D&D 5E Shield Attacks and AC Bonus

[FrogReaver]

Also, in rules jargon, there is no need that an improvised weapon be considered a weapon (unless your dm rules the improvised weapon to be so close to an actual weapon that you can use the actual weapons statistics).

So my ruling would be that a shield is an improvised weapon but not similar to any actual weapon and since two-weapon fighting requires you to wield a weapon and the dual wielder feat only lets you ignore the light part of the two-weapon fighting rule then I rule against being able to two-weapon fight with any improvised weapon that doesn't resemble an actual weapon well enough to use it's statistics in place of the normal improvised weapon damage.

 

[Satyrn]

3) Without the Dual Wielder feat, you also could not add your Str/Dex mod to damage.

I assume you mean the fighting style.


Edit: With that fix, I'd happily rule the way you lay it out.

 

[Blue]

two-weapon fighting rules don't allow a character to attack with a weapon and shield. So I assume you mean "as-if" using the two-weapon fighting rules. In which case you are clearly outside RAW and it's up to you to decide how it works.

I believe the OP is talking about using a shield as an Improvised Weapon (PHB 147-148) and attacking with it using two-weapon fighting (PHB 195). Though since it's unlikely a shield would be counted as a light weapon it would require the Dual Wielder feat (PHB 169).

All of that looks like it's by the rules.

 

[Blue]

Also, in rules jargon, there is no need that an improvised weapon be considered a weapon (unless your dm rules the improvised weapon to be so close to an actual weapon that you can use the actual weapons statistics).

So my ruling would be that a shield is an improvised weapon but not similar to any actual weapon and since two-weapon fighting requires you to wield a weapon and the dual wielder feat only lets you ignore the light part of the two-weapon fighting rule then I rule against being able to two-weapon fight with any improvised weapon that doesn't resemble an actual weapon well enough to use it's statistics in place of the normal improvised weapon damage.

Except that Improvised Weapon rules are what are listed under the Weapon section of the PHB. It's pretty clear that Improvised Weapons are a subset of Weapons as per the PHB layout.

 

[Hawk Diesel]

I assume you mean the fighting style.


Edit: With that fix, I'd happily rule the way you lay it out.

Oops! Yea, that's what I meant.

 

[epithet]

Two-weapon fighting would not normally apply to using a shield as a weapon, because improvised or not it wouldn't be a "light melee weapon." The Dual Wielder feat would remove this limitation and let you use the shield with two-weapon fighting, and the Tavern Brawler feat would let you apply your proficiency bonus to the attack. The Two-Weapon Fighting fighting style would let you apply your stat bonus to your damage, and I think 1d6 bludgeoning would be the appropriate damage for a shield used in this way.

Another option would be for a character to gain proficiency in using a shield as a weapon using the Weapon Master feat. Since it is not a traditional weapon, it might take two of your four granted weapon proficiencies to learn it.

Inevitably some smartass will then suggest that his character would equip two shields, using them as weapons and gaining a +4 to armor class. The correct response to this suggestion is to point out that the shield bonus assumes that the shield will be moved to intercept attacks and that they don't overlap unless the character wants to give himself the blinded condition, followed immediately by saying (with absolute seriousness,) "With a wave of vertigo you find yourself transported to a place out of nightmares, before a throne of skulls. The corpulent demon lord sitting there can only be Orcus, and as he heaves his bulk up from his seat he laughs at you. Roll initiative." You may prefer to use the tarrasque, it's really a matter of style. Unless the smartass is your ride home, in which case I can't help you.

 

[epithet]

Another clever combo would be the Tavern Brawler feat and the Crossbow Expert feat. Using the shield as a weapon with the Attack action would give you a bonus action attack with the hand crossbow, which would be pretty slick.

Edit: Although, since you could get the same number of attacks with just Crossbow Expert, I suppose using the shield as a weapon would only be advantageous if you want to use your strength bonus for those attacks, or you just want to conserve ammunition.

 

[guachi]

Except you wouldn't have a free hand to load the hand crossbow.

 

[Hawk Diesel]

Personally, since shields are meant to be used in conjunction with a weapon, despite improvised weapons not normally being considered light, I could see the exception being made in this case.

 

[Yunru]

Another clever combo would be the Tavern Brawler feat and the Crossbow Expert feat. Using the shield as a weapon with the Attack action would give you a bonus action attack with the hand crossbow, which would be pretty slick.

Except Crossbow Expert still requires you attack with a light weapon, which a shield still isn't.