Discover everything you need to know about the top 7 best axes in Avowed and what makes them the best and worst ones.

Avowed is a first-person RPG developed by Obsidian Entertainment and published by Xbox Game Studios. Set in the Pillars of Eternity universe, the game takes place in the Living Lands, where you are uncovering a secret mystery. Axes in Avowed are the melee weapons dealing devastating massive damage in close-range fights.
They offer balance damage, stun, and speed, making them useful in any combat conditions. Choosing the best axe in Avowed is essential as your damage revolves around it when equipped on a battlefield. Unique Axes are viable choices in the late game due to the potential to stagger enemies and deal heavy damage. Pairing them with the shield allows you to boost your defensive capabilities. In this guide, we’ll discuss the best axes in Avowed along with their capabilities and how to acquire them while exploring the world.
Top 7 Best Axes in Avowed Ranked
The axe is a one-handed melee weapon that balances damage and stun potential. This weapon type is faster than two-handed weapons but deals slightly less damage compared to swords or maces. The axe is effective for staggering or stunning the enemies in combat. Drawn in Winter and Woodman’s Labor are the best unique weapons to acquire due to their high damage potential and stun value. Woodman’s Labor offers AoE damage, helping clear multiple foes at once. Axes can be paired with the shield for a more defensive and tactical approach.
While it may seem more intuitive to pick up a one-handed sword for a traditional sword and shield combo, the axe is a better main-hand weapon in Avowed. Axes not only deal higher damage but also have a better Stun statistic and Critical Hit percentage. And all of that comes at only a marginally higher stamina cost for your basic attacks. Here are the best axes that you can acquire while progressing.
- 7. Common Axe- Basic Axe with low damage output and lacks special stats.
- 6. Fine Axe- Improved version offering better damage
- 5. Exceptional Axe- Enhanced damage and stun capabilities make it effective in mid-game fights.
- 4. Superb Axe- High damage output makes it a reliable choice for endgame combat.
- 3. Sheda Le Subi- One-handed axe inflicting shock damage and applying shock accumulation.
- 2. Woodman’s Labor- One-handed axe with AoE damage and enhanced damage against beasts and primordials.
- 1. Drawn in Winter- One-handed axe dealing frost damage and applying frost accumulation.
7) Common Axe

- Physical Damage: 37
- Stun 27
- Stamina: 25
- Critical Hit Chance: 3%
Common Axe in Avowed is a basic one-handed melee weapon, primarily suited for the early stages of the game. The Common Axe can be upgraded to enhance its effectiveness. Get your hands on the Iron Chunks and Paradisan Ladder to upgrade the Common Axe at the workbench. You can purchase it from Gwyneth in the Market District of Paradis, Dawnshore. This is also purchasable from Merchant Valtur who is located at Claviger’s Landing in Dawnshore. The lower base damage makes it weaker against early enemies. Fine Axe lacks elemental damage, status effects, or unique perks. You can switch immediately when you find a better axe. This is a temporary weapon that you should upgrade to Fine, Exceptional, or Superb axes.
6) Fine Axe
- Physical Damage: 54
- Stun 56
- Stamina: 25
- Critical Hit Chance: 3%
Fine Axe is a one-handed melee weapon that deals decent damage and offers stamina efficiency. The attributes of this axe position the Fine Axe above common axes, providing enhanced damage and stun capabilities. The Fine Axe can be upgraded to higher tiers, such as Exceptional and Superb. Upgrade this axe at the workbench using the Steel Chunk and Hylea’s Talon. You can purchase the Fine Axe from Gwyneth in the Market District of Paradis, Dawnshore. This is also purchasable from the Lluisa Melcer, which can be found at the shop in the Farmer’s Market. She sells a collection of equipment, consumables, Animancer’s Swallowtail, and Fragments of the Offering. Fine Axe is stronger than the common axes due to the 54 Physical Damage and 56 Stun.
This works well early in the game when you have limited weapons in your arsenal. You can use this for fast-paced melee combat. However, it becomes ineffective against tougher enemies due to the overall lower damage. This weapon is just a short-term option for you to defeat early-game enemies. We place the Fine Axe below the Exceptional Axe and above the Common Axe due to its attributes.
5) Exceptional Axe
- Physical Damage: 90
- Stun 98
- Stamina: 25
- Critical Hit Chance: 3%
Exceptional Axe is a non-unique, one-handed melee weapon that offers a balance between damage output and stamina efficiency. This is an excellent choice for players seeking a weapon with moderate damage and stun capabilities. You can purchase it directly from Siamo, which is located at: Sulfur Mines Basecamp, Shatterscarp Region. You can even acquire it by upgrading the Fine Axe on the workbench using the required materials. 90 Physical Damage is enough to deal solid hits against most enemies.
The mediocre stun value helps you to stagger weaker foes, making it useful for interrupting attacks. Upgrading the Exceptional Axe is a good solution if you don’t have a unique axe. This weapon falls behind the Superb or unique axes due to the lower damage output. Exceptional Axe is not effective in end-game fights where enemies have higher health and resistance. You can pair this axe with the Bleeding cuts to make it more effective and deal additional damage in combat. The lack of unique enchantments and damage output makes this weapon rank lower in your list.
4) Superb Axe
- Physical Damage: 126
- Stun 140
- Stamina: 25
- Critical Hit Chance: 3%
Superb Axe is a non-unique, one-handed melee weapon that has a balanced performance in combat. The attributes of this axe make it a reliable choice for players seeking a weapon with moderate damage and stun capabilities. Upgrading the Superb Axe allows you to improve its damage and stun values. You need to manage resources wisely to maintain and upgrade weapons effectively. Unique axes like Drawn in Winter or Woodman’s Labor come with special enchantments, providing additional effects, but Superb Axe lacks these kinds of effects. You can purchase the Super Axe from Forgemaster Dela, which is located at: Main Hall, Solace Keep, Galawain’s Tusk Region. It is also purchasable from Stockkeeper Eberk who is located at: Southern Warden Tower, Galawain’s Tusk Region.
This weapon is a dependable choice for players who prefer straightforward combat without depending on enchantments. Its balanced attributes make it a versatile option to pick in the mid-game. 140 stun is enough to stagger enemies, making it effective for interrupting enemy attacks. Upgrading the Superb Axe is a great decision if you don’t have a unique axe. This weapon can work with any melee-focused character, or you can pair it with a shield to enhance your defensive capabilities. The lower damage potential and stun urge us to place this axe just above the exceptional Axe.
3) Sheda Le Subi
- Physical Damage: 189
- Stun 182
- Stamina: 25
- Critical Hit Chance: 3%
Sheda Le Subi is a unique one-handed axe that has shock-based enchantments and balanced combat attributes. Wrath of the Living Lands enchantment for this axe allows you to inflict low shock accumulation to nearby enemies when completing a full combo attack. Shocking Lash enchantment allows you to deliver an additional 10% shock damage with each hit. You can obtain the Sheda Le Subi at the endpoint of Restless Cavern in the Galawain’s Tusks region, south of the Slumbering Fields. Move to the west from the Southern Warden Tower to reach the Restless Cavern.
Move your way inside the Restless Cavern. Next, move in a straight direction and eliminate all the enemies coming in your path. There’s a webbed tree with the Sheda Le Subi embedded in it at the outside of the cave. This is the same tree from where you obtain Ancient Memory. Sheda Le Subi initiate from the Superb quality and can be upgraded to Legendary at a workbench. Upgrading this weapon allows you to increase its damage and stun capabilities. You need Adra Ban to upgrade this weapon on a workbench. The stamina it consumes per swing is relatively low, allowing for frequent attacks. This weapon is ideal for shock spellcasters who focus on shock enchantments and abilities.
The AoE shock accumulation from full combos allows you to weaken a cluster of enemies, making it strong against multiple foes. This is a good axe to use until you get your hands on the Woodman’s Labor or Drawn in Winter. The Shock Accumulation of this axe is low and lacks extra stun and crowd control, making this weapon less effective than the Woodman’s Labor.
2) Woodman’s Labor

- Physical Damage: 189
- Stun 182
- Stamina: 25
- Critical Hit Chance: 3%
Woodman’s Labor is a unique one-handed axe that has balanced damage and specialized enchantments. This is the best weapon to use when fighting with high-level enemies or even bosses. Hack and Hew enchantment allows you to create an AoE that damages nearby enemies when completing a full combo attack. Woodland Woe enchantment increases attack damage by 15% against beasts and primordials. This weapon can be looted from a corpse inside the crawling trees in Felipe’s Depression. Make your way to the Logging Camp in the Emerald Stair region, located southwest of Maxim’s Claim.
You can find the weapon embedded in the chest of a fallen Delemgan on top of a pedestal at the camp. Interacting with it allows you to acquire Woodman’s Labor. This is the best axe due to its high damage output and unique AoE attack ability. Use this weapon to stagger enemies and interrupt their attacks. This makes it perfect for clearing groups of enemies instead of dealing single-target damage in intense combat. It has a low stamina cost and fast attack speed, making it the best axe in our ranked list. Woodman’s Labor can be upgraded from Exceptional to Legendary, boosting its stats. Upgrading this weapon is viable in the late game. You can even pair it with the shield for an aggressive playstyle.
1) Drawn in Winter

- Physical Damage: 189
- Stun 182
- Stamina: 25
- Critical Hit Chance: 3%
The Drawn in Winter is a unique one-handed axe with a frost attribute. You can acquire this weapon early in the game, making it a valuable asset for a Frost build. Its Rising Chill enchantment allows your power attacks to deal moderate Frost Accumulation to nearby enemies. Freezing Lash enchantment allows you to hit an enemy with an additional 10% bonus Frost Damage. Upgrading the Drawn in Winter increases its physical damage and stun capabilities. Use the Workbench to improve the weapon’s quality.
Location
You can find the Drawn in Winter unique one-handed axe in the Watcher’s Mirror location of Dawnshore. Walk north-east from Paradis just to the right of the Shrine of Woedica. Here, walk through a big white arch and head to the middle of the pond. Interact with the Ancient Memory to gain a powerful passive ability named Remembrance of Kishamal; this increases your health by 10% permanently.
Go back, and you can now spot the Drawn in Winter unique axe stuck on a rock pedestal in the middle of the pond. Do note that picking it up immediately starts a fight sequence where waves of skeletons appear from the pond to kill you. Additionally, you can open your inventory to immediately equip the axe and try it out. The enemies are quite easy to defeat, and all you need to do is watch out for ranged attacks from the skeletons, which are quite easy to dodge.
Take the help of your allies to separate the skeletons and quickly finish off the mages and archers first. Then, you can easily focus on the melee skeletons and defeat them with ease. Finally, once the waves stop spawning, you can simply walk out of the area with the Drawn in Winter Unique Axe in your inventory.
Skills to Use
189 Physical Damage and 182 Stun make it one of the most powerful one-handed axes. The stun value is crucial for staggering enemies. This makes your follow-up attacks much easier, allowing you to dominate enemies in combat. Drawn in Winter remains relevant in the end game as the frost damage increases with frost-related builds. . Pair the Drawn of Winter with skills like Chill Blades, Blizzard, and Bristling Frost to make it more effective in combat. This is the best one-handed axe due to its damage potential and stun value, so we place it in the higher ranks.
FAQs About 7 Best Axes in Avowed Ranked
What is an axe in Avowed?
The axe is a one-handed melee weapon that balances damage and stun potential. You can upgrade them to make them more effective in combat.
Which is the best axe to use in Avowed?
Drawn in Winter is the best axe to use because it allows your power attacks to deal moderate Frost Accumulation to nearby enemies.
Is Axe a good melee weapon in Avowed?
The axe is faster than two-handed weapons but deals slightly less damage compared to swords or maces. The axe is effective for staggering or stunning the enemies in combat.
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