D&D 5E How many attacks should a two weapon fighter get?

[Lord Vangarel]

One of my players is a two weapon fighter so at 1st level attacks twice on his attack option. He's taken the duel weapon fighting style so adds his ability bonus to his second attack as well.

My question is action surge grants a bonus attack option so that's four attacks? Extra attack is a full extra attack option so that's another two attacks? I think he can get three extra attacks by high level so that would be ten attacks.

Is that right? Want to make sure my understanding is correct.

Also what's the disadvantages of fighting with two weapons?

 

[Zaran]

One of my players is a two weapon fighter so at 1st level attacks twice on his attack option. He's taken the duel weapon fighting style so adds his ability bonus to his second attack as well.

My question is action surge grants a bonus attack option so that's four attacks? Extra attack is a full extra attack option so that's another two attacks? I think he can get three extra attacks by high level so that would be ten attacks.

Is that right? Want to make sure my understanding is correct.

Also what's the disadvantages of fighting with two weapons?

Action surge grants another Action. So he gets Action, action, and bonus action when he uses his Action Surge. Three attacks. At 5th level he will have 5 attacks instead of 4 when he uses an Action Surge

 

[Lord Vangarel]

Action surge grants another Action. So he gets Action, action, and bonus action when he uses his Action Surge. Three attacks. At 5th level he will have 5 attacks instead of 4 when he uses an Action Surge

I thought action surge granted a full action as in two weapons = two attacks?

 

[MerricB]

No. A two-weapon fighter at first level attacks once with the Attack Action and then uses his bonus action to attack with his off-hand weapon.

Action Surge does not double bonus attacks.

At 20th level, Extra Attack provides 3 additional attacks - so four attacks. Add action surge and you get 4 attacks + 4 attacks + 1 bonus attack with off-hand weapon for a total of 9 attacks.

More here on the interaction between attacks, the Attack action, and action surge: http://merricb.com/2015/04/21/the-attack-action-extra-attacks-and-other-attacks/

Cheers!

 

[Lord Vangarel]

No. A two-weapon fighter at first level attacks once with the Attack Action and then uses his bonus action to attack with his off-hand weapon.

Action Surge does not double bonus attacks.

At 20th level, Extra Attack provides 3 additional attacks - so four attacks. Add action surge and you get 4 attacks + 4 attacks + 1 bonus attack with off-hand weapon for a total of 9 attacks.

More here on the interaction between attacks, the Attack action, and action surge: http://merricb.com/2015/04/21/the-attack-action-extra-attacks-and-other-attacks/

Cheers!

Thanks Merric that clears it up. We were having a discussion and he said at high levels he would attack 16 times. I was like WHAT!!!!

 

[Lord Vangarel]

As another question if you have two weapons could you split movement between the attacks? I would say yes as it's your Bonus action. However what happens with Extra Attack. Could you move/attack/move/attack and bonus attack at any point of that?

 

[Greyson]

I appreciate this post, Lord Vangarel, as we have the same question. And thanks to MerricB for the great answer.

I know this is not a rules forum, but I'll pose this related question while I am here if I may.

Does this two-weapon fighting action assumes the character(s) is using two light weapons?

 

[Sunseeker]

As another question if you have two weapons could you split movement between the attacks? I would say yes as it's your Bonus action. However what happens with Extra Attack. Could you move/attack/move/attack and bonus attack at any point of that?

Your movement is simply part of your turn. It is available to you in any amount at any time during your turn. You can move, attack, move, attack, move, attack all you want until you run out of attacks or movement.

EX: At first level with two weapons I can move 10 feet, attack, move 10 feet, attack again, and then move the remainder of my movement.

Does this two-weapon fighting action assumes the character(s) is using two light weapons?

Yes, unless you have the feat to allow you to use non-light weapons.

 

[billd91]

Your movement is simply part of your turn. It is available to you in any amount at any time during your turn. You can move, attack, move, attack, move, attack all you want until you run out of attacks or movement.

EX: At first level with two weapons I can move 10 feet, attack, move 10 feet, attack again, and then move the remainder of my movement.

Yep, and if you're looking for a reference, page 190 of the Players Handbook covers movement in combat and covers this in a section titled "Breaking Up Your Move".

 

[Flamestrike]

One of my players is a two weapon fighter so at 1st level attacks twice on his attack option.

No he doesnt. He attacks once with the attack option. And once (with his off hand) as a bonus action. You only get one bonus action each turn.

Read the combat section of the PHB.

My question is action surge grants a bonus attack option so that's four attacks?

Action Surge grants an extra action. Not an extra attack. Not an extra bonus action.

So your Fighter uses his action to take the Attack action. He makes one attack. He then uses Action Surge to gain another action which he again uses for the Attack action. He then uses his bonus action to make an off-hand attack. Total: three attacks.

Extra attack is a full extra attack option so that's another two attacks? I think he can get three extra attacks by high level so that would be ten attacks.

Sigh. No extra attack allows two attacks each time he takes the Attack action. So your Fighter 5 uses his action to take the Attack action. He makes two attacks. He then uses Action Surge to gain another action which he again uses for the Attack action (making two more attacks). He then uses his single bonus action to make a single off-hand attack. Total: five attacks.

Also what's the disadvantages of fighting with two weapons?

Plently. Its totally suboptimal compared to the other fighting styles.