i have a question regarding game mechanics and the fighter class.
im a new player who isnt playing a fighter but trying to build a back up character and i had the following question regarding the fighter class who takes two weapon fighting style, dual wield feat, and then fighting initiate feat selecting dueling fighting style as well. Would the fighter be able to do the following:
Atk action - draw long sword 1 handed gain dueling +2 dmg bonus (atk as many times as appropriate ie Extra attack)
bonus action draw 2nd long sword (dual wield) with 1 hand atk ending turn with +1 AC (dual wield - 1 sword in each hand).
next turn stow 2nd long sword repeat atk action +2 dmg bonus dueling fighting style (1 handed long sword atk), then bonus action draw 2nd long sword (dual wield) atk ending turn with +1 AC
dual wielding doesnt indicate you must draw or stow 2 1 handed weapons simultaneously it merely indicates you can draw/stow 2 weapons in the same amount of time as drawing 1.
if an attack action and a bonus action are the same duration of time 6 seconds and you can draw or stow 2 at same time or draw 1 stow 1 at the same time (free action) on attack action, are you able to draw one and stow same weapon (2 free actions) over 2 actions types (attack action and bonus action)?
thanks for any and all help clarifying if this is possible - i realize that two weapon fighting and dual weld doesnt create the Drizzt/Legolas characters we’ve grown up with and not trying to recreate that - merely seeing if you can benefit from these 2 specific fighting styles at the same time.
The fighter as listed has no way to legally draw a sword *as a bonus action*. They can do it as a free item interaction, though. If you want to be able to draw as a bonus action, the Thief subclass of Rogue will let you.
Thank you sooo much i appreciate that - it’s as i feared 1 free action per turn not per section of a turn.
was not aware of the thief rogue fast hands ability giving the 2nd free action interaction - thanks that is helpful ill look i to this to see if it makes sense to do or abandon the idea of the 2 fighting styles.
If you did the rogue multiclass for the 3 lvls as well as the 1 fighting style and 2 feats originally mentioned am i understanding the dmg calcs correctly comparing 17 lvl fighter 3 rogue with 20 straight fighter
2 handed long sword d10, xtra atk d10, bonus action 1 single handed atk d8 + duelist +2 ie 10 bonus free action draw 2nd sword to get +1 ac ie max (30 dmg) end turn vs 36 dmg (3 atks 2 handed (d12) weapon).
not sure 6 dmg/turn is the equivalent to +1 ac bump.
My interpretation of 2 weapon fighting is that the conditions must be met during your attack action. In other words, that 1 attack of the attack action must be made while holding 2 weapons to allow you to attack with the second weapon as a bonus action.
So it would be that:
You attack with 1 weapon (draw it if necessary) as an action and get dueling bonus.
At level 11 repeat once, repeat twice at level 20.
Draw a second weapon before final extra attack and attack with either weapon (no dueling bonus)
Bonus action attack with whichever weapon didn't attack with last attack of action.
End with +1 AC
Next turn stow a weapon and go back to step 1
That's the way I interpret the "When you take the Attack action and attack with a melee weapon that you’re holding in one hand, you can use a bonus action to attack with adifferentmelee weapon that you’re holding in the other hand" line anyway.
In addition to the RAW, I'm pretty sure using the dueling fighting style then drawing a second weapon or switching hands just for the bonus action is not RAI either.
dual wielding doesnt indicate you must draw or stow 2 1 handed weapons simultaneously it merely indicates you can draw/stow 2 weapons in the same amount of time as drawing 1.
Well actually it probably does. It says that you "can draw or stow two one-handed weapons when you would normally be able to draw or stow only one" and to me that "when" indicates they happen at the same time. Normally you use your Object Interaction or take the [Tooltip Not Found] to draw/stow a weapon and the feat would then let you draw/stow two weapons instead, I see nothing that would allow you to draw/stow the weapons at different times though. And you certainly would not be allowed to draw a weapon at one point and then stow it at a later point without wasting actions on just drawing or stowing it.
Your bigger problem here is that you are, from how you describe it, not even allowing yourself to use the Bonus Action attack from dual-wielding because you are only ever holding one weapon when you make an attack. And TWF requires you to be holding both weapons during at least one attack you make with the Attack Action to trigger the Bonus Action attack.
There are a number of problems with this tactic as others have mentioned. However the biggest issue with this is that it just seems very inefficient. You are wanting to use your bonus action to draw your second weapon so you get a +1 to AC. If a DM allowed this you would only get your normal Attack action attacks and be missing out on the main benefit of Two-Weapon Fighting, getting an additional attack with your bonus action.
Really what you should do is use a Spear and Shield, take the Dueling Fighting Style, and take the Polearm Master feat. The shield gives you +2 to AC instead of just +1. Polearm Master lets you make an attack with your bonus action and gives you an additional way to trigger opportunity attacks. This way you will have a higher AC, do more damage, and have an extra ASI or feat to spend how you wish.
I think Fangeye made the best advice. Polearm Master is often better than TWF build. Spear and Shield is an underestimated combo - it was the main combat style used for MOST of history. Swords were for the officers/wealthy. Shields and spears were cheap and effective except in close quarters (ships, buildings, forests, packed battles).
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i have a question regarding game mechanics and the fighter class.
im a new player who isnt playing a fighter but trying to build a back up character and i had the following question regarding the fighter class who takes two weapon fighting style, dual wield feat, and then fighting initiate feat selecting dueling fighting style as well. Would the fighter be able to do the following:
Atk action - draw long sword 1 handed gain dueling +2 dmg bonus (atk as many times as appropriate ie Extra attack)
bonus action draw 2nd long sword (dual wield) with 1 hand atk ending turn with +1 AC (dual wield - 1 sword in each hand).
next turn stow 2nd long sword repeat atk action +2 dmg bonus dueling fighting style (1 handed long sword atk), then bonus action draw 2nd long sword (dual wield) atk ending turn with +1 AC
dual wielding doesnt indicate you must draw or stow 2 1 handed weapons simultaneously it merely indicates you can draw/stow 2 weapons in the same amount of time as drawing 1.
if an attack action and a bonus action are the same duration of time 6 seconds and you can draw or stow 2 at same time or draw 1 stow 1 at the same time (free action) on attack action, are you able to draw one and stow same weapon (2 free actions) over 2 actions types (attack action and bonus action)?
thanks for any and all help clarifying if this is possible - i realize that two weapon fighting and dual weld doesnt create the Drizzt/Legolas characters we’ve grown up with and not trying to recreate that - merely seeing if you can benefit from these 2 specific fighting styles at the same time.
The fighter as listed has no way to legally draw a sword *as a bonus action*. They can do it as a free item interaction, though. If you want to be able to draw as a bonus action, the Thief subclass of Rogue will let you.
Thank you sooo much i appreciate that - it’s as i feared 1 free action per turn not per section of a turn.
was not aware of the thief rogue fast hands ability giving the 2nd free action interaction - thanks that is helpful ill look i to this to see if it makes sense to do or abandon the idea of the 2 fighting styles.
If you did the rogue multiclass for the 3 lvls as well as the 1 fighting style and 2 feats originally mentioned am i understanding the dmg calcs correctly comparing 17 lvl fighter 3 rogue with 20 straight fighter
2 handed long sword d10, xtra atk d10, bonus action 1 single handed atk d8 + duelist +2 ie 10 bonus free action draw 2nd sword to get +1 ac ie max (30 dmg) end turn vs 36 dmg (3 atks 2 handed (d12) weapon).
not sure 6 dmg/turn is the equivalent to +1 ac bump.
My interpretation of 2 weapon fighting is that the conditions must be met during your attack action. In other words, that 1 attack of the attack action must be made while holding 2 weapons to allow you to attack with the second weapon as a bonus action.
So it would be that:
That's the way I interpret the "When you take the Attack action and attack with a melee weapon that you’re holding in one hand, you can use a bonus action to attack with a different melee weapon that you’re holding in the other hand" line anyway.
In addition to the RAW, I'm pretty sure using the dueling fighting style then drawing a second weapon or switching hands just for the bonus action is not RAI either.
Well actually it probably does. It says that you "can draw or stow two one-handed weapons when you would normally be able to draw or stow only one" and to me that "when" indicates they happen at the same time. Normally you use your Object Interaction or take the [Tooltip Not Found] to draw/stow a weapon and the feat would then let you draw/stow two weapons instead, I see nothing that would allow you to draw/stow the weapons at different times though. And you certainly would not be allowed to draw a weapon at one point and then stow it at a later point without wasting actions on just drawing or stowing it.
Your bigger problem here is that you are, from how you describe it, not even allowing yourself to use the Bonus Action attack from dual-wielding because you are only ever holding one weapon when you make an attack. And TWF requires you to be holding both weapons during at least one attack you make with the Attack Action to trigger the Bonus Action attack.
There are a number of problems with this tactic as others have mentioned. However the biggest issue with this is that it just seems very inefficient. You are wanting to use your bonus action to draw your second weapon so you get a +1 to AC. If a DM allowed this you would only get your normal Attack action attacks and be missing out on the main benefit of Two-Weapon Fighting, getting an additional attack with your bonus action.
Really what you should do is use a Spear and Shield, take the Dueling Fighting Style, and take the Polearm Master feat. The shield gives you +2 to AC instead of just +1. Polearm Master lets you make an attack with your bonus action and gives you an additional way to trigger opportunity attacks. This way you will have a higher AC, do more damage, and have an extra ASI or feat to spend how you wish.
I think Fangeye made the best advice. Polearm Master is often better than TWF build. Spear and Shield is an underestimated combo - it was the main combat style used for MOST of history. Swords were for the officers/wealthy. Shields and spears were cheap and effective except in close quarters (ships, buildings, forests, packed battles).