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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Zaruthustran" data-source="post: 6431334" data-attributes="member: 1457">The Dual Wielder feat cannot be used with a Shield because strictly speaking a Shield is not a "melee weapon": it simply does not appear on the Weapons table. Trying to go the "improvised weapon" route doesn't work either: improvised weapons are, by definition, objects that are either "similar to a weapon" or which "bears no resemblance to a weapon." Improvised Weapons are explicitly not weapons. They're objects, used as weapons.Fortunately, houserules can save the day. In 5E, there's already a proficiency for Shields. As long as we're talking houseruling, it'd make sense to allow that proficiency to include using a shield as a weapon, and thereby allow adding proficiency bonus to attacks made with a shield. So make the shield a 1d4 Blunt weapon with the Heavy property when wielded by someone with Proficiency. Just stick it on the Weapons list as a one-handed martial weapon. Then treat it like any other one-handed martial weapon. Now anyone with proficiency can use a shield as a 1d4 weapon (with Disadvantage on attack rolls if Small). And if you have the Dual Wielder feat, you can TWF with it. Season how you treat the AC bonus (and if it stacks with Dual Wielder) to taste. Personally, I'd keep the +2 to AC always (even when attacking with the shield), but not allow the +1 from DW to stack (in 3E terms, treat the +1 as a Shield bonus).</blockquote>