Larian Studios Forums Divinity II The Dragon Knight Saga / Flames of Vengeance (English) Help/Tips/Tricks 2x1H or 2H?

Hi,

I remember reading that in D2:ED it was better to dual-wield two 1-H swords instead of a 2-Hander. I had done my playthrough as a warrior with a 2-Hander without a problem, but apparently the bonuses on two 1-Handers would have worked better.

Now I am starting a second playthrough with the Director's Cut. I heard that TDKS had received some kind of rebalance. Have the 2-Handers been changed to receive twice the 1-handers bonuses? Does it even matter at the end-game? I am kind of partial to 2-Handers.

Thanks

Actually in D2:ED there was some debate on whether duel wielding or two handed was better. In DKS / D2:DC, when duel wielding the magic damage bonus from each weapon is applied to both (as well as spells, including each missile in a cast of Magic Missile), so it is better if you want to maximize damage. Two handed swords are certainly still a viable option, though.

I ended up taking the advice and going for dual-wielding in spite of often thinking it's a bit gimmicky, but I have to say that ED/DKS is the only game I've played that has two-handed weapons that I actually enjoyed using. Just thought I'd comment since it's so unusual...

Thanks. So the 2-H weapons are just not well balanced to compensate? Or the compensation is in that to properly dual-wield one has to max both the 1-H and Dual-wield skill, but the 2-H user only has the 2-H skill to max?

If you are duel wielding, only that skill is required. I have not played a melee character in DKS, but it is not so much a question of 2 handed swords not being balanced as it is magic damage enchantments being much more effective than in D2:ED.

You really don't have to get the optimal character build in order to successfully finish the game, though. People have played the entire game with an unarmed warrior. Unless you are having persistent trouble with combat, you don't need to worry about the best possible weapon to use (and even then better equipment or an adjustment to stats, skills or strategy may help more than switching weapon types).

2H has a great maximum damage per hit + higher critical.

So is it still as effective as duel wielding? (if you've tried both)

I don't care about how much damage I do. I rather look for weapons with Life Leech, Poison or Fire Curse on and I like it much more to wearing a Two-Handed Sword on my back than 2 One-Handed Weapons and especially a Shield plus a One-Handed weapon I really don't like to look at while running in Rivellon .
This is new for me because in the past I only had eyes for making a good protected hero with sword AND shield ... but now I prefer to drink a Resistance potion rather than searching for gear that give more protection.
My current hero go all the way now for Two-Handed Swords doing Wirlwinds and Thousand Strikes I really like it doing this with a Flamberge

And IF I find 2 One-Handed weapons I only use both together IF both areof the same type (two Axes or 2 swords, 2 Mace's, but never mixing different types).

I darf not to say (but I do*): I've started a New Game in Farglow because I now have a plan to NEVER buy any GEAR at all by trader's ! Only the gear I find (or as quest reward) I may use or sell them.
Again I try a Warrior Priest build so I can compare both builds (one that do lot of trading and searching for the best gear & weapons, the other without this "extra" help)

Planning (and doing so far) also to not buy any Formula's for potions or Enchantment Formula's. Only Charms, Herbs and Ore/Gems I may buy . And I make a list of all kind of gear and Weapons I find.
Discover that One-Handed weapons are common to find, but Two-Handed really not ! Also trader's sell just a few Two-Handed Swords and even not every level I do a trade tour.

* and the same for DD ! Great experience so far for both games ! But it's not simply to resist "going chopping", especially in DKS

I went with a 2-hander for the looks. The combat animations in D2 are ridiculously streetfighter-ish and/or manga-ish and I hate both with a passion, and they look slightly more ridiculous when dual-wielding.

I'm just saying that 2H weapon deal more maximum damage + greater criticals (per hit). IIRC dual-wielding still deals more damage per second in general. Not sure if patches changed anything.