The bearded axe or ‘Skeggox’ is the bread and butter of a vikings arsenal. They were useful to anyone in a clan, using them as tools or weapons. The weapon you start out with in Valhalla is your father's axe and prove that this weapon type can be used for the whole game.
The ‘bearded’ part of the weapon can be used with enough skill to pull either a weapon or a shield out of someones hand.
5. Raider Axe
If you’re looking to for the viking aesthetic with the sleek and fast combat of an assassin then you will want to use the raider axe. Visually the smallest on this list, with a heightened attack speed and low weight this weapon will make you appear as a whirlwind on the battlefield.
I would advise the focus on “the Way of the Raven” skill tree to best utilise this weapon. The bonus trait is that your heavy attacks are increased after each light attack, this makes combination attacks that more deadly.
Why is the ‘Raider Axe’ so great?
- Light weapon to use
- High attack speed
- Powerful early game bonus trait
- Very easy to get
How to get?
Very easy to get…it’s in your inventory at the start of the game…that is all…
Stats Base/Max
- Attack- 46/102
- Speed- 54/54
- Stun- 45/95
- Critical Chance- 47/67
- Weight- 10/10
4. Fyrd Axe
The bonus trait of this weapon is increased critical damage when at low health. Those who play it safe may not have use for this, but if you like to jump into a horde or enemies this weapon could save your life.
This weapon takes the look of a simple bearded axe of the time, owned by most people in ‘fyrds’, which is the older word for a local army, almost a militia.
Why is the ‘Fyrd Axe’ so great?
- Bonus trait can save your life.
- Fairly simple to get.
- High attack power.
How to get it?
This weapon is found in a large building called Foresti’s Rest, in the Viking friendly town of Jorvik (York). When inside the building take a look behind the partition and move a heavy object and collect a key from the desk. The chest to unlock is up in the rafters.
Stats Base/Max
- Attack- 67/111
- Speed- 47/47
- Stun- 66/105
- Critical Chance- 51/67
- Weight- 12/12
3. Thunderer Axe
Just like the ancient poets AC-DC say, you’ve been thunderstruck by this new bearded axe added in the Taranis pack. This electrified axe along with the armour in the Taranis pack is styled and named after the Celtic God of Thunder, Taranis.
The bonus of this weapon is an increase in stun depending on the defence slots of your foe. This makes this bearded axe a boss killing machine. Unusually light but a slower attack rate compared to some on this list, the damage output more than makes up for it. I recommend using this for a tanky build due to it’s slower speed.
Why is the ‘Thunderer Axe’ so great?
- Great against powerful boss enemies like Elites or Zealots.
- Lightest weapon on this list.
- Huge stun stat.
- Looks fantastic.
- Already upgraded when you get it.
How to get it?
To get this weapon you need to purchase the Taranis pack. It costs 2000 Helix points in the store. This will set you back £16.99.
Stats Max
- Attack- 128
- Speed- 57
- Stun- 169
- Critical Chance- 96
- Weight- 6
2. Varins Axe
So many epic stories involve taking up a parents weapon to seek vengeance and honour. You see it in Lord of the Rings with Isildur taking up a shard of his fathers sword Narsil to defeat Sauron or in Red Dead Revolver when Red Harlow uses his fathers nearly unique revolver to track down the people who killed them.
AC Valhalla is a similar story, spoilers for beginning of the game- after witnessing the death of his parents Eivor ends up with his/her fathers axe and becomes your first in-game weapon. Personally even with experimentation with other weapons, Varins Axe remains the staple of my armoury.
Small note- when upgraded the speed stat stays the same, this is because the weapons bonus trait increases your attack speed.
Why is ‘Varins Axe’ so great?
- You get it instantly
- The stats scale well with other end game weapons when you upgrade it
- For storyline reasons it’s fitting to use if you want to be that immersed
- Favours a Hack-and-Slash gameplay
How to get?
Nice and simple step to get this one, just start the game and complete the first mission…nothing else to it.
Stats Base/Max
- Attack- 54/115
- Speed- 48/48
- Stun- 55/130
- Critical Chance- 47/72
- Weight- 12/10
1. Jotnar Cleaver
Introduced as part of the Dawn of Ragnarok DLC, the Jotnar Cleaver has become the best bearded axe in the game. The stats are very impressive.
If your character build includes a focus on critical hits then this weapon is 100% for you, as it’s bonus trait is that an adrenaline slot is filled for each critical hit. This will allow you to use your powerful skill attacks way way waaay more often in battler.
Why is ‘Jotnar Cleaver’ so Great?
- Bonus trait is brilliant.
- Already upgraded when you get it.
- Huge stats
How to get it?
Getting this weapon is similar to Varins Axe except for every single aspect. Getting this weapon is a jaunt, you need to pay for and start the Dawn of Ragnarok DLC, defeat all of Suttunger’s Outrider, who are all mini bosses. You need to then equip their armour and enter a portal at Midalstifla Dam, where you fight a secret boss. After all that you will finally get this mythical weapon.
Stats Max
- Attack- 171
- Speed- 209
- Stun- 54
- Critical Chance- 130
- Weight- 6
So theres the top five bearded axes in Assassins Creed Valhalla, they require mostly the same builds throughout the game with a little deviation which hopefully this guide will help your choices.
Happy hunting.
