Hand Axe

Hand Axe

Attack	117 Physical
Critical	100
Scaling	Str D, Dex D
Requires	Str 9, Dex 8
Effect
Guard	42% physical, 28 guard boost
Type	Axe
Attack Type	Standard
Skill	Quickstep
FP Cost	3
Weight	3.5
Upgrades With	Smithing Stones, to +25
Sell Price	100

The Hand Axe is an Axe in Elden Ring. It is found early on, in Limgrave.

The Hand Axe, commonly known as a hatchet, is a smaller axe that serves as an everyday work tool, and it is sold by the Nomadic Merchant in East Limgrave. Despite its short reach it is easy to handle and excels at successive attacks, using the light axe moveset that is significantly faster than the normal axe moveset. Its fast slashes can stun-lock weaker enemies, while its charged strong attacks deal decent poise damage. It scales with Strength and Dexterity at D, weighs 3.5 and accepts Ashes of War, and it also makes a useful off-hand weapon in close quarters.

How to Get Hand Axe Guide

Bought from the Nomadic Merchant located in Mistwood south of the Minor Erdtree for 600 runes.

Where to find Hand Axe Location?

Hand Axe map location:

Map credit by Map Genie.

Upgrades

Reinforcing it uses ordinary Smithing Stones, up to +25, and greases work on it too.

Level	Material	Amount	Attack	Scaling
+1	Smithing Stone [1]	x2	123 Physical	Str D, Dex D
+2	Smithing Stone [1]	x4	130 Physical	Str D, Dex D
+3	Smithing Stone [1]	x6	137 Physical	Str D, Dex D
+4	Smithing Stone [2]	x2	144 Physical	Str D, Dex D
+5	Smithing Stone [2]	x4	150 Physical	Str D, Dex C
+6	Smithing Stone [2]	x6	157 Physical	Str D, Dex C
+7	Smithing Stone [3]	x2	164 Physical	Str D, Dex C
+8	Smithing Stone [3]	x4	171 Physical	Str D, Dex C
+9	Smithing Stone [3]	x6	178 Physical	Str D, Dex C
+10	Smithing Stone [4]	x2	184 Physical	Str D, Dex C
+11	Smithing Stone [4]	x4	191 Physical	Str D, Dex C
+12	Smithing Stone [4]	x6	198 Physical	Str D, Dex C
+13	Smithing Stone [5]	x2	205 Physical	Str D, Dex C
+14	Smithing Stone [5]	x4	212 Physical	Str D, Dex C
+15	Smithing Stone [5]	x6	218 Physical	Str D, Dex C
+16	Smithing Stone [6]	x2	225 Physical	Str D, Dex C
+17	Smithing Stone [6]	x4	232 Physical	Str D, Dex C
+18	Smithing Stone [6]	x6	239 Physical	Str D, Dex C
+19	Smithing Stone [7]	x2	245 Physical	Str D, Dex C
+20	Smithing Stone [7]	x4	252 Physical	Str D, Dex C
+21	Smithing Stone [7]	x6	259 Physical	Str D, Dex C
+22	Smithing Stone [8]	x2	266 Physical	Str D, Dex C
+23	Smithing Stone [8]	x4	273 Physical	Str D, Dex C
+24	Smithing Stone [8]	x6	279 Physical	Str D, Dex C
+25	Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone	x1	286 Physical	Str D, Dex C

Skill

Quickstep costs 3 FP. The wielder performs a quick sidestep in any direction with a burst of invulnerability frames, a little shorter on repeated uses. Stepping sideways while locked on circles around the target, and an attack right after the step comes out as a rolling or backstep attack depending on the direction. It covers more ground with a light equip load and costs very little FP. It is the weapon's default Ash of War, so another can take its place.

"Skill prized by the crafty and fleet of foot. Perform a quickstep maneuver that allows for circling around lock-on targets."

Suggested Build

An early weapon for fast slashing strings that stun-lock weaker enemies, working as a main weapon on a Dexterity build or as a quick off-hand.

Stats	Dexterity to 60, then 80, Vigor 50 to 60, Endurance about 24, Mind about 20, Strength at its requirement of 9
Affinity	Keen to improve its Dexterity scaling, or Blood for bleed; Heavy works for Strength, reaching 594 attack rating one-handed at 80 Strength.
Ash of War	Quickstep by default for dodging and repositioning; Chilling Mist or Poisonous Mist add frost or poison.
Talismans	Prosthesis-Wearer Heirloom, Winged Sword Insignia, Rotten Winged Sword Insignia

Notes

"Commonly known as a hatchet, this smaller variety of axe is an everyday work tool. Despite its short reach, it is easy to handle, exceling in successive attacks."

All Axes

The table below lists all Axes in Elden Ring.

Name	Physical	Magic	Fire	Light	Holy	Crit. Boost	Weight	Str.	Dex.	Int.	Fai.	Arc.	Sell Price	Skill
Battle Axe	128 47.0	0 31.0	0 31.0	0 31.0	0 31.0	100 31	4.5	D 12	D 8	0	0	0	100	Wild Strikes
Celebrant's Cleaver	125 47	0 31	0 31	0 31	0 31	100 33	4.5	D 12	D 8	0	0	0	100	Wild Strikes
Death Knight's Twin Axes	101 44.0	0 30.0	0 30.0	65 44.0	0 30.0	100 33	5.5	D 14	D 12	0	D 16	0	0	Blinkbolt: Twinaxe
Forked Hatchet	113 40	0 27	0 27	0 27	0 27	100 27	2.5	D 9	C 14	0	0	0	100	Quickstep
Forked-Tongue Hatchet	125 45.0	0 30.0	0 30.0	0 30.0	0 30.0	100 30	4.0	D 10	D 13	0	0	0	200	Dragonform Flame
Hand Axe	117 42	0 28	0 28	0 28	0 28	100 28	3.5	D 9	D 8	0	0	0	100	Quickstep
Highland Axe	128 47	0 31	0 31	0 31	0 31	110 31	4.5	D 12	D 9	0	0	0	100	War Cry
Icerind Hatchet	115 40	0 27	0 27	0 27	0 27	100 27	3.0	E 11	C 16	0	0	0	100	Hoarfrost Stomp
Iron Cleaver	125 51.0	0 34.0	0 34.0	0 34.0	0 34.0	100 34	6.0	C 15	E 7	0	0	0	100	Wild Strikes
Jawbone Axe	130 49	0 33	0 33	0 33	0 33	100 36	5.5	C 14	E 8	0	0	0	100	Wild Strikes
Messmer Soldier's Axe	133 49.0	0 33.0	0 33.0	0 33.0	0 33.0	100 33	5.5	D 14	D 10	0	0	0	100	War Cry
Ripple Blade	75 47	0 31	0 31	0 31	0 31	100 31	4.5	11	11	0	0	A 20	100	Wild Strikes
Rosus' Axe	112 44	72 44	0 30	0 30	0 30	100 33	5.5	D 18	E 10	D 18	0	0	200	Rosus's Summons
Sacrificial Axe	133 49	0 33	0 33	0 33	0 33	100 33	5.5	D 16	D 10	0	0	0	100	Wild Strikes
Smithscript Axe	131 48.0	0 32.0	0 32.0	0 32.0	0 32.0	100 32	5.0	D 13	D 10	E 11	E 11	0	0	Wild Strikes
Stormhawk Axe	136 49	0 33	0 33	0 33	0 33	100 31	5.5	D 19	D 15	0	0	0	200	Thunderstorm
Warped Axe	124 56	0 37	0 37	0 37	0 37	100 43	7.5	C 24	8	0	0	0	200	War Cry