Axe

The Axe is a melee weapon added by the Royalty DLC that primarily deals sharp damage.

Note: Although classified by the Ideoligion Weapon Preferences as a 'Melee Blunt' weapon along with weapons that predominately deal blunt damage, its primary attack deal sharp damage. It is unknown if this categorization is a bug or intended behavior.

Acquisition

Axes can be crafted at either a fueled or electric smithy once the Smithing research project has been completed. They require 50 Stuff (Metallic/Woody, 500 for SMVs), 7,000 ticks (1.94 mins) of work, and a Crafting skill of 3.

Alternatively, axes can be purchased from any combat supplier or war merchant and found on raiders and some Empire pawns.

Analysis

The axe is roughly equal to the gladius, having the same material cost, crafting skill, and research requirements. Axes take Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ",".% the work to make, which slightly reduces their Market Value.

In terms of DPS - after accounting for melee verb selection, the gladius has slightly higher average DPS (6.75 vs. 7.13) and AP (20% vs. 21%). However, an axe of better material or quality will be the superior weapon.

The primary difference is that the axe uses the Cut damage type to a greater extent (75%) than the gladius (37.5%). Cut damage has two interlocking mechanics that make comparison complex:

Cut damage has a large chance to cleave, spreading damage between multiple related body parts. This reduces the chance to destroy each individual body part. However, if a cleave attack occurs, it is will deal x1.4 damage in total (spread equally throughout body parts).
If cut reduces a body part's damage to 0 HP, it is much more likely to destroy it. To always destroy the body part, Stab damage types must deal 70% more damage than HP is remaining on the bodypart, where as Cut damage types needs only 10% more.

Overall, the axe seems to deal more DPS once cleaving is accounted for. Axes are more likely to destroy fingers and toes, while gladii are more likely to destroy larger limbs. This would make the axe better against humanoids, animals, and especially small animals. The gladius is likely better against mechanoids, as they don't feel pain, increasing the value of limb destruction. Note that this is theoretical and no explicit testing has been conducted.

Compared to more complex melee weapons, an axe is superior in DPS to a longsword of 2 quality levels below itself or worse, for example a Legendary steel axe has higher DPS than an Excellent steel long sword. All but the very best quality and material axes are inferior to almost all longswords, and all axes are inferior to longswords of good material and quality.

Another potential use is for ideoligion with the Melee Blunt set as Noble weapons, providing a sharp weapon option that grants mood buffs instead of penalties.

Attack table

Feature	Toggle
Attacks
Quality

Axe				Handle (Poke)					Edge (Cut)					Human: Left & right fist (Blunt)					HP	Value
Quality	Material	DPS^[1]	AP^[1]	Dam.	Cool.	AP	DPS	Chance^[2]	Dam.	Cool.	AP	DPS	Chance^[2]	Dam.	Cool.	AP	DPS	Chance^[2]	HP	Value
Awful	Bioferrite	6.8	19.94%	6.48	2s	9.36%	3.24	8.33%	15.6	2s	22.88%	7.8	75%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	200	50
Awful	Gold	4.36	12.77%	7.2	2s	10.4%	3.6	8.33%	9	2s	13.2%	4.5	75%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	60	2510
Awful	Plasteel	7.08	17.3%	6.48	1.6s	9.36%	4.05	8.33%	13.2	1.6s	19.36%	8.25	75%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	280	255
Awful	Silver	4.81	14.09%	7.2	2s	10.4%	3.6	8.33%	10.2	2s	14.96%	5.1	75%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	70	265
Awful	Steel	5.48	16.07%	7.2	2s	10.4%	3.6	8.33%	12	2s	17.6%	6	75%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	100	60
Awful	Uranium	5.62	17.82%	10.8	2.2s	15.6%	4.91	8.33%	13.2	2.2s	19.36%	6	75%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	250	174
Awful	Wood	3.78	11.05%	6.48	2s	9.36%	3.24	12.5%	4.8	2s	7.04%	2.4	12.5%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 37.5%	65	39
Poor	Bioferrite	7.57	22.18%	7.29	2s	10.53%	3.65	8.33%	17.55	2s	25.74%	8.78	75%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	200	75
Poor	Gold	4.82	14.11%	8.1	2s	11.7%	4.05	8.33%	10.13	2s	14.85%	5.06	75%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	60	3765
Poor	Plasteel	7.87	19.21%	7.29	1.6s	10.53%	4.56	8.33%	14.85	1.6s	21.78%	9.28	75%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	280	380
Poor	Silver	5.32	15.6%	8.1	2s	11.7%	4.05	8.33%	11.48	2s	16.83%	5.74	75%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	70	395
Poor	Steel	6.08	17.83%	8.1	2s	11.7%	4.05	8.33%	13.5	2s	19.8%	6.75	75%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	100	90
Poor	Uranium	6.24	19.8%	12.15	2.2s	17.55%	5.52	8.33%	14.85	2.2s	21.78%	6.75	75%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	250	260
Poor	Wood	3.87	11.31%	7.29	2s	10.53%	3.65	12.5%	5.4	2s	7.92%	2.7	12.5%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 37.5%	65	58
Normal	Bioferrite	8.33	24.43%	8.1	2s	11.7%	4.05	8.33%	19.5	2s	28.6%	9.75	75%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	200	101
Normal	Gold	5.28	15.46%	9	2s	13%	4.5	8.33%	11.25	2s	16.5%	5.63	75%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	60	5025
Normal	Plasteel	8.65	21.13%	8.1	1.6s	11.7%	5.06	8.33%	16.5	1.6s	24.2%	10.31	75%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	280	505
Normal	Silver	5.84	17.11%	9	2s	13%	4.5	8.33%	12.75	2s	18.7%	6.38	75%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	70	525
Normal	Steel	6.68	19.58%	9	2s	13%	4.5	8.33%	15	2s	22%	7.5	75%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	100	120
Normal	Uranium	6.86	21.78%	13.5	2.2s	19.5%	6.14	8.33%	16.5	2.2s	24.2%	7.5	75%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	250	350
Normal	Wood	3.81	11.13%	8.1	2s	11.7%	4.05	25%	6	2s	8.8%	3	25%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 25%	65	78
Good	Bioferrite	9.1	26.67%	8.91	2s	12.87%	4.46	8.33%	21.45	2s	31.46%	10.73	75%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	200	126
Good	Gold	5.74	16.8%	9.9	2s	14.3%	4.95	8.33%	12.38	2s	18.15%	6.19	75%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	60	5525
Good	Plasteel	9.43	23.04%	8.91	1.6s	12.87%	5.57	8.33%	18.15	1.6s	26.62%	11.34	75%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	280	630
Good	Silver	6.36	18.62%	9.9	2s	14.3%	4.95	8.33%	14.03	2s	20.57%	7.01	75%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	70	655
Good	Steel	7.28	21.34%	9.9	2s	14.3%	4.95	8.33%	16.5	2s	24.2%	8.25	75%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	100	150
Good	Uranium	7.48	23.75%	14.85	2.2s	21.45%	6.75	8.33%	18.15	2.2s	26.62%	8.25	75%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	250	435
Good	Wood	4.3	12.46%	8.91	2s	12.87%	4.46	75%	6.6	2s	9.68%	3.3	8.33%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	65	97
Excellent	Bioferrite	9.86	28.91%	9.72	2s	14.04%	4.86	8.33%	23.4	2s	34.32%	11.7	75%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	200	151
Excellent	Gold	6.2	18.15%	10.8	2s	15.6%	5.4	8.33%	13.5	2s	19.8%	6.75	75%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	60	6025
Excellent	Plasteel	10.22	24.95%	9.72	1.6s	14.04%	6.08	8.33%	19.8	1.6s	29.04%	12.38	75%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	280	760
Excellent	Silver	6.87	20.13%	10.8	2s	15.6%	5.4	8.33%	15.3	2s	22.44%	7.65	75%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	70	790
Excellent	Steel	7.88	23.1%	10.8	2s	15.6%	5.4	8.33%	18	2s	26.4%	9	75%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	100	180
Excellent	Uranium	8.11	25.73%	16.2	2.2s	23.4%	7.36	8.33%	19.8	2.2s	29.04%	9	75%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	250	520
Excellent	Wood	4.63	13.41%	9.72	2s	14.04%	4.86	75%	7.2	2s	10.56%	3.6	8.33%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	65	116
Masterwork	Bioferrite	12.07	35.34%	11.75	2s	16.97%	5.87	25%	28.28	2s	41.47%	14.14	75%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 0%	200	250
Masterwork	Gold	7.34	21.51%	13.05	2s	18.85%	6.53	8.33%	16.31	2s	23.93%	8.16	75%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	60	7025
Masterwork	Plasteel	13.05	30.56%	11.75	1.6s	16.97%	7.34	25%	23.93	1.6s	35.09%	14.95	75%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 0%	280	1265
Masterwork	Silver	8.16	23.91%	13.05	2s	18.85%	6.53	8.33%	18.49	2s	27.12%	9.24	75%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	70	1315
Masterwork	Steel	9.38	27.5%	13.05	2s	18.85%	6.53	8.33%	21.75	2s	31.9%	10.88	75%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	100	300
Masterwork	Uranium	9.67	30.67%	19.58	2.2s	28.28%	8.9	8.33%	23.93	2.2s	35.09%	10.88	75%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	250	870
Masterwork	Wood	5.45	15.79%	11.75	2s	16.97%	5.87	75%	8.7	2s	12.76%	4.35	8.33%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	65	194
Legendary	Bioferrite	13.74	40.22%	13.37	2s	19.31%	6.68	25%	32.18	2s	47.19%	16.09	75%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 0%	200	500
Legendary	Gold	8.26	24.21%	14.85	2s	21.45%	7.43	8.33%	18.56	2s	27.23%	9.28	75%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	60	8025
Legendary	Plasteel	14.85	34.77%	13.37	1.6s	19.31%	8.35	25%	27.23	1.6s	39.93%	17.02	75%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 0%	280	2525
Legendary	Silver	9.19	26.93%	14.85	2s	21.45%	7.43	8.33%	21.04	2s	30.86%	10.52	75%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	70	2625
Legendary	Steel	10.58	31.01%	14.85	2s	21.45%	7.43	8.33%	24.75	2s	36.3%	12.38	75%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	100	600
Legendary	Uranium	10.91	34.63%	22.28	2.2s	32.18%	10.13	8.33%	27.23	2.2s	39.93%	12.38	75%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	250	1740
Legendary	Wood	6.11	17.69%	13.37	2s	19.31%	6.68	75%	9.9	2s	14.52%	4.95	8.33%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	65	390

^{For the full effects of qualities, see Quality.}

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 Note: This is the actual base average derived from the melee verb system updated in 1.1.2610, it may sometimes disagree with the listed value in the in-game infobox.
It may also change depending on the stats and the melee verbs available to the wielder if the weapon is wielded by some other than a baseline human.
↑ Chance for attack to be selected, assuming the weapon is wielded by a baseline human. It may change depending on the melee verbs available to the wielder