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"Infantry, Ranged Soldier. Counter infantry only good against other infantry."
In-game description
The Throwing Axeman is a Norse ranged infantry unit in Age of Mythology and the only one there is. It is the Norse counter-infantry unit and the only ranged human unit they had before the addition of the Bogsveigir in Tale of the Dragon, as they previously lacked ranged soldiers. In Retold. it is again the only ranged human unit due to the removal of the Bogsveigir which was replaced by the ranged hero unit Godi.
Strengths and Weaknesses
File:Grk-h-hippeus.png Hippeus • File:Grk-h-prodromos.png Prodromos •  Spearman •  Jarl •  War Elephant •  Berserk •  Camel Rider •  Huskarl •  Hersir •  Raiding Cavalry
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File:Grk-h-toxotes.png Toxotes • File:Grk-h-hypaspist.png Hypaspist •  Cheiroballista •  Chariot Archer • Throwing Axeman •  Axeman
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Technologies
General Technologies
| Image | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| File:Shared-t-copper-weapons.png | Copper Weapons | +10% damage |
| File:Shared-t-bronze-weapons.png | Bronze Weapons | +10% damage |
| File:Shared-t-iron-weapons.png | Iron Weapons | +10% damage |
| Image | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| File:Shared-t-copper-armor.png | Copper Armor | -15% Hack Vulnerability |
| File:Shared-t-bronze-armor.png | Bronze Armor | -15% Hack Vulnerability |
| File:Shared-t-iron-armor.png | Iron Armor | -15% Hack Vulnerability |
| File:Shared-t-copper-shields.png | Copper Shields | -15% Pierce Vulnerability |
| File:Shared-t-bronze-shields.png | Bronze Shields | -15% Pierce Vulnerability |
| File:Shared-t-iron-shields.png | Iron Shields | -15% Pierce Vulnerability |
| Image | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| File:Grk-t-levy-infantry.png | Levy Infantry | -20% training time |
| File:Grk-t-conscript-infantry.png | Conscript Infantry | -20% training time |
Myth Technologies
| Image | Name | God | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| File:Grk-t-phobos-spear-of-panic.png | Phobos' Spear of Panic | Ares | +1 divine damage |
| File:Grk-t-sarissa.png | Sarissa | Athena | +10% hack damage, +1 attack range |
| File:Grk-t-aegis-shield.png | Aegis Shield | Athena | -15% pierce vulnerability |
| File:Grk-t-oracle.png | Oracle | Apollo | +4 Line of Sight |
| File:Grk-t-dionysia.png | Dionysia | Dionysus | +5% hit points |
Upgrades
| Age | Upgrade | Cost | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| File:Infobox-age2.png Classical Age | File:Shared-t-medium-infantry.png Medium Infantry | File:Infobox-food.png 150, File:Infobox-gold.png 150, File:Infobox-time.png 20 seconds | Upgrades Hoplites to Medium: +10% hit points, +10% damage, +1 Line of Sight |
| File:Infobox-age3.png Heroic Age | File:Shared-t-heavy-infantry.png Heavy Infantry | File:Infobox-food.png 300, File:Infobox-gold.png 300, File:Infobox-time.png 30 seconds | Upgrades Hoplites to Medium: +15% hit points, +20% damage, +1 Line of Sight); requires Medium Infantry |
| File:Infobox-age4.png Mythic Age | File:Shared-t-champion-infantry.png Champion Infantry | File:Infobox-food.png 500, File:Infobox-gold.png 400, File:Infobox-time.png 40 seconds | Upgrades Hoplites to Medium: +20% hit points, +30% damage, +1 Line of Sight); requires Heavy Infantry |
Relic Bonuses
| Image | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
 |
Armor of Achilles | -5% hack vulnerability |
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Canopic Jar of Imsety | +25% training speed |
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Gaia's Book of Knowledge | +3.0 attack multiplier vs. Titans |
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Pelt of Argus | +6 Line of Sight |
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Thundercloud Shawl | -5% pierce vulnerability |
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Gungnir, Odin's Spear | +5% attack |
Gameplay
The main strength of Throwing Axemen is their distinctive ranged hack attack. It allows them to destroy many units with low hack armor such as siege weapons and many flying units. They are even better against flying units thanks to the Axe of Muspell technology. They also deal considerable damage to buildings, even over obstacles such as walls. When behind cover, they can tear into cavalry and simply slaughter other infantry units.
Without cover, Throwing Axemen are considerably weaker as they have low hit points and can easily be cut down by faster units such as cavalry. Also, despite what the game literature says, the Throwing Axeman is weak against other counter-infantry such as the Hypaspist and the Axeman, losing in one-to-one fights against them. However, their greatest weakness is against archers, especially ranged counter-archers, all of which have a large attack bonus against Throwing Axemen.
History
"We know little about how warriors fought using throwing axes, but we do know that at least one Norse/Germanic tribe, the Franks, derived their name from a knife or axe that they apparently threw in battle. It is possible that they threw one weapon just prior to joining hand-to-hand combat, at which point they switched to another axe or sword. Throwing a weapon just prior to close fighting may have wounded and shaken many of the enemy just before the moment of contact, giving an initial, and perhaps decisive advantage to the throwers."
In-game compendium
Gallery
Trivia
Video
List of Units
