a18 Axes, what are they now?

[Baelein]

As asked in the title, what are axes now in a18? By axes I mean iron and steel. In a17 they were included in the bladed skills (at least through the tool tip) so as a weapon their damage was linked with the bladed weapon skills but in a18 the tool tip specifically says "not axes" so what're axes now? Are they heavy weapons now or are only sledgehammers considered heavy weapons? Do they no longer dismember? What can I level to increase the damage to zombies with iron and steel axes? I get that it might be miner 69er but it's weird how it states tool damage and block damage where-as the other skills say damage and power attack damage and have an extra effect. This makes me think that axes are only to be used as tools and leveling the skill won't increase damage to zombies. Am I the only one who thinks axes are great for chopping wood and chopping zombie heads?

[Katitof]

Good question and no idea, they probably are just tools now, not weapons anymore.

Which is a shame, because axe is excellent weapons, especially if you're lucky and get steel one early game.

 

And everything dismembers, regardless of perks.

[PinKidd]

Interested to see if anyone has any idea about this... Axe was my weapon of choice in A17, purely for the flexibility it had without having to carry other tools round. I do like the new melee weps, but will they chop trees/go through a wood wall in 2 hits/open a crate in 1?

[vudugan]

I'd like to know as well. I always go Fire Axe too...

[quill]

I'm using it early game A18 (day 25) with Miner69 perk and a ranged build. It's ok. Later game it's dps potential will fall behind dedicated melee weapons would be my guess.

[TyphoidHippo]

From items.xml:

 

<property name="Tags" value="axe,melee,grunting,medium,tool,attStrength,perkMiner69r,perkMotherLode,canHaveCosmetic"/>

 

This would mean axe melee damage is affected by the main strength attribute and Miner 69, but not by Skull Crusher, Deep Cuts or any other sub-attribute.

 

Their block damage and harvesting are affected by Miner 69 and MotherLode.

[Sakurambo]

As asked in the title, what are axes now in a18? By axes I mean iron and steel. In a17 they were included in the bladed skills (at least through the tool tip) so as a weapon their damage was linked with the bladed weapon skills but in a18 the tool tip specifically says "not axes" so what're axes now? Are they heavy weapons now or are only sledgehammers considered heavy weapons? Do they no longer dismember? What can I level to increase the damage to zombies with iron and steel axes? I get that it might be miner 69er but it's weird how it states tool damage and block damage where-as the other skills say damage and power attack damage and have an extra effect. This makes me think that axes are only to be used as tools and leveling the skill won't increase damage to zombies. Am I the only one who thinks axes are great for chopping wood and chopping zombie heads?

 

axes are only tools in a18, they are affected by miner 69r only

[drNovikov]

Fire axes would be good for chopping and splitting wood, and a hit to the head would definitely kill a zombie, but IRL bladed melee weapons, like swords, were relatively lightweight and well-balanced. Because getting tired or being slow meant quickly becoming dead. Even a meter-long longsword was around 1-1.5 kg, and was balanced.

 

A fireaxe weights approx. 2.7-3 kg, and almost all the weight is its head.

 

I think that fire axes to the head should definitely oneshot zombies, but consume stamina fast, and, most importantly, be slow. I would not expect them to decapitate though. It's not a war axe, or a sword. They would, most likely, just smash the skull, like a sledgehammer.

[warmer]

Power hit Headshots against typical low level zeds with a steel ax should be automatic decaps. I mean these are zombies with rotting flesh.

 

I used to break down whole sides of beef at a restaurant I worked at, and I can tell you, a good heavy meat cleaver could EASILY cut the head off a zombie with a well placed hit. We cut through bone all the time with them. A decaying zed neck would be EASY with a fire ax weigh 3-4x what a cleaver weighs.

[Laz Man]

Power hit Headshots against typical low level zeds with a steel ax should be automatic decaps. I mean these are zombies with rotting flesh.

 

I used to break down whole sides of beef at a restaurant I worked at, and I can tell you, a good heavy meat cleaver could EASILY cut the head off a zombie with a well placed hit. We cut through bone all the time with them. A decaying zed neck would be EASY with a fire ax weigh 3-4x what a cleaver weighs.

 

I think this is one of those gameplay > realism decisions.

[Khulkhuum]

I remember MM mentioned a mod for the axe which increases damage against wood, but decreases zombie damage. Something to think about...