Source
r/DnD•
Sigma_SP

Can you use a light weapon to make an off-hand attack after you've attacked with a two-handed weapon? 5th Edition

5th Edition

Recently in a campaign, a player used a two-handed weapon to make an attack, and then wanted to pull out his light weapon in his off hand to make an off-hand attack with his bonus action, while holding the two-handed weapon in his main hand. At the time, I said yes, but only for that one time. But I am curious on what your opinions are. Is this allowed in RAW / RAI? how should I rule this going forward?

Posted Jul 29, 2023, 2:30 PM UTC

18
NewNickOldDick•

RAW, two weapon fighting says that if you attack with light melee weapon you're holding in one hand, you can make bonus attack with another.

1
Sigma_SPOP•

Thanks, I seems I had misheard or misread things in the past, which made me think only the off-hand weapon had to be light in order to be able to do an off-hand bonus action attack.

1
NarokhStormwing•

No, the rules on two-weapon fighting make it clear that you need to use a light weapon for the attack action in order to be able to use a second light weapon for your bonus attack.

1
Grinning-Jackal•

The rule in the player’s handbook is that you can make a bonus action attack with an off-hand light melee weapon if you attack with a light melee weapon in your main hand first. You cannot use bonus action attacks after using a two-handed weapon. Also the off-hand weapon does not add your STR/DEX modifier to the damage unless you take the Two-weapon fighting style.

1
LyschkoPlonDM•

While the Dual Wielder feat does allow for some shenanigans with it, this specific interaction from your post doesn't work.

What Dual Wielder (in combination with the Extra Attack feature) would allow though would be to attack with a two handed weapon of choice (first attack with Extra Attack feature), drop it (free), draw two other weapons (item interaction, can draw two weapons at once with Dual Wielder), make an attack with one of them (second attack from Extra Attack), then make an attack with the second one (Two Weapon Fighting bonus action).

So you can get something like 1d12+1d8+1d8 in one turn if you have that specific combination of equipment, features and feats.

1
JmacTheGreat•

Even if RAW didnt say so, as others mention, it takes a full action to unequip a two-handed weapon and equip a 1-handed - and I dont think you can reliably just 1-hand a two-handed weapon during combat

1
Rokhnal•

it takes a full action to unequip a two-handed weapon and equip a 1-handed

No it doesn't; assuming you were already holding the 2-handed weapon at the start of your turn, you could make one attack with it and then drop it. Drawing a single weapon is considered part of the attack you make with it, so a second attack (from Extra Attack, for example) could draw a single weapon and attack with it at the same time. The Dual Wielder feat would allow you to draw two weapons and attack with one at the same time.

and I dont think you can reliably just 1-hand a two-handed weapon during combat

You absolutely can. The two-handed property states "This weapon requires two hands to use. This property is relevant only when you attack with the weapon, not when you simply hold it."

1
JmacTheGreat•

Thats why I said unequip, not throw away

1