I'm trying to think through the best weapon combinations for a Two-Weapon fighter, including both Strength Fighters and Dexterity Fighters. I'd like your comments on the best combinations. I'm open to combinations that are good for a Multiclass, but the base class has to be Fighter.
I'm thinking that the classic is Rapier/Main Gauche (certainly the only real-world example I know of).
What about twin Aldori Dueling Swords?
Pick and light pick?
Twin Sawtooth sabers?
Twin Orc Necksplitters?
Twin Kukris?
Twin Gnome Flickmaces?
What say you?
Looking for mechanics or style?
Shield Boss or Shield Spikes plus any one hander is solid and versatile for anyone who wants to fight with two weapons, but doesn't need a matched pair of something.
Plus you have the shield as well - which is a pretty massive boost to survivability.
Reactive shield even gives you most of the benefits (the all important +2 AC) without the action cost, if you're OK sacrificing your AOO.
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Depends.
For STR builds I would most likely pick a d8 weapon on one hand, most likely Khopesh if uncommon is on the table, otherwise a Warhammer. If I got Khopesh then any d6 agile weapon would do for me, with the Warhammer I would go after a weapon with Trip or agile, preference for a weapon with both.
With Dex I think that I would be happy with something like Rapier + Sickle.
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I'd say one universal truth about it is that unless your preferred weapon has the twin trait, you're better off with two different weapons to take advantage of multiple damage types and traits.
Looking for mechanics or style?
Technically, I'm looking for mechanics, but I'm very interested in notes on style, too!
I'd say one universal truth about it is that unless your preferred weapon has the twin trait, you're better off with two different weapons to take advantage of multiple damage types and traits.
I... can't believe I didn't think of that.
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The main thing you want to look for (for Str or Dex builds) is an agile second weapon, as it is a net +2 by your third attack. A flail/short sword combo is good. You cover all three damage types, plus have trip and disarm. Maybe a gnome hook hammer as main hand if you can get it (it has a d10 two-hand trait).
I also like a light mace as off hand. Has finesse and agile and shove, letting you go Longsword (P/S) in your main hand.
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I'd say one universal truth about it is that unless your preferred weapon has the twin trait, you're better off with two different weapons to take advantage of multiple damage types and traits.
I disagree. Given how the Fighter Class Features 'Fighter Weapon Master' and 'Weapon Legend' work, it's important to primarily use weapons from the same weapon group.
Rangers are a different story, though.
My answer is Main Gauche/Dwarven Clan Dagger + any combination of non-agile weapons. With the Doubling Rings, you can focus on enchanting your off-hand parrying weapon, and still have a decently enchanted main-hand weapon with a variety of different weapon traits (bludgeoning, trip, reach, etc.) to handle a variety of foes.
Pick + Light Pick deals surprisingly high damage. I think it's the highest damage combination (you can check on Citricking's site), but you lack any non damaging trait.
If you focus on strength a d8 weapon makes a good start, pick your favourite traits and go for it. Many d6 weapons have good traits to even out their smaller damage so they might be worth a look (if you really going to max out on your main attribute as fighter deadly and lethal might be quite interesting)
for offhand weapons in your strenght build consider what you want, damage, survivability or functionality? you mostly can pick two (not always though)
Shield offers a good balance on damage and survivability at the cost of a slightly reduced hit chance
many agile weapons offer good versatility in moves while still doing decent damage
the king of versatility is probably an enchanted gauntled if you don't mind the d4 damage, because of the free-hand trait you can use all the fun moves that require to have at least one hand free or an free offhand
If you focus on dexterity your top choices are most likely the rapier, shorsword or the aldori dueling sword, the alst is an advanced weapon but perfectly fine for a fighter, comes with a cool carchetype and is (for now) the only d8 one handed finesse weapon
the rapier on the other hand comes with a bunch of useful traits and is the classical dual wield option while short sword has two damage types and the agile trait build in (which also makes it a good offhand weapon)
for dexterity offhand the short sword is a solid choice but don't underestimate the parry trait of the main gauche or the versatility of the whip, which again comes, unfortunately, at the cost of dice size and in this case also agile (but you have many good options so it is still worth thinking about it)
I'd say one universal truth about it is that unless your preferred weapon has the twin trait, you're better off with two different weapons to take advantage of multiple damage types and traits.I disagree. Given how the Fighter Class Features 'Fighter Weapon Master' and 'Weapon Legend' work, it's important to primarily use weapons from the same weapon group.
Rangers are a different story, though.
Fighters can still use different weapons in the same group. Battleaxe and hatchet for instance, or a rapier and a shortsword.
Doubling rings (which is practically default equipment for a TWF fighter if they have any choice in items) can make gauntlets VERY fun.
if you have an enchanted gauntlet, you can share its runes onto pretty much anything, at any point. You can have an entire gold bag of equipment. Damage types, traits, etc. Whatever you need.
Additionally, you can just wear two gauntlets and use those when you don't feel like drawing anything, or if someone disarms you.
Doubling rings (which is practically default equipment for a TWF fighter if they have any choice in items) can make gauntlets VERY fun.
if you have an enchanted gauntlet, you can share its runes onto pretty much anything, at any point. You can have an entire gold bag of equipment. Damage types, traits, etc. Whatever you need.
That's not unique to gauntlets, though, is it?
the alst is an advanced weapon
I finally realized this was a typo for "last". I was looking for a weapon called an "alst". :-)
That's not unique to gauntlets, though, is it?Doubling rings (which is practically default equipment for a TWF fighter if they have any choice in items) can make gauntlets VERY fun.
if you have an enchanted gauntlet, you can share its runes onto pretty much anything, at any point. You can have an entire gold bag of equipment. Damage types, traits, etc. Whatever you need.
No, but you can go from a situation where you are 'bare handed' to instantly using any one handed weapon you find on the side of the road. And you still have a hand free for anything else you might want to do.
Heck, you can go straight from archery to dual wielding with just a free action drop of the bow. Then you can then later pull out any weapon you want from your belt as needed.
But honestly, it might just be a style thing for me. Something that goes with 'empty hands' into a mix of any weapon and punches seems better than having the same magic sword, and then swapping everything else out repeatedly.
So how important do we think Double Slice is?
If we think it's very important, then we must use an Agile Weapon as our second weapon. It makes using shields as weapons less effective, for one. Is the +2 AC from a shield worth accepting the -2 for double slicing with a non-agile weapon?
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So how important do we think Double Slice is?
Pretty important. Without it or another similar Feat there's not a lot of point in dual wielding in the traditional sense, and it's very solid offensively on a mechanical level.
If we think it's very important, then we must use an Agile Weapon as our second weapon. It makes using shields as weapons less effective, for one. Is the +2 AC from a shield worth accepting the -2 for double slicing with a non-agile weapon?
You can just use a short sword or other agile weapon with the shield and avoid this. And yeah, it's probably worth it, shields are very effective defensively. They're not required, but they're good.
So how important do we think Double Slice is?
If we think it's very important, then we must use an Agile Weapon as our second weapon. It makes using shields as weapons less effective, for one. Is the +2 AC from a shield worth accepting the -2 for double slicing with a non-agile weapon?
Just go with an agile main-hand weapon, the +2 to to-hit about makes up for the lower damage die, at least outside of x2 and x3 striking runes. Someone did the math on that.
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I'd say one universal truth about it is that unless your preferred weapon has the twin trait, you're better off with two different weapons to take advantage of multiple damage types and traits.I disagree. Given how the Fighter Class Features 'Fighter Weapon Master' and 'Weapon Legend' work, it's important to primarily use weapons from the same weapon group.
Rangers are a different story, though.
Well depending on the weapon group you choose, you can actually cover all three damage types. Knives obviously get piercing and slashing, but the sai also gets you bludgeoning. And for swords, there's the polytool.