Axes

Axes are the tools you cut trees with in Woodcutting. You need one in your inventory or weapon slot, and a better axe cuts logs much faster: a magic log takes about a quarter as long with a crystal axe as with a bronze axe. The standard axes, from bronze to crystal, are sold for skilling points in the Woodcutting shop in the Skilling Zone. The crystal axe is the fastest, and the infernal axe is as fast as a dragon axe and also gives Firemaking experience. Every axe on this page can be traded.

Comparison

Axe	level	Time per magic log (level 99, average)	Effect	Slash / Crush / Str	Get it from	Value
Bronze axe	1	66.0 s	–	+4 / +2 / +5	Woodcutting and Skilling shops (free)	Free
Iron axe	1	61.2 s	–	+5 / +3 / +7	Woodcutting shop (100 SKP), Skiller kit	50 PKP
Steel axe	6	55.8 s	–	+8 / +6 / +9	Woodcutting shop (250 SKP), Skiller kit	125 PKP
Black axe	11	50.4 s	–	+10 / +8 / +12	Woodcutting shop (500 SKP), Skiller kit	250 PKP
Mithril axe	21	45.0 s	–	+12 / +10 / +13	Woodcutting shop (1,000 SKP), Skiller kit	500 PKP
Adamant axe	31	39.6 s	–	+17 / +15 / +19	Woodcutting shop (10,000 SKP)	5,000 PKP
Rune axe	41	23.4 s	–	+26 / +24 / +29	Woodcutting shop (25,000 SKP)	12,500 PKP
Gilded axe	41	23.4 s	–	+26 / +24 / +29	Hard clue caskets	7,500 PKP
Dragon axe	61	18.0 s	Special attack	+38 / +32 / +42	Woodcutting shop (50,000 SKP)	25,000 PKP
3rd age axe	61	18.0 s	–	+38 / +32 / +42	Voting shop (750 VP), elite clue caskets, the Mimic	1,312,500 PKP
Infernal axe	61	18.0 s	Special attack; extra Firemaking XP	+38 / +32 / +42	Woodcutting shop (250,000 SKP), Skilling Crates	125,000 PKP
Crystal axe	71	16.2 s	Special attack; fastest axe	+38 / +32 / +42	Woodcutting shop (300,000 SKP), Skilling Crates, Divine Skilling impling jars	150,000 PKP
Aquatic adze	1	16.2 s	Also a pickaxe; 90% of logs come noted	+38 / +32 / +42	2026 Summer event (limited time)	25,000,000 PKP

• 
  Bronze axe
• 
  Iron axe
• 
  Steel axe
• 
  Black axe
• 
  Mithril axe
• 
  Adamant axe
• 
  Rune axe
• 
  Gilded axe
• 
  Dragon axe
• 
  3rd age axe
• 
  Infernal axe
• 
  Crystal axe

SKP = skilling points, VP = vote points. Each log takes a random time around the average shown. Axes are weak weapons: besides the bonuses above, every axe has −2 stab attack and +1 slash defence. The axes attack every 5 ticks and the Aquatic adze every 6.

How axes work

• The best axe is used: the axe can be in your inventory or in your weapon slot. If you carry several, the game uses the best one you have the Woodcutting level for.
• Attack level: you only need an Attack level to wield an axe, not to cut with it. Wielding one needs an Attack level one lower than its Woodcutting level (none for bronze and iron, 60 for dragon and infernal, 70 for crystal); the 3rd age axe needs 65.
• Speed: the time per log depends on the tree, your Woodcutting level and your axe. The axe counts for 60% of the speed and your level for 40%, so a better axe is the biggest upgrade. With a dragon axe a magic log takes 26.4 seconds on average at level 75 and 18.0 seconds at level 99. Levels above 99 do not make you any faster.
• Equal axes: the rune and gilded axes cut at the same speed, and so do the dragon, 3rd age and infernal axes. The crystal axe takes up to 10% less time per log than a dragon axe: 27 game ticks instead of 30 for a magic log at level 99.
• Farming trees: a better axe also chops down a grown tree in a Farming patch faster: 2 game ticks with a crystal axe or the Aquatic adze, 3 with a 3rd age or infernal axe and 5 with a dragon axe.

Special attack

The dragon, infernal and crystal axes share a special attack. Clicking the special attack bar needs a full bar and uses all of it: your character shouts "Ready to cut some wood!" and your Woodcutting level is boosted to 3 above your normal level. Since levels above 99 do not cut faster, the boost helps most below level 99, where it speeds you up a little and lets you use a tree or an axe 3 levels early. The 3rd age and gilded axes have no special attack.

Infernal axe

Each log you cut with the infernal axe has a 1 in 4 chance to also give you Firemaking experience: half of what burning that log would give, for example 400 for a magic log before XP bonuses. The log still goes into your inventory, and you do not need a Firemaking level. It works on every tree, from normal trees to redwoods, but only while the infernal axe is the axe being used: if you also carry a crystal axe or the Aquatic adze, that one is used instead. The infernal axe has no charges, so it never needs recharging.

Aquatic adze

The Aquatic adze (2026) was a limited-time reward from the 2026 Summer event, where it came from Bronze coolers. It can be traded.

It works as both an axe and a pickaxe at the same speed as the crystal tools and can be used at any Woodcutting and Mining level. 90% of the logs and ores it gathers go into your inventory noted. It has no special attack and no Firemaking effect.

How to get them

Shops

• Woodcutting shop (trade the Woodsman tutor in the Skilling Zone, ::woodcutting): bronze axe free, iron 100, steel 250, black 500, mithril 1,000, adamant 10,000, rune 25,000, dragon 50,000, infernal 250,000 and crystal 300,000 skilling points.
• Skilling shop (trade the Skilling Tutor in Edgeville): a free bronze axe.
• Voting shop: the 3rd age axe for 750 vote points.

Other sources

• Starter kit: the Skiller starter kit, which new players can pick when they create their account, includes an iron, steel, black and mithril axe.
• Clue scrolls: the gilded axe comes from hard reward caskets and the 3rd age axe from elite reward caskets.
• The Mimic can drop the 3rd age axe.
• Skilling Crates, which you can receive while training skills, can contain an infernal or crystal axe.
• Divine Skilling impling jars can contain a crystal axe.
• Trading post: every axe can be bought and sold there.

Other uses

• One master clue scroll step asks you to wield a 3rd age axe.