I think I'm clear on two-weapon fighting (thanks to Two-Weapon Fighting & Bonus Action in 5e) except for one thing. The PHB says (p. 195):
When you take the Attack action and attack with a light melee weapon that you're holding in one hand, you can use a bonus action to attack with a different light melee weapon that you're holding in the other hand. [emphasis mine]
Does a "different" weapon mean a different type of weapon, or just a different physical instance of a weapon? In other words, can I fight with two shortswords (one in each hand), or would I have to use a dagger or some other type of light weapon in my off hand?
Best Answer
Just a different instance of a weapon
Weapons can be of the same type (ie two short swords), but you must have two actual weapons to use two weapon fighting.
The wording is only there to prevent someone from trying to use two-weapon fighting with one weapon.
The dual-wielder feat does supply circumstantial evidence for this when it says:
But really it is just common sense in this case. The wording would have been much more specific (perhaps "...with a light melee weapon with a different name") if the kind of restriction you propose was the intended reading.