Planning a wild magic Barbarian and I had a question about one of the rolls on the Surge chart.

The fourth one where you weapon damage changes to force and gains the light and thrown properties…I’m just trying to figure out the benefit. Assuming you have a magical weapon, changing from magical slashing to force, really doesn’t help. If you don’t have a magical weapon this can be awesome…if you’re target is resistant to non magical weapons, but once you get one, I don’t see the benefit 

I guess if you kill the enemy that’s right in your face and don’t have enough movement to reach another you can throw your great axe…which is bad ass, but very circumstantial. Mainly because if there’s a second enemy within 5 feet, you wouldn’t want to make that ranged attack at disadvantage or take the opportunity attack to move. Makes far more sense to recklessly attack them at advantage 

I was thinking maybe pull out a second weapon on those rolls, but a great axe, even if light still requires two hands. I could carry a versatile battle axe, but I’d have to be touching that weapon when I enter rage

So I’m just curious am I missing something on this or is this one a dud.

Its a bit of a dud but its fine. Force damage is the main bit as few things resist force. More useful at lower levels or in low magic games. The LIGHT is virtually useless because it doesn't remove two-handed (which most barbarians will be using) so you cant dual wield great axes or anything. THROWN has some utility in combat. Good if you cant quite reach an enemy to attack in melee so you don't lose your rage.

So it has its uses but to get full use out of every part of that Wild Surge is, like you said, pretty circumstantial.