Herculean Axe

From Golden Sun Universe

A Herculean Axe (ヘラクレスアックス, Hercules Axe?) is an Axe introduced in Golden Sun: Dark Dawn. It is notable for being the most powerful Axe-class weapon in the game, and by extension the series.

In Golden Sun: Dark Dawn

Herculean Axe DD.gif Herculean Axe
HerculeanAxeDDModel.png
The DS model of the Herculean Axe
In-Game Description
"Weapon: Axe" (DD)
Trade Info
Weapon class Axe
Buy value 28000
Sell value 21000
Artifact? Yes
Statistic Boosts
Attack Boost 186
First Unleash effect
Effect name Stone Justice
Extra damage Star venus.gif 11
Side effect May drop target's agility by 50%
Second Unleash effect
Effect name Barrage
Extra damage Star mars.gif 20
Side effect May inflict Stun
Third Unleash effect
Effect name Meltdown
Extra damage Star mars.gif 47
Side effect Hits each adjacent foe
May drop target's defense by 25%
Fourth Unleash effect
Effect name Olympus Rage
Extra damage Star mars.gif x2
Side effect May instantly fell the target
Acquisition
Forged from Orihalcon (DD)

In Dark Dawn, it is forged from Orihalcon by Obaba (the game's blacksmith and Briggs' grandmother) with a 10% chance of being forged, the same as the Excalibur which is forged by the same material. It can be equipped on Matthew, Tyrell and Eoleo.

The Herculean Axe has four Unleashes: Stone Justice (ジーコラプス, G-Collapse?), Barrage (エクスプロージョン, Explosion?), Meltdown (メルティアーマー, Melty Armour?), and Olympus Rage (オリュンポスレイジ, Olympos Rage?). Stone Justice is a Venus-based Unleash that adds 11 points of damage and may also drop agility by 50%. Barrage is a Mars-based Unleash that adds 20 points of damage and may Stun the target. Meltdown is a Mars-based Unleash adds 47 points of damage, hits up to three targets, and may drop each target's Defense by 25%. Olympus Rage is a Mars-based Unleash that multiplies damage by 2 and has a chance of instantly felling the target.

The Herculean Axe holds an interesting niche in the lineup of "ultimate weapons". In many ways, it looks extremely similar to its fellow Orihalcon weapon, the Excalibur. The Herculean Axe has 6 points of Attack more than the Excalibur, which means that it is clearly the superior weapon for characters whose damage output comes primarily from Djinn or Psynergy (such as Quick Strike).

If the character is performing regular attacks, however, a look at unleashes is in order. The first three unleashes of Excalibur will usually hit harder than their Herculean counterparts, but the Herculean Axe has a great utility unleash in Meltdown, which hits three targets and reduces their Defense by the equivalent of two Debilitates.

Excalibur's Legend vs. Herculean Axe's Olympus Rage mostly comes down to a matter of power vs. consistency. Legend has a 60% chance to hit for triple damage (including the +73 additional damage), but the remaining 40% it hits for a somewhat uninspiring base damage +73. Olympus Rage, on the other hand, will hit for twice base damage, guaranteed. To use mathematical terminology, while Legend's damage has a higher statistical mean and mode, Olympus Rage's damage has a higher minimum, making it more consistent. It should also be noted that Olympus Rage has the additional benefit of potentially downing a target.

In the end, the Herculean Axe usually ends up being Eoleo's weapon of choice, since Matthew has the Sol Blade, while Tyrell generally ends up with either the Excalibur, the Levatine, or the Darksword. Eoleo's naturally higher Mars Power means that most of the axe's unleashes will be properly supported, and with the most common unleashes being either multi-target or guaranteed powerful, he becomes a great addition for either random encounters or boss fights with multiple targets.

It is worth noting, however, that Eoleo may very well obtain a higher average damage with either Tisiphone Edge or Phaeton's Blade, due to those weapons also having very strong unleashes.

Trivia

  • The Herculean Axe unleashes all the signature unleashes of artifact axes (found not bought): Themis' Axe's Stone Justice, Vulcan Axe's Barrage, and Giant Axe's Meltdown.

Etymology

The Herculean Axe is a reference to Hercules, a son of the god Jupiter in Roman mythology, who himself is among the gods said to rule from Greece's Mount Olympus. The name "Hercules" led to the advent of "Herculean" as an adjective describing overwhelming individual strength and/or effort and has become the more widely known name for the mythological figure than the original Greek equivalent, Heracles.

Unleashes Gallery
Orihalcon equipment
The Lost Age Big Bang GlovesCosmos ShieldExcaliburMillenium HelmNebula WandStellar AxeXylion Armor
Dark Dawn Big Bang GlovesCosmos ShieldExcaliburHerculean AxeXylion Armor
Axes (All Equipment)
Axes featured in Golden Sun
Battle AxeBroad AxeVulcan AxeGreat AxeBurning AxeDragon AxeGiant AxeDemon Axe
Axes featured in Golden Sun: The Lost Age
Battle AxeBroad AxeThemis' AxeDisk AxeGreat AxeCaptain's AxeDragon AxeTartarus AxeViking AxeMighty AxeGiant AxeApollo's AxeGaia's AxeStellar Axe
Axes featured in Golden Sun: Dark Dawn
Battle AxeBroad AxeThemis' AxeVulcan AxeGreat AxeDragon AxeGiant AxeHerculean Axe