Burning Axe Build

Master the Burning Axe build in wuchang fallen feathers. Learn about Obliterate, Stagger, Impetus Repository skills, and attribute priority.

Strengths:

• Strong Obliterate with heavy attacks hitting enemies from behind
• Excellent stagger mechanics with the Charged Heavy skill
• Massive burst damage potential
• High vitality and endurance scaling

Weaknesses:

• Slow attack speed
• Mobile bosses create downtime - which can be mitigated with Empyrean Axe
• Difficult to clash reliably and no counter options

Key Mechanics:

• Obliterate: Builds a bar on targets. When full, enemies break momentarily, allowing free attacks. Charged heavy attacks hitting the back of a normal sized human enemy typically trigger Obliterate instantly.
• Stagger: Final hits in light combos and Charged Heavy Attacks skill throw similarly-sized enemies around, canceling their attacks or stunning them briefly.
• Clash/Counter: Axe struggles with these mechanics due to slow swings. Charged Heavy Attack is your best option for timing clashes. Clashes mitigate some of the damage if your blade connects with their blade at the right time which is handy for your heavy attack landing and canceling some of their attack patterns or certain moves.

Impetus Repository Skills Strategy:

The Impetus Repository is a feature that you can access whenever you visit shrines. It’s essentially a large talent tree, which you’ll spend Red Mercury Essence in. This is a material you will get from defeating bosses, one time elite spawns around the game, and when you spend your Red Mercury (souls) to level up in the Impetus Repository. In summary, you want to invest in both the axe tree, and the Illusive tree, which contains the flasks and temperance buffs you need as you collect more items like the Lost Remains and Forgotten Remembrance.

Skill path strategy by Essence phases:

• First two Essences: Get Skycaller and Glimmer in the Illusive Tree
• Early Game (3-20 Essence): Get Earthshatter and then path to Colossal Smash
• Early-Mid Game (20-40 Essence): Go down the tree to get the light attack speed improvement and grab endurance attributes. Level the multi-nodes up too.
• Mid Game (40 - 80 Essences): Gradually get more attributes and aim for the + strength nodes. Focus on Endurance > Vitality > Strength for attribute upgrades. Progress Illusive tree as required when you get Temperance picks up in Act 3 / 4 and more Essence upgrades.
• Late Game (80+ Essences): Grab attributes from the Longsword tree to improve your Strength, Vitality and Endurance some more to take on the end game areas.

Axe Build Skills Breakdown:

For the build, you want to respec at various stages. Don’t worry you can respec for free at any time in the Impetus Repository.

Starting Skills:

• Earthshatter: Reduces interruption on Charged Heavy Attacks, adds Vulnerability for boss burst
• Whirlwind: Alternative to Earthshatter, builds Poise status (pairs well with Vermillion War Club)
• Grab both Axe & Hook and Chop & Weave while pathing to get some clashing Bonuses, which you’ll need to learn how they work for the end of Chapter 1 boss.

Core Discipline Skill - Colossal Smash:

• Best synergy with early Temperance fire effect
• Spawns large Corruption that explodes on fire contact when you get the Skills support nodes.
• Guaranteed explosion with fire Temperance buff
• Single biggest source of burst on your weapon, and its easy to land.

Attribute Priority:

• Endurance > Vitality > Strength
• Focus on +5 Strength endcap nodes
• Upgrade multi-node attributes 3-5 times when available

Optional - Rampage:

• Good for flinching enemies when exploring
• Better than Colossal Smash against Bo Sorcerer boss
• Keep spare points for respeccing when needed

Illusive Tree Usage:

As mentioned, you only really dip into the Illusive Tree depending on your progression. If you find yourself lacking Essences by the time you need to upgrade Manna Flasks or Temperance slots, then feel free to respec a few attributes nodes from the axe tree to progress the milestones below. Also, don’t forget to consume Red Mercury items in your inventory, as you’ll easily stock pile a few levels in your bags.