Power Mauls / Power Axes

[Odin]

I haven't got the rulebook yet, but I keep seeing references to power mauls and power axes in the FAQs etc. Are there now different rules for different types of power weapon again? That would be awesome.

[daboarder]

Yes, and while the maul is cool the axe is the most stupid piece of equipment ever.

[Odin]

Why, what do they do that is different?

[Wildcard]

They give you +1 strength and ap2 which is good, but they make you initiative 1 which makes them kinda a poor power fist

[daboarder]

which really hurts Dante.

Edit: Dante falls under "unique Power weapons" WOOHOO

[Wildcard]

Did that get faq'd? Man Dante was what init 6, Jeez. At least you know what that axe does all the eldar special gear never gets mentioned...

[Odin]

They give you +1 strength and ap2 which is good, but they make you initiative 1 which makes them kinda a poor power fist

That's the axe, right? What about the maul?

And do you get to choose any of them for a basic space marine captain or sergeant?

[Charax]

They're both fairly niche weapons.

Power Mauls are only something I'd use rarely - sure, the concussive effect and extra strength is nice, but ideally it needs a high toughness, highish-initiative but low armour opponent, and there aren't a ton of those out there. I can maybe see some use on a Plague Champion in my Death Guard force so I'm striking simultaneously rather than after other Marines, otherwise I'd rather use a sword

Axes are kind of like budget Fists, in that they give you some anti-armour utility, but they tank your Initiative. On the plus side you can combine them with extra CCWs, and they're useful on an Anti-Terminator unit, if you don't mind striking simultaneously

[tuebor]

That's the axe, right? What about the maul?

And do you get to choose any of them for a basic space marine captain or sergeant?

If you can take a "power weapon" it can be whichever type of power weapon you like. I for one will be using axes in my IG power blobs, on a 30 man blob with Straken's Furious Charge I'll be getting 16 S5 AP2 attacks on the charge!

[daboarder]

The maul will on average wound the same number of marines in a turn as the sword with the nice effect of concussion but with a bit of a higher risk of survival, the Axe is just bad, never take the Axe.

[Odin]

They're both fairly niche weapons.

Power Mauls are only something I'd use rarely - sure, the concussive effect and extra strength is nice, but ideally it needs a high toughness, highish-initiative but low armour opponent, and there aren't a ton of those out there. I can maybe see some use on a Plague Champion in my Death Guard force so I'm striking simultaneously rather than after other Marines, otherwise I'd rather use a sword

Axes are kind of like budget Fists, in that they give you some anti-armour utility, but they tank your Initiative. On the plus side you can combine them with extra CCWs, and they're useful on an Anti-Terminator unit, if you don't mind striking simultaneously

Well, a crozius counts as a power maul, so I will be using them automatically on my champions. Extra S and some sort of concussion thing sounds interesting, I assume there's a downside as well.

[MagicHat]

The maul will on average wound the same number of marines in a turn as the sword with the nice effect of concussion but with a bit of a higher risk of survival, the Axe is just bad, never take the Axe.

I 3 guardsmen sergeants with axes? I am not convinced the axe is terrible just yet.

[Charax]

they're only AP4, and concussive only triggers if the model takes an unsaved wound - so unless your chaplains are regularly going toe-to-toe with Ork Nobs, they're not great.

Might be useful in Duels, I suppose

[Killgore]

I dont see the problems with axes, they are cheap compared to Powerfists in some codexs, you get +1 attack and are a threat to Terminators.

If I had the spare points I'd go for the fist, but some units such as Templar bikers dont have the option for fists so an Axe will do nicely.

[daboarder]

I 3 guardsmen sergeants with axes? I am not convinced the axe is terrible just yet.

You get a maul for the same points? At most your S4?

[Azulthar]

The maul will on average wound the same number of marines in a turn as the sword with the nice effect of concussion but with a bit of a higher risk of survival, the Axe is just bad, never take the Axe.

How's that? 2+ to wound with a 3+ save (maul) is far worse than a 4+ to wound with no save (sword).

Against Marines, mauls are crap. Weight of fire is overrated, and now that the 4+ cover save is gone you'll see people scrambling for high AP weapons again.

[tuebor]

You get a maul for the same points? At most your S4?

S4 with AP2 is probably going to be better more often than S5 with AP4.

[MagicHat]

With mauls against MEQ: 0.5 to hit * 0.66 to wound * 0.33 to bypass armour save * 3 attacks = 0.32 dead marines. You are I 3 so they strike before you anyhow.
The maul is better against most xenos though

With axes against MEQ: 0.5 to hit * 0.5 to wound no armour save *3 atttacks: 0.75 dead marines.
Better versus terminators as well.

[CushionRide]

well if a power axe is intit 1 what about a scythe, my dante has a scythe ^_^

you know if they wanted to make the game more challenging again why didnt they just go back to 2nd edition, at least there the power axe had a point, +1 str, and a little better armor pen.

[daboarder]

If you follow the Typhus ruling.....its still an AXE