I'm currently playing and Orc and really cannot decide with which to go. For an Orc it seems a huge blunt weapons makes sense but greatswords look so brutal and visceral too. In terms of aesthetic my top is:

1. Greatsword

2. Warhammer

3. Battle Axe

I know swords swing faster than axes which swing faster than hammers. The base damage for each is reversed. I'd like to know, which weapons provide the highest damage output from an end-game perspective? I want the strongest of those in terms of raw damage, which one would you recommend? I don't plan on enchanting. It makes them overpowered, though I do plan on getting artefacts.

Thank you.

Go with what you like best.
The differance in the end game is not worth picking one over the other.
My Orc used a warhammer because I thought it looked and felt right for my character.

I'm kind of partial to battle-axes myself, but I'm pretty new to two-handed weapons. My previous characters dual-wielded magic and one-handed weapons, but I'm trying something new.

Yeah, I've noticed that but I've always played by enchanting the hell out of my weapons. By end-game I would have my Deadric sword doing well over 300dmg. I'm playing at Master difficulty and believe me, without Enchanting and very little to no Smithing, a 10% difference in the damage could be a life saver.

The Greatsword has the most finishers, and is pretty fast. It's critical damage perk is almost useless.
The Axe looks awesome, and the bleeding affect could be useful
The Hammer has the ability to ignore armor, which I think is incredibly useful.

if you can improve volundrun use it. i believe it swings as fast as a sword but has hammer damage output. not sure if its stronger than a daedric greatsword though...

I love using the battle axe. Its so visceral and bloody. I just discovered a enchanted greatsword with a shock spell and it truly kicks rear end in dangerous situations. I had a similar result when enchanting my battle axe with a less powerful shock effect. Unfortunately i had not saved but fate gifted me a greatsword til my enchant skill is up to snuff to be worthy of a powerful enchantment for my steel battle axe. Am also working myself up the two handed perk tree focusing on axes. Cant wait til i get the decapitation perk

Warhammer. Volendrung in particular. Volendrung swings as fast as a Greatsword, has the highest Base Damage of any 2 handed wep (Only problem is that it doesn't seem to benefit from any of the Smithing perks for double tempering), Absorbs 50 Stamina per hit allowing for Power Attack spam (So long as you keep it charged), and staggers the crap out of your opponents. Not to mention, Volendrung is the Artifact favored by Malacath (The Daedric Prince that most Orcs worship), and you get it through a questline involving an Orc Stronghold, so it'll fit in with your Orc char RP wise. It's pretty awesome when you walk by a guard too and they say "What do you intend to do with that hammer, friend? Knock down a house?"

In morrowind, orcs had a bonus with axes. So that would be my first choice. Otherwise, Warhammers do the damage, but are the slowest.

And no, orcs smash skulls, not ninja split them, so greatswords are a definite no no.

Longswords were moslty knights weapons
Batlle axes are designed to break through shields
Warhammers to pierce steel plate armor

But in skyrim no diffrences so its up to you but i love iron long sword

Just remember this : For harder weapon you need more health.
Lighter weapon you need more stamina.
And in between is balanced.
Cause harder weapon means it takes more time to attack, so enemies will occasionaly attack you first.
And lighter weapon means you swing faster, so get as much as power attacks as you can.
It suit me fine with this strategy.