Larian Studios Forums Baldur's Gate III Baldur's Gate III - Build Discussion Bladesinger can't use Quarter Staff?

So, I've had an idea for a build for a companion for nearly my whole playthrough, and finally had the chance to implement it, but, it seems like Bladesinger and Bladesinging don't like quarterstaves? I'm trying to use a special one, and while I guess it isn't super important if I use it, I can probably still benefit from the gear, but was kinda hoping to be able to make use of it, and honestly, really wanted that imagery of the wizard with a staff in one hand, sword in the other, kinda like gandalf. And really surprised I can't? Is this meant to be the case? I've tried having it be on either hand, but I get Bladesong impeded anyways.

It should theoretically work if you have it in your off-hand (This requires the Dual Wielder feat as staves are not Light weapons - This is also relevant if your chosen weapon is Rapier or Longsword as these also are not Light weapons and would require Dual Wielder feat to enable dual wielding)

Bladesong's requirements are only that you have the chosen weapon type in your main hand and no shield in the off-hand. Any other weapon in the off-hand still works.

I'll have a look see myself to confirm if things are funky... But it *should* function provided you meet the aforementioned bladesong requirement.

Edit: Just tested and it does appear that Bladesong Impeded occurs when holding any weapon that is not part of the "Training in War and Song" class feature.

Meaning that you can have a Dagger/Sickle/Shortsword/Rapier/Scimitar/Longsword in your off hand (Regardless of your chosen weapon) so long as you have your chosen weapon in the main hand (Rapier and Longsword require Duel Wielder feat). But any other weapon type does not work (Even if you have proficiency with it, such as Spears with Civil Militia or Staves from base Wizard)

That's a shame, really wanted that imagery of staff and sword, but I can live with it. I'm about to get to act three and can find Cold Snap to use as my off-hand.

Gandalf had the sword in his main hand while fighting and staff in his off hand... this is doable in BG3
phalar-aluve and spellsparkler are my pick

Ah yes, Hollywood.

But I am not aware you can actually fight onehanded with a Quarterstaff. YouTube videos that show actual Quarterstaff fighting are very easy to look up. While you sometimes thrust, its mainly a bludgeoning weapon. You need two hands for it.

This is not like a spear, which is usually mainly a thrusting weapon, can be used with a single hand, and is often used with a shield.

The fact that you need dualwielder to wear two Quarterstaffs at the same time is very bonkers to me anyway. People dont wear two Quarterstaffs to actually fight with them. They use them as oversized wands. Just give me a -4 to attack or whatever and allow me to dualwield staffs without any further feat requirement would be just fine.

I never let my wizard go into melee combat, so it never occurred to me to let him dual wield anything. But. If this works, does it mean a magic user could wield a staff and the defender flail, not to use the latter in melee, but to have the permanent +1 AC ?

Yes.

But at that point, you may as well just equip a shield for +2 or +3 AC...

Usually the benefit for dual wielding on a magic user would be things like dual wielding Staffs for their Spell Attack/DC bonus. Or having a Staff and something like Knife of the Undermountain King (For extra crit and rerolling of 1's for damage - An effect that gets better the more dice you are rolling, such as with higher level spells)

But yes, Duel Wielder on a caster can be useful so you can hold 2 different stat sticks, simply for their passive boosts.

Using a shield on a wizard in BG3 is just mainstream at this point anyway.

The armor class bonus alone is already highly desireable, as are additional benefits from specific shields, like an initiative bonus.

The same goes for dualwielding Hand Crossbows. That simply gives wizards (and other classes) something to do with their bonus action, which otherwise is often wasted.