2H or Dual Wield

[519B.]

Do you guys prefer duel wielding weps or 2 handing, and why. Feeling like 2h is just better for str focudes builds but some faith/str weps i have do alot when 2handing (shadow sunflower)

[Artek [General]]

I prefer shields. They help a lot.
Otherwise - i'm more used to two-handing. Not really a fan of dual weapons since i like having block as an option if for nothing else but to just feel safe.
I had my fair share of dual wield playthroughs in Dark Souls 3, but most of duals in that game kinda sucked with sole exception of Sellsword Twinblades. They were pretty enjoyable and frankly kinda OP.

I like a dual weild is the moveset is flashy and easy to control with good hitreg, not so much when every other attack misses a point blank target. Was a big problem with Dranq Spears.
Have big plans to experiment with ER's duals though - dual estoc sounds hilarious to me. I love creating flashy characters and ER is more friendly to that than ever.

[DubbelNuggen]

Wasn't dual wielding nerfed a while ago? I'd recommend 2 handing.

[Artek [General]]

Originally posted by DubbelNuggen:

Wasn't dual wielding nerfed a while ago? I'd recommend 2 handing.

Something about poise values. Probably was too stunlock happy. Which is fine - it still should provide superior DPS to compensate.

[Asher Vicious]

2h for the talisman. 2h for the damage bump. 2h for the poise bump. 2h is just better.

[LuckyCheshire]

Mostly 2H, but dual for a few builds like double Rusted Anchors.

[Cooperal]

Purely depends on whether it is a more strength or dex leaning weapon. Heavy weapons benefit the most from two-handing as strength is the only stat to get a 50% bonus to its stat scaling when you hold with two hands. Keen weapons usually give more damage per point of dex invested compared to heavy with str but that is only as long as we are only talking about single-hand/dual-wield.

I have not taken a character above level 150. At that level I find quality weapons are a tough sell. I would need to sacrifice a grave amount of points in stats like vigor and endurance just to match the damage of a heavy or keen focused build within that 150 constraint.

[Nihrahk]

If I'm using a big weapon, like a greathammer or a colossal sword, I 2h it. If it's a smaller one like a curved sword, I dual wield it.

[Old Captain Yon]

Two handed for Str and Str hybrid builds (bc Str bonus), sword + poke for status builds (bc you will want to apply status asap and outtrade the boss or poison it and survive), dual for anything else (bc DPS). Two handed usually has hyperarmor too so better for PvP. Dual greathammers jump attacks break PvE stance like no tomorrow. To each their own

[Koros Antavo]

Dual wield (not powerstance). But true dual wield doesn't exist in this game, since the left hand is gimped, so 2h it is.

[impuretrash2878]

I've never messed around much with dual wielding. Always thought it was kinda dumb and but people seem to have a childlike obsession with the notion for some reason. My pvp character carries a second whip in her back pocket but dual whips just dont seem very effective so I rarely use it. 2-handed whip is almost a decent weapon.

I'd rather just stick to my pew pews for the left hand.

[Cryptic]

2h is very effective.

[Drake Ravenwolf]

duel wielding / power stance often times doubles the damage output, but unless you are using a "paired" weapon - you disable the ability to block while doing so. Its a strong tactic, but it requires more weight allowance and is more of a "glass cannon" strategy.

2 handing one weapon gives you a strength bonus - you effectively get a 50% passive buff, and it does seem to do more poise damage aka it lets you stagger enemies easier, but I don't think it ever reaches the same damage potential as power stancing can achieve. Think of it as a compromise between the two, a more balanced strategy between offense and defense since it still lets you block with the weapon itself.

Personally? I do all three; I have a Cold Great Stars that I 2H most of the time, but I also have a shield when I need it (when I don't it still provides a passive buff while on my back) and I have a Blood Venomous Fang to duel wield when I just want to pour on a bunch of damage very quickly. The shield is 4.5 weight and the fangs are... 2.5 iirc - minimal added weights for a different strategy for different situations.