Axes are one of the many weapons you can use for combat in Valheim. They’re simple to understand and handle, yet they can cover multiple roles at once. In general, axes are meant as a tool to chop down trees and wood. But they can absolutely prove themselves in combat as well. There are differences here too, as you can choose between one-handed axes, two-handed battleaxes, and dual axes. This gives you a wide range of models that can be tailored to your combat style. Axes are therefore very versatile, and it can be worth focusing on them. Today we’ll look at all available axes across all three categories.
Valheim One-Handed Axes: stats, materials, and wood types
Stone Axe in Valheim: first weapon and tool
The Stone Axe will likely be your first weapon as well as your first tool to fell trees. It isn’t particularly strong with just 15 damage, but that makes it perfect for your first few hours in the game. As with all axes, the 3-hit combo ends with double damage. You’ll be able to defeat most small enemies in the Meadows easily. With it you can fell beeches, firs, and pines.
Flint Axe in Valheim: fast start and efficient woodcutting
As soon as you have a Workbench, you should craft a slightly better Flint Axe. It deals 20 damage per hit and is also a bit more efficient at chopping trees, although it can likewise only chop beeches, firs, and pines. For its upgrades you’ll need leather scraps, which aren’t always easy to get. The Stone Axe, on the other hand, can only be upgraded with stone, which is easier to find.
Bronze Axe in Valheim: strong upgrade in the Black Forest
Your first noticeable axe upgrade is bronze, which you can craft in the second biome from tin and copper. With it, you’ll deal 40 damage on normal hits and can also fell birches and ancient trees. All in all, it’s your best choice if you want to fight in the Black Forest with a one-handed axe. Upgrading the weapon will cost you additional bronze, but also leather scraps.
Iron Axe in Valheim: Swamp biome and solid upgrades
In the next biome, the Swamp, you can start looking for iron. It’s a strong and durable metal that also gives you a great axe. With 60 damage, it’s another upgrade and a weapon that can take down many of the enemies in the Swamp with ease. Its upgrades are now easier to obtain as well; you can use a Forge at level 5 in the Swamp without much detour. This lets you raise your damage to 75 points.
Blackmetal Axe in Valheim: 100 damage and late biomes
The jump to the next one-hander takes a bit, as you won’t find a new variant in the Mountains. You first need to craft blackmetal on the Plains to make a new weapon. The Blackmetal Axe, however, is the first model to reach 100 damage. You can also use it to chop charred wood and Yggdrasil wood, the last two wood types in the game. Gather some linen and more fine wood for the upgrades as well. You should bring your Forge to level 7.
Jotun Bane in Valheim: poison damage from the Mistlands
The last of the regular axes can be crafted in the Mistlands. Unlike its predecessors, it deals less direct damage, but can poison your enemies. With 80 slash damage and 40 poison damage, you can make your fights more varied and tactical. The weapon also glows with a faint yellow light, a great effect. You can craft it from Yggdrasil wood, iron, refined eitr, and bile bag.
Valheim Dual Wield dual axes: find, craft, and stats
Early dual axes: golden and silver axe heads
Axes get especially cool when you can use two of them at once. Valheim offers two different sets of dual-wield axes that you can find on your journey. First are the early dual axes, a pair with golden and silver axe heads for your first adventures. You can only craft them if you also find the corresponding heads. They can be found in abandoned buildings in the Meadows. With 30 damage and the ability to fell birches, they’re clearly superior to both the Stone Axe and the Flint Axe. Their attack pattern is faster and more agile, which you might prefer.
Berserkir Axes: best dual wield in the late game
You can only obtain the second pair of axes at the end of the game, as the Berserkir Axes are found only in the Ashlands. You craft them from charred bones, Flametal, and Asksvin hides. Like many other Ashlands weapons, you can socket them with three gemstones: Bloodstone, Jade, and Iolite. At 140 damage, they’re likely the best choice for axe fighters in the late game.
Valheim Battleaxes two-handed: damage, materials, and biomes
Iron Battleaxe: entry to the Swamp biome
Battleaxes are large two-handed weapons that deal more damage but are correspondingly slower to handle. The first of these axes can be crafted in the Swamp from iron, ancient bark, and leather scraps. You deal 70 damage with normal hits, and unlike other weapons, the secondary attack is faster but weaker. We don’t necessarily recommend it over the Iron Axe in the Swamp, but it’s a strong alternative if you prefer two-handers.
Crystal Battleaxe: silver, crystals, and spirit damage
The Crystal Battleaxe is much more exciting and the only axe you can craft in the Mountains. You’ll need silver and crystals, but you’ll get a weapon with 90 damage plus 30 spirit damage. That makes it unique among axes and a really good mid-game weapon. It also just looks cool thanks to its pale blue glow.
Blackmetal Battleaxe: Plains and stamina management
On the Plains, you can craft a new battleaxe that deals 110 damage, making it slightly better than the regular Blackmetal Axe. Keep in mind, though, that the two-hander is slower and consumes more stamina. In the end, it comes down to your preference; we can recommend both weapons.
Skull Splitter: Mistlands two-handed beast
One last variation of the battleaxe can be unlocked in the Mistlands in the form of the Skull Splitter. The weapon deals 130 damage, but unlike Jotun Bane, it has no additional effect. We therefore recommend it for fighters who want to focus on pure slash damage. As with the previous two-handed axes, the secondary attack is faster and weaker. A combo of both attack patterns is the best strategy.
Conclusion on Valheim axes: best builds and tips
Axes are among the most varied weapons in Valheim, as you can tailor them to your combat style. They’re a bit more cumbersome than, for example, swords, but often stronger. You can also choose between large battleaxes and a pair of dual axes, each with different movesets. All axes can also serve as a tool to chop wood. Depending on the material, you can fell different trees. If you want to play with friends, you can rent your Valheim server here: rent a Valheim server.
