There's absolutely no point in trying to alternate swings by going left, right, etc. You don't actually attack faster that way, and that's really not the point of Dual-Wielding. The point is entirely about one thing: Power Attacks.

The Flurry perk in the one-handed tree also works when you have a shield equipped.

Also, if you tap (not hold for a power attack) both of your attack buttons at once, you'll get a single swipe with both weapons.

Are you [censored] kidding me? A guy claims he 4 shotted end boss with DW Power Attack.

You read the thread? I'm right. Single handed attacks are faster. It's the power attack that makes dual wielding better, and if you don't use power attacks then you are missing out. I was missing out and I wasn't sure why.

Now I know. Who's kidding about anything?

I realize from day one that there's no benefit from trying to alternate. You have to remember that this is Bethesda you are talking about. They are pretty inept when it comes to making combat mechanics that are not at least ten years behind. The only advantage at all from dual-wielding when it comes to non power attacks is the double swipe. That's faster than what you can get from mashing a single weapon.

DW capable of 4 shotting endboss of main quest line, just saying.

So, DW single attack is slower than One handed single attack. And DW is less useful unless you do power attacks?

This made me giggle XD

That isn't what he said. All he's saying is that hitting right attack over and over is faster than alternating between two weapons. Dual Wielding is almost only about the power attack, but it attacks at the same speed as a sword + shield user when just mashing one attack. It can also swipe with both weapons at once for better burst, which a single weapon cannot do.

Single handed attacks are faster indeed. However, if you're dual wielding, why are you making single handed attacks? Obviously, you need to be using power attacks, but you can make dual-wielding regular attacks too - tap both buttons simultaneously to do a regular dual wield attack.

Tapping single buttons to attack while dual wielding is pointless (unless you, for some reason, only want to be attacking with one of your two weapons).

Yes, that's true. If you use DW you won't be getting much out of it unless you power attack.




Eh? It's true. Not everybody instantly realizes that the benefit of DW is in the power attack. In fact, it's completely counter-intuitive that the DW puts out less dps in regular hits. If people are going to DW then they need to know that it's a waste unless you power attack.

o.o and what would be the reason for your laughter? :blink:

Even if 1H is faster, you basically have 2x firepower with DW

Also, this;

huh? you mean both triggers at once? it does double damage, but doesnt have double the swing timer. It's also amazing for sneak attacks.

Just made a thread on the hits tips and spoilers section but no one's replying so I'll just copy and paste it here for you guys..

So I was playing around in White run fighting guards when I figured out that you can actually do two standing power attacks for the price of one! The timing is a little strict but it's very simple to pull off, al you need to do is..

1:Do your standing power attack.

2:After about roughly a second after the animation has ended press left and right attacks again. Press, don't hold.

3:You should not enter into another standing power attack and then press just one attack button to end it with the dual sweep move.

This combo absolutely destroys any who stand in your way and if you have the light armour perk for 50% faster stamina regeneration you almost recharge all of the initial stamina used for the first power attack! Like I said the timing is a little strict but i found it easier to use 3rd person to get it down, just as you finish the power attack you character shifts his/her weight to their right foot, it's around this point you need to tab both attack buttons. Im playing on the 360 but it should hopefully work on the pc and ps3. Hope this hels you guys out.

I agree with this.

Doing a power strike with only one sword whilst dual wielding is only netting you the damage of the ONE sword +75% which does not beat out a two-handed sword doing a power strike cause the base damage is double on a two-handed.

So the only time dual wielding is better is when doing the double power attack holding down both buttons to get the power strike.

Also, it is a complete waste swinging the swords with each button alternating since you're not doing more damage, you might as well just use one sword and let it swing back and forth and have a shield to have VERY useful block or a spell that can dish out damage at distance etc etc.

If Bethesda would've made the dual wielding actually make automatic combos whenever you'd hit a button it would be better and also more varied animation and a lot faster, THEN it would be worth it.

As it stands only the double swipe/hit standing power attack is good over any two-handed or a sword and shield. Not worth it in my opinion.

Also the Two-handed gets a sweep move hitting more than one enemy in it's particular power attach (the side swipe one).
A shield is also much more useful along with a single sword than dual wielding, the ability to render arrows harmless if hitting your shield and reducing any enemy mage destruction magic by 50%, then you have power bash.

Again:

You can make a regular dual wielding attack. If you are alternating right and left, you're not using dual wielding, you're just making single attacks.

Tap both buttons at the same time, you make a dual wielding regular attack. Hold both, you make a dual wielding power attack.

Thus, dual wielding attacks always do more damage than single one handed attacks, but without the opportunity to block. Once you add the dual wielding perks, your attack speed with regular (dual wielding) attacks is even faster.

So, for clarity: Just having two weapons out doesn't increase your damage. You have to attack with both simultaneously. Much like when dual wielding magic, you have to actually use both.

The thing that ultimately bothers me about dual wielding is that each sword does the same damage as a one handed sword, when from a realistic perspective you'd be using both hands on one weapon to get the most powerful swing; after all the swords are longswords, not short swords.

Using a single longsword should give you a slight damage boost over each DW sword at the expense of speed. Obviously the total damage output of DW would be greater, but by less of a margin, and at the expense of blocking.

But that is completely annoying, having to press both buttons all the time to do any more damage.

Why not just have it that you left click and it automatically makes combos then? This is my problem with dual wielding, you have a sword in each hand and you can't make use of any combos, it's just constantly tapping or holding BOTH buttons.

Do you understand what I mean, if that is the only way to get more power and actual dual wielding combos, then you might as well just make it ONE button to use.
You still control what kind of power-attack you make by pressing your movement key's.

Side-note:
Dual-wielding should never do more damage in ANY circumstance cause it's impossible to do so.
You can never dish out more damage to a person as you could doing a power-attack with a great sword, it logical you can put more power behind the swing and cause more damage.
People aren't equally strong with both arms and even if they were they can't put more power behind each sword in a dual attack.

Try splitting two logs when chopping wood with two axes at the same time, you won't be able to split both logs cause you don't have enough power and leverage.

This is something that annoys the hell out of me in all games.
It's a big joke that you can do more damage over two-handed in this game, that should never be the case, it's illogical.

Dual wielding is silly overall, it's in no way an effective way to fight. Particularly with the offhand being any larger than a dagger.

There is a reason why historically virtually no one did it. Swinging two weapons offensively is less controlled than one - you're better off using your off hand to grab/balance/power than holding a second weapon. And, of you want something defensive, a shield is so vastly superior to even the defensive made off-hands (main gauche, etc) that it's a no brainer.

However, this is a game, and they are deliberately breaking with reality to give fans what they want and expect from a fantasy game.

So, my posts in this thread are not about how I feel things should be, but rather with how they are, so people who are having trouble with dual wielding can figure out what they are doing wrong... Which in almost every case is that they are making single-weapon attacks.

I clap you sir, awesome argument.