Korravar's Ruin
Korravar was a giant-blooded smith who forged only one weapon in his life, claiming the effort consumed everything he had left to give. The greataxe was discovered three decades after his death, embedded blade-first in the ruins of a mountain pass, surrounded by scorched stone in a perfect ring. No one has ever determined what he struck.
Mechanics
A smoldering greataxe that erupts with volcanic force on massive strikes, punishing enemies who dare stand their ground.
Volcanic Edge
This greataxe is wreathed in smoldering heat. It deals an extra 1d6 fire damage on a hit. Additionally, when you roll a 20 on the attack roll (a critical hit), the target must succeed on a DC 15 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone as a concussive eruption of fire blasts outward from the impact point.
Hearthbreaker
Once per day, when you hit a creature with this weapon, you can choose to make the strike a Hearthbreaker blow. The target takes an additional 3d8 fire damage and must succeed on a DC 15 Constitution saving throw or be stunned until the end of its next turn as superheated force shatters through its body. You must declare this before the damage roll.
Smoldering Wake
When you reduce a creature to 0 hit points with this weapon, the space that creature occupied bursts into a 5-foot-radius ring of smoldering embers that lasts until the start of your next turn. Any creature that enters or starts its turn in this area takes 1d6 fire damage.
DM Notes
This item sits comfortably at rare tier: the 1d6 fire on-hit is a reliable damage rider without being overwhelming, and the Hearthbreaker once-per-day is impactful but limited. Balance consideration: the DC 15 stun on Hearthbreaker is strong, if the party relies heavily on action denial already, consider bumping the DC to 16 or requiring the player to be below half hit points to use it. The Smoldering Wake is primarily a zone-control reward for finishing a foe and rarely affects high-HP solos, so it seldom distorts encounters. This axe shines in barbarian hands but is equally valid for a Fighter or Paladin who wants aggressive fire-themed play. No class feature is referenced in any mechanic, so no attunement restriction applies.
Generated with: Level 5 · Barbarian · Path of the Beast · Weapon (Greataxe) · Big smash · Heroic · Fire · Rare