In the vast and challenging world of Elden Ring, players are constantly seeking ways to enhance their combat capabilities and gain advantages against formidable foes. Among the many items that can significantly boost your power are talismans – special accessories that provide unique benefits when equipped. One particularly useful talisman for many builds is the Axe Talisman, which enhances charged attacks by 10%. This comprehensive guide will explore everything you need to know about this powerful accessory, from its location to the best ways to incorporate it into your build.
What is the Axe Talisman?
The Axe Talisman is a unique accessory in Elden Ring that increases charged attack damage by 10%. Despite its name, this talisman doesn’t exclusively benefit axe weapons – it enhances charged attacks from all melee weapon types. This makes it a versatile option for many different character builds, particularly those focusing on strength-based weapons.
Lore Description
“A talisman depicting an axe and a warrior. 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 lore snippet suggests a connection to Godfrey, the First Elden Lord, who wielded an axe during his campaigns. The talisman celebrates the tradition of warriors who honored their lord by using similar weapons, emphasizing the effectiveness of decisive strikes – much like the charged attacks the talisman enhances.
Where to Find the Axe Talisman
The Axe Talisman can be obtained very early in your Elden Ring journey, making it accessible even for new players. Here’s how to find it:
Mistwood Ruins Location
The talisman is located in the Mistwood Ruins in eastern Limgrave. This area can be reached within the first few hours of gameplay, making the Axe Talisman one of the earliest powerful talismans you can acquire.
Step-by-Step Guide to Mistwood Ruins:
- From the Agheel Lake North Site of Grace near Gatefront Ruins, head eastward
- Cross the short footbridge you’ll encounter
- Follow the path leading toward the Third Church of Marika
- Turn south and enter the Mistwood forest
- After passing the area’s Map Fragment, continue until you reach the Mistwood Ruins
- Look for a set of stairs leading down to a cellar
- Enter the cellar and open the treasure chest to obtain the Axe Talisman
Beware the Runebear
The entrance to the cellar is guarded by a Lesser Runebear, which can be a challenging opponent, especially for low-level characters. This aggressive beast can deal significant damage and has substantial health, making it a formidable obstacle.
Strategies for Dealing with the Runebear:
- Direct Combat – If you’re at a mid or high level, you can attempt to defeat the Runebear. The best strategy is to stay close to its sides or hind legs, as it primarily uses frontal attacks. Be careful not to get cornered, as its massive body can trap you.
- Avoidance Tactics – For low-level players, it’s advisable to lure the Runebear away from the entrance and then quickly descend into the cellar. The bear’s large size prevents it from following you into the vault, allowing you to safely obtain the talisman.
- Ranged Attacks – You can use ranged weapons or spells to attack the Runebear from a safe distance, though this may take some time due to its high health.
How the Axe Talisman Works
The Axe Talisman provides a 10% damage boost to charged heavy melee attacks. To utilize this effect, you must perform a charged attack by holding down the strong attack input (R2/RT) until the attack is fully charged and released.
Important Notes About the Talisman’s Effect:
- The talisman only affects melee weapon charged attacks, not spell attacks or incantations
- It does not work with skills that simply have “charge” in their name (such as Ash of War: Charge Forth or Prelate’s Charge)
- It does affect the unique charged heavy attacks granted by roar buffs like War Cry, Barbaric Roar, and Braggart’s Roar
- The talisman doesn’t enhance the Dark Moon Greatsword’s charged heavy attacks when they’re buffed by its Unique Skill: Moonlight Greatsword
- It doesn’t boost projectiles launched by the charged heavy attacks of weapons like the Frozen Needle or Wing of Astel
Best Weapons to Pair with the Axe Talisman
While the Axe Talisman works with any weapon that can perform charged heavy attacks, certain weapons benefit more from this boost due to their attack patterns and damage output.
Top Weapon Choices:
| Weapon Type | Recommended Weapons | Why They Work Well |
|---|---|---|
| Greatswords | Claymore, Zweihander, Troll’s Golden Sword | High base damage and effective charged attacks |
| Colossal Weapons | Giant-Crusher, Golem’s Halberd | Extremely high damage that gets even better with the talisman |
| Great Hammers | Great Club | Excellent charged attack animations with good range |
| Axes | Highland Axe, Executioner’s Axe, Greataxe | Thematic synergy and good charged attack patterns |
| Other | Iron Cleaver, Celebrant’s Cleaver | Unique charged attacks with run-up animations for closing distance |
Weapons with Special Synergy:
Several weapons have particular synergy with the Axe Talisman due to their unique properties:
- Highland Axe: Not only benefits from the talisman but also passively boosts the power of roar attacks by 10%, which can stack with the Roar Medallion
- Pickaxe: Deals pierce damage with charged attacks, allowing it to benefit from both the Axe Talisman and the Spear Talisman simultaneously
- Great Club: Has excellent reach with charged attacks, making it easier to land the enhanced hits
Best Builds for the Axe Talisman
The Axe Talisman shines in specific build types that can maximize its charged attack bonus. Here are some of the most effective builds:
Strength-Focused Builds
Strength builds naturally gravitate toward heavy weapons with powerful charged attacks, making them perfect candidates for the Axe Talisman.
Sample Strength Build:
- Primary Stats: 50-60 Strength, 40 Vigor, 30 Endurance
- Weapons: Giant-Crusher, Greatsword, or Golem’s Halberd
- Talismans: Axe Talisman, Great-Jar’s Arsenal, Erdtree’s Favor, Claw Talisman
- Strategy: Focus on charged heavy attacks for major enemies and bosses, using jump attacks for groups
Roar-Enhanced Builds
A specialized build type that combines the Axe Talisman with roar effects for devastating charged attacks.
Sample Roar Build:
- Primary Stats: 40 Strength, 40 Vigor, 25 Endurance
- Weapons: Highland Axe (mainhand or offhand), Greataxe with Barbaric Roar or Braggart’s Roar
- Talismans: Axe Talisman, Roar Medallion, Bull-Goat’s Talisman, Erdtree’s Favor
- Physick: Spiked Cracked Tear + Strength-Knot Crystal Tear
- Strategy: Buff with roar effect, then unleash charged heavy attacks that benefit from multiple stacking damage boosts
Hyper-Armor Berserker Build
This build focuses on trading hits while maintaining enough poise to complete your charged attacks without interruption.
Sample Berserker Build:
- Primary Stats: 50 Strength, 50 Vigor, 35 Endurance
- Weapons: Executioner’s Axe or any heavy weapon with Barbaric Roar
- Armor: Bull-Goat Set or Veterans Set
- Talismans: Axe Talisman, Bull-Goat’s Talisman, Dragoncrest Greatshield Talisman, Curved Sword Talisman
- Strategy: Tank hits with high poise while charging devastating heavy attacks
Stacking Damage Multipliers
One of the most powerful aspects of the Axe Talisman is its ability to stack with other damage-boosting effects, creating impressive damage multipliers.
Compatible Damage Boosts:
| Item/Effect | Bonus | Stacks With Axe Talisman? |
|---|---|---|
| Roar Medallion | +15% damage for roar-buffed attacks | Yes |
| Highland Axe | +10% damage for roar attacks | Yes |
| Spiked Cracked Tear | +15% charged attack damage for 3 minutes | Yes |
| Two-Handed Sword Talisman | +15% damage when two-handing | Yes |
| Claw Talisman | +15% jump attack damage | No (different attack type) |
| Godfrey Icon | +15% charged spell/skill damage | No (affects different attack types) |
| Shard of Alexander | +15% skill damage | No (charged R2 isn’t a skill) |
Maximum Damage Potential
By combining all compatible damage boosts, a single charged heavy attack under roar effect can receive the following multipliers:
- Base damage + 10% (Axe Talisman) + 15% (Roar Medallion) + 10% (Highland Axe) + 15% (Spiked Cracked Tear) + 15% (Two-Handed Sword Talisman)
This can result in massive damage output with a single hit, especially when using high-damage weapons like colossal weapons.
Axe Talisman vs. Other Attack-Boosting Talismans
While the Axe Talisman is powerful, it’s important to understand how it compares to other attack-boosting talismans to make informed choices about your equipment.
Comparison Table:
| Talisman | Effect | Best Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| Axe Talisman | +10% charged attack damage | Strength builds, roar builds |
| Claw Talisman | +15% jump attack damage | Builds that frequently use jump attacks |
| Arrow’s Sting | +10% arrow damage | Bow builds |
| Roar Medallion | +15% roar and breath attack damage | Roar builds, dragon communion builds |
| Two-Handed Sword Talisman | +15% damage when two-handing | Two-handed melee builds |
| Shard of Alexander | +15% skill damage | Weapon skill-focused builds |
| Godfrey Icon | +15% charged spell/skill damage | Caster builds, weapon skill builds |
When to Choose the Axe Talisman:
- When using a build centered around charged heavy attacks
- When combining with roar effects for maximum damage
- When your playstyle allows for the longer wind-up time of charged attacks
- When fighting enemies with predictable attack patterns that leave openings
When to Choose Alternatives:
- For faster combat styles, the Claw Talisman may be preferable as jump attacks are quicker to execute
- For caster builds, the Godfrey Icon offers similar benefits for charged spells
- For weapon skill-focused builds, Shard of Alexander provides a more versatile damage boost
Axe Talisman FAQ
Does the Axe Talisman work with all weapons?
Yes, the Axe Talisman works with all melee weapons that can perform charged heavy attacks, not just axes. However, it doesn’t boost projectile-based charged attacks or spell attacks.
Does it stack with other damage-boosting talismans?
Yes, the Axe Talisman stacks with many other damage-boosting effects, including the Roar Medallion, Highland Axe passive, Spiked Cracked Tear, and Two-Handed Sword Talisman.
Is the Axe Talisman worth a talisman slot?
For builds that frequently use charged heavy attacks, absolutely. The 10% damage boost can be substantial, especially when stacked with other effects. However, for builds that rely on faster attacks or spells, other talismans may be more beneficial.
How does it compare to the Claw Talisman?
The Claw Talisman provides a higher percentage boost (15% vs. 10%) and affects jump attacks, which are generally faster to execute than charged attacks. However, charged attacks typically have higher base damage, so the Axe Talisman can still result in larger damage numbers in many cases.
Can I use the Axe Talisman effectively in PvP?
While charged attacks can be difficult to land against experienced players due to their telegraphed nature, they can be effective when used strategically. They’re particularly useful when combined with roar effects, which provide hyperarmor during the attack.
Conclusion
The Axe Talisman is one of Elden Ring’s most accessible yet powerful damage-boosting items. Available early in the game, it can enhance your charged attacks by 10%, creating opportunities for devastating damage output when properly built around. Whether you’re a veteran player looking to optimize your damage or a newcomer searching for early advantages, the Axe Talisman deserves consideration for one of your precious talisman slots.
By understanding how to effectively incorporate this talisman into your build and combining it with complementary effects, you can create a formidable character capable of delivering crushing blows to even the most challenging opponents in the Lands Between.
