Headsman's Axe

Base Damage	17
Speed	0.7
Weight	11
Value	15
Level	1+
Category	Battleaxe
Class	-
Variants	None
Skill	Two-Handed
Unique	Yes
Item ID	000BE25E
Game/DLC	Skyrim

The Headsman's Axe is a unique battleaxe with 17 base damage and an unusually long reach. Ahtar carries it in Solitude and swings it at Roggvir's execution. The Imperial headsman at Helgen uses the same axe.

How to Get Headsman's Axe Location

Smithing Guide

Enchanted weapons require the Arcane Blacksmith Perk to upgrade.

Crafting Materials	Upgrade Materials	Smithing Level	Smithing Perk
Cannot be crafted	Cannot be upgraded	-	None

Weapon Levels

Some weapons in Skyrim are Levelled. The power of a levelled weapon is based on your charcters level when you get them. Some get stronger in both physical and magical aspects, while others only improve their enchantments. These items don't get better as your character levels up.

Headsman's Axe has the same damage at every character level.

Level	Damage	Weight	Value	Enchantment	Level ID
1+	17	11	15	Enchantable	000BE25E

How It Plays

The Headsman's Axe is the longest melee weapon in the game. Its long wooden haft and single heavy iron blade reach farther than any other battleaxe. That reach is the whole point of the weapon. It lets a fighter strike from a safe distance and step back before the enemy can answer.

The long reach also makes wide swings easier to land. Sideways power attacks and backward power attacks catch targets that a shorter axe would miss. A fighter who keeps moving can chip away at an enemy that never quite closes the gap.

Grindstones cannot improve the axe, but an arcane enchanter can. A skilled enchanter can add fire, frost or absorb effects to raise its damage. Without that work, the axe falls behind crafted battleaxes as the game goes on.

Perks and Builds

The Two-Handed Skill tree raises its damage like any battleaxe. Barbarian adds damage to every two-handed weapon. Limbsplitter makes battleaxe hits bleed. Sweep lets sideways power attacks hit all nearby targets, and the axe's long reach widens that arc further.

Champion's Stance lowers the stamina cost of power attacks. Long power attacks at the edge of the axe's reach are where it does its best work. A large stamina pool keeps those swings coming.

Getting the Axe

Only two people carry this axe. Ahtar is the headsman and jailor of Solitude, and he swings it at the public execution of Roggvir. The Imperial headsman at Helgen carries the same kind of axe at the very start of the game, when the Dragonborn kneels at the block. That axe cannot be taken from Helgen.

Ahtar's axe can be taken in several ways. Ahtar becomes a follower after a test he sets: hunting down an escaped bandit leader. As a follower, his inventory can be opened and the axe taken. A thief with the Misdirection perk can pickpocket the axe from him.

Two-Handed Weapon Categories

All Unique Battleaxes

Name	Damage	Speed	Weight	Value	Enchantment	Item ID	Level	Upgrade Material	Crafting Perk	Skill	DLC
Drainblood Battleaxe	21	0.7	5	266	Absorb 15 points of health	000F82FA	1+	Cannot be Upgraded	None	Two-Handed	Skyrim
Headsman's Axe	17	0.7	11	15	Enchantable	000BE25E	1+	Cannot be Upgraded	None	Two-Handed	Skyrim
Steel Battleaxe of Fiery Souls	18	0.7	21	320	If target dies within 5 seconds, fills a soul gem. Burns the target for 10 points. Targets on fire take extra damage	00040002	2+	Steel Ingot	Steel Smithing	Two-Handed	Skyrim
Rueful Axe	22	0.7	10	1183	Does 20 points of Stamina damage	0001C4E6	1+	Ebony Ingot	None	Two-Handed	Skyrim
The Woodsman's Friend	17	0.7	20	28	Cannot be enchanted	00022265	1+	Cannot be Upgraded	None	Two-Handed	Skyrim
Tsun's Battleaxe	27	0.7	36	1000	Cannot be enchanted	0005BF18	1+	Cannot be Upgraded	None	Two-Handed	Skyrim
Wuuthrad	25	0.7	25	2000	Does 1.2x Damage to Elves	000956B5	1+	Cannot be Upgraded	None	Two-Handed	Skyrim
Shadowrend (Battleaxe)	26	0.6	27	2750	Target is 15% weaker to magic for 30 seconds	FEXXXD62	1+	Ebony Ingot	Daedric Smithing	Two-Handed	Creation Club
Headman's Cleaver	25	0.6	24	2900	Enchantable	FEXXX803	1+	Orichalcum Ingot	Orcish Smithing	Two-Handed	Creation Club