One-Handed Strategy versus Two-handed

[Persistent Pally [6RCN]]

I'm playing the Warrior Archetype as outlined in Skyrim's Prima Guide. I've been a Two-Handed player for several weeks and find it to be satisfying in dispatching large enemies with relative ease, even at Expert difficulty. However, after using a shield with One-Handed, I find myself using a mace just as effective as if I had a Greatsword.

The shield provides extra defense for my character and will prove to be a good weapon once I get the bash perks. Dual wielding is an opition with one handed weapons so that will provide an advantage over two handed as the tree is similar to one handed outside the dual wielding.

I'm going to have fun this time and go through the main quest line with primary one handed at adept level. I'll stick to the archetype as much as possible deviating from it for Smithing, Enchanting, and Archery as necessary. My side focus is Bards College and Companions with joining the Imperial Legion first (yes he is a nord but my second time around with the Nord will be a two handed tank (steel or steel plate armor to start the move toward ebony).

So many ways to play - looking to have no life going forward.

[jancawa55]

I don't know from the mace, I always sell them off (MolagBal too) but I have recently been using dual one hand with Dragonbane, Chillwind and Dawnbreaker for Draugr. Dual wielding face to face with Dragon uses health, but way fun. Shields are for MilkDrinkers.

[76561198034396398]

never use a shield even for my Warrior classes, two handed with the ignore armor Perk is awesome plus you get to behead them,maces are pretty useless Dual Wielding is great if you have a light sword and loads of stamina even better with a Sneak attack

[whitecrow]

I always use two-handed simply because they do a lot more damage. I rarely remembered to use my shield and even when I did it didn't seem to do much, so I just rely on my heavy armor.

[di eshor ribly]

Shields can be pretty fun, there's nothing quite like Shield Charging (sprint while blocking, high level perk) an entire group of enemies off a cliff/fort wall. I don't use dual wielding myself very much since I liked to play at least somewhat defensively. In general, I do a two-hander or a spellblade (one handed, spell in offhand) combat style.

Keep in mind you can hit the armor cap without a shield, but the benefit to using one is that you further decrease damage you take by a percentage of what's left. At cap, you take 85% less damage iirc, and if you drop half of that you only take 7.5% of the incoming hit.

[THARN]

i tried going 2 handed this last play- but ended up using one handed too- It just feels right to me- plus more of the time i dont use shield but have heal spell in left hand to heal as i fight.

[Nyarlathotep]

I only use Shields (Spellbreaker) if I die trying a dungeon or against a boss. Spellbreaker becomes even more powerful when combined with the perks in the Block skill tree and Otar, the dragon priest mask that provides bonous resistance against elemental magic. I prefer One Handed because I am able to make more effective use of these items and unique swords like Windshear and Chillrend.

[Bomb Bloke]

Originally posted by marmaladecat:

I always use two-handed simply because they do a lot more damage. I rarely remembered to use my shield and even when I did it didn't seem to do much, so I just rely on my heavy armor.

Two-handed does far less damage than dual-wielding. The only real downside to holding two weapons is that the game's keyboard shortcut system sucks at handling them, and you can't bash.

But two-handed in general is pretty rubbish. To equip a spell, you have to sheath your primary weapon. The swing speed is slow and no where near made up for by the extra damage, which is pretty minimal by the time some decent smith effects have been applied.

[ringtau]

I usually go sword and shield, I like the kill move animations. It looks pretty wicked to destroy an opponant with a bashing shield.

[Persistent Pally [6RCN]]

Originally posted by Bomb Bloke:

Originally posted by marmaladecat:

I always use two-handed simply because they do a lot more damage. I rarely remembered to use my shield and even when I did it didn't seem to do much, so I just rely on my heavy armor.

Two-handed does far less damage than dual-wielding. The only real downside to holding two weapons is that the game's keyboard shortcut system sucks at handling them, and you can't bash.

But two-handed in general is pretty rubbish. To equip a spell, you have to sheath your primary weapon. The swing speed is slow and no where near made up for by the extra damage, which is pretty minimal by the time some decent smith effects have been applied.

...you have to sheath your primary weapon

True. However, if you set a number - I use 2 for Bow and 3 for One/Two Hand weapon - you can click on the same number and it will auto sheath and give you the last unarmed combo you used .

For example, if I am using One-Handed and a Shield, and I hit three while they are equipped, they will be sheathed and the last unarmed combo will appear (two spells, sheild and spell, unarmed, etc).

[whitecrow]

Originally posted by ringtau:

I usually go sword and shield, I like the kill move animations. It looks pretty wicked to destroy an opponant with a bashing shield.

I like the repeat head-butt I get with two-handed weapons. :D

[whitecrow]

Originally posted by Bomb Bloke:

Two-handed does far less damage than dual-wielding. The only real downside to holding two weapons is that the game's keyboard shortcut system sucks at handling them, and you can't bash.

But two-handed in general is pretty rubbish. To equip a spell, you have to sheath your primary weapon. The swing speed is slow and no where near made up for by the extra damage, which is pretty minimal by the time some decent smith effects have been applied.

I've never tried dual wield but maybe I shall. I don't really use spells; when I have tried them they are ineffective anyway. Swing speed was only slow for me with some warhammers, but I am always improving my stamina so it's gotten better. I get great results with battleaxes.

[Persistent Pally [6RCN]]

I've played a couple of hours with One-Handed and I really like the speed. Two-Handed is still a favorite of mine - especially when you get the Ironhand Gauntlets. For this character, I'm staying with light armor, one handed, and a shield.

I've read the responses of using a shield versus dual wielding or having a spell in the other hand. I don't agree that using a shield makes a player less tough than dual wielding or using a spell. Defense is always important especially at Master and Legendary. Plus I get to fend off attacks.

Yes, you can do damage at higher levels where you won't need to defend, but that is a play style and doesn't reflect the toughness of a character.

So I will finish the main-line (finally) with a Nord Warrior Archetype as outlined in the Prima Game Guide.

Cpt

[Persistent Pally [6RCN]]

I got to level 13 with the One-Handed concept and while I like the look of a Leather outfit, my heart returned to my TwoHanded Heavy Warrior, so the Archetype will have to wait another iteration.

There is something about being able to dispatch a bandit with one mighty swing. When I get to Meridia's Shrine for the quest line that will reward me with Dawnbreaker then I will switch to one handed.

Dual wielding is an awesome idea, but it goes against a true warrior type: an assassing who's dual wielding daggers with a sneak perk Assasin's blade makes more sense. I don't see a lot of dual wielding warriors in the Companions, Silverhand or leveled bandits.

Again, I plan on having at least another 10 iterations but I really want to finish to the end of the main quest line. I plan on having TH and OH trees populated before the end of my journey (some of the perks like the backward power attack I'll ignore, but the main perk sequence such as Barbarian, Armsman, Critical Strike, for swords critical hit)

Using the shield was very helpful - it provides an extra layer of defense. When you add the power bash, small creatures like wolves are easily dispatched with a single bash and a hit from the primary weapon.

Bethesda knew they would hook us into this version of The Elder Scrolls series and they delivered. Looking forward to many many years of Elder Scrolls: Skyrim

[Bomb Bloke]

Originally posted by ={† EG}= CptStrategy:

I don't see a lot of dual wielding warriors in the Companions, Silverhand or leveled bandits.

And it's just as well, as the few Forsworn you run into with two weapons tend to make your health plummet. The game would be much more difficult if more NPCs did it.

[Dr. Atrocious]

I like playing the role of a light armored dual-wielding (Sword+dagger) assassin. Or a spellsword vampire.