My DM has given the nod to use certain fighting styles of Ranger with my Soul Blade Rogue 5/Ranger 3 that other discussions say are negated if you follow RAW. (The problems come up in deciding if the soul blades are "weapons," for example, rather than class features.) The rules, taken very literally, become quite limiting to what can be chosen; I had hoped for more synergy of the Soul Blade rogue to benefit from ranger skills.
Specifically, fighting style Archery [and Tunnel Fighter (UA), and while we're at it, Elven Accuracy (Tasha)] are disallowed by the DM, but he is allowing Thrown Weapon fighting style, Two-Weapon fighting style, and Close-Quarters Shooter (UA). Note my rogue is not thief-y; she's more about stealth and damage.
While I welcome recommendations on what fighting style to choose, here's the actual question: I was thinking of choosing the Two-Weapon Fighting style to be able to add my DEX ability modifier to the offhand attack, i.e., with my second blade. Would this apply to the blades if thrown?
A Psychic Blade is a simple melee weapon with the finesse and thrown properties, so it should work with the Thrown Weapon Fighting Style but since the blade vanishes immediately after it hits or misses its target, it's not suited for Two-Weapon Fighting.
On the one hand, I see your point. On the other hand, why not? For example, even if you are just constantly generating and regenerating the blades for each attack in melee, that's still two-weapon fighting, no?
A Psychic Blade is a simple melee weapon with the finesse and thrown properties, so it should work with the Thrown Weapon Fighting Style but since the blade vanishes immediately after it hits or misses its target, it's not suited for Two-Weapon Fighting.
There's nothing about the vanishing that creates problems, but it doesn't work with TWF (either version) because it's not Light.
On the one hand, I see your point. On the other hand, why not? For example, even if you are just constantly generating and regenerating the blades for each attack in melee, that's still two-weapon fighting, no?
Two Weapon Fighting in 5e is based around the Light property. The Psychic Blades created by either version of the Soulknife don’t have this property, so barring an additional feature changing how TWF works for a character this is a non-starter. Additionally, the subclass already gets to make a Bonus Action attack after using the blade for their regular attack, so there’s little to no benefit to the TWF fighting style here unless you’re trying to cheese an additional attack from Nick if you’re using 2024 rules, but you’d need Extra Attack to even try to make that work here.
... While I welcome recommendations on what fighting style to choose, here's the actual question: I was thinking of choosing the Two-Weapon Fighting style to be able to add my DEX ability modifier to the offhand attack, i.e., with my second blade. Would this apply to the blades if thrown?
You don't need Two-Weapon Fighting to get DEX mod to your off-hand strike. Per the text from Psychic Blades: "After you attack with the blade on your turn, you can make a melee or ranged attack with a second psychic blade as a Bonus Action on the same turn if your other hand is free to create it. The damage die of this bonus attack is 1d4 instead of 1d6."
The Psychic Blades feature allows you to make an attack as a bonus action. This is not an "off-hand attack", per the Light property, but is instead a full-bore attack with a slightly smaller damage die. As such, Two-Weapon Fighting doesn't apply because you're using a different feature beyond the Light property to make the attack.
I don't know what Close-Quarters Shooter is, but the applicable fighting styles would seem to be Thrown Weapon Fighting (the psychic blades are Simple Weapons that can be thrown, which is all the fighting style needs), Blind Fighting, or Defense. Interception is out because it requires you to be holding a weapon when you react and psychic blades aren't held. Protection needs a shield you're not using. Dueling is iffy, as the feat once again wants you to be "holding" the weapon, but I would argue it works because you're holding it in the moment of the strike which is when Dueling matters.
Blind Fighting could be a fun 'psychic sixth sense' deal, and don't underestimate Defense. The more points of AC you have, the more valuable each new point becomes. WotC knows this, which is why sources of boosted AC are rare. Extra damage is everywhere, but extra AC is not. There is an argument that Defense is the second strongest fighting style in the game, only behind Archery because Archery is boo sheet.
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My DM has given the nod to use certain fighting styles of Ranger with my Soul Blade Rogue 5/Ranger 3 that other discussions say are negated if you follow RAW. (The problems come up in deciding if the soul blades are "weapons," for example, rather than class features.) The rules, taken very literally, become quite limiting to what can be chosen; I had hoped for more synergy of the Soul Blade rogue to benefit from ranger skills.
Specifically, fighting style Archery [and Tunnel Fighter (UA), and while we're at it, Elven Accuracy (Tasha)] are disallowed by the DM, but he is allowing Thrown Weapon fighting style, Two-Weapon fighting style, and Close-Quarters Shooter (UA). Note my rogue is not thief-y; she's more about stealth and damage.
While I welcome recommendations on what fighting style to choose, here's the actual question: I was thinking of choosing the Two-Weapon Fighting style to be able to add my DEX ability modifier to the offhand attack, i.e., with my second blade. Would this apply to the blades if thrown?
A Psychic Blade is a simple melee weapon with the finesse and thrown properties, so it should work with the Thrown Weapon Fighting Style but since the blade vanishes immediately after it hits or misses its target, it's not suited for Two-Weapon Fighting.
Even Psychic Blades are suboptimal if you have Extra Attacks, for the same reason.
On the one hand, I see your point. On the other hand, why not? For example, even if you are just constantly generating and regenerating the blades for each attack in melee, that's still two-weapon fighting, no?
There's nothing about the vanishing that creates problems, but it doesn't work with TWF (either version) because it's not Light.
Two Weapon Fighting in 5e is based around the Light property. The Psychic Blades created by either version of the Soulknife don’t have this property, so barring an additional feature changing how TWF works for a character this is a non-starter. Additionally, the subclass already gets to make a Bonus Action attack after using the blade for their regular attack, so there’s little to no benefit to the TWF fighting style here unless you’re trying to cheese an additional attack from Nick if you’re using 2024 rules, but you’d need Extra Attack to even try to make that work here.
You don't need Two-Weapon Fighting to get DEX mod to your off-hand strike. Per the text from Psychic Blades: "After you attack with the blade on your turn, you can make a melee or ranged attack with a second psychic blade as a Bonus Action on the same turn if your other hand is free to create it. The damage die of this bonus attack is 1d4 instead of 1d6."
The Psychic Blades feature allows you to make an attack as a bonus action. This is not an "off-hand attack", per the Light property, but is instead a full-bore attack with a slightly smaller damage die. As such, Two-Weapon Fighting doesn't apply because you're using a different feature beyond the Light property to make the attack.
I don't know what Close-Quarters Shooter is, but the applicable fighting styles would seem to be Thrown Weapon Fighting (the psychic blades are Simple Weapons that can be thrown, which is all the fighting style needs), Blind Fighting, or Defense. Interception is out because it requires you to be holding a weapon when you react and psychic blades aren't held. Protection needs a shield you're not using. Dueling is iffy, as the feat once again wants you to be "holding" the weapon, but I would argue it works because you're holding it in the moment of the strike which is when Dueling matters.
Blind Fighting could be a fun 'psychic sixth sense' deal, and don't underestimate Defense. The more points of AC you have, the more valuable each new point becomes. WotC knows this, which is why sources of boosted AC are rare. Extra damage is everywhere, but extra AC is not. There is an argument that Defense is the second strongest fighting style in the game, only behind Archery because Archery is boo sheet.
Please do not contact or message me.