I've read up a lot on how it works, but have one question I can seem to find an answer for. Say a player is dual wielding, and has the scimitar of speed in their off-hand. would they still benefit for the weapons ability to attack as a bonus action, effectively bypassing the need to attack with the main hand before attacking with their off-hand. I get this would be a very niche application of the weapon. It's come up due to a hexblade/swashbuckler getting the weapon and still wanting to main hand his pact weapon and off hand the scimitar of speed.
Having the ability to bonus action attack free of main hand attack would allow them to interchange between 3 attacks with thirstblade 2 / offhand and 2 attacks boomingblade/offhand without having to swap what weapon was in which hand.
I guess the real crux of the issue would be, is that BA attack free of needing a main hand attack. Traditionally you need to attack with your main hand, before using a bonus action for the off hand. Would this weapons text, trump the off-hand rule and be free of that requirement?
As booming blade is not an melee attack and would not allow a off-hand attack after it's use, unless this weapons ability changes that or is it only applicable for the BA attack free of main hand attack if the scimitar of speed is in the main hand?
Your response didn't really answer the question because you said main hand weapon would still be performing an action.
The scimitar of speed places no prerequisites on making its bonus action attack (aside from attunement of course), so there are none. You can just do it.
Yeah, if you have 2 weapons and extra attack, you can attack with both weapons with the attack action and then both weapons qualify for the 2wf BA. There is no "main hand" or "off hand", only "weapon you attacked with" and "other weapon".
And as Saga said, there is no requirement to use scimitar of speed's bonus action. You can dash and use it, you can cast a spell and use it, you can use it and then ready an action.
There is also almost no reason to two weapon fight with a sword of speed, as you can take the attack action with it and still make use of the bonus action from the same weapon. Since that bonus action isn’t two weapon fighting you also get full modifier too, making two weapon fighting style unnecessary. This leaves the opposite hand open for other things like casting, grappling, using a shield, or using objects.
you could even take the bonus action attack first, and use your action to dodge or some other action.
I've read up a lot on how it works, but have one question I can seem to find an answer for. Say a player is dual wielding, and has the scimitar of speed in their off-hand. would they still benefit for the weapons ability to attack as a bonus action, effectively bypassing the need to attack with the main hand before attacking with their off-hand. I get this would be a very niche application of the weapon. It's come up due to a hexblade/swashbuckler getting the weapon and still wanting to main hand his pact weapon and off hand the scimitar of speed.
Having the ability to bonus action attack free of main hand attack would allow them to interchange between 3 attacks with thirstblade 2 / offhand and 2 attacks boomingblade/offhand without having to swap what weapon was in which hand.
all makes sense, I don't think the hexblade/swashbuckler PC realized that they can just make the magic weapon the pact weapon to free up the other hand as that was the sticking point as the pact weapon is needed for thirst blade as well as their main arcane focus for spells. The TWF might also just be part of the role playing, as the PC seems to be going for the cursed privateer trope of a character.
First time posting, forgive any format faux pas
I've read up a lot on how it works, but have one question I can seem to find an answer for.
Say a player is dual wielding, and has the scimitar of speed in their off-hand.
would they still benefit for the weapons ability to attack as a bonus action, effectively bypassing the need to attack with the main hand before attacking with their off-hand. I get this would be a very niche application of the weapon. It's come up due to a hexblade/swashbuckler getting the weapon and still wanting to main hand his pact weapon and off hand the scimitar of speed.
Having the ability to bonus action attack free of main hand attack would allow them to interchange between 3 attacks with thirstblade 2 / offhand and 2 attacks boomingblade/offhand without having to swap what weapon was in which hand.
Scimitar of Speed
Yes you could duel wield and attack with this sword for the BA attack, but another one handed sword for your main action.
I guess the real crux of the issue would be, is that BA attack free of needing a main hand attack. Traditionally you need to attack with your main hand, before using a bonus action for the off hand. Would this weapons text, trump the off-hand rule and be free of that requirement?
As booming blade is not an melee attack and would not allow a off-hand attack after it's use, unless this weapons ability changes that
or is it only applicable for the BA attack free of main hand attack if the scimitar of speed is in the main hand?
Your response didn't really answer the question because you said main hand weapon would still be performing an action.
The scimitar of speed places no prerequisites on making its bonus action attack (aside from attunement of course), so there are none. You can just do it.
Even if that attack is with your off hand? that's the real question here?
Again, the item places no requirements on the bonus action attack. You’re overthinking things.
There’s no such thing as an “off hand” in 5e. All characters are mechanically ambidextrous.
Yeah, if you have 2 weapons and extra attack, you can attack with both weapons with the attack action and then both weapons qualify for the 2wf BA. There is no "main hand" or "off hand", only "weapon you attacked with" and "other weapon".
And as Saga said, there is no requirement to use scimitar of speed's bonus action. You can dash and use it, you can cast a spell and use it, you can use it and then ready an action.
There is also almost no reason to two weapon fight with a sword of speed, as you can take the attack action with it and still make use of the bonus action from the same weapon. Since that bonus action isn’t two weapon fighting you also get full modifier too, making two weapon fighting style unnecessary. This leaves the opposite hand open for other things like casting, grappling, using a shield, or using objects.
you could even take the bonus action attack first, and use your action to dodge or some other action.
maybe you another have a nice one handed weapon?
5E has no concept of main and off hands. That's just not a thing.
all makes sense, I don't think the hexblade/swashbuckler PC realized that they can just make the magic weapon the pact weapon to free up the other hand as that was the sticking point as the pact weapon is needed for thirst blade as well as their main arcane focus for spells. The TWF might also just be part of the role playing, as the PC seems to be going for the cursed privateer trope of a character.
I’d still use the mechanics available. You can easily role play two weapon fighting without actually using the mechanics for it.