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Demystifying Two-Weapon Fighting in D&D 5e: Actions, Bonus Actions, and Beyond!

So, you want to dual-wield in D&D 5th Edition? Excellent choice! Few things are as satisfying as unleashing a flurry of attacks with a weapon in each hand. But the rules surrounding two-weapon fighting can be a bit confusing, especially when it comes to understanding which action you’re using. Let’s break it down.

What is the action for two-weapon fighting?

The core of two-weapon fighting revolves around the Attack action. You must take the Attack action on your turn to even consider utilizing two weapons. It’s important to note that taking the Attack action doesn’t automatically mean you get to use a second weapon. Using a second weapon is tied to your bonus action.

Here’s the crucial sequence:

Take the Attack action. This is your primary action for the turn.
Attack with a light melee weapon that you’re holding in one hand as part of that Attack action.
Use your bonus action to make an additional attack with a different light melee weapon that you’re holding in your other hand.

That’s the fundamental mechanic! It’s the Attack action that kicks everything off, but the bonus action is what allows you to actually make that second attack.

Unpacking the Nuances

The simplicity of the core mechanic belies some important details and exceptions. Let’s delve into the key aspects of two-weapon fighting to ensure you understand the full picture.

The Light Weapon Requirement

This is perhaps the most restrictive element of two-weapon fighting. By default, both weapons you are wielding must have the Light property. This limits your options considerably. Daggers, shortswords, scimitars, and handaxes are common choices, but anything heavier is off the table… unless you obtain a specific feat, which we’ll discuss later.

The Bonus Action Cost

Remember that bonus actions are a limited resource. Many other class features, spells, and abilities also require a bonus action. Before you commit to a two-weapon fighting style, carefully consider whether you’ll be sacrificing more valuable uses for your bonus action.

Damage Calculation

The bonus action attack has a crucial limitation: you do not add your ability modifier (Strength or Dexterity, depending on the weapon) to the damage roll. This significantly reduces the damage output of the off-hand attack. It’s a key factor to consider when evaluating the overall effectiveness of the fighting style.

The Dual Wielder Feat: Breaking the Rules

The Dual Wielder feat is specifically designed to address the limitations of two-weapon fighting, and it has three major benefits:

Non-Light Weapons: It allows you to use two weapons that aren’t light, vastly expanding your weapon options. You could, for example, wield two longswords.
+1 AC: You gain a +1 bonus to Armor Class while wielding a separate weapon in each hand.
Drawing/Stowing: You can draw or stow two one-handed weapons when you would normally be able to draw or stow only one.

This feat dramatically improves the viability of two-weapon fighting, making it a much more attractive option.

Two-Weapon Fighting in One D&D

The upcoming revisions in One D&D propose a significant shift in how two-weapon fighting operates. In this iteration, the bonus action cost is eliminated. Anyone can attack with two light weapons using the Attack action and automatically make one extra attack with the off-hand weapon. However, similar to the current rules, the off-hand attack does not add your Strength or Dexterity modifier to the damage. This change aims to make two-weapon fighting more accessible and less reliant on specific builds or feats.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some of the most common questions players have about two-weapon fighting in D&D 5e:

Does multiattack affect two-weapon fighting? No, multiattack is a feature that grants multiple attacks when you take the Attack action. Two-weapon fighting still requires using a bonus action for the additional attack, even if you have multiattack.
Can I use thrown weapons with two-weapon fighting? Yes. You can use thrown weapons in conjunction with two-weapon fighting as long as both weapons are light, you take the Attack action, attack with a light thrown weapon, and then use your bonus action to attack with a different light weapon (thrown or melee) you’re holding.
If I have the Extra Attack feature, do I get more bonus action attacks with two-weapon fighting? No, you only get one bonus action attack, regardless of how many attacks you can make with your Attack action due to Extra Attack or other features.
Can I use two-weapon fighting with a shield? No. You need to be holding a light melee weapon in each hand to use the bonus action attack granted by two-weapon fighting. A shield occupies a hand and is not a weapon.
Does the Great Weapon Master feat affect two-weapon fighting? No. The Great Weapon Master feat requires wielding a heavy weapon, which are incompatible with two-weapon fighting’s light weapon requirement (unless you have the Dual Wielder Feat to use Non-Light Weapons).
If I have a magical light weapon, can I use it with two-weapon fighting? Yes! As long as the magical weapon is light, it can be used with two-weapon fighting just like any other light weapon.
Can I use two-weapon fighting with unarmed strikes? Technically, yes. An unarmed strike is considered a melee weapon attack. However, it is a very suboptimal choice, as unarmed strikes typically deal minimal damage.
Does the Archery Fighting Style affect thrown weapons used with two-weapon fighting? No, the Archery Fighting Style specifically applies to ranged weapon attacks made with bows and crossbows.
Can I combine two-weapon fighting with spells like Booming Blade or Green-Flame Blade? This is a tricky one. Typically, these spells replace one of your attacks when you take the Attack action. Some specific subclasses (like Bladesingers) have features that might allow a workaround, but generally, no, you can’t easily combine these spells with two-weapon fighting.
If I disarm an enemy, can I pick up their weapon as a bonus action and attack with it using two-weapon fighting? No. Picking up a weapon generally requires the Use an Object action. You could pick up or unsheathe 1 weapon as a free object interaction for your action, but if you’ve already used the interaction, you’d need the Use an Object action to pick up a weapon. You’d only be able to do that as a Bonus Action if you gain the ability from a feature like the Thief Rogue’s Fast Hands.
Does the off-hand weapon need to be different from the main hand weapon? Yes, the rules specify you attack with a different light melee weapon. You can’t attack twice with the same dagger using two-weapon fighting.
Are there any classes that are particularly well-suited to two-weapon fighting? Rogues (especially those with the Thief subclass for the extra bonus action) and Fighters (due to their multiple attacks) can make good use of two-weapon fighting, particularly with the Dual Wielder feat. Rangers, with their access to dual-wielding fighting styles, and Barbarians with their reckless attack can also be very viable in this style of combat.
Does two-weapon fighting work with the Polearm Master feat? No. The Polearm Master feat specifically works with polearms, which are two-handed weapons. Therefore they are not usable with two-weapon fighting.
If I take the Attack action to grapple, can I still use two-weapon fighting? No. If you use the Attack action to grapple, you are not attacking with a weapon, which is a prerequisite for triggering the bonus action attack granted by two-weapon fighting.
Why are some of my D&D friends confused about the Two-Weapon Fighting rules? The Two-Weapon Fighting ruleset has changed numerous times since the inception of D&D. Some are playing with outdated rules without even realizing it.

Conclusion

Two-weapon fighting in D&D 5e, is a combat style centered around the Attack action and amplified by the strategic use of a bonus action. It has its limitations, most notably the Light weapon requirement and the penalty to off-hand damage. However, with the Dual Wielder feat and careful consideration of your class features, it can be a viable and fun option. Keep a close eye on how One D&D might change the rules in the future! Consider exploring the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org for innovative approaches to game-based learning.

What is the action for two weapon fighting?