The Battleaxe makes a different promise. It is not the weapon of the elegant duelist or the elusive assassin. It is the tool of the relentless, the stubborn, the warrior who wins not by killing first, but by outlasting everyone else. To wield a Battleaxe is to embrace a philosophy of attrition. Your power doesn’t vanish in a single spell; it seeps into your enemies with every swing, a growing crimson tide of rending bleeds that saps their strength and seals their fate. The Battleaxe is often regarded as an S-Tier weapon, making it a strong choice for beginners due to its versatility in handling both PvE and PvP combat.
Battleaxe Abilities Selection
PvE (Dungeons & Open World Mobs)
- Q:
Rending Spin– Best for clearing groups of mobs. - W:
Adrenaline Boost– Use this right before your Mercenary Jacket (R) to get more hits in and heal faster. - E:
Blood Bandit– dealing damage and Heals you based on the number of Rending Bleed Charges. - Passive:
Life Leech– Perfect for zero-downtime farming.
PvP (Mists, Corrupted Dungeons, Duels)
- Q:
Rending Rage– Highly recommended for PvP over Rending Spin. It includes a root on the third hit, allowing you to catch players who try to run. - W:
Adrenaline Boost– Use this right before your Mercenary Jacket (R) to get more hits in and heal faster. - E:
Blood Bandit– Be careful with the second throw! In PvP, if you don’t need the heal immediately, only use the first throw to keep the cooldown short (10s) and keep the pressure on. - Passive:
Deep Cuts– Swapping to this deals extra bleed damage over time, which is better for securing kills against players than the minor Life Leech heal.
Gear Build
| Slot | Item | Recommended Ability (Spell) | Passive Ability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Off-Hand |  Torch | N/A (Increases Attack Speed and Cooldowns) | N/A |
| Head |  Specter Hood |  D: Flash of Insight resetting your Jacket cooldown for double healing. | Balanced Mind |
| Chest |  Mercenary Jacket |  R: Bloodlust (Heals on hit) | Balanced Mind |
| Boots |  Plate Boots |  F: Rejuvenating Sprint (healing and move speed) | Toughness |
| Cape |  Thetford Cape | It provides a significant boost to your clear speed in PvE, and adds extra pressure in PvP | N/A |
| Food |  Roasted Clearhaze Snapper | The S-tier food for Battleaxe. It provides life steal (heals you on every hit) and increases your Max HP. | N/A |
| Potion |  Healing Potion | Emergency Health | N/A |
Other Gear Options
| Slot | Alternative Item | Why Use It? |
|---|---|---|
| Head |  Fiend Cowl |  Purge: Removes enemy buffs like their Mercenary Jacket heal or boots’ run speed. Essential for high-level Mists PvP. |
| Head |  Mage Cowl |  Poison: Adds more damage-over-time. Use this for faster PvE clearing if you don’t need the defense of a Hunter Hood. |
| Chest |  Hellion Jacket |  Life Steal Aura: Better for fighting groups (1v2 or small-scale) as it heals you more the more enemies are inside the aura. |
| Chest |  Assassin Jacket |  Ambush: Grants invisibility to reset a fight or wait for your cooldowns. Great for outplaying opponents in the Mists. |
| Boots |  Leather Boots |  Energetic Sprint: Solves all mana issues. |
Beginner Tip:
If you are strictly on a budget or just starting in Tier 4, Adept’s Cape is perfectly fine. Do not feel forced to buy expensive faction capes until you are comfortable with your silver-making methods.
Rotation
PvE Rotation
- Healing Combo: When your health drops below 50%, activate
Bloodlust(R) followed by Adrenaline Boost(W). The increased attack speed from the W and your Torch will trigger the jacket’s heals much faster. - The “E” Skill (
Blood Bandit): This is your main source of damage and healing. It throws two axes; the second hit heals you based on the “Bleed” stacks (from your Q) on the enemy. - Defense: Use the Specter Hood (D)
Flash of Insight, so you can use Bloodlust(R) second time to fill up your hp bar. - Mobility: Use
Rejuvenating Sprint(F) on your boots to escape or chase. Note that it takes a few seconds to reach max speed.
PvP Rotation
| Phase | Action | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Engage | W ( Rejuvenating Sprint) | Close the gap. |
| 2. Build Stacks | Q ( Rending Rage) x3 | Hit the enemy three times. The 3rd hit roots them in place for 1 second. Each hit adds a “Bleed” stack (max 3). |
| 3. Pressure | E ( Blood Bandit) – 1st Cast | Throw your axe. It deals massive damage based on how many bleed stacks are on the enemy. |
| 4. Healing | D (Specter Hood) | make you use Bloodlust (R) for second time to fill up your hp bar. |
| 5. Sustained Heal | R (Mercenary Jacket) + Auto Attacks | Activate Bloodlust. Every time you damage the enemy (including the bleeds from your Q), you heal yourself. |
| 6. Emergency Heal | E ( Blood Bandit) – 2nd Cast | If your health is low, throw the axe a second time to heal instantly. Warning: This doubles your E cooldown. |
PvP Strategy Tips:
- The “
Bloodlust” Combo: In PvP, enemies will try to run or stun you when they see your Mercenary Jacket (R) activate. Use your Q ( Rending Rage) to root them so you can land every hit needed for the heal. - E-Management: Don’t always use the second throw of
Blood Bandit. In PvP, only use the second throw if you desperately need the heal. Keeping it to a single throw keeps the cooldown short, allowing you to pressure the enemy constantly.
Final Thoughts
The Battleaxe solidified its place as the premier S-tier choice for solo adventurers. Its unique combination of heavy burst damage and high self-sustain allows it to dominate both PvE and PvP with minimal gear investment.
The Battleaxe is not a weapon for the glory-seeker who needs a highlight-reel instant kill. It is for the steadfast, the determined warrior who finds victory in the certainty of their own endurance