I am building an artificer/fighter with Crossbow Expertise and the Archery fighting style. By using infusions I can ignore the reload and ammunition requirements of crossbows. So far, so good.
Now, if I use 2 hand crossbows can I attack twice with my attack action and once with my bonus action? I think the answer should be yes but with the caveat that only one attack gets to add my DEX bonus to damage.
If I add in the Fighting Initiate feat to take the Two-Weapon fighting style would I then add my DEX bonus to the second crossbow attack? Again, I think the answer is yes.
If all of those understandings are correct, then does that mean that the character can use its attack action to shoot twice and a bonus action to shoot once all without reloading or needing ammunition. Action surge would let the character shoot 2 more times. Then each extra attack action would also allow 2 more shots. So, at L7 with artificer 2/fighter 5 on every turn the character would get 4 shots (2 per attack action) and then get a 5th shot with the bonus action. At L8 pushing the fighter to 6 levels and adding the Two-Weapon fighting style all attacks would then gain from the DEX bonus on damage.
Also -- just FYI, even if TWF could be used with ranged weapons, it would take your bonus action to attack with the off-hand weapon. Crossbow Expert lets you attack with a crossbow an additional time, but it also costs a bonus action. You would not therefore be able to do both in the same round. (Not that you would ever take the TWF off-hand attack, since it doesn't let you add your Attribute to damage, and the Crossbow Expert attack does).
That said, as everyone else has pointed out -- you only need one hand-crossbow to use Crossbow Expert.
Using the Artificer's self-loading crossbow would let you use a shield in the other hand (if proficient), or a one-handed melee weapon, if that's more your style.
then does that mean that the character can use its attack action to shoot twice and a bonus action to shoot once all without reloading or needing ammunition.
Right. Provided the character attacks twice when it uses the Attack action. Like if it's a 5th level Fighter, for example.
Action surge would let the character shoot 2 more times.
Yes.
Then each extra attack action would also allow 2 more shots.
You lost me. What do you mean? How are you getting extra Attack actions beyond your Action Surge?
So, at L7 with artificer 2/fighter 5 on every turn the character would get 4 shots (2 per attack action) and then get a 5th shot with the bonus action.
???
EDIT: I'm guessing you have the impression that wielding two weapons gives you two attacks every time you'd usually make only one. No. That's not how it works.
I am building an artificer/fighter with Crossbow Expertise and the Archery fighting style. By using infusions I can ignore the reload and ammunition requirements of crossbows. So far, so good.
Now, if I use 2 hand crossbows can I attack twice with my attack action and once with my bonus action? I think the answer should be yes but with the caveat that only one attack gets to add my DEX bonus to damage.
If I add in the Fighting Initiate feat to take the Two-Weapon fighting style would I then add my DEX bonus to the second crossbow attack? Again, I think the answer is yes.
If all of those understandings are correct, then does that mean that the character can use its attack action to shoot twice and a bonus action to shoot once all without reloading or needing ammunition. Action surge would let the character shoot 2 more times. Then each extra attack action would also allow 2 more shots. So, at L7 with artificer 2/fighter 5 on every turn the character would get 4 shots (2 per attack action) and then get a 5th shot with the bonus action. At L8 pushing the fighter to 6 levels and adding the Two-Weapon fighting style all attacks would then gain from the DEX bonus on damage.
Is all of that correct?
No. Two-Weapon Fighting requires MELEE weapons.
you may do what you’re proposing with the Crossbow Expert feat. You’ll only need one hand crossbow, and won’t need the fighting style either.
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I'm going to make this way harder than it needs to be.
Actually, it isn’t that you’ll only need one hand crossbow, RAW you can technically only do it with one hand crossbow.
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I suppose, since one artificer can only make one repeating xbow, yeah
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I'm going to make this way harder than it needs to be.
Alright, I missed that bit about two-weapon fighting applying only to melee weapons. Thanks. That effectively closes this thread.
Also -- just FYI, even if TWF could be used with ranged weapons, it would take your bonus action to attack with the off-hand weapon. Crossbow Expert lets you attack with a crossbow an additional time, but it also costs a bonus action. You would not therefore be able to do both in the same round. (Not that you would ever take the TWF off-hand attack, since it doesn't let you add your Attribute to damage, and the Crossbow Expert attack does).
That said, as everyone else has pointed out -- you only need one hand-crossbow to use Crossbow Expert.
Using the Artificer's self-loading crossbow would let you use a shield in the other hand (if proficient), or a one-handed melee weapon, if that's more your style.
I raised similar questions/issues in this thread. Might be helpful.
https://www.dndbeyond.com/forums/dungeons-dragons-discussion/homebrew-house-rules/63123-two-weapon-fighting-with-hand-crossbows-has-anyone