Axes & Clubs
Axes and Clubs are the heavy hitters of Fire Emblem Fates: Conquest, designed to break through enemy defenses and inflict massive damage. Units like Effie, a powerful armorer, or Arthur, a boisterous warrior, often wield these weapons, boasting high Strength stats that allow them to shatter enemy lines. Axes are strong against lances and weak against swords, making them excellent for countering lance-wielding foes like Silas or the Nohrian Knights. Clubs, typically found in the Fighter and Berserker classes, offer similar raw power, often with higher critical hit potential. The sheer force of an axe attack can often overcome an enemy's defenses, especially against heavily armored units. A critical hit with an axe, such as the Brave Axe, can deal devastating damage, potentially one-shotting weaker opponents. In chapters where formidable lance-users are prevalent, such as certain encounters with the Hoshidan army, axes become indispensable for maintaining battlefield control. Their raw power is also effective against flying units, which often have lower defense.
When deploying axe-users, it's crucial to be mindful of the weapon triangle; sword-wielding enemies, like Corrin or Xander, can quickly turn the tables on them. Therefore, it's often wise to pair axe-users with units that can protect them from sword attacks or to use them strategically to engage lance-users first. The weight of axes can sometimes reduce a unit's Speed, making them more susceptible to being doubled by faster opponents. However, their high Strength often compensates for this, allowing them to deliver a decisive blow before the enemy can retaliate. Consider the terrain; while axes don't typically benefit from elevated positions as much as other weapons, they can still be used to clear choke points effectively. In chapters like Chapter 13, where a large number of heavily armored units and lance-users are present, a well-supported axe user can be the key to breaking through enemy formations. The Berserker class, with its innate high critical hit rate, can be particularly devastating with axes, capable of inflicting critical hits on nearly every strike.