Could triple axe be viable?

[olmec]

I'm lvl 37 now, current formation

:malehero:-------- :swm:
:spm::vik::spm:
:sha:--------:mnk:

Axe main - I mostly do PVM, but am dabbling in Free League and got to Div 16 the first time I tried (people don't have monks?! crazy!)

I see a lot of range/spear builds, and love dumping brutal will on my middle line - could this be viable with axes?

:swm::swm::swm:
:malehero::bst::vik:
:ora::mnk::pro:

something like that, with the Oracle putting will on the middle line. The 3 swordsman are there just to be front line units, not sure what will be the best at that point. It seems exo and lady knight are the preferred sword replacements, but I don't know enough about them right now.

Is triple willed axe viable? After I the punch a hole in the front line, I'd mostly likely holy guard the will and drop some freeze axes.

...or should I stay with spears, or 2 axe-2 spear? Either way, I like melee units a lot more. Spears only hit two deep, but are hardier than guns, and they have the best magic attack that lowers AP.

Suggestions please :p

[HardcoreGamer]

I faced off a 6 viking build before.. All I can say is they drop dead like frogs on the road. Just wild shot/flame sword/lightning spear them, they are as good as dead.

Viking is not good to be willed, i think. Since if you think of it this way: 3 vikings willed, 1st viking killed the middle merc, the rest hit randomly. If you hit the one standing alone, your damage efficient is 1/3 of it should be.

As for your front line, it is pretty solid, but at end game, flame sword doesn't even compare to spearman normal damage. So what I would do is stick with 3 spears either middle or front if you plan to will. if you dont plan to will, spears still work find coz they can use defence crystals(forgot what this called) at lvl 80 which increases their defence and can be equiped at the sheild slot. So basically defence-wise, spearman and swordman are pretty on par at lvl 80.

And another thing to add, I think holy guarding your willed merc will cancel out the will...

[Krullthor]

Yep holy guard removes all buffs/debuffs, removes will spell, the protect deff buff as well and the monk wont heal either while holy guard is in effect. As far as the 3 axe formation youll end up relying alot on the flame sword to do some heavy dmg, dunno how well that might work out.

[leawen]

I have watched some 3 spear middle line with will on them do a ton of damage but I have never seen a 3 axe midline ... if ya test it do some vids cause I like to see it hehe

[olmec]

I faced off a 6 viking build before.. All I can say is they drop dead like frogs on the road. Just wild shot/flame sword/lightning spear them, they are as good as dead.

Viking is not good to be willed, i think. Since if you think of it this way: 3 vikings willed, 1st viking killed the middle merc, the rest hit randomly. If you hit the one standing alone, your damage efficient is 1/3 of it should be.

As for your front line, it is pretty solid, but at end game, flame sword doesn't even compare to spearman normal damage. So what I would do is stick with 3 spears either middle or front if you plan to will. if you dont plan to will, spears still work find coz they can use defence crystals(forgot what this called) at lvl 80 which increases their defence and can be equiped at the sheild slot. So basically defence-wise, spearman and swordman are pretty on par at lvl 80.

And another thing to add, I think holy guarding your willed merc will cancel out the will...

I know vikings are paper bags in a scissor factory when it comes to magic, hence only one in the triple axe build, and in the second row. Axe main, Beast Master, and Viking. Also, holy guard will be used to INTENTIONALLY cancel Brutal/Seth's will after 1-2 rounds of first row bashing. Once a hole is punched through, then is freeze axe time, hopefully getting two rows locked down.

That's the strategy (in my head). I'm no where near that point, in terms of level, but I'll let you know.

[Kaiten]

The build is viable imo since you have a strong frontline to backup your damage dealing mid. Sure the viking drops fast to magic, but that's only if you're frontline drops, but seeing how its filled with swords, you can probably get quite a few good hits in. The reason that people like spear is that really no matter where they go to attack, they'll more than likely attack 2 of 2 targets. ex row 1+row 2, for axes, there's a chance that you end up hitting only 2 instead of the potential 3 with a controlled axe. As far as I know, axe has the highest max and possibly the lowest min damage of any melee weapon thus far or perhaps swords are lower...anyways, you can always try it, just keep frontline up and see how you do.

[HardcoreGamer]

Hm, I dont quite get what you mean but you could try it out. Would love to see how your build perform in PVP. Never encountered willed axes thus far =/

[Locksley]

Seen just one (oso axe(M) viking BT), gotta tell you, absolutely brutal when you have 3 mercs just sitting to be axed. But personally, willed spears still do better.

[Keats]

3 willed axes are really good but i would change the vik for a spear or arty to avoid rusty axes to be too effective

[Macko]

I have met a guy using 5 viks, axe main, 2 monks and shaman. He did pretty good. Willed axes do realy nice dmg, constant freez from 3 always hged axes...

[Taikan]

3 willed axes are really good but i would change the vik for a spear or arty to avoid rusty axes to be too effective

That sounds more reasonable; the whole point of the axe main is to avoid using a vik. you could also get a witch instead of vik, for some more AoE goodness (beast summon+meteor strike is quite good imo), u put it in the middle and minimize enemy cannon effects :P

[Keats]

If he wanna will he won't put witch on middle rox

[Krullthor]

To will a 3axe line doesnt seem very effective to me, if your gona be using will youll want the max dmg possible and an axe is max effective only if he hits the midle so he can hit the other 2 adjacent targets, usually gunners artis spears are much better suited for willing.

[LtKillroy]

It might work, I would actually love to see it in action. And to see the enemies reaction to this. Obvious good would be you could freeze a line always and be dealing damage to everything for a good getting-hit-3-times stun. Obvious bad would be the axe class, as a whole, suffers from not great magic defense. You also might have problems dealing damage. Not to mention your freeze axe might get dispelled by holy gaurd. All in all it might work, and would work depending on who you are figthing.

[Keats]

Don't underestimate axe, i think they're the best suited myself (mb cause i don't like spears :p)

[crazynjay]

3 axe? like mine? ^_^

:swm::lak::bst:
:femalehero::spm::vik:
:pro::mnk::witc:

axe main.....
its work for me
they got good attack power
can also hit one row
^_^

[methane]

I had 3 axe user, one axe main one bt and one viking. Viking kinda just rot there only for its freezing axe. Not bothering to will it though it does do good damage if willed. But main dmg dealer is still axe main and bt. Bt has a rather high combo rate and with seth will its truly a beast.

[olmec]

I kinda forgot that a witch could be awesome in my proposed build as well, but I'm JUST getting my BT - so am not well versed in the C class mercs. As for adding a spear in, I'm in the camp of 2-3 spears, or NO spears - you gotta commit.

How bout either of these formations, taking suggestions from all of you?

:swm::swm::witc:
:vik::bst::malehero:
:pro::ora::mnk:

**OR**
:spm::swm::spm:
:bst::vik::malehero:
:mnk::pro::ora:

which is better? I know 3 swords is awesome defense, but having spears WITH axes sounds super fun (and annoying as hell) too :)