Is vet shovel any good on higher difficulties?

[Jun Gling]

Namely on damnation.
I've seen people claim that it's really good with the "right" perks and blessings, but for me it always felt like it can't do anything that axes or PS already doing, but better.
So how is it? Does anybody actually uses it?

[Chibbity]

I've only done up to difficulty level 4 myself so far, but I use it and like it; it's great for making room and the poke attack can stagger most enemies.