Wiki Home > Combat > Attacking With More Than One Weapon

Primary Attacks
Primary attacks are the normal attacks a character may make. Once a primary attack is made using a specific part of the body, that part of the body cannot be used for secondary attacks.

Secondary (off-hand) Attacks/Two-Weapon Fighting
Secondary attacks, also referred to as off-hand attacks, are extra attacks gained through the use of Two-Weapon Fighting. These attacks may be made using a part of the body that has not been used for a primary attack during the round.

Iterative Attacks
When a character’s base attack bonus reaches +6, +11, or +16, he receives an additional attack in combat when he takes a full-attack action. These additional attacks are always considered primary, but characters may split them between the weapons and attack types they have available. Note that if a player attempts to use an attack that normally results in a penalty or condition for the round or turn, the GM may disallow the attack all-together or impose an additional penalty on the character. Each of the following examples are legal*:
• +6/+1 BAB: Rapier/right hand/+6, Dagger/left hand/+1
• +6/+1 BAB: Two-handed Sword in both hands, Quick bull rush/body/+1
• +11/+6/+1 BAB: Rapier/right hand/+11, Rapier/right hand/+6, Dagger/left hand/+1
• +11/+6/+1 BAB: Rapier/right hand/+11, Dagger/left hand/+6, Dagger/left hand/+1
• +11/+6/+1 BAB: Rapier/right hand/+11, Dagger/left hand/+6, Quick bull rush/body/+1
• +11/+6/+1 BAB: Rapier/right hand/+11, Dagger/left hand/+6, Thrown Dagger/left hand/+1

Legal Sources of Melee Attacks
Characters normally may make an attack using a weapon in their right hand, left hand, both hands, their body (bull rush), their head (head butt), or with their foot (bull rush kick or basic maneuvers).