Best axe?

[jwolkins]

Current character has a nice selection of axes thanks to Trog and the bazaar. not sure which one is best for me. I have:

+14 Obsidian axe {Chop, Str+3, +Fly, SInv, Curse}
This is my current goto. For those of you who dont know, it auto-mesmerizes you to enemies, and automatically summons demons during combat. Can be hard to run away with this.

+8 Mithril axe "Arga" {Speed, MR+, Str+2}
Nothing too special. Has a delay of 0.4-0.5.

+9 Broad axe of Ducisea {Chop, *Rage, rF++, rC++}
The *Rage effect is uneccesary w/Trog, and may get me into more trouble than without. I already have two pips of rF anyway.

All of the above are broad axes, one handed. I have skill 18 in axes, and am using a large shield with 25 skill. I have 36 strength and +10 in slaying bonuses.

However, I also have

+5 Vampiric Executioner's Axe
Which exists purely to make you jealous .

Kind of scared of using this, has 1.0 delay for me, plus I have to give up the shield.

Anyway, im about ready to head into Zot:1. Which should be my goto? Thanks.

[bcadren]

You've put a lot of XP into shields, I wouldn't switch to the Exec Axe. I'd use Ducisea if you need the resists (though the *Rage can kill you) and Arga if you don't. Obsidian is too deadly to use (Mes is just extremely risky) and it's similar damage to Arga, really (though it gets through AC better due to higher dam/hit, instead of faster hits).

[duvessa]

I'd use the exec axe because a vamp exec axe is a way better shield than a shield is. But if you insist on wearing shields, arga is the best of those by far; drop Ducisea, it's useless. Keep obsidian axe in your inventory because you can wield it to cure confusion.

[JFunk]

You put way too much exp in shields, but to let that hold you back at this point would be sunk cost fallacy. If all you have is a basic large shield -- not some crazy randart or something -- then you definitely want the exec axe. Train axes only from here on if you're worried about the delay.

[edgefigaro]

I'd use arga. A vamp exe axe is good but not great in zot. (An executioner axe is good. Vamp is not as useful against many zot threats, however) If it were +9 and min delay, it would be best.

My first win was with the obsidian axe. Never used it since, but that was a memorable run.

All 3 choices you should be able to win the game with.

[nago]

*rage kills more than win a game, especially for a new player. Weapons are to deal damage, not have resist. That axe is utterly shot.
Vamp is amazing even in zot, although I find weird the op hasn't a antimagic weapon as switch

[jwolkins]

although I find weird the op hasn't a antimagic weapon as switch

Trust me, the dungeon is littered with antimagic axes, and probably way more unidentidied ones

[edgefigaro]

Vamp is neither effective vs OOFs, nor Aliches, the two most significant threats in zot. Shadow dragons, electric golems, death cobs, and tentacled monstrosities are also immune. It does work vs draconians, non shadow dragons, klowns, moths, titans, and orb guardians.

Vamp is a great, game-winning brand because it gets you to zot cleanly. It is still a good brand in zot, but not as strong there as it is in the rest of the non-extended game. There are simply more things that resist it, and the zone's most significant threats ignore it.

[duvessa]

You know what also isn't very effective against oofs or electric golems? shields

[Hurkyl]

Shields are great against orb guardians. Apparently some people have problems with those?

[Sar]

you know what also is great against orb guardians?

Spoiler: show

vampiric brand

[ZipZipskins]

you know what also is great against orb guardians?

Spoiler: show

vampiric brand

I didn't see this on the next page of tapatalk so I had constructed a nearly identical post but without spoiler tags, which made me literarily audibly lol.

So I guess what I'm saying is, "thanks"

[Rast]

you know what also is great against orb guardians?

Spoiler: show

vampiric brand

Devs don't read DCA, so I'm just going to put it out here: It's overall the best brand in the game, by far.

[Sar]

I know, right? It's just the best thing.

[Tiktacy]

I'd use the exec axe because a vamp exec axe is a way better shield than a shield is. But if you insist on wearing shields, arga is the best of those by far; drop Ducisea, it's useless. Keep obsidian axe in your inventory because you can wield it to cure confusion.

Remind me why we don't have a thank button again?

[MrPlanck]

Moot. You can with with any of those axes.

[Sar]

You can also win with a hand axe.

[HardboiledGargoyle]

So let's get this straight. An effectively +15 weapon with 18 base damage deals out more than twice as much damage as an effectively +18 weapon with 13 base damage? Because that's what it would take for Arga to be the worse anti-OoF/lich/cob weapon on this char, assuming the absence of might.

[crate]

best axe specifically in zot is swapping between vamp and antimagic
you should have enough food to do this freely

[daggaz]

yeah but who has the patience for all those tedious messages and/or actions?

[edgefigaro]

Moot. You can with with any of those axes.

Yeah, I am about here as well. Further, I posit if you were to misplay and die with one of these axes, equivalent choices would get you killed with another axe. The marginal difference in power isn't significant.

If you are dealing with the tedium of swiching between vamp and AM, you are probably playing carefully enough to win easilly.

[Rast]

Further, I posit if you were to misplay and die with one of these axes, equivalent choices would get you killed with another axe.

Incorrect. The massive HP gain from vamp (on an axe, of all things, so getting surrounded just means you gain life even faster) makes up for all kinds of misplays, to the extent that OP won't realize he's misplayed because he'll rarely go below 50% HP.

[edgefigaro]

Deleted.

[njvack]

Trust me, the dungeon is littered with antimagic axes, and probably way more unidentidied ones

dude go get one of those, hitting an alich or oof or professional drac with a big antimagic axe is very good

[tabstorm]

Use the vampiric executioner's axe and drop your shield. I also suggest not picking up shields or putting XP into shields in the future unless you are a troll or conjurer. Shields are quite bad in DCSS in general.

Since you've already made your character worse than it needs to be by getting 25 shields, you may as well just use Arga.