The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt · Weapon type
Axes and Maces
Axes are described as dealing more damage than steel swords, while maces deal bludgeoning damage; both have stated equipment limitations.
How it works
The passage places axes and maces among secondary steel weapons. It describes axes as having higher damage than steel swords, while maces deal bludgeoning damage instead of standard damage. Both are stated to lack Runestone sockets and the ability to take oils. No numerical damage comparison is supplied.
The tradeoff
If Runestone sockets or oils matter to your choice, the passage states that these secondary weapons lack both.
Read the supporting references
Check the edition and source version for patch-specific details. Guide methodology.