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 predominantly 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 - they both have the same material cost, and same research cost. However, axes are strictly inferior than a knife of the same quality and material.

This oddity comes from the melee verb selection system, introduced in 1.1. Each weapon has multiple attacks, or verbs, with some better than others. The game's infobox incorrectly calculates the likelihood of each attack (it uses RimWorld 1.0 values). For example, the knife is assumed to use "Bad" attacks more often than it does in practice. With this in mind, knives have a "true" DPS of 7.23, rather than the gladius' 7.13 or axe's 6.75.

In addition, knives are just as likely as axes to do Cut damage, so there is no advantage of the axe's damage type. The axe has 4% more AP, however, this is unlikely to matter for any reasonable enemy you'll encounter. If armor was that much of a concern, then you would use a mace instead.

A potential use is for ideoligion with the Melee Blunt set as Noble weapons, providing a sharp-type 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