Axes in the world of Dark Souls 2 hold a similar place in the weapon usage as they have in the other games in the trilogy: capable of dealing greater damage than most other one-handed weapons, though with a noticeable vulnerability after each hefty swing.
The regular axes, of which there are 8, differ from the greataxes by being smaller and less unwieldy to use in battle. However, they still pack a terrifying amount of slash damage to both the health and poise of adversaries. Testing out the axes to see which ones are the best is easy; simply use each to cleave foes asunder and count the seconds it takes.
8 Bound Axe
Acquired automatically if one pre-ordered the game or if one bought the Black Armor DLC, the Bound Axe came with the Bound Wooden Shield in a weird pay-to-be-mediocre move by FromSoftware. The axe is noticeably the weakest of the weapon class, achieving only a lackluster 180 physical attack, even when fully upgraded to +10 (Regular).
The Bound Axe does deal 100 points of bleed build-up, which is quite high compared to other weapons that innately do the same, such as some katanas. The scaling of A-tier in Strength makes it a bit more usable, though still not enough to be worth using over literally any other axe in DS2. The Bleed +10 version gains 163 physical attack and 143 bleed build-up with B-tier scaling in Strength, which isn’t really better or worse unless one can maximize the lacerating potential.
7 Infantry Axe
This decrepit piece of wood and metal is not only the most basic of axes but is old and worn by time as well. The Infantry Axe gets dropped by the diminished and pitiful hollows that wield them.
Low damage, durability, and range make this an axe to avoid if one has any alternative besides the Bound Axe. It deals a bit more damage at the +10 Regular upgrade with its 200 physical attack, which gets boosted by B-tier scaling with Strength and D-tier with Dexterity.
6 Hand Axe
As the starting weapon of the Bandit class, the Hand Axe is modest yet reliable, as with the majority of the game’s starting weapons. It’s not great in terms of damage output compared to other options that the player will have around this early point in the game, though, prior to finding a better axe, it is not the worst choice for a Strength Build.
At the +10 Regular upgrade, this simple axe gains 270 physical attack and scales purely with Strength at B-tier. For cleaving the skulls of hollowed peons, this solid hatchet will do nicely.
5 Battle Axe
The item description states it the best: “An axe made for battle”. Made from metal and designed for death, the Battle Axe can be found pretty early in the game if one trades with Blacksmith Lenigrast in Majula.
Upgrading this weapon to +10 on the Regular path leads it to attain 280 physical attack with B-tier scaling in Strength and D-tier scaling in Dexterity, making it not a bad choice for either a Strength build or a quality build. It is also worth noting that the Battle Axe deals 120 counter-attack damage and 30 poise damage; more than the average one-handed weapon.
4 Butcher’s Knife
This malformed and jagged blade can be considered a very ‘tall’ axe due to its strange proportions including a huge blade and a tiny handle; the opposite of most axes. Despite its odd appearance, however, the Butcher’s Knife possesses great stats and a novel effect that make it great in PvE.
This hefty blade obtains 280 physical attack at the max upgrade of +5 (Regular) as well as A-tier scaling with Strength. These alone make it worth using for a build with beefy stats, however, its innate ability to heal its wielder every time it deals damage to enemies further increases its usability.
3 Bandit Axe
One should consider this a better version of the Battle Axe, as it has very similar characteristics in regards to the moveset and stats. It even has the same higher than average counter-attack (120) and poise (30) damage.
At +10 for the Regular upgrade, the Bandit Axe achieves a huge 310 physical attack alongside B-tier scaling in Strength, making it a step-up from most other one-handed axes.
2 Dragonslayer’s Crescent Axe
Despite needing some investment in Faith, this is one of the axes with the most damage potential in the entire game. It deals split damage between the slash and lighting types, granting it enhanced usability against a greater variety of foes. It is far better to go down the Lighting upgrade path instead of the Regular one, since the Dragonslayer’s Crescent Axe will achieve higher overall attack stats and scaling this way.
When fully upgraded to +5, it receives 192 physical and 86 lightning attack as well as triple scaling: C-tier with Strength, E-tier with Dexterity, and B-tier with Faith.
1 Gyrm Axe
Easily the most powerful, and most weighty, weapon in the class; wielding the Gyrm Axe is like attacking adversaries with a portable guillotine. This axe was never meant to be used by humans, which is clearly indicated by it being a one-handed weapon that possesses a weight of 18, which is more than many two-handed weapons.
This excessive heaviness is meant to balance the usability, forcing the player to make armor-related equip load sacrifices to wield it or putting enough attribute points into Vitality. The reason the Gyrm Axe needs to be so awkwardly heavy is so that players don’t abuse its ridiculous +10 Regular upgrade stats. At this level, it achieves an absolutely monstrous 380 physical attack along with A-tier scaling in Strength and E-tier in Dexterity.
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