Let me AXE you a question

[Renmiri]

I only use axes and have been doing very well. Their hits have been around 1,000 to 2,000 HP since my guys were level 30 or more. I have had no need for other weapon with 2 exceptions:

- I used a bow when I didn't have drain or other good spell against fliers or fast fiends.
- My kids love to see Vaan jumping on top of his sword when my party pwns a boss, so he has a sword for most boss fights.

[Crossblades]

I don't mind the random damage on an Axe. Basch is my main Axe warrior and 70% of the time he does as much damage as Vaan with a Great Sword

[Roto13]

I used Shades of Black before I got the Ga magic. I use axes when they're the strongest weapons available.

[chionos]

I tend to stick to more consistent damage, but there were a few times that my Basch used an axe.

The techniques were next to useless. I found charge very helpful, and steal of course. But the technique debuffs like Achilles were next to useless. The only mobs that they would have possibly been worth casting against were immune to them. But I'm used to that kind of thing in FF. Spells that are not efficient enough to use on regular mobs because regular mobs don't last long enough to bother, and are useless against bosses because the bosses are immune. It's annoying. The only FF that makes good use of all its spells in everyday use is FFXI, but it's an entirely different game, so it doesn't count. I do wish they'd think about the spells a bit more before they implement them. It's great to have a nice diversity of elements at your disposal, but if they're too weak to be worthwhile or you get them too late, it's just frustrating.

[Setharion]

I tend to stick to more consistent damage, but there were a few times that my Basch used an axe.

The techniques were next to useless. I found charge very helpful, and steal of course. But the technique debuffs like Achilles were next to useless. The only mobs that they would have possibly been worth casting against were immune to them. But I'm used to that kind of thing in FF. Spells that are not efficient enough to use on regular mobs because regular mobs don't last long enough to bother, and are useless against bosses because the bosses are immune. It's annoying. The only FF that makes good use of all its spells in everyday use is FFXI, but it's an entirely different game, so it doesn't count. I do wish they'd think about the spells a bit more before they implement them. It's great to have a nice diversity of elements at your disposal, but if they're too weak to be worthwhile or you get them too late, it's just frustrating.

Yea, that kind of thing has plagued the series since day 1. Ive just gotten used too it and realized those kind of spells are going to be worthless no matter what.

Because like you said, the only worthwhile enemies that they do affect are worthless enemies at that, so it just leaves a person with nothin.

[Slothy]

I don't mind axes at all and always use them if they're the strongest weapon available. My Vaan does slightly more damage than his non-axe equipped friends most of the time, and often does more. It's fairly rare overall that his damage is really far into the low numbers, and the higher damage shots more than make up for it. Not only that, but he still combos about as regularly as he ever did with any other weapon besides a katana.

[LunarWeaver]

the fact that water gets no upgrade...it's (decently) powerful when you first get it, but it quickly loses its effectiveness.

Also, there is no earth-type magic, and most of the earth elem. weapons are NOT ranged...so they are no good against all of the flying monsters that are weak to earth.

I did always kinda wonder why some enemies use Waterga and the earth spell Tremor, but they didn't give it to the player. If the spell effect is already done and in the game, how hard could it have been

[Renmiri]

I tend to stick to more consistent damage, but there were a few times that my Basch used an axe.

The techniques were next to useless. I found charge very helpful, and steal of course.

They are very handy at lower levels, when you have just a few spells and very low HP. Horology saved my party countless times at Lhusu mines. Now 1,000 needles, Addle and Shear are what is killing those pesky skeletons at Nabreus deadlands.

I leave my MP for healing and use the techniques for ranged damage (Horology, Numerology,... )

First Aid is very handy too.

I did always kinda wonder why some enemies use Waterga and the earth spell Tremor, but they didn't give it to the player. If the spell effect is already done and in the game, how hard could it have been

Don't you wish FFXII had "Blue Bullet" like X2 ? This way we could copy an enemy's attack

[farplaner]

I keep hearing about a "berserked, axe-wielding Basch"...guess I might have to try it out.

My question is have you completed the License Board?

On my first play-through, I got none of the ultimate weapons, I missed a couple of the last magicks, never got telekinesis or ribbon, but other wise, yes, I pretty much completed the license board. Why do you ask?

I wore golden armlets for a lot of the time, though. And since I realized that golden armlets work for characters that aren't currently in your party, whenever I equip my party with something else I throw the golden armlet on a reserve character.

I'm on my second playthrough, and I'm on my way to Giruvegan...doing some hunts beforehand.

Which reminds me, I went to fight Vyraal (lv. 5 hunt) at an average level of maybe 43, and every hit took half my HP with protect on. What's up with this lv. 5 hunt being so much stronger than others? I didn't feel like coming back later, so I ended up chaining mist attacks for what seemed like forever. When all was said and done- after running through every character's mist charges and using 2 hi-ethers, for a total of what must have been 50 or so attacks- the bastard finally died!

In addition- I found that the dragons and avions in the Cerobi Steppe are both vulnerable to sleep and death, which makes them much more manageable at lower levels... (especially the dragons)

[chrisguapo69]

The advantage of an Axe is that you can hold a sheild while maximizing full power of the weapon. I have Basch weilding an axe and a sheild and a gauntlet for an accessory. Foes with high killing power more than usually are blocked thus my player will not go down so easily as a plain sword weilding one.

I found this very useful when I first fought Pylraster. His 2000-4000hp hits were being blocked a lot by Brasch while Vaan kept dying.

That's why when fighting high HP foes I always have Brasch in their with Vaan who is the swordsman.

[Roto13]

Don't you wish FFXII had "Blue Bullet" like X2 ? This way we could copy an enemy's attack :D:D:D

We super-hardcore Final Fantasy veterans call it "Blue Magic" :P

[DarkHeat787]

I love my Handaxe. Ashe is using it right now, and I just beat the crap out of Cluckatrice with it (along with Penelo @ Chopper and Basch @ Ancient Sword... ^_^), so yeah.

I don't really mind using a weapon whose damage fluctuates. For now, I gather LP by going to the Estersand and beating the snot out of Wolves while getting chains of 100+. Even when she hits a 2 with it (compared to her max of around 450), Basch and Penelo finish the job nicely.

=P

In short, axes and hammers for the win.

[farplaner]

So I've been using axes and hand bombs, and I totally agree with those of you who like to use them (especially axes and hammers).

The bombs are coming in handy also. I'm using the Tumulus, which is less powerful than my strongest axe/hammer, but the bombs inflict stop so it's pretty helpful. I've also got oil bombs and some bombs that inflict sap (I think).

Anyway, thanks for your input everyone.

[The Unknown Guru]

Axes and hammers are CRAZY if the user has decent attack speed. Haste/Bravery/Berserk Basch with an axe/hammer kills everything in sight.

[DarkHeat787]

In fact, I'm kicking the crap out of (SPOILER)Judge Bergan right now with:

Basch @ Iron Hammer
Ashe @ some axe... :P
Penelo @ Hornito (hand-bomb)

Yay fluctuating damage! =P

Though I still prefer Penelo with the Bowgun.