Maybe I am being thick but I am quite confused with the new rules about two weapons fighting.
1) I can't see any reference to the mechanic in the Combat section of the new PHB, does that mean that there is no longer a default Bonus Action option to make an attack with a second light weapon?
2) By reading the 2024 version of the Dual Wielder feat "When you take the Attack action on your turn and attack with a weapon that has the Light property, you can make one extra attack as a Bonus Action later on the same turn with a different weapon, which must be a Melee weapon that lacks the Two-Handed property. You don’t add your ability modifier to the extra attack’s damage unless that modifier is negative". Does this mean that now to do two weapon combat you MUST have this feat? Also is this saying that the weapon in the main hand must have the Light property but not the weapon in the second hand?
3) How does this work with the Nick weapon mastery? "When you make the extra attack of the Light property, you can make it as part of the Attack action instead of as a Bonus Action. You can make this extra attack only once per turn". Does this mean that, in theory, if I am wielding two daggers, regardless of extra attacks and other features, I can attack once with the main hand then, using the Nick weapon mastery, I can attack with my off hand dagger and then, if I have the Dual Wielder feat, I can use my bonus action to attack again with my off hand dagger?
Sorry if I missed some important passage on the PHB and any advice will be appreciated.
Yeah... that rule you're referring to was moved from Combat to Equipment, so you don't need Dual Wielder for this. I think it helps also to clarify your doubts no. 2 and no. 3.
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Light
When you take the Attack action on your turn and attack with a Light weapon, you can make one extra attack as a Bonus Action later on the same turn. That extra attack must be made with a different Light weapon, and you don’t add your ability modifier to the extra attack’s damage unless that modifier is negative. For example, you can attack with a Shortsword in one hand and a Dagger in the other using the Attack action and a Bonus Action, but you don’t add your Strength or Dexterity modifier to the damage roll of the Bonus Action unless that modifier is negative.
Oh that's great thanks. This means that, apart from the ability score increase, all that the Dual Wielder feat does now is removing the Light property prerequisite from the the attack with the second weapon?
Oh that's great thanks. This means that, apart from the ability score increase, all that the Dual Wielder feat does now is removing the Light property prerequisite from the the attack with the second weapon?
Yes, but also this:
Quick Draw. You can draw or stow two weapons that lack the Two-Handed property when you would normally be able to draw or stow only one.
3) is a yes you can make 3 attacks without EA - Attack Action, which includes a second attack thanks to Nick and Bonus Action attack granted by Dual Wielder feat. Almost all archetypes in 2024 now have a decent feat that somehow increases their number of attacks. Be it PAM also granting a BA attack, XBE lifting the Loading restriction or GWM giving a BA attack on crits and kills.
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Hello,
Maybe I am being thick but I am quite confused with the new rules about two weapons fighting.
1) I can't see any reference to the mechanic in the Combat section of the new PHB, does that mean that there is no longer a default Bonus Action option to make an attack with a second light weapon?
2) By reading the 2024 version of the Dual Wielder feat "When you take the Attack action on your turn and attack with a weapon that has the Light property, you can make one extra attack as a Bonus Action later on the same turn with a different weapon, which must be a Melee weapon that lacks the Two-Handed property. You don’t add your ability modifier to the extra attack’s damage unless that modifier is negative". Does this mean that now to do two weapon combat you MUST have this feat? Also is this saying that the weapon in the main hand must have the Light property but not the weapon in the second hand?
3) How does this work with the Nick weapon mastery? "When you make the extra attack of the Light property, you can make it as part of the Attack action instead of as a Bonus Action. You can make this extra attack only once per turn".
Does this mean that, in theory, if I am wielding two daggers, regardless of extra attacks and other features, I can attack once with the main hand then, using the Nick weapon mastery, I can attack with my off hand dagger and then, if I have the Dual Wielder feat, I can use my bonus action to attack again with my off hand dagger?
Sorry if I missed some important passage on the PHB and any advice will be appreciated.
Yeah... that rule you're referring to was moved from Combat to Equipment, so you don't need Dual Wielder for this. I think it helps also to clarify your doubts no. 2 and no. 3.
---
Light
When you take the Attack action on your turn and attack with a Light weapon, you can make one extra attack as a Bonus Action later on the same turn. That extra attack must be made with a different Light weapon, and you don’t add your ability modifier to the extra attack’s damage unless that modifier is negative. For example, you can attack with a Shortsword in one hand and a Dagger in the other using the Attack action and a Bonus Action, but you don’t add your Strength or Dexterity modifier to the damage roll of the Bonus Action unless that modifier is negative.
Oh that's great thanks. This means that, apart from the ability score increase, all that the Dual Wielder feat does now is removing the Light property prerequisite from the the attack with the second weapon?
Yes, but also this:
3) is a yes you can make 3 attacks without EA - Attack Action, which includes a second attack thanks to Nick and Bonus Action attack granted by Dual Wielder feat.
Almost all archetypes in 2024 now have a decent feat that somehow increases their number of attacks. Be it PAM also granting a BA attack, XBE lifting the Loading restriction or GWM giving a BA attack on crits and kills.