The hunter's axe which is like a wand
by David Bowers 
Nov 29th 2007 at 5:05PM
There's a new arena axe out there just for hunters, the [Vengeful Gladiator's Waraxe]. It only costs 1000 Arena points, and it doesn't require any particular personal Arena rating to get. It's the kind of weapon Warriors might sigh for in vain, but it comes relatively cheaply to hunters now. Perhaps someone who got in close to a hunter with this once or twice has been surprised by how hard it can hit.Some people are saying it's totally unfair for hunters to get such a relatively cheap weapon, but Nethaera steps in to point out how a big fancy melee weapon is very different for a hunter than it would be for a melee fighting class: "This is intended and is considered to be more of a stat item much like a wand." And she's right -- any hunter who relied on this weapon for damage would likely be at a disadvantage, unless their regular ranged weapon was really very bad.
Even for hunters making difficult choices about how to spend their first Arena points in Season 3, this weapon isn't necessarily the first on your shopping list. For many, the Season 3 armor isn't that much more expensive, and could constitute a much greater stat improvement than this axe can give. Still, it's pretty fancy lookin -- definitely something to plan on getting when the time is right.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Killah Nov 29th 2007 5:12PM
I don't think it's an unfair think that hunters get a cheap good melee weapon though, compared to how bad the other items they've gotten have been. They desereved it.
Josh Nov 29th 2007 5:17PM
It shouldn't be considered a stat weapon when Hunters have 2 abilities which directly relate to melee damage.
See how you like it when a Hunter Raptor Strikes you for 2k.
Spenda Nov 29th 2007 6:33PM
@Josh:
If you are worried about 2K, then stay out of the hunter's face. You aren't going to see any but the stupidest of hunters trying to get in melee range.
keith.rea Nov 29th 2007 5:24PM
Ok I am not totally against hunters getting this kind of melee weapon. What I am against is the assnine comparison blizzard makes with it to a wand.
A. Wands don't have as many stats as that axe does.
B. Wands won't raptor strike you for 2k plus. Like the guy above said they have abilities for melee.
Hey I just suggest maybe make it 2k points or maybe bump up the stats on a wand and take them to 2k points. I don't know what the solution is but I do know calling it a GD wand is DUMB.
Matt Nov 29th 2007 5:25PM
Can my wand have 62 stamina? Thanks.
Longbow Nov 29th 2007 9:21PM
ur staff has same stam as hunter's axe, and hunter's ranged weapon has same stam as your wand.
Replex Nov 29th 2007 5:26PM
I bought this Axe on my hunter, yes it can get ONE single hard hit in if you go into melee range with a raptor strike, however, We are able to put out much more than that if we were in ranged.
Matthew Rossi Nov 29th 2007 8:11PM
Yes, but what good is getting into melee range when someone just gets hit for 2k and then wing clipped?
It should be like the druid mace. Just as many stats, much less melee damage.
keith.rea Nov 29th 2007 5:30PM
I don't think the argue should be around the hunter getting a 2k crit, they have the abilities I think that is fine. I think the main arguing point is that blizzard compared it to a fracking wand.
Maybe Neth was doing lines of coke off her mouse pad at the time but making that comparison just worsened the problem...
Adam Nov 29th 2007 5:37PM
If they get a melee weapon with the same DPS as all the other S3 2Hs, I want a thrown weapon with the dps of their ranged arena weapon.
Khazika Nov 29th 2007 5:47PM
@ 7's comment.
Do you research
S3 Thrown weapon's DPS = 92
S3 Ranged weapon's DPS = 93
And that is a unfair comparison. Using the throw ability for a rogue or warrior will net the exact damage of the weapon with NO damage modifications (Raptor strike and Mongoose Bite give + damage on attack AND scale with gear)
Spenda Nov 29th 2007 5:44PM
Lol. You all should be so lucky if hunters were actually stupid enough to look at the stats on this and decide to start doing some melee. It is like a wand in that you would only use it for direct damage as a last resort, and when you did it would be nearly worthless.
This is a stat boost item and nothing more. If hunters should need an 1850 rating to buy this, then a healer should need that sort of rating to buy a shield.
plixer Nov 29th 2007 5:50PM
but you do need a rating to buy a shield....
Spenda Nov 29th 2007 5:58PM
@10:
I was unaware of the rating requirement on a shield... Are you sure? I guess it would be more correct to compare it to a libram, relic, etc.
plixer Nov 29th 2007 6:01PM
it doesnt say on wowhead or thott, but when I went to the vendors in-game it had the rating requirement on it
Basic Nov 29th 2007 5:45PM
Ok so I can kindof take this rationale... wand / 2h dps are "sortof" wasted on our respective classes. Unfrotunately the math does not line up.
I could accept the price and lack of limitation if it were in-line with the ilevel budget for the weapons.
According to wowwiki's page on the subject the 2h slot has a 1.0 value, and the ranged slot has a 0.3 value. Even with the DPS of these weapons being "mostly wasted" on the respected classes the 2h receives over 300% of the stat points available to casters for the same weapon slot. Even if you take that value to the 1.5 root (relating to the ilevel formula) it confers at least twice the overall benefit of a ranged slot.
Hidden_Agenda Nov 29th 2007 5:46PM
Like a wand?
Wait, does this mean it cannot be enchanted? Or even better, does this mean I can now enchant my wand?
Marcus Nov 29th 2007 5:50PM
I did some math(quick and dirty) on how many points would be needed for a mage to get all the s3 gear(want and staff included) and for a hunter to get all the s3 gear(ranged and axe).
Mages would spend 13,000 points on their season 3 gear. If there were no 1000 point Waraxe Hunters would have to spend 15,750 arena points on all their gear with the Decapitator in place of the Waraxe. With the Waraxe Hunters spend 13,000 points. It's pretty obvious why the axe costs 1000 points if you look at the numbers, which most people aren't doing.
I have a hunter and the new Waraxe and couldn't be happier. Pre-2.3 Hunters could be easily killed by people who got within their dead zone. Post-2.3 you can try to stand on top of a Hunter, like people have been doing since pvp started, but the you won't be there long if the Hunter is popping 2k raptor strikes with the Waraxe.
TotalBiscuit Nov 29th 2007 6:06PM
That argument works, if you're assuming that everyone is going for a full-set. That assumption however, is pure-theory, and no fact. Comparing it (and pricing it the same as) a wand is ridiculous. The item budget on a 2-hander is huge in comparison to a wand. The best end-game wands have maybe just over half a percent spellcrit, maybe almost 1 spellhit, and under 30 raw spell damage. You cannot seriously tell me that that's anywhere close to equivalent benefit, it's not.
Spenda Nov 29th 2007 6:27PM
TotalBiscuit:
But have you looked at the stats on Hunter's ranged weapons? They aren't really all that impressive. We get our +DPS stuff from our two handers. Our bows/guns/crossbows have the limited stats you are referring to. That said, the bows/guns/crossbows still have more affect on our overall DPS based on raw white damage and weapon speed.