I've always assumed that all Nightshades use 2 weapons because they think that it looks cool. Does it provide some sort of mechanical advantage?

If I PA someone from stealth and the off-hand weapon hits, does my damage double? Or, is the off-hand basically act as a damage add of sorts?

I guess you can consider it a damage add

But I mean, it matters. When the offhand hits with a 16.5 dps weapon it can deal some decent additional damage, and having that offhand swing every round of combat versus having it not swing at all during a fight can easily easily be hundreds upon hundreds of damage. You also want it to land sooner rather than later to at least apply your offhand poison ASAP.

Speccing in CD raises the chance for the NS's offhand to swing every combat round. It has a cap of 75% IIRC. But you won't really reach that cap as a NS because you would have to take CD really high and/or spend a lot of points in Dualist Reflexes.

Some NS use a shield to PA -> more dmg with the main hand (maybe because they don't have a second weap that lower the weapon speed with the hidden haste effect so it deals more dmg ?)
or you can try to pa with a staff -> 100% dext = more dmg !

Ganaka wrote:I've always assumed that all Nightshades use 2 weapons because they think that it looks cool. Does it provide some sort of mechanical advantage?

If I PA someone from stealth and the off-hand weapon hits, does my damage double? Or, is the off-hand basically act as a damage add of sorts?

For the most part you want to wield 2 weapons as a NS because you are a DPS and you want to kill your target as fast as possible.

Celtic Duel increases your chance each attack to attack with both weapons (hit the target twice with 1 attack) You have a base 25% to do this. every 1 point of Celtic Duel adds a .5% chance.

Generally a NS wants to use the slowest main hand weapon they can choose. This allows for the most opening damage with the crit opener. The offhand weapon speed is not very important. You can then switch to your other main weapon if you prefer faster weapons or you can use one the same speed. This also allows you to put 3 different poisons on your target

pirhana7 wrote:

Ganaka wrote:I've always assumed that all Nightshades use 2 weapons because they think that it looks cool. Does it provide some sort of mechanical advantage?

If I PA someone from stealth and the off-hand weapon hits, does my damage double? Or, is the off-hand basically act as a damage add of sorts?

For the most part you want to wield 2 weapons as a NS because you are a DPS and you want to kill your target as fast as possible.

Celtic Duel increases your chance each attack to attack with both weapons (hit the target twice with 1 attack) You have a base 25% to do this. every 1 point of Celtic Duel adds a .5% chance.

Generally a NS wants to use the slowest main hand weapon they can choose. This allows for the most opening damage with the crit opener. The offhand weapon speed is not very important. You can then switch to your other main weapon if you prefer faster weapons or you can use one the same speed. This also allows you to put 3 different poisons on your target

The best reason to dual wield is to apply another poison. That makes sense.

Feuille wrote:Some NS use a shield to PA -> more dmg with the main hand (maybe because they don't have a second weap that lower the weapon speed with the hidden haste effect so it deals more dmg ?)
or you can try to pa with a staff -> 100% dext = more dmg !

No NS will ever use a shiled to PA. Why would you give up damage and utility?

The second weapon does not lower the weapon speed of your mainhand with CD. The haste effect only comes into play, wenn your CD is actually swinging. If your offhand is faster, you can use your next style faster again. Your mainhand damage however will not be reduced.

It is important to have CD at least at 18 spec for the sidestun.

You need envenom at 47 (minimum incl. RR and Items), Stealth at 50 (incl. RR and Items), Weapon at 51 (inc. RR+Items), Crit 44-50 and the rest will be 18+X CD.