Spend Your Loot on a Greataxe

 

“If you’re so mighty, scaled one, then why are you dead?”

The Greataxe is a good starting weapon choice for a Martial weapon user that wants to reliably increase their damage output for the party.

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Greataxe

Sweep

Source Core Rulebook pg. 280 4.0

Favored Weapon Angradd, Dammerich, Narakaas, Rovagug

Price 2 GP; Damage 1d12 S; Bulk 2

Hands 2

Category Martial

Group Axe

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This large battle axe is too heavy to wield with only one hand. Many greataxes incorporate two blades, and they are often “bearded,” having a hook at the bottom to increase the strength of their chopping power.

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Traits

• Sweep: This weapon makes wide-sweeping or spinning attacks easier to attack multiple enemies. When you attack with this weapon, you gain a +1 circumstance bonus to your attack roll if you have already attempted to attack a different target this turn using this weapon.

Critical Specialization Effects

Certain feats, class features, weapon runes, and other effects can grant you additional benefits when you make a Strike with certain weapons and get a critical success. This is called a critical specialization effect. The exact effect depends on which weapon group your weapon belongs to, as listed below. You can always decide not to add the critical specialization effect of your weapon.

• Axe: Choose one creature adjacent to the initial target and within reach. If its AC is lower than your attack roll result for the critical hit, you deal damage to that creature equal to the result of the weapon damage die you rolled (including extra dice for its potency rune, if any). This amount isn't doubled, and no bonuses or other additional dice apply to this damage.

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Materials

Greataxes Can be Crafted from the parts of a creature that possesses a Slashing Natural Weapon Attack. 

Tactics

Even with its D12 damage output, the Greataxe will not always smack as hard as you want to. Sometimes, you roll a 1. Both the sweep trait and the Axe Group’s critical specialization effect encourage you to get into the melee range of at least two opponents. In fact, an axe user’s optimal tactical position is adjacent to exactly two opponents. The Axe wielder can be effective at clearing out lower-level creatures that try to mob the party; the party should keep this in mind and protect the axe wielder’s flanks while they charge into vulnerable positions.

Specific Greataxes

Greataxe	Source	Traits	Level	Cost
Blackaxe
Retribution Axe	Core Rulebook pg. 602 4.0	Enchantment, Magical	3rd	60 GP