Phat Loot Phriday: The Decapitator
by Mike Schramm 
Feb 15th 2008 at 5:00PM
Name: The Decapitator (Wowhead, Thottbot, WowDB)
Type: Epic One-Hand Axe
Damage/Speed: 167-312 / 2.60 (92.1 DPS)
Abilities:
- Improves crit strike rating by 27
- Use: Hurls the axe through the air, directly at a target's head (very "vorpal," if you get that reference). Causes 513-567 damage with a 3 minute cooldown.
- It's a 40-yard range, instant cast, so definitely very nice for pulling. Shows up as a black version of the Paladin's ranged attack.
- And it was rumored that this was counted not as a melee attack, but as a spell. However, players have apparently confirmed that spell damage does not add to it, although we're still not sure if spell crit helps the percentage. Maybe commenters can shed light on that one-- I don't have this one around for testing.
- Bosses, as you may expect, are immune to the throw. But it is pretty easy to put together a macro which will let you use the throw ability to pull, and then switch over to your usual tanking weapon.
Getting rid of It: Sells to a vendor for 12g 44s 56c, and disenchants into a Void Crystal. That's all I got-- I guess you could destroy it if you want, but this is the kind of item where the proc would probably come in handy at almost any level. Have a good weekend.
Filed under: Shaman, Warrior, Items, Analysis / Opinion, Raiding, Phat Loot Phriday
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Threats Feb 15th 2008 5:10PM
This was a repeat from July...FAIL!
Nails Feb 15th 2008 5:33PM
lol
:P
Alex Feb 15th 2008 5:23PM
Got two of those in 3 Prince kills. Looks badass on my dwarf.
Pzychotix Feb 15th 2008 5:38PM
30 second cooldown when you switch into it.
I don't think you'd want to switch into it for a pull.
Methar Feb 15th 2008 5:41PM
Hey look, another uninformed post by Schramm.
Yes, it works on bosses...why wouldn't it? The on use function adds about 5 dps to your overall dps when it's used whenever the cooldown is up.
Pzychotix Feb 15th 2008 6:36PM
Except, it's a 30 second cooldown on weapon switch before you can use the ability.
30 Second Cooldown.
30 Second Cooldown.
30 Second Cooldown.
Minnow Feb 15th 2008 5:57PM
My name is [The Decapitator], [Kang the Decapitator]!
Couldn't resist...
Spoony Feb 15th 2008 6:02PM
Great little main hand weapon for enhancement shaman and fury warriors until they can get the ZA claws, or arena season 2+ weapons.
But that throw most certainly works on bosses i use it all the time.
As for using it as a free pull you put it on 30 seconds before you pull obviously, then you pull and switch easy as cake.
Rihahn Feb 15th 2008 6:05PM
Yeah, out MT would always stop us so that he could throw his axe at whatever boss we were fighting... Always gave him a chuckle for some reason and he'd usually exclaim "BOOM! Head Shot!" every time.
It's the little things that keep prot warriors happy I guess. ;)
Silidar Feb 15th 2008 6:13PM
The axe is great for any tank for some initial aggro.
Just have it equipped when the fight begins, do the axe throw in the beginning and then equip whatever normal weapon you use.
At which point you can shield slam. It helps prevent those cases where, oh crap shield slam missed and taunt resisted. At least it gives you 3 initial abilities to use instead of 2 before he bee lines for someone in the beginning.
Urthal Feb 15th 2008 6:33PM
/facepalm
Mats Feb 15th 2008 7:35PM
This weapon is great for all the warrior offtanks out there. With such a slow weapon with high damage, you will be able to keep up threat with this weapon doing your Devestate, Devestate, Devestate, Shield Slam rotation.
Pzychotix Feb 15th 2008 8:49PM
Are you kidding me? Warriors use the fastest weapon they can get for tanking, not the slowest.
Know what you're talking about, please.
Mats Feb 15th 2008 8:54PM
@Pzychotix Please re-read the comment, I said "Off-tank". The reason to have a fast weapon is so you can apply Heroic Strikes fast, and have a decent DPS, but since Devestate resets your weapon strike, having a slow weapon and spamming Devestate will grant you a lot more threat then using a fast weapon in a off-tank role, where you are lacking rage.
Please learn to read, then tank, then come back and reply.
Pzychotix Feb 15th 2008 11:27PM
Devastate doesn't reset swing timer.
It's hilarious that you think it does though.
Mats Feb 16th 2008 8:07AM
@Pzychotix
Of course devastate rests weaponswing timer, you think you get white damage twice in 1.5 sec?
The higher the DPS rating on your weapon, the more damage that will be caused with this ability. This is a normalized attack, so weapon attack speed does not matter when calculating bonus damage in terms of attack power. Normalization means, all other things being equal, this will cause less bonus damage when used with a dagger, regardless of weapon speed, and will thus cause less threat. All in all, a slow weapon will still cause more damage because of its innate weapon damage.
So, when offtanking, when rage is a premium, using a slow main hander to spam low rage costing abilities, like devastate and Shield slam, from the back where you don't get abilities like revenge, this weapon will generate more threat then a fast weapon, since this weapon will in essence be a global cooldown between each hit and have a higher damage on each hit with devastate.
Pzychotix Feb 16th 2008 3:21PM
Oh of course I don't think Blizzard would allow you to get two hits within 1.5 seconds. That's why Sinister Strike resets the swing timer! That's why Mortal Strike resets the swing timer! That's why Mangle resets the swing timer! They would never allow you to do something so silly as get white hits in!
OH WAIT THEY DON'T. /laugh
Mats Feb 16th 2008 4:48PM
@Pzychotix
Ok, lets say it does not, whatever, your arguments are still baseless on why a offtank should have a fast weapon and not a slow one. All you say is that this is wrong, without ever coming with a proper argument. Your trolling around without any sort of base for any of your statements. Unless you come with some proper facts to base your statements on, you are clearly don't know what you are talking about.
Pzychotix Feb 17th 2008 7:27AM
I don't have to prove anything. You haven't proved anything yourself. I'm merely refuting your inane statements.
(Oh and why would an offtank be rage starved? Are we talking about normal 5-mans here? Why would a normal 5-man need an offtank? Why is your regular tank so crappy that he needs an off tank for a normal 5-man here? Why are you still trying to argue for a point when you know you're wrong?)
Mats Feb 17th 2008 7:42AM
@Pzychotix
Refuting "insane statements" is done by putting forth a valid argument, not just saying "your stupid", that is unless you got your debating skills in kindergarten.