mmmmm, what to use?
mmmmm, what to use?
I'm currently in playing BG2. I've got a level 12/10 Elven Fighter/Thief that I'm having an absolute blast playing. Currently duel wielding Celestial Fury and Kundane. I just wrapped up the first level in Watcher's Keep and picked up Usuno's Blade. Is it worth replacing Celestial Fury out with this new weapon or even replacing Kundane with it? Not sure what to do here.
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Crenshinibon
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Only when you want to backstab. Otherwise stick with a higher attack speed. Although, I'd get rid of Celestial Fury for it. But then again, I was never a fan of it.
Personally, I just use Belm +2 and Kundane +2 almost all the time, even more than halfway into ToB. Just keep some other weapons around for certain situations.
Personally, I just use Belm +2 and Kundane +2 almost all the time, even more than halfway into ToB. Just keep some other weapons around for certain situations.
“The world breaks every one and afterward many are strong at the broken places. But those that will not break it kills. It kills the very good and the very gentle and the very brave impartially.”
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Crenshinibon
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I personally like having my attack speed, but keep in mind that I usually play a bard that can magically buff himself and is unable to backstab.
Since you're a Fighter/Thief and eventually you'll get two offensive abilities that will make you a deathbringer (Assassinate, which makes every attack with weapon USABLE BY A THIEF a backstab and Whirlwind/Greater Whirlwind, which will increase your attacks per round to ten), it would make sense to use a weapon that deals a lot of damage, ideally, the Staff of the Ram +6. For normal combat, I would go for attack speed.
If you need to backstab, remember to equip a damaging weapon with a high modifier. Two handed swords, halberds, spears or axes will NOT work.
Since you're a Fighter/Thief and eventually you'll get two offensive abilities that will make you a deathbringer (Assassinate, which makes every attack with weapon USABLE BY A THIEF a backstab and Whirlwind/Greater Whirlwind, which will increase your attacks per round to ten), it would make sense to use a weapon that deals a lot of damage, ideally, the Staff of the Ram +6. For normal combat, I would go for attack speed.
If you need to backstab, remember to equip a damaging weapon with a high modifier. Two handed swords, halberds, spears or axes will NOT work.
“The world breaks every one and afterward many are strong at the broken places. But those that will not break it kills. It kills the very good and the very gentle and the very brave impartially.”
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Ode to a Grasshopper
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I'd just stick with Celestial Fury for SoA unless you're fighting creatures with immunity to less than +4 weapons.
Also, if you're into late ToB you'll have missed Belm, you get it
There are two things to look for when dual-wielding: attacks per round and bonus effects.
Attacks per round basically comes down to the extra attack with the offhand, and any bonus attacks granted by the weapon (i.e. Belm, Kundane, Scarlet Ninja-To). The game is hard-coded so that offhand weapons only strike once per round, even if you're using Whirlwind or Improved Haste, so if you have any of the bonus attack weapons in the offhand their magical extra attack will go to your mainhand, with the offhand still doing one attack per round. So, generally Belm or Kundane are best put into your offhand to give an extra attack to your mainhand, which will usually be wielding a more powerful weapon with better effects (in your case, Celestial Fury).
The other major benefit of dual-wielding is the bonus effects besides extra attacks. So for example, many people (myself included) recommend Ranger/Clerics dual-wield Flail of Ages mainhand with Defender of Easthaven offhand. The DoE doesn't give an extra attack per round over the standard dual-wield offhand attack, but it does give you a +1 AC bonus and 20% physical damage resistance, making it kind of like a shield with damage resistance that you can hit things with. For the R/C you can also cast spells like Armor of Faith, which will further boost your damage resistance, or HLAs like Hardiness - if you have a high-level Ranger/Cleric and cast both s/he can become more or less immune to bludgeoning/piercing/slashing damage. If you have a character use Crom Faeyr in the offhand, they'll get 25 Strength; have them use the Equalizer as an offhand weapon and they'll get immunity to Charm and Confusion (and the alignment-based THAC0 bonus carries over to the mainhand, though this doesn't work with every weapon); equip a sword with magic resistance in the offhand and you'll get the magic resistance, etc etc.
For your F/T. Angurvadal +5 will give you 22 STR while equipped, Belm/Kundane/Scarlet Ninja-To will boost your attacks and attack speed (with Kundane), the Equalizer gives you some nice immunities and attack bonuses, or for horrible cheese once you get Use Any Item use the upgraded Purifier bastard sword for 30% magic resistance and some nice item spells. But yeah, for backstabbing stick with the Staff of the Ram.
Also, if you're into late ToB you'll have missed Belm, you get it
Spoiler
in the ogre tower in the Druid Grove.
I'm not Cren, but...cbarchuk wrote:Is having more attacks what I should be focusing on with a dual wielder?
There are two things to look for when dual-wielding: attacks per round and bonus effects.
Attacks per round basically comes down to the extra attack with the offhand, and any bonus attacks granted by the weapon (i.e. Belm, Kundane, Scarlet Ninja-To). The game is hard-coded so that offhand weapons only strike once per round, even if you're using Whirlwind or Improved Haste, so if you have any of the bonus attack weapons in the offhand their magical extra attack will go to your mainhand, with the offhand still doing one attack per round. So, generally Belm or Kundane are best put into your offhand to give an extra attack to your mainhand, which will usually be wielding a more powerful weapon with better effects (in your case, Celestial Fury).
The other major benefit of dual-wielding is the bonus effects besides extra attacks. So for example, many people (myself included) recommend Ranger/Clerics dual-wield Flail of Ages mainhand with Defender of Easthaven offhand. The DoE doesn't give an extra attack per round over the standard dual-wield offhand attack, but it does give you a +1 AC bonus and 20% physical damage resistance, making it kind of like a shield with damage resistance that you can hit things with. For the R/C you can also cast spells like Armor of Faith, which will further boost your damage resistance, or HLAs like Hardiness - if you have a high-level Ranger/Cleric and cast both s/he can become more or less immune to bludgeoning/piercing/slashing damage. If you have a character use Crom Faeyr in the offhand, they'll get 25 Strength; have them use the Equalizer as an offhand weapon and they'll get immunity to Charm and Confusion (and the alignment-based THAC0 bonus carries over to the mainhand, though this doesn't work with every weapon); equip a sword with magic resistance in the offhand and you'll get the magic resistance, etc etc.
For your F/T. Angurvadal +5 will give you 22 STR while equipped, Belm/Kundane/Scarlet Ninja-To will boost your attacks and attack speed (with Kundane), the Equalizer gives you some nice immunities and attack bonuses, or for horrible cheese once you get Use Any Item use the upgraded Purifier bastard sword for 30% magic resistance and some nice item spells. But yeah, for backstabbing stick with the Staff of the Ram.
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Thanks again for the wonderful info guys. I just finished the 4th level of Watcher's Keep. So far so good and I'm still in chapter one of the main SoA game. I've never really played a dual wielder much so its confusing figuring out what I should use. Right now I've got Usuno's Blade, Arguvadal +4, Celestial Fury, and Spectral Brand +4. I'm still using Kundane in my off hand and have been swapping my main hand with one of these different swords. All these choices... 