The game Skyrim offers many ways to play, allowing for different playstyles and strategies. Whether you want to use stealth archery or heavy armor with a two-handed weapon, the game supports various approaches. It’s also possible to dual-wield in Skyrim, so if you like that style, it’s a completely valid choice.
That being said, it can be a risky strategy as you lose the ability to parry and block. Moreover, you are constantly up close and personal in every battle. This quick guide will show you how to dual-wield in Skyrim and provide some strategies for doing so effectively.
How To Dual Wield In Skyrim
In Skyrim, the way you use dual wielding is by pressing the right-hand attack or left-hand attack buttons on the respective weapons in your inventory. You need two different one-handed weapons, such as swords, maces, and axes.
As such, two-handed or ranged weapons cannot be dual-wielded for obvious reasons. You can also dual-wield most spells. For example, flames and healing can be technically dual-wielded. The way you equip them is the same as with weapons.
In such scenarios, dual-wielding is even recommended; there are perks that make your spells more powerful when wielded in pairs.
Best Dual-Wielding Strategies to Be Effective in Combat
This playstyle depends a lot on the armor you are wearing, the race you choose, and the type of build you pick. In theory, picking heavy armor is best since you cannot use blocking at all while dual wielding. Thus, having extra armor may come in handy.
However, having speed is also important. You don’t want to get pinned down by mages and archers, especially frost mages. You want to go in fast and deal as much damage as possible.
Proper Build for Using Two Weapons
Overall, the best method for dual wielding in Skyrim is to go with heavy armor and use the perk Conditioning to negate the movement speed penalties one gets with heavy armor. Using light armor is not worth it because, after Conditioning, it is inferior to heavy in virtually every way for this build.
On the topic of skills, focusing on Heavy Armor, One-Handed, and Smithing is recommended, even though there are some really useful skills in Skyrim, such as Enchanting and Alchemy, that are still beneficial.
The build you want to go for should mostly put points into Health, Stamina second, and Magicka is pretty much useless for you.
For perks, it is best to go with what gives the most damage, so take anything from the one-handed tree, keeping in mind your weapon of choice.
Best Race To Pick For Dual-Wielding in Skyrim
The best race to play as is definitely the orcs; their unique ability, Berserker Rage, is the most powerful out of any of the races for this sort of playstyle. It allows you to do double damage while simultaneously taking only half.
Orcs are clearly the number one race for dual-wielding, yet Redguards, Argonians, and Nords are also viable.
Which Weapons are the Best to Dual Wield in Skyrm?
They all have their strengths and weaknesses, but honestly, pick whatever looks the coolest. You will be dual wielding, so your attack speed does not matter as much when you do more damage.
Swords
Swords have the second-fastest attack, slower only than daggers. Moreover, due to their perks, they have the highest DPS while critical hitting. Axes focus on damage over time with bleed damage, making them ideal for targets with large amounts of health, such as giants and dragons.
Mace attacks are the slowest, but they are best used against armored enemies because they ignore the percentage of armor that the enemies have. Daggers, on the other hand, are the fastest attacking weapons but have less reach and no chance to stagger their targets.
If we had to pick one, it would probably be the swords in the long term, as attack speed is one of the most important stats in Skyrim. Moreover, swords are more reliable than daggers.
The Best Shouts To Use
The best shouts to use heavily depend on the situation, but some to have in your arsenal are:
- Elemental Fury
- Become Ethereal
- Frost Breath
- Ice Form
- Unrelenting Force
- Whirlwind Sprint
Final Words
Dual wielding in Skyrim is an exciting playstyle that can lead to some epic battles. With two weapons in hand, players can deal massive damage and take down enemies in no time. While it can be a risky strategy, it’s a completely valid choice in the game. Remember to equip two different one-handed weapons or spells, press the corresponding attack buttons, and aim for maximum speed and damage.
The best race to pick for dual wielding is the orcs. Furthermore, the best weapons to use are swords due to their speed and reliability. Ultimately, the best way to succeed at dual wielding in Skyrim is to choose heavy armor, focusing on One-Handed, Heavy Armor, and Smithing skills, and taking perks that boost damage.
Mastering the art of dual wielding might take some time and practice, but with the right build and strategy, players can become a powerful force to be reckoned with in the world of Skyrim.
If you are looking for more insights into how to do awesome things in-game, check out our guide on how to call your horse in Skyrim, including some of the game’s rarest horses.
