Siege Axe (3.5e Equipment)
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Siege Axe
Exotic Two-Handed Melee
| Cost: | 200 gp gp |
|---|---|
| Damage (Small): | 2d8 |
| Damage (Medium)1: | 3d8 |
| Critical: | 20/×4 |
| Weight2: | 60 lb. lbs |
| Type3: | Slashing or Bludgeoning |
| HP4: | 50 |
| Hardness: | 14 |
1. See Damage Increases by Size to calculate the damage for a weapon larger than Medium or smaller than Small.
2. Weight figures are for Medium weapons. A Small weapon weighs half as much, and a Large weapon weighs twice as much.
3. When two types are given, the weapon is both types if the entry specifies "and", either type (player's choice at time of attack) if the entry specifies "or", or each end of the double weapon is a different type if the entry specifies "/".
4. The hp value given is for Medium armor, weapons, and shields. Divide by 2 for each size category of the item smaller than Medium, or multiply it by 2 for each size category larger than Medium.
The peaceful Goliaths of Rockhelm are a people known for their immense strength and resilient architecture. They forge special axes with huge, broad heads of hardened cobalt steel for the express purpose of demolition. Using the enormous momentum generated by its long shaft, the flat hammerside of a Rockhelm siege axe smashes through solid granite with the same ease as its edge cleaves the thickest wooden beams. It was only a matter of time before warlords took notice of this tool's potential as a weapon.
The heads of siege axes are fashioned from a huge lump of cobalt-enriched steel, beat and forged into a wedge-like shape over the course of weeks. In effect, the siege axe is both an axe and a hammer, the massive weight of which is designed to smash through wood, stone and even steel, let alone flesh and bone. Its steel shaft is long and thick, reinforced with riveted splints and lined with leather for ease of grip.
The siege axe is an exotic weapon by default, but can be used proficiently in two hands as a martial weapon if the wielder has a Strength score of 23 or more. If the wielder has Exotic Weapon Proficiency, this Strength requirement is reduced by 5. Failing to meet the requirement makes the siege axe an improvised weapon with a -4 penalty to attack and damage rolls. Even when not meeting the prerequisites however, the siege axe can be used effectively as a demolition tool provided its weight does not exceeds the user's maximum light load.
Even in the hands of an amateur, a siege axe boasts a tremendous destructive power. The siege axe can ignore the hardness or damage reduction/adamantine of whatever it hits by an amount equal to its own hardness (to a minimum of 0), and deals double damage against unattended objects, and when used as part of a Strength check opposing a break DC, the wielder gains a bonus of +8 or its own base attack bonus, whichever is higher.
Combat Options
In combat, a siege axe is wielded in a slow and deliberate manner, creating as much momentum as efficiently as possible to utterly demolish the enemy. To any wielder that is proficient, the siege axe's increased damage against unattended objects also extends to constructs and creatures of solid mineral, like earth elementals. Any creature that takes damage from a shatter spell also takes double damage from a siege axe.
A siege axe confers a +4 bonus to all bull rush checks.
The wielder of a siege axe may completely forego his defense to put all of his power behind his swing. Any proficient wielder may take a penalty to his Armor Class that is less than or equal to half his base attack bonus (rounded up), and gain that penalty as a bonus to the damage of his attacks for the round.
Furthermore, a wielder with Exotic Weapon Proficiency and sufficient Strength to meet the reduced prerequisite gains the following benefits:
- When the wielder induces a penalty on his Armor Class, he instead gains twice the penalty to his damage.
- The wielder may focus all of his power into a single power strike for the round, dealing additional damage equal to the siege axe's base damage (3d8 for a Medium sized siege axe) for every iterative attack he sacrificed, up to a maximum of three times at BAB +16. Any creature damaged by the power strike is slowed for one round unless it makes a successful fortitude save (DC 10 + ½ BAB + Str)
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