Dual Wielding

Dual Wielding is the ability to use a weapon in both hands.

Dual Wield Expertise is a skill that can be used by human characters. Once trained in this skill, it is always in effect.

Skill Text: "Not many make such a fierce impression on the battlefield as those who swing a blade in each hand, so engulfing their immediate vicinity in a red wave of extinction. But even though these fighters may look like frenzied, blood-crazed savages, be not mistaken, for they are quite the opposite: cool-headed and disciplined. With good reason: wielding two weapons in combat demands intense training, and forgoing it has often led to unintended, self-inflicted facial reconstruction."

The damage bonuses listed on this skill do not correlate with the actual damage bonus; this is likely a bug. Both the main hand and the off-hand uses the "Off-Hand Weapon Damage Bonus".

Unsure of how the percentages actually stacked, two weapons were tested.聽 The damage, as it was displayed on the character sheet, was recorded at each level of the skill.聽 Skills were reset and all 13 levels of this skill were purchased one after the other.聽 There were no changes to strength, character level or charms between each point spent.聽 Character's non-weapon stats were as follows:

Character Level: 45

Strength: 88

Main Hand Weapon Damage: 106 - 198 Physical, 34 - 78 Magical

Off-Hand Weapon: 44 - 73 Physical, 0 - 0 Magical

This meteoric increase in damage was tested in live combat and the damage on the character sheet appears to be the actual damage done!聽 A level 39 Ghoul was attacked once, two hits registered and the combined damage was 821 physical at skill level 13.聽 A level 39 slime was hit for 734 physical after both hits were counted.聽 A level 39 skeleton was instantly killed when a critical hit for 1451 and a stand hit for 280 registered.聽 This skill actually increases damage by the amounts listed in the "Damage Increase from Previous Tier" column rather than the actual skill listing.聽 At level 13, this skill increases the damage of your normal attacks to approximately 420% of their base damage!

The data suggests that the bonus for the main hand is bugged - it has exactly the same penalty as the off hand. So you start with 70% penalty in both hands if your skill level is 1. Though you will get the same result when you max this skill, this bug renders dual wield at earlier game useless.

The Dual Wielding skill is generally used by Scoundrel characters who wield one weapon in each hand. This is a new skill introduced in Enhanced Edition, which allows the user to effectively double their damage output at the sacrifice of a defensive option.

The levels which give the most effectiveness are 1, 2 and 5, for the action point cost reduction. The 10% bonus damage from levels 3 and 4 are negligible, so it is recommended to either invest in this skill fully to level 5, or to leave it at level 2. Without the defense of a shield, some Bodybuilding and Willpower or even Armour Specialist skill points may be necessary to survive higher level fights.

Dual Wielding can also be used by Wizard classes, who can wield an elemental wand in each hand. The advantage to this is that many wands provide hefty bonuses to Health Points, increasing survivability by up to 2 Constitution points! This build doesn't have many other perks, though.