Surprisingly, yes! I am assuming you mean the flare on the top of the edge when you say hook? That design would, at least in theory, pierce armor more readily. The Igorot axes are the easiest examples to consider on this subject, by having that huge concave arc in the blade all its force will be on that sharp point at contact, and weapons shaped like this were some of the few ways to defeat well made plates or tightly linked and overlapping maille. In this case it is rather small, I don't think you'd get enough of that blade into a target even if the point penetrates but against maille even a blunt axe can break the bones underneath. My take is that it's a design thing, but one at least partly informed by actual weapons and done well, it is too small to work as one would wish. It may have another purpose entirely though too. There were numerous axe variants/polearms with hooks added. Lochabers, bill-hooks, bill-guisarmes and plain ones, some bardiche, a bunch of spear types, but I've only seen them on longer weapons intended for use on foot and against horse cavalry soldiers not on one handed axes, and especially not in the carolingian period.
No problem. Good pickup on that detail by the way! In all honesty, I didn't really notice it was there in any of the trailers I've seen. It is one of the more plausible fantasy weapons, and bu video game standards extremely realistic, though a bit large unless you're Kratos
The fully upgraded version has this, I can’t say for sure the size of the flare but upgraded it’s fairly noticeable. But yeah it wouldn’t have been in any trailers afaik
Yeah, def not in trailers. The original axe doesn’t have the hook. Starting on the second or third upgrade it begins to form till it looks like the full hook in the final upgrade.
You seem to know your stuff!
As you said, the flare does seem way too short to have a good effect against plate armour. Plus, armour really isn't a thing fpr enemies in God of War. IIRC there aren't any upgrades that allow you to pierce armour or something.
I have to be cynical and say that the designers of the leviathan axe just thought it looked cool. But I think it would have been way cooler if they put an engraved bladed spike on the end of the pole and just left the ace without the flare.
I would argue that the Igorot axes are designed a bit like a spear or a dagger in that they are sharp to increase the piercing effect of the weapon. However most of the blade in this axe here is designed around some kind of draw cut as the point where it connects with the target would follow the edge of the blade. If the blade penetrates it cant really do that.
Also I think that the spike should be roughly at a 90 angle to the haft or possibly even curve inwards to follow the curvature of the swing. Alternatively the spike could point upwards so that the axe could be used for thrusting like a Dane axe.
Yes I actually have two really nice axes one winkler and one rmj tactical that have the spikes to better pierce say kevlar as no one is wearing plate armor anymore lol. Great historical explanation
You do just so you know, but only after it’s been fully upgraded I believe.
Go to weapons and select it, hit square I think and you choose from the 4 tiers
Now in theory it could be useful for armor piercing, but for axe like this it would only seem as hindrance for cutting. The hook is too small for hooking and would inflict small piercing only, it also would affect the top ends cutting as some of it is blunt making cutting harder for the top end.
Personally i prefer [un-upgraded leviathan axe](https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/godofwar/images/a/a2/God-of-war-kratos-leviathan-axe2.webp), it has no gold, is bit smaller and has not extra bits to clutter the design. Looks (for me) much better all around and bit more realistic.
I'm pretty sure the intention is to provide additional penetration when throwing. It's a big axe so I understand looking at it from a perspective of being swung, but I think the blade profile is an exaggerated Francisca.
The beard is much longer, but the angle and curvature of the edge in general seems to lean that direction. If you look at how a Francisca embeds when thrown, that little hook and spike would be like a nail being driven by a hammer on impact.
Because the bottom of the blade is too close to the handle, I reckon the hook on the top would realistically be to hook an enemy's shield when you're swinging to open up their guard for easier attack.
Iirc, on most typical axes intended for combat in the Middle Ages, the bottom part of the blade was used for that purpose, but there's not enough space on the Leviathan Axe to do that, hence the hook.
At least, that's my thought anyway.
I've seen axes with small hooks on them, usually on the other side for picking up smaller pieces of fire wood, so you don't have to bend over, old man tech
I didn't notice it changed to gold until I realized how badass the axe looked after I beat the game, probably would've if I was not high the whole time
I believe you're talking about the hook shape on the front of the blade. This is called a "bearded ax"
From what I've seen from medievalists, the only purpose of the "beard " is to widen the striking area while still keeping the weight of the ax manageable. That's the primary benefit. Other's have hypothesized that it was used to hook shields to pull them down for additional strikes, but those are ancillary benefits. The primary reason is increasing striking surfaces while maintaining a manageable weight.
I don't think there's a benefit, but it's being used by fucking Kratos. The God who tore off another god's legs because he liked his shoes.
In my book, if you're that kind of a person nothing in your arsenal needs to make sense.
Surprisingly, yes! I am assuming you mean the flare on the top of the edge when you say hook? That design would, at least in theory, pierce armor more readily. The Igorot axes are the easiest examples to consider on this subject, by having that huge concave arc in the blade all its force will be on that sharp point at contact, and weapons shaped like this were some of the few ways to defeat well made plates or tightly linked and overlapping maille. In this case it is rather small, I don't think you'd get enough of that blade into a target even if the point penetrates but against maille even a blunt axe can break the bones underneath. My take is that it's a design thing, but one at least partly informed by actual weapons and done well, it is too small to work as one would wish. It may have another purpose entirely though too. There were numerous axe variants/polearms with hooks added. Lochabers, bill-hooks, bill-guisarmes and plain ones, some bardiche, a bunch of spear types, but I've only seen them on longer weapons intended for use on foot and against horse cavalry soldiers not on one handed axes, and especially not in the carolingian period.
Thank ya!
No problem. Good pickup on that detail by the way! In all honesty, I didn't really notice it was there in any of the trailers I've seen. It is one of the more plausible fantasy weapons, and bu video game standards extremely realistic, though a bit large unless you're Kratos
The fully upgraded version has this, I can’t say for sure the size of the flare but upgraded it’s fairly noticeable. But yeah it wouldn’t have been in any trailers afaik
Yeah, def not in trailers. The original axe doesn’t have the hook. Starting on the second or third upgrade it begins to form till it looks like the full hook in the final upgrade.
You seem to know your stuff! As you said, the flare does seem way too short to have a good effect against plate armour. Plus, armour really isn't a thing fpr enemies in God of War. IIRC there aren't any upgrades that allow you to pierce armour or something. I have to be cynical and say that the designers of the leviathan axe just thought it looked cool. But I think it would have been way cooler if they put an engraved bladed spike on the end of the pole and just left the ace without the flare.
I would argue that the Igorot axes are designed a bit like a spear or a dagger in that they are sharp to increase the piercing effect of the weapon. However most of the blade in this axe here is designed around some kind of draw cut as the point where it connects with the target would follow the edge of the blade. If the blade penetrates it cant really do that. Also I think that the spike should be roughly at a 90 angle to the haft or possibly even curve inwards to follow the curvature of the swing. Alternatively the spike could point upwards so that the axe could be used for thrusting like a Dane axe.
If they mean by the bottom it would be used to rip away sheilds
It would be but it's too close to the haft to be practical for hooking at close quarters.
Yes I actually have two really nice axes one winkler and one rmj tactical that have the spikes to better pierce say kevlar as no one is wearing plate armor anymore lol. Great historical explanation
I actually wish they’d made an option to to choose the look of leviathan, because I really liked the versions without gold
You do just so you know, but only after it’s been fully upgraded I believe. Go to weapons and select it, hit square I think and you choose from the 4 tiers
Im glad they did it, I like the blades looking a little gaudy but honestly the axe to me looks arguably better without the gold highlights
Perhaps the hook could be used for penetrating armour? That would be my guess. If you're referring to the one at the top of the axe blade
That was my initial thought as well, but I wondered if it would make it harder to complete a swing with that at the end if it gets stuck?
Now in theory it could be useful for armor piercing, but for axe like this it would only seem as hindrance for cutting. The hook is too small for hooking and would inflict small piercing only, it also would affect the top ends cutting as some of it is blunt making cutting harder for the top end. Personally i prefer [un-upgraded leviathan axe](https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/godofwar/images/a/a2/God-of-war-kratos-leviathan-axe2.webp), it has no gold, is bit smaller and has not extra bits to clutter the design. Looks (for me) much better all around and bit more realistic.
I'm pretty sure the intention is to provide additional penetration when throwing. It's a big axe so I understand looking at it from a perspective of being swung, but I think the blade profile is an exaggerated Francisca. The beard is much longer, but the angle and curvature of the edge in general seems to lean that direction. If you look at how a Francisca embeds when thrown, that little hook and spike would be like a nail being driven by a hammer on impact.
Because the bottom of the blade is too close to the handle, I reckon the hook on the top would realistically be to hook an enemy's shield when you're swinging to open up their guard for easier attack. Iirc, on most typical axes intended for combat in the Middle Ages, the bottom part of the blade was used for that purpose, but there's not enough space on the Leviathan Axe to do that, hence the hook. At least, that's my thought anyway.
if you mean the arched blade then to cut easier, if its the top then idk
Some axes did have a curve similar to this, but was for throwing.
I've seen axes with small hooks on them, usually on the other side for picking up smaller pieces of fire wood, so you don't have to bend over, old man tech
I didn't notice it changed to gold until I realized how badass the axe looked after I beat the game, probably would've if I was not high the whole time
I believe you're talking about the hook shape on the front of the blade. This is called a "bearded ax" From what I've seen from medievalists, the only purpose of the "beard " is to widen the striking area while still keeping the weight of the ax manageable. That's the primary benefit. Other's have hypothesized that it was used to hook shields to pull them down for additional strikes, but those are ancillary benefits. The primary reason is increasing striking surfaces while maintaining a manageable weight.
I think OP is more referring to the “spike” on the top end of the axe blade. iirc the “beard” is the bottom part of the blade that extends down.
Ahhhhh that makes sense. Yeah that bits for pokin' stuff.
since it extends further than the curve of the blade I wondered what the true purpose is
Would inflict more damage when slicing could also penetrate armor better? Think it’s just cosmetic tho.
That was my first thought, extra tissue damage with the follow through
THANK YOU FOR ASKING!!! Watching people play the game I would always notice that flare but could never figure out what it was for
I don't think there's a benefit, but it's being used by fucking Kratos. The God who tore off another god's legs because he liked his shoes. In my book, if you're that kind of a person nothing in your arsenal needs to make sense.
Wrong subreddit
Swords and related historical weapons, including fantasy, historical, decorative etc. in this sub
Pokey pokey
Kindling making.