[RPG] 4E staff fighting feat, what is good about double weapon part

clericdnd-4e

I have a question about the feat Staff Fighting, more specifically the double weapon part.

For easy reference this is the explanation of the feat from the compendium:

Benefit: You can treat the quarterstaff as a double weapon. As a double weapon, both ends of the weapon deal 1d8 damage. The primary end gains the defensive and stout properties, and the secondary end gains the off-hand property. For more on double weapons, see Adventurer’s Vault, page 10.

I checked the Adventurer's Vault but I still can't figure out exactly what big benefit double weapon has. Is it that you can have an enchantment bonus (and those extra perks except enhancements to your rolls) on both ends of the staff ? Because even without the feat I'm able to equip medic's weapon (on staff) in one hand and staff of the traveler in the other for example.

Best Answer

Double weapons are interesting. For all purposes you treat them as two separate weapons. You don't get any extra attacks with them. Both ends are enchanted with the same enchantment and other than flavor and cost efficiency they function as two separate weapons.

The big bonus to dual weapons is in cost efficiency. A two weapon ranger or other build that dual wields needs to have two magic weapons to be completely efficient, this means either using a lesser enchanted weapon in one hand or forgoing magic armor or neck slot item (unless your DM is generous with the magic item or gold drops). Using a double weapon allows you to have the same enchantment on both ends of a weapon without having to collect two magic items to do so.

As a cleric you won't get much use out of a double weapon unless you have a feat or power something that allows you to add both of your implement's enhancement bonuses to your powers. Note, that using a staff a dual weapon should prevent you from dual wielding staffs as all dual weapons are two handed (unless I am mistaken here).

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