Does anyone else think that dual wielding seems like kind of a last minute addition to the game? It feels like it was rushed...

You can't block while using two weapons, which makes no sense, since you can block with one weapon and no shield just fine.

You don't swing any faster while using two weapons, unless you take the perk that lets you, which still doesn't even make it that much faster.

I'm sure I'm not the only one that's noticed this: There's no animation for drawing/sheathing your weapons while dual wielding! It just uses the single weapon animation, and the off hand weapon just sort of pops in or out of existence.

I'm definitely glad that Bethesda decided to include dual wielding, it's certainly a big step in the right direction, but it seems more like an idea to be improved upon in TES 6 (which I very much hope they do!) than a realistic play style in Skyrim.

Sorry if this sounds like a bunch of whining, I'm just trying to share my opinion on the matter.

What are your guys' thoughts?

I definitely agree. Honestly I would have been very okay with not being able to do a Power Attack with your Off-Hand if it meant you could block with it, especially if it meant you could attack and block at the same time.

Why you don't really attack faster... I wish I knew. I go with a Dagger in my main hand, Sword in my off-hand and I don't attack that much faster with either one.

And the one sheath thing is irritating, even if it's only purely cosmetic.

If you duel wield a sword and war axe it has both sheathes.

11.11.11....they kinda rushed to this date. I could have waited for Skyrim few more months to get it right. Not just dual wielding but so many things feels so unfinished :/

Really? I didn't know that, I'll have to check it out.

Not being able to block balances out doing twice the damage, plus I think it makes sense. As the author of Kill, Before You Get Killed said, you just don't have the strength to block effectively with two weapons.

I recently switched from one handed and a shield to dual weild daggers, mostly because it suits my character. I'm having a hard time getting used to it but it is quite cool. I've noticed that when I sheeth my weapons I only put my main hand weapon away, but there are full combat animations and unique stance, so it seems ok to me.

The author of that book clearly hasn't read many fantasy novels, watched many fantasy movies, or seen any real dual wield sword fights.

Killem All.....Let God sort them out, duel or no duel

But you don't do twice the damage, because your attack speed doesn't increase...

My block skill is increasing with dual wield. Slowly, but it's still increasing. Parry requires timing.

You can parry? How?

the dual wielding power attack (or one of them) does a quick 3 swing combo.

additionally, if u tap left right left right with regular swings, I think you might notice the speed difference compared to 1 one handed weapon. be sure to use the same weapon type if youre comparing, as swords>axes>maces speedwise.

during the middle of my 1st playthrough, I decided to go dual wield. once I was able to craft legendary daedric swords, I found the extra speed (damage per second) to be overkill + I'm not too fond of the dual wield 1st person view, so I switched to sword/ shield for the additional armor rating bonus + 2 more gear enchantments.

Because with one weapon you grab the weapon with two hands. The idea is, unless you grab the weapon in two hands, you just won't have enough strength to block an attack, which makes some sense.


You don't swing faster, but you can attack with both weapons by pressing both "hand" buttons at the same time. Power attacks also use both weapons and are stronger. And I definitely don't agree about the perk, it's very much worth it as it affects everything - power attacks, double attacks, and even normal attacks with one hand only(as long as you have a weapon in the other). And don't forget the perk that gives your power attacks 50% more damage.


Yes... fortunately unless you're roleplaying you'll always want a dagger in the second hand(because speed of a dual attack is based on the speed of weapon in your left hand) so you can always imagine your character pulls out the dagger from his sleever or something.

Yesterday i recognized this but it was buggy too. After i draw my sword and axe there was still an axe on my belt. And then after restarting the sheath of my axe vanished.

Pick up a 10 pound sword and hold it in one hand. Now imagine that somebody is swinging a warhammer at you with both hands and just try to imagine what it would feel like trying to block that. THAT is why you cannot block while dual wielding. But mostly because DW would be even more unbalanced.

dual wielding + the shout that increases attack speed plus the attack speed perks = living food processor from hell O_O... also DB gloves + dagger perk + dual wield daggers +sneak + simulpressing both attack buttons= x30 damage x2!

The dual weild power attack with fists just plain svcks. My cursor flies all about and I'm lucky if I connect with even one punch. With swords and daggers and stuff it's okay, but with fists it's just about damn near worthless.

Plus its more fun doing the right left right left constant exchange of blows it makes me tingle with laughter everytime.

With the dual wield perks.. if you have two one handed weapons equipped, your regular attacks WILL be faster. Just hack away with one of them and you will notice its faster.

When it comes to the speed of power attacks it depends on what is in your left hand, except for the case when a dagger is in your right hand.

Dagger in left hand and sword in right hand is blazing fast during dual wield power attack. Flip the order, and its slow as hell.

Interestingly, power attacks with two daggers is the slowest of any combination of dual wielded one-handed weapons.. but has the fastest single and double swing attacks. There is a delay to the power attack because the right hand dagger is flipped upside down.. and then attack animation itself plays out slow as f#$%. Not sure if that was intentional or bug. The advantages of using daggers for speed is completely lost when it comes to powerattacks. You're better off with swords for the Fortify One Handed bonus. Not only would you do more damage, but you will do it faster (especially if you use a dagger in the left hand).

You dont have to alternate. In fact there is no speed increase by alternating. If you take the speed perk, the speed increase is just across the board. .ie You can hack away with just one of them.

The camera movement is cosmetic only, the place you're aiming at actually doesn't change at all, so don't try to compensate.

This^

I know, but I find it fun and funnier this way especially when they are low in health it reminds oddly of the second karate kid movie where he alternate from slapping the guy from left to right all dramatic like.

It seems like I invariably end up missing if I attempt a dual power attack with my fists compensating or not, but it might just be that the power attack is too slow. I push the buttons and then a second later after I've readied my claws I let loose with the flurry and the enemy is now no longer in my feild of vision. Tried this in brawls a couple times both attempting to compensate and not, it just doesn't work well.

It is only with certain weapons. Ebony sword and axe doesn't work I don't think, but ebony axe in the right and steel sword in the left worked for me.

Anyway, I usually fight dual-wielding. It is extremely efficient when it comes to killing. You become a walking storm of whoop-ass with the perks that increase your attack speed when dual wielding. The animations are also wicked. Execution-style beheadings are awesome