Finding the BK Great Axe underwhelming

So I'm running a fairly strength heavy build this playthrough (as I was more of a quality style build my first time through) and looking to swing around some bigger weapons, more focusing on two handing than one handing for the most part.

Fairly early on I started playing with the zweihander and have been loving it. Having recalled some people praising the BKGA a while back I wanted to give it a try. I'm currently at 28 strength 18 dex, so I can only 2 hand the thing, but it just doesn't feel right. Sure it does a little more damage than the zwei, but I'm finding the range to be terribly lacking. Also the 2 handed R1 can't break the poise of a darkwraith, which is extremely disappointing considering the R2 is extremely difficult to actually connect with, whereas the zwi hits from further away at a similar speed and breaks poise like a boss.

I'm just feeling like the extra strength requirements, 6 whole weight units more aren't justified for a little more damage. The lack of range and weak moveset (at least for 2 handed) just makes this feel like an awful weapon.

Am I missing something? Is it significantly better when 1 handed?

Yeah you're doing it wrong.

I've found the one hand to be far superior to the two hand, It's one of the few weapons that I'll hold in one hand because I prefer to move set.

I'll bump up to 32 strength, slap on havel's ring, and see if one handing it with heavier armor doesn't help me out.

I guess this just confused me because I would never think of PREFERRING to be point blank anyone with a slow weapon, which is exactly why the zwei has been working so well for me (since I have a play style based around it). Smashing someone with a total poise breaking hit has served me so well with the range because I can start attacking before the opponent most of the time. I'll need to switch mindsets with this weapon.

Hopefully havel's ring will give me enough poise through armor (I'll probably have to deal with mid rolling).

What would be a good shield to go with it? Should I stick with the crest shield for more attack spams, go for silver knight for well rounded, or try packing a greatshield and hit people when their attacks are deflected?

I really do want to learn more weapons and get the hang of different ways of playing. Glad to know I didn't waste my time picking this thing up.

Turns out I forgot I needed 36 strength. I'm trying out 1 handing the BKGA with a silver knight shield and a combo of havels/stone/palladin armor with havel's ring and mid rolling. I absolutely hate the 1 handed R2 (the jumping attack does significantly better damage for a similar attack animation) but the R1 is fantastic.

I think I ultimately like the zwei better for 2 handing but this is a pretty solid 1 hand strength weapon.

This is actually the first character I'm playing online with. So far my PVP interactions have been running around in human form and getting invaded once in a rare while. What's the most reliable way to get some PVP action? I joined the forest hunters, so I might try that.

BKGA got its damage nerfed in the 1.06 patch and it packs a lot less of a punch. It should break as much poise 2h as the Zwei though, they have the same breakpoint of 75 while 2handed. You should also disregard the advice of the guy who told you to use it point blank. The thing is, it's incredibly easy for your opponent to parry unless you really master it.(in fact it was the first weapon I ever parried in PvP).

Dibsville wrote:I think most if not all people can agree that BKGA is the easiest weapon to parry.

Not if you dead angle it. It has a wicked dead angle (and easy to pull off).

That's true.

BKGA is fantastic for baiting actually.
the 1h and 2h combos are imfamously easy to combo, so you can very reliably punish their parry attempt with a backstab or technique of your choice.
Throwing ghost 2h R1s out to goad the player into punishing your whiff can work out well for a trade follow up. (The second and third 2h swings combo beautifully.)