Axe vs. Mace

Which do you prefer and why?

Also, i see Axe has a KB component. Is it too much KB for the set? I don't want to be knocking them all over the place.

mace
crowd control
clobber

Axe won't knock things back unless you slot for KB or attack mobs that con lower then you.

Mace is way better though, by level 10 you have a guaranteed knockup in Jawbreaker and a guaranteed stun in Clobber. Wait you wanna be a tank, you have to wait untill level 20.

Mace is slightly better for damage; Axe has better, or more consistent, mitigation.

As mentioned, Axe does knockdown, rather than knockback for the most part.

It's a tossup, although I do like the customization options for axe more than mace.

Mace is better.

Mace has 100% chances for knock on some of its powers, Axe is always a chance for knock. Despite Axe being the "knock set" Mace is just as good at knock with the additional chances for stun.

Shatter's cone is over twice as wide as Cleave's. Cleave can hit more targets, but the ability to hit 10 targets in a 20 degree cone is useless.

Crowd Control (10 targets) can hit twice as many targets as Pendulum.

Sometimes I think Axe should have a -def debuff component(Achilles' Heel proc), to make it more viable. But that might make it too good.

I asked the exact same question last year. As I recall, the consensus was that Mace was a teensy bit better. (i.e. Close enough you won't notice the difference.)

I ended up going with Axe for thematic reasons. Ironblade is broadsword/regen so Ironshield had to be shield/some melee weapon. I was leaning toward Axe since Ironblade has one also (Ghost-Slaying Axe).

They're just a little different in flavor. I like Mace myself, but I can see why Axe is fun with all the KD, etc. (I'll play Axe whenever they get some alternate animations in for weapons... too many of the attacks for Broadsword, Axe, and Mace look the same, even if some effects are tweaked). I like that Mace has more varied mitigation via stuns and knockdown, but some like that you can more consistently knockdown with Axe.

Smashing damage is resisted a little less than Axe's lethal attacks (if I recall correctly), but not by much, so there isn't much of an edge there. Really, go for feel. Go into the costume creator and see which look you can make work more for you.

Well, i wanted the Axe because of the Vanguard/Rularuu unlocks and because my cousin is about to start working for our local Fire Dept. It sucks that Mace doesn't get any unlocks from those 2. But, i made the Mace because of the Stuns. The theme is a superman type lookalike in a Baseball uniform. Same superman colors but in the yankee pinstripe look with a bat.

Mace has the better cone in Crowd Control, thus slightly better AoE output. Not horribly noticeable, but it's there.

A thought just occurred to me--KD changes to KB on lower conning mobs. So how's that work w/the new level shift? Will level shifted Axe attacks KB lvl 50 mobs now? Haven't alpha'ed my SD/Axe yet so I can't test myself.