Dual Wielder vs. Polearm Master

[The Crimson Binome]

Though even then, I have some trouble figuring out when I'd use it... as Satyrn points out, +2 Dex gives you the same damage and AC boost as Dual Wielder, and +1 initiative, and +1 to hit, and +1 to all your Dex skills, and +1 to bow damage. So until you hit the cap, there's no reason to even consider it, and when you do hit the cap, there are so many better options for a feat.

Are there, though? A +1 bonus to damage and AC is significant. Those are things that come up multiple times per round. Even if it's not as good as +1 to hit and damage and AC, etc; it's probably better than anything else.

 

[Dausuul]

If you're a rogue, you wouldn't ever take PAM, but you might take DWF for the plus to AC and a slight increase in damage.

It's a very slight increase, hardly worth a feat. Rogues are all about one big hit instead of a barrage of little ones. They mostly dual wield as backup to ensure they land a Sneak Attack every round. If you hit with that first attack, you usually get more mileage out of using your bonus action for Cunning Action*. So most of the time it's a whopping +1 damage per turn, up to +2 if you take the second attack.

If you're a fighter, you can take a fighting style to get off-hand ability mod damage and the two become roughly comparable.

If you're a fighter, the PAM guy has Great Weapon Fighting and gets to re-roll 1s and 2s. Alternatively, the PAM guy could take the Defense fighting style and poach your one small advantage. Either way, you're still behind.

Add in dual-throwing weapons as a bonus.

Hmm... that is a fair point. Dual throwing is decent damage, and the ability to draw multiple weapons in a turn supports it nicely. The only problem is that thrown weapons use Strength, so you don't get to enjoy the benefits of being a Dex fighter.

[SIZE=-2]*Unless of course the latest Sage Advice tweet declares that you have to choose whether to invoke dual wielding when you declare the Attack action.[/SIZE]

 

[Satyrn]

From another perspective - the one I tend to use when picking feats - PM is infinitely superior to DW for the simple reason that it gives me something new to do (the attack) rather than just improving some numbers.

I didn't consider getting to dual wield rapiers instead of short swords as getting something new.

 

[The Crimson Binome]

Hmm... that is a fair point. Dual throwing is decent damage, and the ability to draw multiple weapons in a turn supports it nicely. The only problem is that thrown weapons use Strength, so you don't get to enjoy the benefits of being a Dex fighter.

Finesse thrown weapons can use Dex to hit and damage. It does pretty much limit you to daggers, though.

Consider also that, without feats, Dexterity has a lot more going for it than Strength does. If the Strength-supporting feats are more powerful than the Dex-supporting feats, then that should make them more comparable over-all. Instead of comparing how much one feat helps a Strength-based fighter, to how much the other feat helps a Dex-based fighter, consider the whole picture of how a Strength-based fighter with their one feat compares to a Dex-based fighter with their other feat.

 

[CTurbo]

Though even then, I have some trouble figuring out when I'd use it... as Satyrn points out, +2 Dex gives you the same damage and AC boost as Dual Wielder, and +1 initiative, and +1 to hit, and +1 to all your Dex skills, and +1 to bow damage. So until you hit the cap, there's no reason to even consider it, and when you do hit the cap, there are so many better options for a feat.

Oh I completely agree that A Dex character shouldn't consider it mechanically until Dex is maxed, but after Dex is maxed, it doesn't give you even more.

 

[Mirtek]

PM can also ne used with a staff wielded 1h to use a shield

 

[CTurbo]

While we are on the subject of it, I have actually taken the Dual Wielder feat twice. Once on my Str Fighter build that I specifically wanted to TWF with, and once on one of my Barbarians because I wanted him to use 2 Battleaxes. I was happy with it both times. I typically try to avoid the most popular options and combos though that everybody just HAS to play like PAM+Sentinel and now lately dipping Hexblade for every martial character.

 

[Ancalagon]

PM can also ne used with a staff wielded 1h to use a shield

That might be RAW but that much cheese will constipate you

 

[Oofta]

I don't generally worry too much about a point or two of damage here and there. Don't underestimate getting up to 4 ranged attacks as you close to melee distance though. Depending on campaign and average encounter distance it can make a big difference.

 

[Caliban]

That might be RAW but that much cheese will constipate you

*shrug* I like it just fine. I've got two AL characters that use it - a halfling barbarian and a human paladin/warlock. I wish spears worked with PAM, but you use what you can get.