Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2: Axe from the Lake is a side quest in which you discover, treasure hunt, and do blacksmithing. This walkthrough will take you through every step, from the right location to retrieving and restoring a lost artifact. As you move around Tachov, talk to important characters, and try your hand at the forge, you will discover a tale of greed, loss, and redemption. Use this step-by-step walkthrough to complete the task efficiently and earn the Adorned Axe as your prize. The guide also includes details of a bug in the Axe from the Lake task.
Axe from the Lake Task Location
To begin this task, make your way to Tachov, located in the Trosky Region. This area lies north of Troskowitz, the place where you first arrive once you’re free to explore the open world of Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2. Tachov is your key destination, so head there to advance the quest.
Once in Tachov, go to the Tavern, where you’ll find Zdenyek the Mouth. He often hangs around the Tavern, either sitting at a table or working nearby. Before speaking to him, consider talking to Innkeeper Prochek inside. By asking about the town, you’ll learn more about what’s happening and about Zdenyek himself. He enjoys sharing stories, but only with a drink in hand. Since a drink won’t cost much, it’s a good idea to buy him one – just remember to haggle and save some Groschen.
Axe from the Lake Story
If you’re low on money, you can try playing Dice with Jenovefa just outside the Tavern. Winning a few rounds can quickly earn you some extra cash, and having a badge can significantly boost your winnings. Once you’re ready, approach Zdenyek and ask for a story.
He’ll request a drink or 25 Groschen in return. If your stats are high enough, you can try other persuasion options, but buying him a drink is the easiest way forward. Regardless of which type of story you ask for, he will tell you the same one.
The tale is about two brothers – one who came into possession of a silver axe, while the other met a tragic end due to his greed. Zdenyek reveals that Matthias buried his brother Kuba along with the axe near Rocktower Pond. To gain Reputation, always choose the first dialogue option during this exchange.
The Silver Axe
Once you have accepted the task, head west of Zhelejov, where a large search area will appear on your map. Follow the path along the pond, and as soon as you reach the task marker at the center of the search zone, take the right path into the forest. Keep moving uphill, and soon you’ll come across a nest. Near this spot, you’ll find a grave that you need to dig – its exact location is shown on the map in the image above.
To dig the grave, you’ll need a spade. If you don’t have one, you can buy it from Merchant Jurg Thomel in Troskowitz. Alternatively, you might find a spade lying around somewhere and steal it, but be cautious, getting caught means paying a fine or facing punishment, which can lower your Reputation and temporarily weaken your stats.
Once you have a spade, dig up the grave to uncover several items, including a Broken Round Shield, a Gemstone Silver Ring, some Marigold, and a Broken Axe. Transfer all these items to your inventory and head back to Tachov.
How to Repair the Axe
To repair the axe, visit the blacksmith Radovan in Tachov. Begin the blacksmithing process to create the Adorned Axe, which requires both the Broken Axe and one Fastening material. Start by heating the metal in the forge until it turns whitish-orange, this indicates it’s ready for hammering.
Carefully hammer different spots on the piece without hitting the same area too many times. Keep rotating and repositioning it as needed. Once the glow fades, reheat the metal and continue smithing until the process is complete.
As you work, listen to Henry’s dialogue, if you’re making mistakes, he’ll warn you multiple times before the smithing ultimately fails. If you’re doing everything correctly, he’ll reassure you that you’re almost done. Once the axe is fully repaired, return to Zdenyek and inform him about it. With that, the task will be completed, and the Adorned Axe will be yours to keep.
Bug in The Axe from the Lake Quest
In the quest The Axe from the Lake, you may encounter a bug when you reach the final part, where you dig up the grave to find the axe. As soon as the digging scene ends, Henry may get launched 100 feet into the air and drop off a cliff, instantly killing you. It’s better to save the game before digging, in case this happens to you, too.
