Elite Goblin Axeman

The Elite Goblin Axeman looks and feels similar to the normal variant but comes supercharged with higher damage, faster swing speed, and greater health. He's much less forgiving and is usually found in Dark And Darker Gold more dangerous zones of the Goblin Caves, typically guarding better loot or rare Dark and Darker Items.

How to Counter:

  Be quicker on the dodge: His swing speed means you'll need faster reaction times.

  Stick and move: Land a hit or two after dodging, then back out, this version punishes prolonged engagements.

  Use the environment: Tight corridors can work to your advantage; bait him around corners or through chokepoints to limit his mobility.

Elite Axemen are great for players hunting mid-tier Dark and Darker Items and farming a good stash of Dark and Darker Gold per run.

Nightmare Goblin Axeman

The Nightmare Goblin Axeman is the pinnacle of goblin brute force. He features massively increased health, faster action and movement speed, and higher damage output than any other variant. To make things even worse, he introduces a third attack into his combo, a horizontal slash from right to left (his POV). This triple-combo can shred even the most well-armored adventurer in seconds if not handled properly.

How to Counter:

  Recognize the pattern: Bait out the first two diagonal attacks. If he doesn't reset after the second, immediately prepare to dodge the third.

  Strafe and punish: Circle around him rather than backpedaling, this gives you better positioning and control.

  Bring support or crowd control: If you're not confident solo, bring a teammate with CC abilities or ranged DPS to wear him down from a distance.

Nightmare Goblin Axemen are usually found in endgame areas rich with high-value loot. They guard some of the rarest Cheap Dark and Darker Items and drop hefty amounts of Dark and Darker Gold, making them high-risk but extremely rewarding foes.