I can't decide which to use for my warrior. I have a shield, and want to make a decision on either sword or axe as I'm reaching a point where I need to invest in one or the other. So far I've been using both on and off. It feels like the sword definitely has more reach, which is a big advantage.

I constantly miss my target with the axe because I think it has the same reach as the sword, but it does not. So, 1-0 sword.

Axes do more damage, though. 1-1.

There are many cool versions of both available in mods, and I prefer the Nord style, which again there are plenty of. Both are also good for the viking type warrior I play. so I'll give both a point for style. 2-2.

Sword gets more criticals with the perk, and axes do bleed damage. I'm not exactly sure what the bleed damage amounts to, but I imagine it's good for hit-and-run against powerful enemies and 2h wielders. I'll give axe a point for that as I'm wearing light armor and need to get out of the way of those big swings. 2-3.

But swords have a faster swing rate. 3-3.

This is pretty much where I'm at, and I can't decide. Help!

I do like the idea of a tank warrior (shield user) using the axe and having all bleed damage effects. Kind of attrition based.

Sword/Axe damage difference is negligible once smithing enters the scene, so if you smith, do not take that into account.

Sword critical- thanks to developer oversight (like destruction ) is only based on the "base" damage of a weapon. so it is a very very puny amount of extra damage in the end.

I vote for axe- simply so you can try the idea I have and see how it works in action.

what do you like to use more cuse stats are useless ina few levels you will be hable to kill everything with either one or the other

Pick the one that you want for your character and don't worry about stats. Either will work just fine so no need to min/max the stats to come to a decision.

I pick swords almost every time. But thats what I like. I could imagine using axes but on maybe an orc beserker type of character. Maybe i like swords because they have class

Mace

We cant decide for you, it's whichever you prefer, be it aesthetics, how it looks in kill cam or damage output.

Well, problem is I like both, and they both suit my character, so I'm down to some nit-picking. I'll probably end up carrying one of each, which I've been doing so far, but I need to think one way or the other in terms of perks. I don't like the swing-and-miss I'm getting with the axe, but axes are cool. A sword is sort of a status symbol for a viking, being that axes are cruder, simpler, multi-purpose, cheap weapons, and i am Dragonborn after all (since I didn't get a choice in the matter), and a sword should be a part of any high ranking viking's gear.

It's a tough one.

I mean really your at a coin toss now.

Pick which one fits your chracter better. A mace/axe to me belongs to a act before thinking type of brute fighter. A sword to me belongs to a soldier, maybe a more clever fighter. But those are my percsptions. What are yours?

Swords do more damage over time, the extra swing speed easily covers the increased axe damage. I happen to think the swords look better too.

Both the sets of perks are useless, I'd ignore them both (bleeding and critical damage).

I'd say looking above, that the Swords swing speed isnt going to be a major factor, as with a shield, the combat is going to be slower paced anyway, as you block then attack. Swing speed would be more relevent if you were duel wielding.

No rule says you have to pick just one.

Steel axe looks better than any low level sword I've seen in the game. I use it on one of my characters but it's really my last line of defense. I am starting a game where I use a conjured sword which I am interested in seeing where it goes.

I think sword has better looking finishing moves. I think a lot of finishing moves are designed for swords and do not look quite right with other weapons. I originally picked up sword and board because I heard it had more finishing moves than any other weapon combo.

I never put points in to the sword criticals or the axe bleed damage. I can switch to either when I want to. I usually run with a sword but sometimes it just seems brutal to kill with an axe so I use that and even more so with a mace. Knocking somebody's head off with a mace is truly brutal.

It's a really good point that the axe and sword perks are almost useless in the big picture. I do use smithing, so they will be tempered, which is where the big damage bones really comes from. If I don't have to go one way or the other, my problem is solved, and I can use both as I please. If I find at a later time that my damage output is too low, I guess I'll make a decision then. I typically use the sword in duel like fights with humans where I try to make a realistic combat situation out of it instead of just swinging until someone dies, and then I use the axe on beasts and monsters cause of the extra damage and brutality of an axe.

Haha, I've never used a mace, but i might give it a try if you can actually behead someone with it, lol.

Yep, you'll do just as many kill cam finishes with the Shield itself, then the Weapon.

Up through around level 30 I was using a war axe and shield with my Orc, but I've recently switched to a two handed battle axe. The way I'm dividing my perks is going to leave me with a lot to spare, so I'm doing both one handed and two handed skill trees. Right now I'm carrying a steel battle axe, a steel greatsword, and two steel war axes (for dual use) and a shield. I also have a steel sword just for soul trapping. Basically everything, lol. I really think it depends on your character, and nothing says he/she can't favor both a good sword and war axe.

If you go sword, go dual wield. Maximum damage and speed.
If you carry a shield, use the axe. You're looking for an optimum blend of defense and offense, and the axe has an edge in damage over the sword but is not so slow as the mace.

I prefer dual wield swords - best defense is a good offence, to parrot a hackneyed phrase/cliche.

If you wanna go Full Viking, drop the shield and go with a Hammer. Thor will guide your hand - and your hammer's head - into your enemy's skull or crotch, with carry thru momentum, as you deliver profound discomfort to your foe.

If you cannot hit with an axe, then I would go with the sword.


As Udey pointed out, the perks for sword critical hits are based on base damage of the weapon and are not modified by smithing, skill or enchant, which means that it is a very small damage bonus. This weighs in favor of the axe.

Bottom line is that the decision between sword and axe, like so many things in Skyrim is a mostly an aesthetic decision. I kind of like the idea of a warrior with shield and axe. Swords seem more suited for rogues, nightblades, etc. I picture a Stalwart Nord warrior wielding an axe or a big hammer.

That's definitely a tough one. I went with sword because it swings faster. But I love hacking enemies with axes. The sound it makes is pleasing. Muhuhahahahaha

By the way, once you achieve armor cap and adequate magic resistance, an unsmithed plastic spoon will be perfectly adequate weapon against most enemies at master difficulty. You will be able to absorb ridiculous amounts of damage.

Skip the weapon specific talents and use both then.

The weapon specific talents add minimal damage. Improved versions of weapons and weapon enchantments, not to mention your flat 1 hand damage perk boosts, FAR exceed the benefit of weapon specific talents.

The mace perk is actually the best of the 3, and still is a moderate boost at best (and then situational as it only benefits against heavy armor targets). Axe bleed has no effect on undead and automatons, but might actually add some reasonable damage in say a dragon fight. Most of the time it too will see virtually no benefit as the bleed effect won't even have time to tick off many marks of damage as you kill everything in 2-3 hits.

So yah... weapon perks are like the last thing to dump perk points into. If you REALLY have nowhere else to put them at the end of your character cycle, they will add a tiny amount of added damage situationally to your weapon of choice.

Dual wield is out, I have no interest in that fancy type of fighting. A good roundshield and a blade/axe is what I want. I love the shield finishers too!

And yeah, I'll have to practice a bit more with the axe to make sure I hit every time, lol. But I think I've settled on keeping both as they both fit the viking style. The only 'Nord' to ever wield a hammer is Thor, and I'm not quite there yet =). It was not a viking weapon. Spear are out, I guess

All good points. I do use the deadly dragons mod, and man are they deadly. The bleed perk might be a good investment. But I use a lot of skills and want to be able to put a lot into Light Armor, Block, Smithing and Alchemy as well, so skipping those specific weapon perks is a really good idea I hadn't thought of. That will leave a lot of extra points free for other stuff, so thanks!

From a stereotypical standpoint I say go with swords if you are a nord. Seems to be more part of their culture. Axes seem to be more of a Orcs weapon.