What are the best offhand weapons in the game?

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I'm of the strong belief that it's really not even worth dual wielding unless that offhand weapon provides a significant bonus. This can be either immunities, extra attacks, or greater STR.

The ones that immediately come to mind as great offhand weapons to me are:

Belm
Crom Faeyr
Kundane
Dak'kon's Zerth Blade
Defender of Easthaven

Please let me know of other weapons that make great offhand weapons in this game.

TIA

 

I reckon it can still be worth dual wielding even if the offhand weapon doesn't do too much (other than good damage) - provided you have decent thac0 from high strength, magical weapons and plenty of proficiency points (and at least 2 in two weapon style) you can really increase your damage output. Of course it works the other way with low str, prof points and mundane weapons, and considerations like the inability to use shield must be considered with dual wielding.

For this reason I'd also recommend any weapon of +3 greater enchantment for which the wielder has proficiency points in (and preferably decent strength and THAC0 to top it off). In ToB critical hit negates the THAC0 issue, so dual wielding with improved haste becomes a pretty awesome combination.

[Edit]the "Dual Wielding Analysis" section of Dan Simpson's walkthrough gives a pretty good overview of the importance of THAC0 on the dual wielding efficacy thing.

 

Well, it that kind of question where you get as much answers as there is people on this board, I think.

I believe it's just as much a matter of taste and playstyle as anything else?

Personally I don't think those are bad choices:

Axe of the Unyielding +5

The Answerer

The Equalizer

Foebane +5

Scarlet Ninja-To +3

 

I don't remember which sword, but there's one that gives four (I think) mirror images per day. I had tons of fun with that (been some time since I tried that tactic).

For powergaming; Crom Faeyr as always. 25 str is just... pure power.

Otherwise I agree with Ironhawk Skylord, you could probably get a positive oppinion on every weapon in the game.

Personally, I just plain like dual-wielding in general, and I've never played a single weapon character that was more powerful than a dual-wielder.

Had a Kensai/Mage with Celestial Fury/Blackrazor and Crom Faeyr. That was fun/boring.

Any weapon you would equip as your weapon of choice on a single weapon character, works as your dual-wield choice IMO. Dak'kon's Zerth Blade, Celestial Fury and The Equalizer beeing my favourite weapons in the game.

 

It should be noted that the following THAC0 penalties apply to various levels of two handed weapon style (in)proficiencies
hand: off/main
(none): -8/-4
* : -6/-2
** : -4/0
*** : -2/0

So unless you have ** stars or more you're gonna incur some pretty major penalties. After this, and with decent weapons/strength/prof. points/levels your THAC0 is less of an issue and the extra attack is a pretty good advantage, especially for swashbucklers and kensai's who cannot use shields.

 

So much depends on your style of play. For instance, if you use your full knowledge of upcoming fights to buff your parties to the max via spells, then you don't have much need for immunites, and should concentrate on weapons that either provide extra attacks, or disable enemies in some way. The weapons that provide extra attacks have all been mentioned, but in the 2nd category, you could consider weapons like Jhor the Bleeder, Gnasher, etc.

A lot also depends on time of game - in lists like this, people always mention weapons like The Answerer, which you can only have for about 5% of the game. For instance, in the early game, Arbane's Sword can be a good choice - immunity to Hold (and possibly to Stun, depending on which if any fixpack you have installed) and its Haste ability are nothing to be sneezed at.

I also have to say that anybody who uses Crom Faeyr as an off-hand weapon deserves to be punished by some Dwarvish deity

 

If I go dual-wielding, I go with ***, mayby ** - period.

I often use Arbane's Sword in the beginning. Alot of weapons you can find early are good, and with ***, you don't really have to worry about your THAC0 (since you're only penalized with -2 on off-hand).

Short Sword of Mask +4 can be obtained cheesly early.

Ilbrahta is pretty neat, Blade of Roses, well really any good weapon makes for a good off-hand weapon.

If you play, say a plain thief, you only get * in dual-wield, and then the bonuses have to be really good ofc.

I usually go with Dak'kon's Zerth Blade when playing a Fighter/Mage, mainly because it's a good sword for a mage, and it can be obtained early.

But the Crom Faeyr is still the king. 25 str and golem slaying is just too good. Especially since you get it just in time for Suldanesselar.

 

No forgiveness for using Axe of the Unyielding in the main hand?

Oh, and Spetznaz, with UAI, a thief could choose and pick any weapon for his off-hand, even Crom Fayr, if preferred. So the negative effects could probably be irrelevant, depending on the weapon in question, no?

 

Yet, the best off-hand weapon remains the Scarlet Ninja-to for those who can use it(Bards and Thieves with UAI of course). For the others, first to mind comes Belm, then Kundane. They give an extra attack yes, but with Improved haste the bonus doubles, and with Offensive spin on top of that, even triples.

Crom Faeyr is the best off-hand weapon for a Cleric like Aerie, or is an equally good main weapon for Haer'dalis while Scarlet is off-hand(25 str, 9 attacks with IH and Offensive spin, and all of the defensive Bard spells).

There is no use putting weapons like Celestial Fury or Flail of Ages off-hand, because anyway the off-hand weapon deals only 1 attack per round, the rest of the APR go to the main-handed weapon.

 

with fighter/mage or F/M/T i always go with Black Blade of Disaster(spell) and Black Razor in the offhand

thats just pure power

 

The problem with Black Razor is that you can only use it in Hell (which doesn't take more than an hour or so), unless you play ToB, which I, for one, generally do not.

@ saros - I still vote Crom Faeyr the best off-hand overall. For any type of fighting class, it's just overpowered (which it is, hehe.. )

And also, there IS a reason to put ie the Celestial Fury in off-hand, since it hits once per round, and more with haste and spin etc. Don't forget that a Katana hits like a two-handed sword. Flail of Ages hits hard as well.

They deal alot of dmg.