Does equipping weapons actually help?

[EtarnalAzure]

Hey there,

I dont really know how to phrase this so I dont know if it has been asked before. Hopefully someone is willing to help me out.

Does equipping weapons do anything if you're holding an item in your hotbar?

I tend to walk around using a bow, but I have a long sword equipped in the equipment slot, does the longsword just add to the damage, like a passive thing? Or do I need to make sure I have nothing selected in my hotbar to actually use it?

[gimmethegepgun]

The weapons are used as normal. Holding stuff from the hotbar doesn't matter.

[Astasia]

If you are holding something in your hand and you attack an enemy, you use your equipped weapon(s), not what you are holding in your hand. If you are holding a ranged weapon in your hand and you shoot with the ranged weapon, you do not attack, you shoot, and the damage of your equipped weapon doesn't matter. However weapons can have passive effects, and the passive effects of an equipped weapon are always active even if you are shooting with a bow. So like a shortsword with +5 DV and immunity to blind is very useful to have equipped even if you only use bows/boomerangs to do damage.

[Tenoshii]

I get the feeling that "equipped" weapons can function as a stat/skill boost even when not using them as part of your attack or the tool in your hand.

For example, I have two 1h swords equipped, one with +3 speed and one with +3 charisma even though I only actively attack with a throwing weapon.

When using a tool, if you equip two 1h weapons with the appropriate bonus, it can help (two clubs for mining bonus or two axes for lumberjack bonus).

[Mazzle Dazzle]

Ok so long bows are used for attacking at range, firing but your equipped melee weapons will do nothing in terms of damage. However, if you have a weapon and it grants bonus stats or luck or anything like that, then those will still apply since they are innate stat boost. I frequently fight in melee and alternate to shoot with the bow when appropriate. This works pretty well as a hybrid style but both are quite separate in mechanics and damage stats.

[The Grand Mugwump]

Equipped melee weapons will always give their listed effects. A sword's damage isn't added to your bow damage though.

[Doomed]

Even if you have no real desire to use a type of weapon you should train them all because it will help you raise your maximum stamina.