Versatile weapons scaling

[20 faces on a die]

Does anybody know how do versatile weapons scale? DEX or STR? Or it depends on what I have more?

[FunkyMonkey]

If it's a finesse weapon, it scales with STR or DEX, depending which is higher. If not, onlySTR. All ranged weapons scale from DEX.

[Mike Garrison]

Versatile uses strength, unless it *also* is listed as "finesse". Then it will use the higher of strength or dexterity.

Versatile just means that it can be used one-handed or two-handed.

An example is a longsword. All longswords are versatile. They have be used one-handed (usually meaning with a shield) or two-handed.

However, there are two longswords in the game that are "finesse". They are still versatile, but because they are also "finesse" they will use your dexterity score *if* it is higher than your strength score.

[20 faces on a die]

Originally posted by FunkyMonkey:

If it's a finesse weapon, it scales from DEX. If not, STR. All ranged weapons scale from DEX.

Originally posted by Mike Garrison:

Versatile uses strength, unless it *also* is listed as "finesse". Then it will use the higher of strength or dexterity.

It's a katana weapon from a diverse weapons mod. It says its versatile, equipped one handed.

[FunkyMonkey]

Originally posted by etozherstk:

Originally posted by FunkyMonkey:

If it's a finesse weapon, it scales from DEX. If not, STR. All ranged weapons scale from DEX.

Originally posted by Mike Garrison:

Versatile uses strength, unless it *also* is listed as "finesse". Then it will use the higher of strength or dexterity.

It's a katana weapon from a diverse weapons mod. It says its versatile, equipped one handed.

Does it have Finesse tag in the bottom? If not, it only uses STR.

[20 faces on a die]

Originally posted by FunkyMonkey:

Originally posted by etozherstk:

It's a katana weapon from a diverse weapons mod. It says its versatile, equipped one handed.

Does it have Finesse tag in the bottom? If not, it only uses STR.

Not at all.
Longsword. Versatile.
So only strength then?

[FunkyMonkey]

Originally posted by etozherstk:

Originally posted by FunkyMonkey:

Does it have Finesse tag in the bottom? If not, it only uses STR.

Not at all.
Longsword. Versatile.
So only strength then?

Only STR, yes. Versatile means that it does 1d10 if used two-handed, though.

[jonnin]

thrown ranged weapons use str... so not all ranged weapons are dex.

there are, I believe, at least 2 named/special long swords with finesse. You have the basic weapon type, but some examples can get other tags so keep an eye on unique weapons

the rapier is finesse but not light, so its your go-to for a single one hand weapon dex guy.
if you dual wield, you have scimitars and daggers and others like light hammers, but all these will be d6 or d4.

[Simon McAllister]

Versatile weapons use strength. The tag basically tells you that the weapon can be used with both hands or with one if you are using a shield. The downside of using it in one hand is the loss of 2 damage with the weapon. Finesse weapons use dex or strength whichever is higher. If the character is a monk. Any weapon capable of being used in one hand that the character is proficient with will behave like a finesse weapon as they are considered monk weapons. The light tag allows the weapon to be used in dual wielding. Unless the feat duel wielder is taken. Which allows any versatile weapon to be dual wielded and +1 is added to armor class when dual wielding.

[tattuvamasi]

Related question, how do I use a versatile weapon in one hand and nothing in the other? Like say I have the dueling fighting style and want to use a longsword but only as a 1h weapon, how do I stop it equipping as a 2h weapon?

[Lilly Satou]

Originally posted by tattuvamasi:

Related question, how do I use a versatile weapon in one hand and nothing in the other? Like say I have the dueling fighting style and want to use a longsword but only as a 1h weapon, how do I stop it equipping as a 2h weapon?

You can't just wield it in one hand, but you can put a shield in left hand slot and it will switch to 1h, duelling style will still work

[Mike Garrison]

Originally posted by tattuvamasi:

Related question, how do I use a versatile weapon in one hand and nothing in the other?

Can't. The game automatically switches you to two-handed. Use a rapier instead ir you really want that one-handed/empty-handed thing.

However, note that the dueling fighting style *does* allow you to use a shield. The restriction is against using your off-hand for a weapon. Shields are OK.