Can Swashbucklers Dual-Wield?


Rules Questions

Radiant Oath

1 person marked this as FAQ candidate.
Pathfinder Adventure Path, Lost Omens, Rulebook, Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Roleplaying Game, Starfinder Society Subscriber

Are swashbucklers able to use their class features with a weapon in each hand sol long as both are one-handed and piercing? Or are they like duelists where the features only work when you don't have anything in your off-hand?

Sczarni

Some of their abilities work, and some don't.

They're actually called out in the class writeup.


The only thing that doesn't work is Precise Strike.

On the one hand, that's a decent chunk of damage and until you get to high gear levels, TWF basically breaks even if you can finagle Dex-to-Damage onto both weapons. If not, you're spending feats and taking the TWF penalty for an off-hand weapon that hits for 1d4+Negligible. You also lose some AC for not having a Buckler.

On the other hand, there is a RAW-legal way to get Dex-to-Damage and Two-Weapon Fight, using Martial Versatility. That is, unless Slashing Grace gets errata'ed to allow Light weapons. It takes a few levels to get going but it can make TWF worthwhile for a Swashbuckler. Good damage with both weapons, and extra Panache generation from dual 15-20's. On single attacks, such as from Standard Actions, Ripostes, or Attacks of Opportunity, you can still benefit from Precise Strike.


1 person marked this as a favorite.
Athaleon wrote:

The only thing that doesn't work is Precise Strike.

On the one hand, that's a decent chunk of damage and until you get to high gear levels, TWF basically breaks even if you can finagle Dex-to-Damage onto both weapons. If not, you're spending feats and taking the TWF penalty for an off-hand weapon that hits for 1d4+Negligible. You also lose some AC for not having a Buckler.

On the other hand, there is a RAW-legal way to get Dex-to-Damage and Two-Weapon Fight, using Martial Versatility. That is, unless Slashing Grace gets errata'ed to allow Light weapons. It takes a few levels to get going but it can make TWF worthwhile for a Swashbuckler. Good damage with both weapons, and extra Panache generation from dual 15-20's. On single attacks, such as from Standard Actions, Ripostes, or Attacks of Opportunity, you can still benefit from Precise Strike.

Unfortunately, it will likely not get errata'd, since they knew precisely what they were doing.

Just look at other dex to damage feats: dervish dance and fencing grace. Both of them use 1 handed weapons, and dervish dance at least expressly forbids getting an offhand weapon.

The importance of them being one handed is that there are only a couple of practical ways to exploit them for TWF (two weapon warrior fighter that can use 2 rapiers comes to mind). Generally, they seem to prefer if TWF relies more upon static bonuses to damage like sneak attack or favored enemy, rather than stat damage.

While the swashbuckler's precise strike might seem perfect for that...I've found that the scaling of that is more meant to make your 1 handed attacks hit like they were 2 handed. This purpose of this class is to save 1 handed/1 weapon, non-TWF sword and board, and throwing builds (as well as mobility stuff) from being relegated to the 'looks cool, but they are powerless in system' pile. And I am happy with that.


1 person marked this as a favorite.

Two Weapon Fighting might become worthwhile for one class if they spend a bunch of feats? How overpowered.


Its difficult the only weapons that work with their signature abilities and slashing grace are saw-toothed sabers.


and then agile exists, which may actually be more optimal on such a feat intensive build as twf.


Athaleon wrote:
Two Weapon Fighting might become worthwhile for one class if they spend a bunch of feats? How overpowered.

TWF might hit like you are using a 2 handed weapon and a 1 handed/light weapon at the same time... and then static stuff like swashbuckler's weapon training gets put on top of that.

Plus, again, this class seems to be designed around the idea that you should feel guilted by optimizers just because you want to 1 handed/1 weapon or non TWF sword and board. If you had such a great option, then every 'I want to make a swashbuckler' thread in the advise forum might say 'get TWF'.


Instead they say play daring champion. Also more damage via a huge investment on your part =/= optimal build.


Athaleon wrote:

The only thing that doesn't work is Precise Strike.

On the one hand, that's a decent chunk of damage and until you get to high gear levels, TWF basically breaks even if you can finagle Dex-to-Damage onto both weapons. If not, you're spending feats and taking the TWF penalty for an off-hand weapon that hits for 1d4+Negligible. You also lose some AC for not having a Buckler.

On the other hand, there is a RAW-legal way to get Dex-to-Damage and Two-Weapon Fight, using Martial Versatility. That is, unless Slashing Grace gets errata'ed to allow Light weapons. It takes a few levels to get going but it can make TWF worthwhile for a Swashbuckler. Good damage with both weapons, and extra Panache generation from dual 15-20's. On single attacks, such as from Standard Actions, Ripostes, or Attacks of Opportunity, you can still benefit from Precise Strike.

If you have Martial Versatility as a class feature, you also get a flurry with close combat weapons. That sort of supersedes TWF, unless you get an archetype that drops flurry of blows.

Also, you still get the benefits of Precise Strike as long as you don't attack with your off-hand weapon. So really, whenever you take a move action and are limited to one Attack anyway, you can cash in on the extra precision damage.

Plus, you can use a buckler in your off-hand with a weapon, you just take an extra -1 penalty to off-hand attacks and lose the AC when you use your off-hand weapon.

Sovereign Court

christos gurd wrote:
and then agile exists, which may actually be more optimal on such a feat intensive build as twf.

Except that agile only gets 1/2 your dex to damage for off-hand, while the few ways to get slashing grace there effectively get you your full dex to damamge with both hands.


aceDiamond wrote:
Athaleon wrote:

The only thing that doesn't work is Precise Strike.

On the one hand, that's a decent chunk of damage and until you get to high gear levels, TWF basically breaks even if you can finagle Dex-to-Damage onto both weapons. If not, you're spending feats and taking the TWF penalty for an off-hand weapon that hits for 1d4+Negligible. You also lose some AC for not having a Buckler.

On the other hand, there is a RAW-legal way to get Dex-to-Damage and Two-Weapon Fight, using Martial Versatility. That is, unless Slashing Grace gets errata'ed to allow Light weapons. It takes a few levels to get going but it can make TWF worthwhile for a Swashbuckler. Good damage with both weapons, and extra Panache generation from dual 15-20's. On single attacks, such as from Standard Actions, Ripostes, or Attacks of Opportunity, you can still benefit from Precise Strike.

If you have Martial Versatility as a class feature, you also get a flurry with close combat weapons. That sort of supersedes TWF, unless you get an archetype that drops flurry of blows.

Also, you still get the benefits of Precise Strike as long as you don't attack with your off-hand weapon. So really, whenever you take a move action and are limited to one Attack anyway, you can cash in on the extra precision damage.

Plus, you can use a buckler in your off-hand with a weapon, you just take an extra -1 penalty to off-hand attacks and lose the AC when you use your off-hand weapon.

Martial Versatility is a feat, Martial Flexibility is the Brawler class feature. Yeah, I think the rules are getting bloated too.

The problem with trying this as a class that doesn't get Swashbuckler's Finesse is that the amount of weapons that can be used with both Slashing Grace and regular Weapon Finesse is very narrow. As far as I know there's just the Aldori Dueling Sword and the Whip.


If you want 2-weapon fighting with a swashbuckler you loose precise strike. Since most deeds are fairly useless, its not too much of a loss to just dip swashbuckler and go with any other martial class.

Now if you want 2-weapon fighting you also need to use sawtooth saber, nothing else works unless you get agile enchantment.

Make no attempt to try to emulate the classic sword and dagger guy. It doesn't work at all. Also, if rules were patched, it would be fun, and half this forum would hate you forever for that.

If you want a cookie cutter scimitar and buckler guy, get the swashbuckler. If you want any little piece of build uniqueness, go somewhere else. If you think these limitation are kinda stupid, dont try playing PFS and go into a heavily houseruled game, as anyone who dislike barb, wizard and cleric went long ago.

Community / Forums / Pathfinder / Pathfinder First Edition / Rules Questions / Can Swashbucklers Dual-Wield? All Messageboards

Want to post a reply? Sign in.
Recent threads in Rules Questions