Axes vs Swords: why do I suck so bad using an axe?

OK I've tried several W/X builds and just CANNOT seem to make an axe wielder work. Hammers are a different story, but that's not the point. Without Hamstring it feels like everyone I target runs, which means I don't get in attacks as often, and thus can't build enough adrenaline to use my special axe attacks. A lot of people here seem to diss swords in favor of the axe, but WHY? I don't really care about +42 eviscerate or whatever when I have to keep sprinting just to hit the people I'm going after. In my experience axe rake blows the big one.

So my question for you axers out there is, what skills do you pack and what the hell do you do about runners? Because I know you're not using axe rake to constantly slow the enemy...

This is my axe build. Give it a try.

Axe 14 (11 + 3 rune)
Strength 12 (10 + 1 rune + 1 helm)
Healing 10

If you go with mending instead of live vicariously, make healing 8 and give strength one more up. (8 is the minimum number needed for mending to give +3 regen)

Eviscerate {Elite} - Axe Attack 7A
If Eviscerate hits, you strike for 1-24 more damage and inflict a deep wound, lowering your target's maximum health by 20% for 5-17 seconds.

Axe Rake - Axe Attack 7A
If this attack hits a foe suffering from a deep wound, you strike for 1-8 more damage, and that foe becomes crippled.

Axe Twist - Axe Attack 8A
If this attack hits a foe suffering from a deep wound, you strike for 1-16 more damage and that foe suffers from weakness.

Disrupting Chop - Axe Attack 6A
If it hits, this attack interrupts the target's current action. If that action was a skill, that skill is disabled for an additional 20 seconds.

Executioner's Strike - Axe Attack 8A
If this attack hits, you strike for 10-34 more damage.

Berserker Stance - Stance 5E
For 5-10 seconds, you attack 33% faster than normal and gain 20% more Adrenaline each time you hit in melee. Berserker Stance ends if you use a skill.

Live Vicariously - Enchantment Spell 10E (upkeep)
While you maintain this "Enchantment", whenever target ally hits a foe, you gain 1-11 health.
( Can be replaced with mending )

Restore Life - Spell 10E
Touch the body of a fallen party member. Target party member is returned to life with 26-45% Health and 42-80% Energy.


This build is for a Wa/Mo, obviously. If you want a cooler version, make a Wa/Me. Put attribute points into Illusion magic instead of healing. Take out LV and put in Fragility. Use either res sig in place of restore, or forgo the res and get Conjure Phantasm.

Forgot to tell ya how to use it. Shoule be obvious, but I'll spell it out anyway. Start with berserker stance when you have no adrenaline, then eviscerate, rake, twist, executioners, repeat.

Spring a disrupting chop if they try anything fancy.

For the Wa/Me, pick a high profile target, use Berserker stance. Once you have enough adrenaline, then cast fragility and condition away. Conjure Phantasm if you get crippled or as a finishing move.

Works for me. Takes about one round from my setup to kill a caster in Tombs against a crappy team, 2 rounds for a mediocre team, and I can be a fairly frustrating enemy against a good team. My targets tend to soak up heals enough for my team to take a few down, then push hard and kill the rest.

Lance Slammer

Sorry hammer slammer but I don't see any speed buff skill in there. I don't see how you expect to catch anyone.

I'd say replace eviscerate with Berserker Rage and chuck berserker stance for penetrating blow. At least Rage lets you run faster.

I run http://www.guildwarsguru.com/forum/s...ad.php?t=16868. If you want to use axe rake profusely, then uh, u'd want to bring For Great Justice or Berserker Rage.

Take out eviscerate and axe rake and axe twist won't work.
All warriors don't need speed buffs. PvP isn't a race. Its about cunning. Someone runs away? Don't chase. Having a speed buff will just give you incentive to catch the random guy that runs off, and seperate you from your party. Stay with the party, focus fire, and you won't need a speed skill. Its a waste of a slot (unless you use battle rage, but thats elite. I'd rather have eviscerate, which is the basis of my build)

I've never tried a Wa/N, but my pally build which has worked for me quite well thus far in tombs.

Frenzy + sprint is how I solve that problem. If you are doing enough damage that they need to stop to heal you essentially win. Another helpfull solution is to have a water ele/ranger/mes to cripple or slow them.

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When you get a runner, turn on sprint or some other speed buff and chase them! With an axe, you're hitting a critical hit everytime you land an attack on a fleeing opponent, and axes crit. for a lot of damage.

It is possible to remove a stance with Wild Blow. It might not be a bad skill for an axe warrior either, since if it hits it guarantees a critical.

but always be aware of your surroundings ... cutting down a fleeing foe is good cause then you've succeffully cut him outta battle, just dont fall suit to a 'mock pull' ... we've used this method to lure a warrior away from the groups, only to trap others or snake bite a target or two.

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