Loaded Axe

The strength of the Loaded Axe lies in its heft.
One strike can easily turn a wooden shield into splinters or shred an enemy's posture.

## Overview

This tool is unlocked by giving the Shinobi Axe of the Monkey to the Sculptor. It is found in a small shrine in Hirata Estate near two guards, bickering about raiding hallowed sites.

The Loaded Axe is one of the more straightforward Prosthetic Tool with the base feature of allowing Sekiro to do a powerful overhead slam with the axe's heavy blade, dealing more vitality and posture damage in a single hit than a regular swing with Kusabimaru, tough at the cost of a lengthy wind-up. This overhead slam gives a momentary resistance to staggering from all but the most powerful (or fatal) attacks, meaning Sekiro will finish the attack animation even if he's taking small hits from enemies. This could both work as an advantage for or undoing of players because the attack animation **cannot be cancelled** unless Sekiro dies or is caught by a strong/grab attack, thus understanding an enemy's attack pattern is vital in using the tool effectively and safely. The stagger resistance effect is carried over into the Tool's Fang and Blade attack animation.

All variant of the Loaded Axe are capable of **breaking wooden shields and the larger-sized wooden hats** of Senpou temple assassins, and this is usually the most obvious incentive to use the Loaded Axe. Other possible use includes punishing enemies who are in a wind-up of doing a powerful attack or those who are recovering after doing one. The **Mid-Air Prosthetic Tool** allows a more instantaneous use of the Prosthetic Tool, since the overhead slam has a much shorter wind-up when executed mid-air; This gives player a powerful air-to-ground attack that makes jumping opportunities especially rewarding: players can directly counter enemies who do sweep attacks (that are usually avoided by jumping straight up) or add a powerful finisher to kick-jump maneuver.

The **Spring Load** upgrade adds a feature of spinning attack where Sekiro can continuously spin horizontally in a certain rhythm with the Axe acting as the centrifugal force. This attack shares the same lengthy wind-up and cost 2 Spirit emblems per-spin. Concluding the attack undisturbed will have Sekiro finish with a regular overhead slam. While good at inflicting high damage to multiple enemies, Sekiro can't move around quickly while spinning, thus this attack is best used in a tight room against enemies who both stagger easily and aren't too agile.

The **Sparking Axe** upgrade is an overall improvement from previous forms. While keeping the features of the Spring Load, the axe blade now ignites with combustive flame when in use, increasing its Posture and Vitality damage and allowing it to build up the Burn status on enemies. The overhead slam in particular creates huge explosion of fire that can catch enemies around the impact. This upgrade is arguably the best variant for players who make god use of oils to easily ignite enemies and disable their Posture recovery.

**Lazulite Axe** is more of a trade-off compared to the Sparking Axe rather than a straightforward improvement. This variant lacks the ability to build up Burn status, but comes with a guard-piercing effect on top of the highest Vitality and Posture damage of any Loaded Axe variant. This upgrade in general is more suited for players who actively engage in exchange of physical blows without relying on status build-ups. In a more specific occasion, the axe's blow has the same effect as Snap Seeds, dispelling illusions such as those utilized by Lady Butterfly and deals massive damage against the Corrupted Monk illusion of Mibu Village.

## Ability

**Strike**: Swing the axe down from above to strike an enemy. Destroys wooden shields. Costs 2 **2** **Spirit Emblems** to use.

Gallery

## Upgraded Versions

The strength of the Loaded Axe lies in its heft. The weight allows one to shrug off incoming attacks, and can easily turn a wooden shield into splinters.
 Prerequisites
 Upgrade Cost

 Spirit Emblem Cost

Gallery