The Axe Talisman is one of the most valuable early-game accessories in Elden Ring, offering a significant 10% damage boost to charged heavy attacks. Whether you’re running a strength build, dexterity setup, or experimenting with heavy weapons, understanding how to get the axe talisman can dramatically improve your combat effectiveness. This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know about acquiring, using, and maximizing this powerful talisman.
What is the Axe Talisman?
The Axe Talisman is a talisman depicting an axe and a warrior that enhances charge attacks. The Lord who led the Long March bore an axe, and his loyal warriors honored him by wielding axes of their own, making them very effective at dealing decisive blows. This early-game talisman provides a crucial damage boost that can be the difference between victory and defeat in challenging encounters.
Axe Talisman Stats and Effects
| Property | Details |
|---|---|
| Weight | 0.8 |
| Effect | +10% damage to fully charged heavy attacks |
| Weapon Compatibility | All melee weapons |
| Magic Compatibility | Does not affect charged sorceries or incantations |
| Availability | Early game (Limgrave) |
The Axe Talisman requires 0.8 weight to equip, allowing you to not worry much about total weight being affected. This Talisman increases Charged Attack damage by 10%, but it is worth noting this only refers to Charged Attacks done by melee weapons.
How to Get the Axe Talisman: Step-by-Step Location Guide
Finding Mistwood Ruins
The journey to acquire the Axe Talisman begins in the Mistwood region of eastern Limgrave. To acquire the Axe Talisman, you will first have to reach the Mistwood Outskirts Site of Grace, which is located southeast of Limgrave.
Detailed Route to Mistwood Ruins:
- Start from Limgrave: Begin your journey from any Site of Grace in Limgrave
- Head to Third Church of Marika: Travel southeast to this landmark church
- Follow the main road: Follow the road southwest from the Third Church of Marika and you should find the ruins just off the road to the right.
- Look for Mistwood Outskirts Site of Grace: This will serve as your checkpoint
- Navigate to the ruins: The Mistwood Ruins are easily identifiable by their crumbling stone structures
Dealing with the Runebear Guardian
The entryway to this vault is blocked by a Lesser Runebear surrounded by several Trina Lilies. Those coming to this location after reaching a mid or high character level shouldn’t have too much trouble fighting this beast.
Runebear Combat Strategies:
| Strategy | Description | Difficulty Level |
|---|---|---|
| Direct Combat | Fight the Runebear head-on | Hard |
| Kiting Method | Lure the bear away from entrance | Medium |
| Stealth Approach | Sneak past while bear is distracted | Easy |
| Ranged Combat | Use magic or arrows from cellar entrance | Medium |
The primary strategy when dealing with this mob is to keep close to its side and hind legs, as it mainly uses frontal attacks. However, be careful not to get caught in a corner, as its massive body can potentially trap players in a small space.
For low-level players, lure the enemy away from the entrance and descend into the crypt to acquire the Talisman.
Accessing the Underground Cellar
Once you’ve dealt with the Runebear, the path to the Axe Talisman becomes straightforward:
- Locate the staircase: After dealing with the Runebear, go down the staircase near it, which leads to an iron gate.
- Open the gate: Interact with the gate to find a treasure chest behind it, which contains the Axe Talisman.
- Claim your reward: The talisman will be yours to equip immediately
Within these ruins, you’ll find a set of stairs that take you down to a cellar. Follow them down and open the treasure chest to obtain the Axe Talisman.
How the Axe Talisman Works: Mechanics and Applications
Understanding Charged Attacks
Only fully charged heavy attacks are enhanced by the talisman. It’s crucial to understand that the Axe Talisman specifically affects charged R2 attacks – heavy attacks that you hold down until they reach full charge.
What Counts as a Charged Attack:
- Fully charged R2/Heavy attacks: Hold the heavy attack button until the animation completes
- Weapon-specific charged moves: Each weapon type has unique charged attack animations
- Two-handed charged attacks: Enhanced when wielding weapons with both hands
What Does NOT Work:
- Quick R2 taps
- Doesn’t enhance the Dark Moon Greatsword’s charged heavy attacks when they’re buffed by its Unique Skill: Moonlight Greatsword
- Doesn’t work with the projectiles launched by the charged heavy attacks of the Frozen Needle or Wing of Astel
- Charged sorceries and incantations
- Most Ashes of War abilities
Optimal Weapon Synergies
The Axe Talisman works exceptionally well with specific weapon categories:
Best Weapon Types for Axe Talisman:
| Weapon Category | Effectiveness | Why It Works |
|---|---|---|
| Colossal Weapons | Excellent | High base damage multiplies well with 10% boost |
| Greataxes | Excellent | Natural synergy with talisman theme |
| Hammers & Clubs | Very Good | Slow, powerful charged attacks |
| Fist Weapons | Good | Fast charging, frequent use |
| Daggers | Good | Quick charged attacks with successive buffs |
A great use for this talisman is for heavy weapons or fist weapons. The Charged Attacks of these weapons can deal serious damage and affect an enemy’s stance.
Best Build Combinations and Synergies
Talisman Combinations
The Axe Talisman synergizes excellently with other talismans to create devastating charged attack builds:
Recommended Talisman Combinations:
- Roar Build Combo:
- Axe Talisman
- Roar Medallion if using a skill that boosts heavy attacks. Skill compatible with both are Barbaric Roar, Braggart’s Roar, Shriek of Milos, and War Cry.
- Pierce Damage Combo:
- Axe Talisman
- Spear Talisman with weapons that have charged heavy attacks that deal Pierce damage.
- Poise Trading Setup:
- Axe Talisman
- Bull-Goat’s Talisman
- Bull-Goat Armor Set
Consumable Synergies
Crystal Tear Enhancement: Spiked Cracked Tear, a Crystal Tear that boosts charged heavy attacks by 15% for 3 minutes can stack with the Axe Talisman for incredible burst damage potential.
Combined Effect: 10% (Axe Talisman) + 15% (Spiked Cracked Tear) = 25% total charged attack damage boost
Advanced Combat Strategies
PvP Applications
The only real use for this is to stack with the roar talisman on the special R2 attacks in PVP which is a real shame for a talisman that by design should really be a staple of heavy weapon builds.
In PvP scenarios, the Axe Talisman requires careful timing and positioning:
PvP Tips:
- Use charged attacks during opponent recovery frames
- Combine with high poise to trade effectively
- Pair with weapon arts that enhance charged attacks
PvE Optimization
For PvE content, the Axe Talisman shines in specific situations:
Best PvE Scenarios:
- Boss openings and punish windows
- Crowd control with wide-sweeping charged attacks
- Breaking enemy poise and stance
- Maximizing damage during buffs
Common Mistakes and Troubleshooting
Frequent Misconceptions
Mistake #1: Thinking quick R2 attacks benefit from the talisman Reality: Only fully charged R2 heavies. Does not applies to quick ones, nor to overwhelming majority of Ashes of War.
Mistake #2: Expecting it to work with magic Reality: The talisman only affects melee weapon charged attacks
Mistake #3: Using it with incompatible weapon skills Reality: Most Ashes of War don’t benefit from the Axe Talisman
Performance Issues
Fully charged heavy attacks are the slowest attacks in the game and the hardest to consistently perform on bosses without taking advantage of big punish windows
Solutions for Slow Attack Speed:
- Learn boss patterns to identify safe windows
- Use high poise builds to trade damage
- Combine with speed-boosting equipment
- Practice timing on regular enemies
Alternative Talismans and Comparisons
Similar Damage-Boosting Talismans
| Talisman | Effect | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Axe Talisman | +10% charged heavy attacks | Heavy weapon builds |
| Godfrey Icon | Enhances charged spells/skills | Caster builds |
| Shard of Alexander | +15% weapon skill damage | Ash of War builds |
| Two-Handed Sword Talisman | +15% two-handed damage | Versatile melee builds |
When to Use Each
Choose Axe Talisman When:
- Building around charged heavy attacks
- Using slow, powerful weapons
- Focusing on stance breaking
- Playing early game content
Choose Alternatives When:
- Prioritizing weapon skills over charged attacks
- Using faster weapons
- Building for magic damage
- Needing more versatile damage boosts
Expert Tips and Advanced Techniques
Damage Calculation
The Axe Talisman applies its 10% bonus multiplicatively to your final charged attack damage. This means:
Formula: Base Charged Damage × 1.10 = Final Damage
Animation Canceling
Advanced players can combine charged attacks with specific techniques:
- Jump attacks into charged attacks
- Roll canceling for positioning
- Weapon swapping mid-charge (advanced technique)
Build Optimization
Early Game Priority: The Axe Talisman should be one of your first talisman acquisitions due to its accessibility and immediate impact.
Late Game Considerations: As you acquire more powerful talismans, evaluate whether the 10% boost remains optimal for your specific build.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: Does the Axe Talisman work with all weapons?
A: Yes, the Axe Talisman works with all melee weapons that can perform charged heavy attacks. However, it doesn’t affect magical projectiles or certain unique weapon skills.
Q2: Can I get the Axe Talisman without fighting the Runebear?
A: Yes! You can lure the Runebear away from the entrance to the cellar and sneak past it to access the treasure chest containing the talisman.
Q3: Does the Axe Talisman stack with other damage-boosting effects?
A: Yes, the Axe Talisman stacks multiplicatively with other damage bonuses, including the Spiked Cracked Tear, weapon buffs, and stat bonuses.
Q4: Is the Axe Talisman worth using in late-game builds?
A: This depends on your build focus. For charged attack specialists, it remains valuable throughout the game. However, builds focusing on weapon skills or fast attacks might benefit more from alternative talismans.
Q5: What’s the difference between charged attacks and heavy attacks?
A: Heavy attacks (R2) become charged attacks when you hold the button down until the full animation completes. Only these fully charged versions benefit from the Axe Talisman’s bonus.
Conclusion
The Axe Talisman represents one of the most accessible yet powerful early-game upgrades in Elden Ring. Although the Axe Talisman does provide a substantial boost for combat, it is vital to note that charged attacks require careful timing, especially when fighting hard-hitting opponents.
Understanding how to get the axe talisman is just the beginning – mastering its application through proper weapon selection, talisman combinations, and combat timing will transform your Elden Ring experience. Whether you’re facing the game’s toughest bosses or competing in PvP, the 10% damage boost from charged attacks can provide the edge needed for victory.
Remember that the Mistwood Ruins hold more than just the Axe Talisman – they’re also home to important NPCs like Blaidd and serve as a gateway to deeper questlines. Take time to explore the area thoroughly and consider how this powerful talisman fits into your overall build strategy.
For more comprehensive builds and strategies, consider exploring additional resources on Fextralife’s Elden Ring Wiki, Game Rant’s best talismans guide, Windows Central’s talisman recommendations, The Gamer’s ranked talisman list, and specialized build guides to maximize your Elden Ring experience.
The path to mastering Elden Ring begins with understanding tools like the Axe Talisman – use this knowledge wisely, and may your charged attacks strike true!
