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Two-handed Sword or Short Sword and Shield?

Option C. Dual Swords whenever possible.

Also dual pistols.

Basically dual wielding is cool as fuck.

Have you played Xenoblade Chronicles X? Because I have the class for you. And honestly, I agree with your opinion.

But if I have to pick one of the two options, I will go with a longsword. The best defense is a good offense.
 
His opponent has an auto correct shield ..no matter what you think you're doing , you're going to hit that shield

He does that every single time he's fighting a guy with a shield though (in the anime at least). Unless they all use the same skill it looks silly.

Technically, Guts does beat him when Guts is about to leave the band of the hawk.

I wouldn't even say "technically". Griffith got his ass handed to him on a platter by Guts fair and square. The manga makes a point how Griffith'd been too busy being a leader while Guts had been fighting nonstop which made him the superior fighter at that point in time.
 
two handed sword. Tons of strength and damage. That's why I like using the Great Sword from DS2 and Ludwig's Holy Blade (mostly 2 handed) a lot.
 
What anime is this
Looks like fate zero or something

I think Sword Art Online.

Sword Art Online.

Let me save you the trouble. Don't.

Sword Art Online. Apparently it starts good, but goes downhill quickly.


Yes, it's Sword Art Online. First 15 episodes are really good. Many hate the rest.
I loved it all, lol

Either way, playing Hollow Fragment with dual swords is a must.
 
But do you hold them with one or two hands :P?
Both hands.

It is possible to dual wield, of course, but it's very, very difficult. Katanas are deceptively heavy. They're far lighter than, say, a big European sword like a claymore, but not trivial to dual wield.

That said, video games will be video games, so dual kats are great. But there is something amazingly elegant about a simple, beautiful, two-handed katana slice.
 
A gun

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But in most games I usually dual wield or use whatever is the most fun or practical at the time.

Both hands.

It is possible to dual wield, of course, but it's very, very difficult. Katanas are deceptively heavy. They're far lighter than, say, a big European sword like a claymore, but not trivial to dual wield.

That said, video games will be video games, so dual kats are great. But there is something amazingly elegant about a simple, beautiful, two-handed katana slice.
That doesn't seem that bad since claymores or many swords don't really weigh more than like 6 pounds. On the subject of claymores, there needs to be a Claymore game.

Also I actually think that giant weapons like the buster sword can be practical if you fighting powerful monsters, there would some much weight behind each strike that it would deal a lot of damage .
 
A single handed sword, no shield...

Shields are cumbersome and are used by people who expect to get hit, while a dual handed sword is slow and has too much recovery time.

...a single sword allows for speed, parry and dodging (while also leaving one hand free for when you need to surprise the opponent with a throwing/firing weapon) and is the obvious answer.
 
Both hands.

It is possible to dual wield, of course, but it's very, very difficult. Katanas are deceptively heavy. They're far lighter than, say, a big European sword like a claymore, but not trivial to dual wield.

That said, video games will be video games, so dual kats are great.

Did dual wielding even really exist in real life? I know some people used short parry weapons in their offhand but holding two full scale blades seems quite unpractical.

But there is something amazingly elegant about a simple, beautiful, two-handed katana slice.

Yeah definitely, the katana stances also do tend to look pretty neat in videogames.
 
Normally I'd say 2 handed provided it can be wielded properly like Guts from Berserk can.

Otherwise Shield and Sword, need to survive at the end of the day.
 
Depends on the game. I always seem to go 2H big ole sword in souls games. But sword and shield in others.

Generally I'll take speed over anyway. Exocet in Souls games. Maybe I'll change that in III
 
Not a SINGLE game that I know of has ever did Buckler and Sword justice.

It's almost always a "defense" focused class and usually the shields are treated as "small = shitty starter/newbie shield, large shields = the best."

About as far removed from reality as they can get.

There's a reason bucklers were used throughout history more than even larger shields like your Kite shields, tower shields, etc.

It's one of the most versatile tools for melee combat, on top of this there were so many different ways to use it and make them, from having things like a spike on the boss, or serrated edges around the boss, to even a "latch" to help catch swords and other things with the buckler. It was not only a defensive tool but could also be greatly used offensively as well, hitting people with it, catching weapons, cutting, etc.

On top of this bucklers, unlike shields, were generally not strapped to your arm but simply held in your hand, you could easily let go of it if need be, whereas with larger shields you could get it caught/hung up or someone could use it to throw you off balance (since it was stuck to your arm).


Also two handers don't get fair treatment in most games either, not only the good but the bad. Name me a game with half swording? How many games do you see that let you fight with swords vs plate armor (about every rpg ever made) and it works? There's a reason that plate existed, people didn't wear it just for fashion. It pretty much nullified arrows and swords were all but useless against plate unless you knew how to use them, which is where half-swording came in, gripping above the hilt and use the sword more like a spear, focusing on getting it into an unprotected or weak area (like the visor slit, arm pit, groin, etc) where you could slide it in. Usually this was helped by trips/throws and all manner of fighting to get your enemy off balance.

Games and movies have a looooooooooong way to go to even come close to doing either side justice. Heck movies/games still can't even get Castles correct (IE showing castles as bare un-painted stone when many were actually whitewashed and covered to protect the stone from the elements as well as making them stand out).

But if they did, I personally would prefer a sword and buckler.
 
Sword and Board for life IF the game offers good utility options on top of the increased mitigation. If shields just increase armor or something mindless like that, 2H or Dual Wield all day.

A related style I LOVE is Spear and Shield, which is under-utilized in games imo. The weapons go stupidly well together and could be really cool if the dynamics were explored outside of basic shield wall/phalanx stuff.
 
Sword and Shield. I love the blocking sound and the feeling of the opponent hitting it and forcing my character to fall back a little in most games. Don't ask me why. I also feel like it's way more badass to try and stand my ground and block the hits instead of dodging.
 
I tried a two handed sword once and it's really hard to control. Miss a swing and you're wide open. In a game that let you block with your arms behind your back it's workable, but otherwise you can't let anything come close to you. it's fine for making mincemeat out of peasants but it's pretty useless against mobile enemies or those that can withstand a blow.

I'll take the shield.
 
Also two handers don't get fair treatment in most games either, not only the good but the bad. Name me a game with half swording? How many games do you see that let you fight with swords vs plate armor (about every rpg ever made) and it works? There's a reason that plate existed, people didn't wear it just for fashion. It pretty much nullified arrows and swords were all but useless against plate unless you knew how to use them, which is where half-swording came in, gripping above the hilt and use the sword more like a spear, focusing on getting it into an unprotected or weak area (like the visor slit, arm pit, groin, etc) where you could slide it in. Usually this was helped by trips/throws and all manner of fighting to get your enemy off balance.

half swording looks really silly though
same w/ whatever the technique is called where you just literally hold the sword upsidedown and bash them to death with the pommel/guard

but yeah i'd imagine it's gonna be a long while before that level of finesse/technique is really introduced to any game with swordfightin'
 
Both of them depending on the fight. In monster hunter, if i'm hunting a really fast monster like zinogre, i'll either use sns, a pair of dual blades, a long sword or an insect staff. If i'm hunting a slow monster with a lot of health like gravios, i'll either use a great sword, a charge blade or a switch axe.

In other words, sns for quick enemies and 2h sword for slow enemies with lots of health.
 
half swording looks really silly though
same w/ whatever the technique is called where you just literally hold the sword upsidedown and bash them to death with the pommel/guard
Mordhau, literally Deathstrike. The name kinda describes how effective it was if properly executed.
 
2 handed and shield is how I roll
in the Souls games
 
I hate using shields in Souls games. I'd rather dodge through attacks than get stuck in a blockstring. Greatswords all the way.
 
I think I generally prefer 2 handers but mostly because I felt the sword and shields were lackluster in the game rather than having a preference in style. It really depends on the games.

Fiona in Vindictus
Fiona is probably my favourite way to sword and shield play. You have a mix of sword slashes, shield bashes, counters, kicks and rams. It is just really satisfying to play because the hits feel pretty great. It is also one of the only games I know that has multiple guarding stances. Fiona has a the default guard with her shield and her "heavy stander" where she lowers her center of gravity, leans in and takes a generally unblockable attack. It is exceptionally satisfying to time your heavy stander correctly and watch allies get launched backwards with you only to see yourself stand with minimal damage while your allies are floored. The class also has a of shield attacks I enjoyed, the ability to shield ram back into battle from heavy stander knockback for instance is a brilliant idea, it puts your right back into the think of things after a successful temporary defense. It is also satisfying seeing how banged up your shield is after a particularly grueling battle. Your shield would have dents and chips in it, your armor in tatters.
 
I don't think anything is more satisfying than bashing the snot out of someone with a shield and then stabbing them.

Also, shield designs look awesome.
 
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