Axeman

[funkmonster7]

Any way to build one without getting him to kill himself? I found the remaining skills beyond level 3 or so are just inferior to what other weapons offer.

[massi_Iam]

Give him a shield and he never died for me but took 2-3 guys out on the first turn..

Lvl 5 passives offers great offensive bonuses (50% dmg vs <50%hp targets or 150% increased damage on first attack move)
while lvl 8 offers amazing support (mass brutality, AoE fragility)

[michal.krcal]

My one-handed axeman is a killing beast. With the legendary one-handed axe, I usually take down two low-armored units in the first turn.

The axeman has Wrath, Rampage, Recklessness and throwing axe. Could be also a torch. Because of Recklessness, I open with Rampage, if it does not kill the enemy, usually wrath is ok. Next enemy gets hit from throwing axe/torch and normal attack. Combined with higher level skill (the one that increases damage in an area), I can kill even armor units (or enemies captains). If my critical damage hits.

I have rarely an issue with being out of armor (only if I make tactical mistake combined with bad positioning at the start).

This build is one of my favorites because it is highly efficient and effective. At lower levels, any decent one-handed axe is ok but at the higher level, where lots of enemies have tones of armor, the legendary axe is a big help.

[Gregorovitch]

I have two axemen. One works with a shield the other a two-hander. Both have Rampage. The one-hander is the weakest tank, but that hardlky matters since Rampage + normal attack = certain death in almost all cases anyway. The two-hander now has the legendary 2H axe ("The Indominatable One" or some such) which has a massive AoE arc and deals literally hundreds of damage using Rampage against a single target. It might as well be called "Certain Death". She frequently dispatches two or even three enemies in one turn.

I agree that Rampage is so much more powerful than any other ability the axemen can get it makes them look pathetic and irrelevant by comparison.

[michal.krcal]

Originally posted by Gregorovitch:

I agree that Rampage is so much more powerful than any other ability the axemen can get it makes them look pathetic and irrelevant by comparison.

Especially with Recklessness in the first turn. And thanks to quick kills in the first turn, you get a quite fast advantage in numbers against an opponent. Without axema(e)n, my fights would be much harder.

[BedlamBetty]

Originally posted by Gregorovitch:

I have two axemen. One works with a shield the other a two-hander. Both have Rampage. The one-hander is the weakest tank, but that hardlky matters since Rampage + normal attack = certain death in almost all cases anyway. The two-hander now has the legendary 2H axe ("The Indominatable One" or some such) which has a massive AoE arc and deals literally hundreds of damage using Rampage against a single target. It might as well be called "Certain Death". She frequently dispatches two or even three enemies in one turn.

I agree that Rampage is so much more powerful than any other ability the axemen can get it makes them look pathetic and irrelevant by comparison.

A recklessness buffed maelstrom with the 2 hand legendary axe is huge and kills all units in range of the 360 degree arc, regardless of armour type. Rampage is great for a one hand axe, but using it with Splitter is a waste. You are losing out on a lot of damage and you don't have efficient vp gain with it either.

[blindseye]

My first Ax and Shield build sucked, then I discovered Berserker, my next two Axmen Berserkers are natural born killers. I love them. One is Ax and Shield and the other 2H ax, both work well.

[BedlamBetty]

Originally posted by blindseye:

My first Ax and Shield build sucked, then I discovered Berserker, my next two Axmen Berserkers are natural born killers. I love them. One is Ax and Shield and the other 2H ax, both work well.

If you're using a 2 hand axe, maelstrom is a better choice, it synergizes with how the vp is gained for the unit and upgraded it procs an extra attack on fatal blow. So an upgraded recklessness 2 hand axe wielder will very likely take out all the units in the maelstrom's 360 degree arc regardless of their armour, as long as one of them is medium or light

[Robin of Spiritwood]

Originally posted by BedlamBetty:

If you're using a 2 hand axe, maelstrom is a better choice, it synergizes with how the vp is gained for the unit and upgraded it procs an extra attack on fatal blow. So an upgraded recklessness 2 hand axe wielder will very likely take out all the units in the maelstrom's 360 degree arc regardless of their armour, as long as one of them is medium or light

Personally, Maelstrom is how I build too. However the other paths are still quite effective.
I STILL have not made a Warrior with Beast gear ( 1-hand axe and the shield) to fight alongside a Beastmaster and animals.
Has anybody tried this out?

[BedlamBetty]

Originally posted by Robin of Spiritwood:

Originally posted by BedlamBetty:

If you're using a 2 hand axe, maelstrom is a better choice, it synergizes with how the vp is gained for the unit and upgraded it procs an extra attack on fatal blow. So an upgraded recklessness 2 hand axe wielder will very likely take out all the units in the maelstrom's 360 degree arc regardless of their armour, as long as one of them is medium or light

Personally, Maelstrom is how I build too. However the other paths are still quite effective.
I STILL have not made a Warrior with Beast gear ( 1-hand axe and the shield) to fight alongside a Beastmaster and animals.
Has anybody tried this out?

No, I always give my rampage axe bionn's legendary, my two hand maelstrom splitter legendary and the oil proccing axe to my sentinel, since the sentinel has very little else in the way of damage, so unstable and the natural strike at least gives him a double attack on basic

[blindseye]

This is my first play through, so keep up the good comments. I am just trying out different builds. I really want to try a beast master, lol.

[funkmonster7]

Is Fanaticism any good?

[massi_Iam]

Originally posted by funkmonster7:

Is Fanaticism any good?

Compared to the other two - not even close, don’t bother

[Robin of Spiritwood]

Originally posted by funkmonster7:

Is Fanaticism any good?

Tried building with it in the last playthrough. Once the skill is upgraded, the axeman becomes a high output damage dealer on each turn: +50% on every turn after the first. So it's consistent, reliable and the main problem is getting him to the distant enemy after he wipes out a cluster of 3 with Maelstrom.
Building with Recklessness allows a quick wipeout on turn one. It's a very different experience, but the high value of the fighter is better preserved with Fanaticism.

If your fights go for a number of turns, Fanaticism is better than if you are trying to end battles within a turn or two.