Daggers or swords

RagnarVI

So I'm a dual wield nightblade I only use swords but I've seen a lot of people dual wielding with daggers what are the benefits of using daggers? Or is it basically just a preference thing?

mr1sho

Swords do more damage I think daggers proc bleed I may be wrong on that

TheShadowScout

Daggers give more critical, swords give more damage.
At least that's the bare bones of it...
...now, if you have a build or gear setup that wants criticals... say... some "heal on crit" thing... you may want to go for daggers. if not, take up the swords (or maces for extra armor penetration, or axes if you like bleed...)

Brrrofski

Swords increase damage
Daggers increase crit rating
Maces increase armor penetration (amount of physical resistance you ignore)
Axes have a chance to cause bleed damage (damage over time)

RagnarVI

So is there one that's the "best" our is it really just about build and preference? Like what do you (the readers) use and why I pretty much only use swords because I saw the higher damage and just arssumed they were the best. Also I'm only lvl 21 and have been dual wielding most of my game

Whatzituyah

Don't underestimate a Nightblade with Maces in PvP learned that the hard way as a Light armored character. Infact don't underestimate any character with any weapon and class who knows how strong it may actually be. Basically depending on what your aiming for use those weapons but as duelwielding goes you can have 2 different effects depending on the weapon. Example being have an axe for bleed and sword as damage while not as great of an effect as having the same weapon it just mixes it up.

Maphusail

Some people say that crit chance from daggers can only be applied to melee situations, i.e. you can't get crit heal from it.
Would be great if someone approves or disapproves it.

ListerJMC

RagnarVI wrote: »

So is there one that's the "best" our is it really just about build and preference? Like what do you (the readers) use and why I pretty much only use swords because I saw the higher damage and just arssumed they were the best. Also I'm only lvl 21 and have been dual wielding most of my game

From what I've heard, either two maces or a mace and a dagger is best for maximum damage. Armor penetration and more crit apparently do better than the sword damage bonus (however, I believe this is with a specific configuration of champion points; I don't think it's a major issue at your level which weapons you use. I still have my curved swords - I'm a Redguard, what can I say? ).

TheShadowScout

Heh. I have three characters who duel-wield... my main bounty huntress, who will forever use daggers because they make the most sense as melee weapon when paired with her ranged bow, my craftsmistress alt orc girl, who generally goes for maces in all she wieldy. Its a blacksmith thing I suppose... wilding big hammers and such... and my bosmer huntress, who goes for dagger and axe, because of woodcraft (swords are nice for fighting, but a dagger is much more useful for skinning game, and an axe can also do a much better work splitting firewood...)

Don't really care if some other combination would be more effective. I pick my armamemnts for my character backstory, not for what might be effective...

ADarklore

Maphusail wrote: »

Some people say...

I think that's a line from the game, I hear it a lot in Elden Root... "The biggest liar in Tamriel is, 'some people say'"? Dagger increases your Crit Chance noted by numbers in UI, there isn't a restriction on what your Crit Chance applies to- damage or healing. So yes, dagger Crit Chance effects BOTH damage and healing and is not restricted to damage only.

Brrrofski

TheShadowScout wrote: »

Heh. I have three characters who duel-wield... my main bounty huntress, who will forever use daggers because they make the most sense as melee weapon when paired with her ranged bow, my craftsmistress alt orc girl, who generally goes for maces in all she wieldy. Its a blacksmith thing I suppose... wilding big hammers and such... and my bosmer huntress, who goes for dagger and axe, because of woodcraft (swords are nice for fighting, but a dagger is much more useful for skinning game, and an axe can also do a much better work splitting firewood...)

Don't really care if some other combination would be more effective. I pick my armamemnts for my character backstory, not for what might be effective...

For rp purposes, Yeh, use what you like.

But when making a build for pvp, weapon choice and their effectiveness matters.

Vorcil

What do you mean by "increase damage"

adding crit increases damage over time

but what does having dual swords do to a spell caster?

are you talking about meele sword dual attacks only?
or would that also increase the damage of funnel health say, / all class abilities

does it affect DOTs?

NovaMarx

This one often uses a dagger AND a sword - but if she could only choose one, it would be daggers (MagBlade here!) - reasons have already been given by others

Mush55

Vorcil wrote: »

What do you mean by "increase damage"

adding crit increases damage over time

but what does having dual swords do to a spell caster?

are you talking about meele sword dual attacks only?
or would that also increase the damage of funnel health say, / all class abilities

does it affect DOTs?

Swords increase all damage , be it spell or physical attacks as long as you take the last passive in the dual wield tree ..

I55UE5

Read the passive in the skill line.

NinjaMyk

NovaMarx wrote: »

This one often uses a dagger AND a sword - but if she could only choose one, it would be daggers (MagBlade here!) - reasons have already been given by others

Daggers only increase weapon crit not spell crit with the twin blade and blunt passive so you get no positive effect using daggers as a magblade. Only the swords increase damage effects amount of damage you do as a magic user

DurzoBlint13

the tooltip on Daggers say that they only increase Weapon crit. Did that change?
Swords give bonus damage to all attacks. That is why I always thought it was swords only that work for magica builds. Is that wrong? When did they change it? Do daggers affect crit chance on spells too?

Gilliamtherogue

Daggers; 5% weapon critical per (10% with both)
Swords; 2.5% flat damage per (5% with both)
Maces; 10% armor REDUCTION (20% with both)
Axes; 8% on melee attacks (a lot of things actually do not proc this despite being melee) to bleed for X damage over 6 seconds.

In PvE 2 Daggers or 1 Axe 1 Dagger will provide the most overall DPS to optimized stamina builds (2 daggers for nightblades and AoE situations on all toons, 1 Axe 1 Dagger for stam DKs)

Some caster builds use 2 swords since the 5% applies to all damage, and dual wielding nets a higher spell damage than staves due to internal weapon mechanics.

In PvP it turns to preference. Daggers are powerful but with impenetrable trait critical damage is reduced, lowering efficiency and you cannot crit on damage shields completely nullifying it. Maces are strong and provide large flat damage gains (more than swords in 9 cases out of 10 unless the player you are fighting is pretty much naked). Axes now proc through shields and block, meaning they're a lot stronger than before in PvP, but can be purged(? may have changed in PvP, I know you can purge bleeds from PvE)

Swords are completely useless for damage dealing stamina builds as each of the other weapon types provide more damage in some way shape or form, so unless you're trying to RP or look cool don't touch them. If you're not worried about DPS much and just wanna do your thing, feel free, but know you'll be gimping yourself.

TheShadowScout

Brrrofski wrote: »

For rp purposes, Yeh, use what you like.

But when making a build for pvp, weapon choice and their effectiveness matters.

Fu... uhm... forget PvP effectiveness. I am a mediocre PvPlayer, I get my behind kicked in Cyrodil or gods forbid Imperial City regardless. Might as well go with what's fun for me while I respawn!