Line #109 Main/DualWielding


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10	[[quoteright:350:[[UsefulNotes/HistoricalEuropeanMartialArts https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/dwield_4609.png]]]]
11	[-[[caption-width-right:350:The guy on the right should have [[Film/ThePrincessBride studied his Agrippa]] more.]]-]
12
13	->''"If one sword has a power of 100, then using two swords would make it 200, right?"''
14	-->-- '''Lloyd Irving''', ''VideoGame/TalesOfSymphonia''
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16	%% One quote is sufficient. Please place additional entries on the quotes tab.
17
18	This trope refers to wielding two weapons at once. After all, if one weapon is good, then two weapons must be twice as good. The tactics can vary widely. A character might be concerned [[AttackAttackAttack only with offence]] and therefore decides that he wants to kill with both hands rather than just one. More tactical characters might typically use their off-handed weapon for blocking or [[CombatPragmatist tricky counter-attacks]].
19
20	The types of weapons used can also be diverse. If the character has one hand dominant, he might wield a long weapon in one hand and a shorter weapon in his off-hand, such as a classic rapier and dagger pairing. Two small weapons is also pretty common, with the idea that smaller, nimbler weapons won't get tangled up with each other. However, some characters will dual-wield long weapons, such as swords or axes, [[HeroicAmbidexterity which is generally portrayed as quite a feat]]. A {{Bifurcated Weapon}} might allow the character to switch between one- and two-weapon styles on the fly. On the extreme end of the scale, a character might wield a {{One Handed Zweihander}} in each hand!
21
22	Game mechanics often grant additional attacks to characters with two weapons. In many games, the potential for additional damage is often balanced out by imposing penalties to damage or "to hit" chance, which may be improved by investing in skills and abilities related to two-weapon fighting. In a few games, choosing specific abilities or classes may be required to be able to [[YouHaveResearchedBreathing equip weapons on both hands at all]].
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24	Whatever the weapon, you'll probably see a lot of {{Flynning}} and SliceAndDiceSwordsmanship in the choreography. Two crossed weapons are also perfect for a BladeLock.
25
26	Dual-wielding appears much more often in fiction than real life because it's... well... [[RuleOfCool cool]]. In real life, having a single two-handed weapon or a sword and shield is simply much more practical in most situations than dual-wielding blades. Basically there are a lot of drawbacks to dual-wielding (with the most obvious being that most people aren't ambidextrous), and most of the advantages have big asterisks next to them. Where dual-wielding did happen was mostly in formalized duels, and even then not with two blades of the same length but rather with a sword and dagger. See [[Analysis/DualWielding the analysis page]] for more details.
27
28	A DoubleWeapon is a variation of dual-wielding in which the character wields two weapons that are attached together. An easy way to up the ante even further is to be MultiArmedAndDangerous. Any fighting style with multiple weapons may be a manifestation of HeroicAmbidexterity.
29
30	Subtropes include:
31	[[index]]
32	* GunsAkimbo, for dual-wielding firearms.
33	* SwordAndGun, for wielding a bladed weapon in one hand and a firearm in the other, rather than two bladed weapons or two firearms.
34	[[/index]]
35
36	----
37	!!Examples:
38
39	[[index]]
40	!!!By medium
41	* DualWielding/AnimeAndManga
42	* DualWielding/FanWorks
43	* DualWielding/{{Film}}
44	* DualWielding/{{Literature}}
45	* DualWielding/LiveActionTV
46	* DualWielding/TabletopGames
47	* DualWielding/VideoGames
48	* DualWielding/{{Webcomics}}
49	* DualWielding/WesternAnimation
50	* DualWielding/RealLife
51
52	!!!By work
53	* ''DualWielding/KamenRider''
54	* ''DualWielding/StarWars''
55	[[/index]]
56	----
57	[[foldercontrol]]
58
59	[[folder:Asian Animation]]
60	* ''Animation/BoBoiBoy'': [[ShockAndAwe BoBoiBoy Lightning]] often wields two lightning swords at once, same goes for his {{Next Tier Power Up}}s. In the sequel series ''[=BoBoiBoy=] Galaxy'', [=BoBoiBoy=] Thunderstorm gets a [[DoubleWeapon double-bladed lightning sword]] which can split in the middle for him to interchangeably wield them as two swords or as one.
61	* In ''Animation/HappyHeroes'', Careful S. typically wields two swords, both his friend Kalo morphed into them, when battling villains.
62	* ''Animation/{{Mechamato}}'':
63	** The vicious cleaner robot Janitoor can wield two sizeable toilet brushes simultaneously. Talk about fighting dirty.
64	** Ninjamera carries a pair of katanas and sometimes wields them simultaneously.
65	[[/folder]]
66
67	[[folder:Comic Books]]
68	* ''ComicBook/{{Batman}}'':
69	** Both ComicBook/{{Nightwing}} and ComicBook/{{Batgirl}} (back when she was wheelchair-bound) fight with escrima sticks.
70	** Villain ComicBook/TwoFace is usually depicted wielding two guns at once, fitting his image of duality.
71	* ''ComicBook/BillAndTedGoToHell'': When he finds that Napoleon has Missy, De Nomolos immediately grabs a sword and a flaming spear.
72	* ComicBook/{{Deadpool}} frequently wields dual blades of various sorts. He generally has [[KatanasAreJustBetter two katanas]] strapped to his back, which he can use together, but also varies it up with a katana-and-sai combination (e.g. that ''Cable & Deadpool'' cover with Deadpool and Spider-man) or pretty much anything around. Usually he's got at least three to four blades on him at any time, along with the guns, grenades, and other various weaponry. (The cover of ''Wolverine'' #88 shows him skewering Wolverine with both katanas.)
73	** In his self-titled video game, Deadpool dual-wields katanas, sai, and even ''[[CarryABigStick sledgehammers]].''
74	* ''ComicBook/{{Die}}'': Matt eventually grabs the Maul of Rage to wield in addition to the Sword of Grief. The [[EmpathicWeapon weapons]] point out that this has never happened before -- no Emotion Knight has ever tried to wield multiple weapons at once, in the entire history of Die.
75	* Johan ''ComicBook/DeRodeRidder'' is capable of doing this (and at one point remarks that he is ambidexterous), but he tends to prefer sword and shield, as is befitting his KnightInShiningArmor personality. His squire Chuk and some of his enemies have also done this on occasion, and Johan once remarked that such people must be very skilled to pull it off.
76	* ComicBook/{{Elektra}}, from Creator/MarvelComics' ''ComicBook/{{Daredevil}}'', dual-wields sais, though, as mentioned above, they are traditionally dual-wielded.
77	* In ''ComicBook/GIJoeARealAmericanHeroMarvel'', Rock n' Roll dual-wields ''[[http://www.coverbrowser.com/image/gi-joe-1982/97-3.jpg twin gatlings]]''. How the recoil doesn't knock him over is anyone's guess.
78	* ''ComicBook/GrooTheWanderer'': The titular character fights with two katanas, one in each hand.
79	* ''ComicBook/HybridForce'': [[PlantPerson Thorn]]'s primary weapons are his two katanas.
80	* ''ComicBook/InTheShadowOfDragons'': Evina wields twin royal rapiers.
81	* In ''ComicBook/RatQueens'', Violet and Betty both dual-wield. Violet has twin wakizashis as a backup weapon, Betty uses daggers.
82	* Miho in ''ComicBook/SinCity'' often uses a katana in concert with a wakizashi.
83	* 'Shorty' the dwarf in ''WebComic/{{Skullkickers}}'' wields two axes. Sometimes he uses only one, with the other as a back-up in case the first gets stuck in a guy; other times he just uses both at once. The axes in question are small hatchets, quite realistic for either purpose.
84	* ''Franchise/{{Superman}}'':
85	** In ''ComicBook/Supergirl2011'' issue #10 "Rescue", ComicBook/{{Supergirl}} wields two swords simultaneously while fighting the Black Banshee in a BattleInTheCenterOfTheMind.
86	** In ''ComicBook/TheSupergirlFromKrypton2004'', Gillotina uses two twin blades.
87	** In ''[[Series/Supergirl2015 Arrowverse]]'' tie-in comic ''ComicBook/AdventuresOfSupergirl'' #3, Kara Zor-El wields twin sabers during a battle in a snowy dreamscape.
88	* All of the ''Franchise/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles'' except Donatello dual-wield their respective weapons.
89	* The titular character of ''ComicBook/UsagiYojimbo'' carries both a katana and a wakizashi, though he frequently just wields the longer sword two-handed.
90	* In ''ComicBook/VForVendetta'', V's main weapons are multiple knives. He combines these with [[IKnowKarate "fancy karate gimmicks"]] and [[AppliedPhlebotinum superhuman abilities]] (thanks to a bunch of experiments performed on him by the government he now seeks to overthrow).
91	* Aarik of ''ComicBook/WhiteSand'' wields two sabres.
92	* ComicBook/{{Nightcrawler}} from ''ComicBook/XMen'' is known as a swashbuckler being able to dual-wield sabers. He can even ''triple'' wield when using his tail to hold a dagger or even a rapier. That being said, he's literally got superhuman agility and acrobatic ability. The unique shape of his feet (with prehensile toes) means he has, on occasion, ''quadruple'' wielded, using his superhuman agility for all it's worth.
93	* The six-armed ''X-Men'' villainess Spiral. Predictably, she wields six swords, usually of varying lengths.
94	* The short-time X-Man Marrow also is known for her tendency to dual-wield her self-made knives or clubs.
95	[[/folder]]
96
97	[[folder:Film — Animation]]
98	* During the battle scene in the later half of ''WesternAnimation/Beowulf2007'', soldiers are seen dual-wielding axes.
99	* ''WesternAnimation/TheBookOfLife'':
100	** Manolo and Joaquin both wear two swords on their backs, and the former uses his at least once.
101	** Chakal has ''two'' {{BFS}}... that are shark-shaped.
102	* Queen Victoria in ''WesternAnimation/ThePiratesInAnAdventureWithScientists'' uses two katanas during a fight scene.
103	* In ''Anime/PrincessMononoke'', Lady Eboshi uses a sword and a hairpin in her fight with San. And it works.
104	* ''WesternAnimation/TheSteamEnginesOfOz'': When the lions and the munchkins take on Oz's army, FourStarBadass Sir Blackburn charges Magnus weilding an [[ShockStick elctro-sword]] in each hand.
105	* In ''WesternAnimation/PussInBootsTheLastWish'', TheBigBadWolf [[spoiler:aka TheGrimReaper]] dual wields moon sickles, although they can combine into a DoubleWeapon.
106	** Puss himself uses his rapier and the loaned from Kitty Gatito Blade in tandem during his final battle with the wolf.
107	** Two of members of Jack Horner's Baker's Dozen also do this with weaponized kitchen utensils, one with two kitchen knives and the other (who manages to survive to TheFinalBattle) does this with ''pizza cutters''.
108	[[/folder]]
109
110	[[folder:Mythology and Religion]]
111	* Myth/CelticMythology: Diarmuid ua Duibhne, one of the most distinguished warriors among the [[BadassArmy Fianna]], went into battle with a sword and spear. This consisted of the spear Gáe Buidhe ("Yellow Spear") and sword Beagalltach ("Little Fury") in most battles, switching out for the Gáe Dearg ("Red Spear") and Móralltach ("Great Fury") in matters of life and death.
112	[[/folder]]
113
114	[[folder:Podcasts]]
115	* [[Series/{{Riverdale}} Archie Andrews]] is able to wield both his own and his father's Keyblades in the ''Podcast/InterstitialActualPlay'' one-shot ''A Touch of Evil''.
116	[[/folder]]
117
118	[[folder:Pro Wrestling]]
119	* Sable, seen in promotions such as Wrestling/{{CMLL}}, had a gimmick revolving around swords (no, his enthusiasm does not extend to the ring, his bare hands are enough for that) and would swing around two different kinds.
120	[[/folder]]
121
122	[[folder:Theatre]]
123	* ''Theatre/{{Hamlet}}'':
124	-->'''Hamlet:''' What's his weapon?\
125	'''Osric:''' Rapier and dagger.\
126	'''Hamlet:''' That's two of his weapons.
127	* Remarkably enough, Mufasa and later Simba in the [[ScreenToStageAdaptation theatrical version]] of ''Theatre/TheLionKing'' use double swords during fights, a stylized representation of their claws.
128	* ''Theatre/{{Tsukiuta}}''
129	** In the second play, ''Yumemigusa'', Rui and Kakeru dual-wielded ''tantou'' (short katana).
130	** In the fifth play, ''Rabbits Kingdom'', Arata, as Prince Aoi's knight, dual-wielded scimitars.
131	** In the sixth play, ''Kurenai Enishi'', Iku and You dual wielded katana.
132	[[/folder]]
133
134	[[folder:Theme Parks]]
135	* ''Theatre/TheEighthVoyageOfSindbad'' show at [[Ride/UniversalStudios Universal's Islands of Adventure]] has a scene where both Sindbad and one of the evil minions are battling each other with two swords in each hand.
136	[[/folder]]
137
138	[[folder:Toys]]
139	* ''Toys/{{BIONICLE}}'': Present on many characters, mostly Toa.
140	** The original six Toa had one weapon each, but with their Nuva upgrade all of them suddenly wielded one weapon in each hand. [[AnIcePerson Kopaka]] takes the prize here: because his original form already carried a shield as well, his new weapon form thus meant that he had a DoubleWeapon in one hand and the upgraded shield in his other!
141	** The focus on Dual Wielding and DoubleWeapon continued into the Metru line of Toa, where Vakama was the only one to carry a single weapon (though it was a projectile launcher to make up for it). In ''their'' mutated forms, they were all Dual Wielding again.
142	** The next few years began putting more focus on projectile weapons, thus having everyone start using the SwordAndGun setup instead, with at least some of the villains taking this trope to its logical conclusion and carrying two blades ''plus'' a gun. Kongu, however, took a slightly more realistic route and at least threw away his newly transformed melee weapon so he could carry [[MoreDakka two Cordak missile launchers]] instead.
143	->''“Two hands.”''
144	-->-- '''Kongu''''s explanation on his choice of weapons
145	* The [[Toys/{{NERFBrand}} NERF]] N-Force Vendetta, which falls into the realm of DoubleWeapon when the two blades are attached.
146	* The ''Film/TransformersRevengeOfTheFallen'' Voyager Bludgeon gets this right on the "one large one small" weapon front: he's a [[NinjaPirateZombieRobot skeleton samurai robot]] who has a [[{{BFS}} huge freaking katana]] ''and'' a smaller wakizashi. He also has a sheathe for each.
147	[[/folder]]
148
149	[[folder:Visual Novels]]
150	* Madeleine in ''VisualNovel/TheConfinesOfTheCrown'' dual-wields daggers and apparently knows some tricks to disarm people with them.
151	* ''VisualNovel/{{Demonbane}}'' often dual-wields its magic guns, Cthugha and Ithaqua. Kuzaku from the sequel has dual-wielding as his primary gimmick: he's either dual-wielding Cthugha and Ithaqua or the twin magic blades Lloigar and Zhar. His [[RedBaron Badass Nickname]] further references it: Two-Swords/Two-Guns.
152	* ''VisualNovel/FateStayNight'': The most natural style of Emiya Shirou, so natural that he was able to become proficient at it by simply watching Archer use it in battle.
153	[[/folder]]
154
155	[[folder:Web Animation]]
156	* Highly prevalent across the ''WebAnimation/MadnessCombat'' series, but the only one who's ever seen doing it with any degree of effectiveness is Hank. Some mooks try, but they usually still get mowed down before they can fire.
157	* Many characters in ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'' wield two weapons:
158	** Ren uses [=StormFlower=], a pair of dual bladed guns.
159	** Cinder's glass bow, Midnight, can turn into two swords. Later on, she switches to various summoned blades which are also dual-wielded.
160	** Sun uses a pair of shotgun-nunchucks called Ruyi Bang and Jingu Bang which can combine into a ''bo'' staff.
161	** Emerald uses a pair of convertible revolver-sickles called Thief's Respite.
162	** Ironwood uses two [[RevolversAreJustBetter revolvers]] called Due Process.
163	** And many more...
164	* In ''WebAnimation/UnforgottenRealms'', Rob is fond of having his character "Sir Schmoopy of Awesometon" dual-wield nunchacku. As the game he's playing is a parody of ''Dungeons & Dragons'' this means, of course, he takes fairly serious penalties (his character isn't even specced to use nunchacku, much less dual-wield them). [[RuleOfFunny To his DM's chagrin, however, he often rolls 20s.]]
165	[[/folder]]
166
167	[[folder:Web Original]]
168	* ''WebOriginal/BloodAndTheStars'' has Krieger Martel, who dual wields two swords.
169	* ''WebVideo/CriticalRole'' has Mollymauk, who dual-wields scimitars.
170	* ''Podcast/DiceFunk'': Rinaldo dual-wields morningstars. While this would normally be illegal in 5th Edition D&D without the Dual Wielding Feat, Leon uses the stats of a weaker weapon to allow for it.
171	* In ''Roleplay/TheGamersAlliance'', [[BaldOfAuthority Ismail]], [[RoyalsWhoActuallyDoSomething Khalid]] and [[FieryRedhead Vaetris]] all dual-wield swords.
172	* WebVideo/IronLiz has herself a nice pair of [[FreudianSlip breasts, I mean swords!]]
173	* Artist [[http://johnsu.deviantart.com/art/Dual-Wielder-157291720 John Su]] has created a Dual Dual Wielder Wielder [[spoiler:A guy that dual-wields his sisters who in turn dual-wield swords and [[GunsAkimbo guns]].]]
174	* WebVideo/{{Lindybeige}}, meanwhile, makes some points regarding the practical issues with dual wielding (and why it doesn't ''actually'' simply let you hit twice as often) in real life [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJBEDxh0RQw here]].
175	* ''Franchise/{{Noob}}'':
176	** Arthéon uses two swords between the guild's termination of the second floor of the Galamadribyak tower and [[spoiler:finding Sourcelame]].
177	** Omega Zell goes through a pair of katars, two different-sized blades (a shortsword and a dagger) and a pair of katanas.
178	** Early appearances of Decklan had him use a pair of katars (he's currently using a single katana).
179	** NonPlayerCharacter Saly Asigar from the novels uses a pair of high-tech whip-like weapons.
180	** NonPlayerCharacter General Helkazard from the novels uses a couple of large swords, which, according to their description, would each probably have to be used with two hands by anyone else.
181	* Enriqueta-2856's fighting style takes a hint from King Bradley in the v4 of ''Roleplay/OpenBlue''. From v2, Janice Cervantes.
182	* Ktk, the titular [[StarfishAliens bug]] in ''Literature/PayMeBug'', has [[MultiArmedAndDangerous three prehensile tails]] that are each strong enough to pick up a full-grown human. [[ItIsDehumanizing Its]] favorite tactic during a melee is to triple-wield [[GrievousHarmWithABody its enemies]].
183	* In one ''WebVideo/SMPLive'' video, Michael uses both a diamond and iron sword at the same time. This terrifies Schlatt and Connor.
184	* Done briefly in ''Roleplay/SurvivalOfTheFittest'', where after the machete-wielding Andrew Klock is wounded with a corkscrew in his fight with Cole Hudson he pulls it out of himself and attacks Cole with both weapons, eventually lodging the corkscrew in an artery.
185	* Post-Mission WebVideo/ThatDudeInTheSuede with his katana in one hand, and the sheath in the other.
186	[[/folder]]
187

Context Main / DualWielding