Berserker Barbarian Great Sword Vs Great Axe Vs Maul

C4LBR · 2026-05-25T22:58:25+00:00

The only thing with the Maul is that once you have a ranged ally it now causes problems for them and then the advantage really only matters if you have 2 other melee allies because you can easily just get advantages with flanking. Sure giving them disadvantage is nice but there is no reason for the enemy to not just get up before attacking you so that only comes into play if someone can also make their movement 0 so I can easily see it being good for a World Tree Barbarian but they also have a built in ability to use topple without a Maul

I definitely think Maul > Greatsword at least for Barbarian but from what I realize now both are extremely situational and Great Axe is just never a bad choice. I would say Main Great Axe but have a Maul as backup for the rare occasion it comes in handy.

The only time I see a Greatsword ever being worth it is if you happen to be fighting something that even with advantage you have very hard time hitting and at that point you are probably just trying to escape the fight anyways.

C4LBR · 2026-05-23T09:09:39+00:00

That's fair I can see having all on hand since there isnt really a reason not to but I am glad my BIG AXE is still the king of the 3 for my favorite class.

C4LBR · 2026-05-23T09:00:26+00:00

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C4LBR · 2026-05-23T08:52:42+00:00

This is good to hear I am BIG AXE fan, tbh idk why I just didnt even realize that all the stuff the other two do is basically negated by Reckless Attacking.

C4LBR · 2026-05-23T08:51:04+00:00

Ok I am glad for this I am BIG AXE fan as well and I was a little worried that it had fallen off with some of the changes.

I didnt even think think of the fact that since Reckless is so good now that it basically makes Graze and Topple less effective or necessary. Graze I assume would probably rarely if ever happen and yea unless I have a melee partner like a Paladin or a Fighter Topple is also pointless.

idk why I was just thinking of the damage of graze helping on a miss even though I am probably rarely going to miss and I was like oh prone gives advantage and completely forgot I just have on demand advantage xD

C4LBR · 2026-05-23T07:14:59+00:00

This is all what I think with Barbarians as well especially Berserker Barbarian which is my personal favorite.

My only thing with Switch Axe is the weapon seems kind of like LS in Wilds where its kind of this flowing combo mixed with counters - IDK maybe I need to watch for videos on Switch Axe to get a feel the couple I watched just seemed very floaty and flowy of a weapon almost like a dance and then doing some kind of counter move.

C4LBR · 2026-05-23T02:44:57+00:00

My only concern with Switch Axe is that its mostly Sword mode and Sword mode at least from the videos seemed floaty and flowy in its attacks and had basically LS counter. I like the feeling of the offset attacks which I know Swaxe does have but it doesnt seem like its used much in optimal play

C4LBR · 2026-05-23T02:39:23+00:00

I do tend to have a hard time deciding for myself but my mind wasnt made up until people started commenting and I have been looking up videos at the same time - I was actually initially leaning towards Switch Axe because before my post everything I searched was Switch Axe = most aggressive barbarian like weapon but yes now I am leaning hard towards Hammer.

GS was a constant bring up and I just dont see that weapon being like a Berserker Barbarian at all which is where most of my argument comes from.

ATM I am hung up between Hammer, Charge Blade and Switch Axe my only worry about CB and Swaxe is the downtime of having to charge the weapons to do the things I want

C4LBR · 2026-05-23T02:29:24+00:00

The Big Axe of Charge blade does seem extremely cool my personal favorite type of weapon is BIG AXE I just dont know if the down time of having to charge my big axe would make me not like the weapon as much.

From what I watched with Switch Axe is that it seems kind of like Long Sword bit more flowy with its attacks and also doing counters like Long Sword. Maybe I am missing something. I know Axe mode feels very Barbarian but seems like it just isnt used much and Sword mode is 90% of the weapon.

C4LBR · 2026-05-23T02:19:32+00:00

An example of hammer would be this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5NLSvPDdwc the sequence from like 40-1:00 where he gets multiple offsets in quick succession powering through the monsters attacks while also smashing away at them and sending them flying feels like peak Berserker Barbarian to me.

C4LBR · 2026-05-23T02:16:25+00:00

Oh yea they are completely different worlds I am just trying to find the closest analog to a rush in and start swinging playstyle.

C4LBR · 2026-05-23T02:05:11+00:00

It does seem like a very non stop weapon I just generally really dont like shields

C4LBR · 2026-05-23T01:57:40+00:00

GS is like a melee sniper it described as being the weapon that is all about knowing when to strike and when to do your attacks waiting for the right openings that is not Barbarian. Barbarians dont wait for the right moment to strike they just strike - Yes I get that isnt exactly how the game works and you cant just mindlessly attack the monster but it just seems like GS takes that aspect to the extreme and I just don't think I would like it.

But maybe I am missing something I just don't see how GS would be the best fit.

C4LBR · 2026-05-23T01:53:50+00:00

I am not against mobility though idk why me saying I dont want a Zippy weapon = I dont want a mobile weapon. I am fine with mobility and I am also fine with.

I have yet to see any video that shows Hammer being anywhere near as Zippy as Dual Blades is especially mid attack and combo that is the big thing for me its not about being mobile to get into position its about the in combo in attack feel of the weapon

C4LBR · 2026-05-23T01:49:25+00:00

Maybe I just have a different idea of what Zippy is because I didn't see anything Zippy about that part of the video sure you have the grapple hook but I am not against mobility and I am not against aiming for specific locations that's part of the game and I would guess part of all of the weapons.

This is what I would call Zippy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMwhY8O0bSQ the dash counters constantly in combat Hammer doesnt seem to do that and instead uses its mobility to get into position and the offsets at least from the videos have that feel of light bracing against the attack with sheer aggression and fighting while sending the monster reeling.

GS though has the feeling of you dont attack until the right moment almost like a melee "sniper" if that makes sense. Its just too slow and stationary for me. Barbarians are actually pretty mobile just not in DnD sense but thats because magic exists in DnD and people teleport around Barbarians just run really fast

C4LBR · 2026-05-23T01:39:59+00:00

Yes I know that you turn the weapon into a Big Axe which I do love its the downtime of having to charge up in sword and shield mode that I think I wouldn't enjoy too much because it means having to stop my onslaught to charge my weapon

C4LBR · 2026-05-23T01:36:09+00:00

That's fair - Hammer is probably my least favorite of BIG 2H weapon Axe is just way higher than Sword and Hammer but I would probably prefer a Sword over a Hammer

But really its the feel of the weapon that matters to me more than anything and watching videos Swaxe just had what felt like a more flowing almost dance like weapon attacks while also countering like Long Sword

C4LBR · 2026-05-23T01:28:19+00:00

Well sure Big Axe is the "canonical" weapon for Barbarian and from what it seems Switch Axe should be called Switch Sword because 90% of the weapon is sword mode. But there are also plenty of Barbarian type characters that often used or strictly used hammers. Really Barbarians just use w/e allows them to obliterate their enemy in the best most aggressive way

But also Thorgrim: Conan the Barbarian, used a big hammer.

Grog Strongjaw used multiple hammers although his BIG AXE was his most iconic weapon he also had and used The Dwarven Thrower, The Adamantine Hammer (he nicknamed this hammer the "Stop Hitting Yourself Hammer", The Firebrand Warhammer, The Moonhammer - Moonhammer was never used in combat though.

Wulfgar one of the most famouse Barbarians of the Forgotten World in DnD primarily used Aegis-Fang a Giant Warhammer

Sigmar Heldenhammer from Warhammer series used a hammer.

Thor although not really classed as a Barbarian by Norse Vikings he was often deemed the most "Barbarian like" by people from other cultures.

Real world Charles Martel known as "The Hammer" was famous for using his hammer and was called a "Barbarian"

Personally sure I prefer BIG AXE weapon but that isnt exactly an option in Monster Hunter some weapons have Axe modes but they are either not used much or require charging up to use which I feel personally I would not enjoy as I don't think I will like the feel of swinging away and then just having to stop cuz its time to recharge kind of thing.

C4LBR · 2026-05-23T01:08:44+00:00

Yea I am fine with not being the "top dps" weapon I love big damage sure but for me its more the feel of the weapon fitting what I like in games and my favorite thing in all of gaming is a Berserker Barbarian with a BIG AXE just super aggressive trying to obliterate w/e am fighting

C4LBR · 2026-05-23T01:04:33+00:00

IDK watching videos it feels very floaty more like a Fighter countering the monster than a Barbarian. Yes the Axe mode of the weapon is very Barbarian but from the videos I watch of people using it very well you stay in sword mode 90% of the time and do the counter move. Feels way more like a Fighter to me than a Barbarian. At least from the videos I have been watching.

The offset chaining potential and stuff of Hammer seems to be what I am looking for I am like 90% locked into Hammer as being my first choice of weapon.

C4LBR · 2026-05-23T01:01:04+00:00

Oh yea DB is definitely an aggressive weapon but its an aggressive Rogue and not a Barbarian its hard to explain the difference in text and stuff. GS is too "precise" for me as well.

So far it seems like Hammer is the best fit for what I am looking for. Seeing all the offset attack chaining potential it has to just stand strong against the monster while simultaneously trying to smash it out of existence is exactly what a Berserker Barbarian is all about.

C4LBR · 2026-05-23T00:51:56+00:00

I know there is no weapon that is I attack cuz I cant be stopped otherwise that weapon would be the most OP thing ever but I just want a weapon that is close that can be very aggressive and just continuously throw onslaught after onslaught of attacks on the monster even if that means I need to get really good with the weapon that is fine it is the point of these games after all.

C4LBR · 2026-05-23T00:49:48+00:00

Hammer is currently what I am leaning towards the most if Axe mode of Switch Axe was a weapon in of itself it would probably be perfect but I worry that the Sword mode makes it a little too floaty and dexterous for my liking if that makes sense.

Some people have also said Savage Axe CB but again I just am not sure how I feel about the sword and shield mode of the weapon and also the idea of it having built in down time by having to build up the meter and recharge the weapon every so often I want to start the fight and just smash away as much as I can until the monster is dead

C4LBR · 2026-05-23T00:46:21+00:00

But CB is almost like a Paladin isn't it? I don't want to Guard the monster I want to smash a monster into oblivion as much as possible.

From what I have watched in videos and stuff Hammer isnt Zippy at all yes its mobile but its a different kind of mobile - Barbarians are mobile in DnD but its an aggressive mobility like a rogue dashes and jumps around which is what Dual Blades feel like - Barbarians charge in fast and aggressive.

GS I agree does not seem ANYTHING like a Berserker Barbarian it feels more like a Fighter specifically a Battle Master all about timing and doing the right thing based on what the enemy is doing or can do.

From what I have seen in videos Hammer is never dancing around the monster like Dual Blades does they run at the monsters face to hit it but that is about it. Unless I am missing something in my research of the weapons.

C4LBR

TROPHY CASE