Axe

The Axe, also known as Battle Axe or Throwing Axe, is one of the five original sub-weapons in the Castlevania series. In later games, it also appears as a primary weapon that is swung in an arc, and in some instances, the "Axe" comprises a complete class of weaponry. The Axe is supposedly made of silver, as described in Castlevania: Lament of Innocence.
==General information==
The Axe is normally thrown forward and upward in an arcing pattern to attack distant enemies. It is most useful for attacking airborne enemies, or those which wait on higher platforms and are out of reach. When used against large monsters, the Axe can sometimes do multiple hits if staying in contact with the enemy throughout its trajectory. In some games, such as Vampire Killer or Aria of Sorrow, the Axe travels forward a certain distance and then returns, in a similar way as a Cross or an Axe Armor's thrown axe would.
The Axe's most common Item Crash, Spiral Axe, has a character levitating in the air for a brief moment while multiple axes spin around him attacking all enemies in range, then they expand toward the edge of the screen, damaging all enemies on their path.
==Game specific information==
===Castlevania===
The original Castlevania featured an Axe as one of the five original sub-weapons that would later become staples in the series. The player could only equip a single sub-weapon at a time, each which could be obtained from either hitting a candle or as a drop item from an enemy. By holding ↑ while attacking and consuming one Heart, an axe is launched upward and forward in an arc, slicing through any enemies, candles or walls it encounters. The player is normally allowed to throw another Axe after the first one is off the screen. Two or three Axes are allowed on the screen at a time if the player possesses a Double or Triple Shot.
===Vampire Killer===
The Battle Axe is a replacement for the whip in this game. It does not attack in an arcing pattern; instead, it behaves like the Boomerang from the first game, except that it is stronger and doesn't have as much range (similar to an Axe Man's weapon). It does not consume any Hearts; however, if the player fails to catch it on its return, they will lose it and have to fight with a weak Leather Whip.
===Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse===
The Battle Axe found in Dracula's Curse is identical to the Axe found in the original Castlevania. Trevor Belmont and Grant Danasty are both able to use this weapon, but only Trevor can power it up with a Triple Shot while Grant can only stop at Double Shot. Grant can use it by simply pressing the attack button while clinging to a wall or the ceiling. Grant also finds Axes in candles that Trevor would find Banshee Boomerangs. Candles that would give Trevor an Axe, instead give Sypha a Flame spell, and a Small Heart to Alucard.
===Castlevania II: Belmont's Revenge===
In the North American version of this game, the Axe sub-weapon replaces the Cross that appeared in the Japanese version, and later in the European Konami GB Collection, Vol. 4 version. It is similar to the Axe from the original Castlevania, but cannot be enhanced with Double or Triple Shots. The only other sub-weapon in this game is the Holy Water, available in all editions.
===Super Castlevania IV===
The Axe in Super Castlevania IV is similar to that found in the original Castlevania. It can also be powered up with a Double or Triple Shot.
The Axe is one of the selectable items used to form a password at the beginning and ending of the game.
===Castlevania: Bloodlines===
The Battle Axe also appears in Bloodlines, albeit in a slightly different manner. While it still retains the same attacking motion (an ascending/descending arc), the Battle Axe's blade is larger than it usually is, its arc is shorter, and its descent is slower. It also has a special attack where three axes are thrown slightly backward in a boomerang-like manner.
===Castlevania: Symphony of the Night===
The first "metroidvania" game grants the Holy element to the Axe like the other traditional sub-weapons, although the Axe Knight can also yield it as an item drop, while other sub-weapons cannot drop in this fashion. In the Sega Saturn port, Maria Renard can throw three at the same time, and there is even a Double Blade Axe available as an equippable weapon, which can be swung like a two-handed sword.
===Castlevania (N64)===
The Axe makes an appearance in Castlevania 64 and is used in a manner similar to its earlier counterparts. Again, the axe is thrown in a vertical arc for a decent amount of damage, taking out aerial foes with ease, and will be automatically thrown at any enemy regardless of range if the player is locked into their location. As a result, its usefulness is more limited than older, 2D-style games, as its main perk (being able to fell airborne enemies) is somewhat negated. In this title the axe has more of an appearance of a hatchet as opposed to a medieval weapon, with a single curved blade on top of its handle.
In Legacy of Darkness, while it keeps the same throwing arc, it can be powered up twice, such that it calls a lightning bolt to strike where it lands, dealing massive damage to struck enemies.
===Castlevania: Circle of the Moon===
Nathan Graves and Hugh Baldwin are the first users known to be able to throw two axes at the same time. The second axe is thrown in a lower arc.
===Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance===
The axe in Harmony of Dissonance is the traditional Axe sub-weapon. Like other subweapons in this game, it can be combined with Spell Books using Spell Fusion to perform powerful magical spells.
===Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow===
The Axe appears as the Bullet Soul Spinning Edge which is the Axe Armor's Soul. Unlike it typical depictions, Spinning Edge returns to Soma in a boomerang-like fashion after being thrown like an Axe Armor's axe (this makes sense as the ability is derived from the Axe Armor's soul). In addition to the bullet soul, the Battle Axe appears as an equippable weapon which Soma swings one handed in a arc. On the other hand, Julius can use traditional axes.
===Castlevania: Lament of Innocence===
The Axe makes an appearance here, albeit used in a different attacking fashion; rather than being thrown in a vertical arc, Leon throws two axes horizontally, both of which spin in differing circular motions (one clockwise, the other counterclockwise). Both don't stop upon hitting any enemies on their path and can dole out successive damage based on how many times and targets they hit along their path.
Much like in Harmony of Dissonance, it can be combined with 7 different colored Orbs that can be obtained by defeating bosses for more fantastic attacks. They can also be switch between the different styles of attacks without the need to access a text-based menu screen. However, these new attacks also consume Hearts, the Magic Meter is only used by Relics.
The axe represents also a type of damage, whose effectiveness depends on enemies.
===Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow===
The Axe represents a class of weapons in this game. Soma attacks by vertically swinging the axe weapon, similarly to greatswords.
The differences between axes and greatswords are that axe weapons' hitboxes do not apply to their handles. However, they can hit an enemy directly in front of them twice.
===Castlevania: Curse of Darkness===
The Axe represents a class of weapons in this game that Hector can use.
Trevor Belmont is able to use a Tomahawk sub-weapon that is similar to the Axe that Leon used in Lament of Innocence.
===Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin===
In Portrait of Ruin, all axe-type weapons have the ability to deal two hits per swing to ground enemies (a characteristic they share with club-type weapons). Since axe-type weaponry are by nature the most damaging weapons in the game, it is not known if this behavior was intentional or a scripting error.
Axe is also one of Jonathan Morris's sub-weapon skills in this game.
===Castlevania: Order of Shadows===
The Throwing Axe is often found in the first candle of the Mansion, although it is not always there. It can still be found in other candles, though. Once Desmond obtains it, he can equip it at any time. Desmond throws the axe in a much more horizontal arc than most users. It reaches its maximum height about halfway across the screen.
===Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia===
Shanoa is also able to use axe sub-weapons, although this time they are called by their Latin name, "Ascia", and they appear in glyph form. They come in three levels: Ascia, Vol Ascia and Melio Ascia, each being a more powerful version than the last. She's also able to throw several of them at the same time.
===Castlevania: Harmony of Despair===
The Axe represents a class of weapons in this game.
===Super Smash Bros. Ultimate===
The Axe acts as one of Simon and Richter Belmont's special attacks in the game.
===Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls===
There is an entire class of Axe subweapons in this game, which can be divided between Type A and Type B types.
===Haunted Castle Revisited===
While the Axe doesn't exist in the original Haunted Castle, it is added in this version. Although it consumes 5 hearts each use, it can be useful against the second form of Dracula with his weakness flying above.
==Item Data==
==Enemies==
Several enemies wield axes in Castlevania games. This includes a variety of Axe Armors, Minotaurs, and Armored Fleamen.
==Gallery==
==Trivia==
*In one of the promotional images for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Simon is seen about to use the Axe on Bowser. This is a reference to the original Super Mario Bros. (Nintendo, 1985), where the way to defeat Bowser involves grabbing an axe at the end of the bridge Bowser is standing upon, making it to retreat and sending him falling into the lava pool below.
==See also==
*Axe Armor
*Battle Axe
*Sub-Weapon
Category:Axes
Category:Bullet Souls
Category:Damage Types
Category:Holy Assets
Category:Skills
Category:Slash Damage
Category:Traditional Sub-Weapons
Category:Adventure ReBirth Items
Category:Castlevania 64 Items
Category:Circle of the Moon Items
Category:Curse of Darkness Items
Category:The Dracula X Chronicles Items
Category:Dracula's Curse Items
Category:Grimoire of Souls Items
Category:Harmony of Despair Items
Category:Legacy of Darkness Items
Category:Legends Items
Category:Order of Shadows Items
Category:Portrait of Ruin Items
Category:Rondo of Blood Items
Category:Symphony of the Night Items
Category:Vampire Killer Items