So throwing axes are light weapons. Do I actually have to throw them? Or could I use it as a melee weapon? I'm soon to be playing a ranged character, and would prefer to be able to throw it or swing it, but I want to make sure I can, in fact, swing it in my hands.
Throwing axes are in the melee weapons table. You can melee with them just fine.
To be specific, they are melee weapons that can be thrown as ranged weapons.
You can melee with a throwing axe, but its crit multiplier is x2, and a handaxe has a crit multiplier of x3.
I made a 3.25 ranger that used throwing axes in melee and ranged combat.
Rephrase-I plan on using a bow. but as a backup, I'm going throwing axe in case I end up in melee. Thank you guys-that helps. Just wanted to make sure.