4th edition Two-Weapon Fighting

[damieusx2]

Does anyone understand how two-weapon fighting works in 4e? I have read the feats that have Two-Weapon in the title, but I still don't have a clear understanding of how it works. Since the majority of attacks you do are power-based, the effect of a second weapon in your offhand is not immediately obvious.

-Damieus

 

[Majoru Oakheart]

Does anyone understand how two-weapon fighting works in 4e? I have read the feats that have Two-Weapon in the title, but I still don't have a clear understanding of how it works. Since the majority of attacks you do are power-based, the effect of a second weapon in your offhand is not immediately obvious.

There is no effect at all of having a second weapon. If you have Two Weapon Fighting then it adds +1 damage to your primary attacks. The only real effect is that you can switch between the weapons whenever you want and you can gain the benefits of the magic abilities of both.

Unless you are a Ranger or have some Ranger powers which allow you to attack with your off-hand.

 

[Fallen Seraph]

Also it is good if your multiclassed, so you can switch between different powers without having to sheath weapons.

So fighter/rogue can switch between heavy blade and light blade for different powers.

 

[Backstat]

Does anyone understand how two-weapon fighting works in 4e? I have read the feats that have Two-Weapon in the title, but I still don't have a clear understanding of how it works. Since the majority of attacks you do are power-based, the effect of a second weapon in your offhand is not immediately obvious.

-Damieus

Two-weapon fighting in 4e is basically +1 damage to your main-hand weapon as long as you're wielding a main-hand and off-hand weapon. However, you don't suffer any attack roll penalties(fortunately) for TWFing.

For the power question, all powers are done with the main-hand weapon, or primary weapon. You won't be, say, using Cleave with both weapons if your TWFing, only with your main-hand weapon.

 

[Zaruthustran]

Two weapon fighting in 4e depends on how, exactly, you're attacking.

If you're making a basic attack, the benefit of having a weapon in each of your right and left hands is that you get to choose which weapon you use in the attack.

If you're making an attack with an attack power that doesn't specify "Requirement: You must be wielding two melee weapons.", then the benefit is the same as above.

If you're making an attack with an attack power that *does* specify "you must be wielding two weapons", then the benefit is that you get to perform that power.

So that's that.

There are a couple of feats that anyone can use, so long as they've meet the 13 Dex pre-req. Two Weapon Fighting gives you +1 damage to your main weapon when you wield two weapons. Two Weapon Defense gives you +1 AC and +1 Reflex when you wield two weapons. Taking both those feats gives you the benefit of a two-handed weapon (usually, around +1 average damage) and the benefit of a light shield (+1 AC and +1 Reflex).

I think mostly rangers and rogues will use TWF. Melee rangers have a lot of powers that require two weapons, so if they have the Dex they might as well pick up TWF and TWD. Although see my build for Irongorn the Heavy Ranger. Rogues will not typically have the Con to qualify for shield proficiency, so TWD is attractive and the damage bonus from TWF is nice.

For example, a 2nd level halfling rogue with 20 Dex, 16 Charisma, and the feats TWF and Weapon Focus: Dagger has a deadly at-will attack, Sly Flourish, which nets out to + 10 attack (+1 for 1/2 level, +5 Dex, +1 rogue weapon talent, +3 proficiency), 1d4 + 11 damage (+5 dex, +4 charisma, +1 TWF, +1 weapon focus).

That's big damage for 2nd level, particularly if you get the drop on the enemy and add in 2d6 for sneak attack.

But I digress. The upshot is that TWF is just a fighting style; it doesn't add any extra attacks or new abilities.

 

[Makaze]

That power works for melee or range, so the thing to do is to have a dagger in one hand and a (cocked & loaded) hand crossbow in the other.

They both have to be melee weapons to qualify for the TWF bonus.

 

[ProfessorCirno]

Unless you're a ranger, there isn't any two weapon fighting, quite frankly. You can HOLD two weapons, and choose to fight with EITHER of them, but you can't fight with both. Not even the feat lets you do that.

See my sig for more!

 

[MyISPHatesENWorld]

Two weapon fighting in 4e depends on how, exactly, you're attacking.

If you're making a basic attack, the benefit of having a weapon in each of your right and left hands is that you get to choose which weapon you use in the attack.

If you're making an attack with an attack power that doesn't specify "Requirement: You must be wielding two melee weapons.", then the benefit is the same as above.

If you're making an attack with an attack power that *does* specify "you must be wielding two weapons", then the benefit is that you get to perform that power.

So that's that.

Almost...

If you're holding two different weapon types and making an attack with an attack power that specifies "Requirement: You must be wielding a [Weapon Type]" you have to attack with the weapon you're holding that matches that weapon type.