hands on the Death Knight’s Twin Axes, players will simply need to defeat the Death Knight boss, who is found in the Fog Rift Catacombs. This is a location in the southeast of the Rauh Ruins.

1 Rosus’ Axe

Max Base Damage: 450

The only axe with Int scaling, the Rosus’ Axe scales primarily with Str, Int, and Dex, allowing it to deal very high damage. Additionally, it is the longest among the axes, making it easier for players to roll catch in PVP. However, what players use this for is its weapon skill: Rosus’s Summons.

Like the spell Tibia’s Summons, the weapon skill conjures three spectral skeletons to a point directly in front of the player. The tracking is not so great, but given enough buffs, it can easily one-shot enemies if it hits. Rosus’ Axe can be found behind a Stonesword Key door in the Black Knife Catacombs.