Can you dual wield heavy weapons with the dual wielder feat?
The question "Can you dual wield heavy weapons with the dual wielder feat?" is often debated among Dungeons & Dragons enthusiasts. The short answer is no, according to the official sources of the game. But, there’s more to it.
What is the dual wielder feat?
The dual wielder feat is a feature in Dungeons & Dragons that allows players to wield two weapons with ease. This feat typically applies to light weapons or one-handed weapons. This feat does not specifically include heavy weapons.
Light vs. Heavy Weapons: What’s the difference?
In Dungeons & Dragons, light weapons are categorically different from heavy weapons. Light weapons typically don’t require two hands to wield, and can often be used with finesse and agility. Examples of light weapons include daggers, shortswords, handaxes, and short hammers.
Heavy weapons, on the other hand, require two hands and are often more powerful due to their size and strength. Examples of heavy weapons include greatswords, greataxes, greathammers, and colossal swords.
Heavy weapons can’t be dual-wielded
The reason behind this limitation is largely structural. Heavy weapons require strength and leverage to wield properly, and attempting to duel-wield them would limit the player’s effectiveness, rather than enhance it.
In most cases, players prefer to wield a single two-handed weapon, such as a greatsword or an axe, as this increases their overall damage output while also providing more balance. Attempting to duel-wield heavy weapons would effectively reduce the player’s chances of landing a successful blow.
What about spears and pikes?
Some players might note that spears and pikes are often listed alongside heavy weapons, yet dual-wielding is often still possible. This is partially due to the versatility offered by these weapons, which can be used with a single hand**, allowing for greater adaptability in combat.
In combat, a player using dual-wielded light and heavy weapons would find the heavy weapon more suitable against heavily armored foes, where its brute strength and concentrated force can be applied more effectively.
Similarly, when facing ranged, flying, or telekinesis attacks, light arms like daggers, thrown weapons, or small slings might be used**. These light arms work well when combined with larger, more powerful, main weapons, as it encourages a mix of high defense and high offense strategies.
What about unique exception cases?
Occasional exceptions to this strict rule can be found throughout the game’s various versions and campaign settings. An example is the use of exotic martial training, which can sometimes allows for the dual-wielding of heavier weapons, though there are usually strict limits associated with these abilities.
Here’s a table highlighting how different weapon types fare as dual-wielded
| Weapon Type | Possible Dual-Wielding | Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Dagger | Yes | High-DEX |
| Shorts words | Yes | Dexterity-based |
| Handaxe | Yes | Agility |
| Short hammer | Yes | Strength-based |
| 2-handed Greatsaw | No | Un feasible |
| Greataxes | No | Limited for 2-handed |
These exceptions, however, become less relevant when focusing specifically on the dual wielder feat. Ultimately, the dual wielder feat is designed to adapt to the unique abilities** of light weapons, incorporating the principles of dual martial arts, acrobatic feats, and exceptional maneuverability.
In-game examples
For further references, let’s explore example scenarios in various settings:
- In the campaign for Dungeons & Dragons 5th edition, there are various campaign settings, like Forgotten Realms or Ravenloft; in these settings, where the dual wielder feat is fully supported, using high-damage weapons can take a significant toll on gameplay balance. The setting could be designed to create custom rules or house-rules to balance this situation (e.g., granting proficiency in certain heavy weapons under specific conditions).
- *In Pathfinder Advanced Player’s Guide, " the dual wielder "feat" allows dual wielding various weapons, including heavier longswords, greatclaws, and katas. In this system’s context, heavy weapons wielded in a two handed manner might not need modification, but using light 1-handed weapons while moving or taking other specific risks could create opportunities for exploiting the rules.
- If you are using an custom setting, Home brew, you can certainly have your own set of the rules and create houserules to adapt to specific situations and needs, you can experiment with Custom Rule for, for example, by requiring a certain amount of Str or Dex for duel-handed heavy weapons.
To round out this discussion, to answer the question can you dual wield heavy weapons with the duel wielder feet, we arrive at a no position. Heavy weapons would not be the ideal companions for dual-wielding given their structural limitations, unlike light weapons, as such, dual-handed heavy weapons wouldn’t be an optimal** tactical choice.