I think the only time I'd really take or recommend taking Dual Wielder is on a fighter who had an ASI to spare at level 8 because his level 4 and 6 ASIs were enough to get a 20 in his attack stat (STR or DEX). If a player really had fun dual wielding then the feat certainly makes it a bit more useful.
Dual Wielder vs. Polearm Master
CapnZapp
Legend
No, one feat is plainly better than the other.
This should go under disadvantages too. Reach is good... and also bad, since it allows enemies much greater leeway in moving around and past you. As long as they don't leave your reach, your opportunity attack isn't triggered.
CapnZapp
Legend
That's not what people are saying.
We want and expect feats that are balanced against each other; roughly equal choices.
Just that they're not terrible is a very low bar. You should expect more from WotC than merely that it "is there" and "not [] useless". We do.
Note, pam does not give reach. It can be used with quarterstaff.
Martial weapon proficiency gives you access to iirc the reach weapons (also certain pacts).
If one considers the bigger picture you could lust "requires martial weapon proficiency or equivalent to get full benefits) as a drawback for pam.
Every character can dw. No special proficiencies requred.
CapnZapp
Legend
I simply merged dual wielder and defensive duelist: take one, get both.
God knows they're both far too weak-sauce to stand alone.
Zardnaar
Legend
This the published WoTC adventures are short on magical polearms and hand crossbows. I see nature clerics often picking PAM though.
TWF is decent for Rogues who splash the fighter level. Then you're getting +1 AC, 2 1d8 weapons, 1d8+ dex damage in your off hand and you double your chance to sneak attack. Alot of Rogues prefer running around being semi pointless and then complain about why their damage is low though so go figure.
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Zardnaar
Legend
After 3E and 4E I have stopped doing this. What the adventure has is what you get.
Zardnaar
Legend
Not really you can go dex based with TWF. Dex > strength even with PAM and PAM gets wrecked at range while the TWF can put away a weapon and draw a bow and use it while the PAM user puts away a weapon, misses an attack and then gets to throw a single spear (or whatever) the following round.
The few TWF users I sew with the feat wander round with a single weapon drawn and they can easily draw another one or switch to a bow in the same round. Dex based battlemaster switched to a bow, action surge and granted an extra attack to the Rogue while the great weapon fighter twiddled his thumbs. I'm also really really cheap with magical polearms and play adventures by the book in terms of magic items handed out. Magical showrdswords, rapiers and daggers seem a lot more common than polearms.
I have seen 1 feral TWF build that acquired a flaming short sword and a frostbrand IIRC. Generally PAM is better but its not absolute and I use varied encounters so you will get ranged encounters roughly 1/3rd of the time (well 25-50% of the time rarely 0%).
Paul Farquhar
Legend
Not really. You can stack the +1 AC from Defense style with the +1 AC from Dual wielder.
Also: Gnomes and Halflings suffer disadvantage when wielding polearms.
Also: Gnomes and Halflings suffer disadvantage when wielding polearms.
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