If you’ve ever found yourself swarmed by three Shroud Stalkers at once and wished you could dish out twice the damage in half the time, you’re probably curious how to dual wield in Enshrouded. I spent my first 10 hours of playthrough sticking to a single one-handed sword and shield, thinking that was the only safe way to get through early-game shroud zones. It wasn’t until I stumbled on a random perk drop while clearing a bandit camp that I realized dual wielding isn’t just viable—it’s one of the most fun, high-damage playstyles you can run for close-quarters fights. This guide breaks down exactly what you need to unlock it, how to use it effectively, and what mistakes to avoid so you don’t waste a perk point on a build that doesn’t fit your playstyle.
How to Unlock Dual Wield in Enshrouded: Perk Requirements & Steps
A common misconception among new players is that dual wielding is locked behind a rare quest or hidden loot drop, but that’s not the case at all. It’s a standard skill tree perk that you can unlock as early as level 4, if you prioritize putting points into the right attribute branch. You don’t need to find a rare recipe or complete a hidden quest to unlock dual wield, and you can even respec your points later if you decide the playstyle isn’t for you. The full unlock process is straightforward:
- Accumulate 4 total skill points by leveling up your character through exploration, combat, and quest completion
- Open your skill menu and invest 3 points into the Strength attribute branch to unlock advanced Strength perks
- Spend your 4th point on the Dual Wield perk, located in the second row of the Strength skill tree
- Equip two one-handed weapons of any type (they don’t have to match) in your primary and secondary weapon slots
Once you’ve unlocked how to dual wield in Enshrouded, you’ll immediately notice a difference in your close-quarters damage output. A lot of new players skip this perk early because they assume it’s only for high-strength builds, but even if you’re running a mostly dexterity-focused archer build, putting 4 points into Strength to unlock dual wield for close-quarters backup is totally worth it. You won’t lose out on too many other perk opportunities, and you can always respec at a Flame Altar for a small resource cost if you change your mind later.
Best Dual Wield Weapon Combinations for Every Playstyle
When you first start testing how to dual wield in Enshrouded, you might be tempted to equip the two highest-damage one-handed weapons you have, regardless of type. That works for very early fights, but you’ll get way better results if you pick combinations that complement each other’s strengths and cover each other’s weaknesses. You don’t have to stick to matching weapons either—mixing types gives you a lot more flexibility for different enemy types.
Matching one-handed swords are the best all-around dual wield combo for new players. They have balanced speed, damage, and stagger, and their light attack combos chain smoothly with no weird delay between hits. This combo works equally well for swarms of weak mobs and single target mini-bosses, so it’s a great starting point if you’re still learning the playstyle. If you prefer faster, hit-and-run combat, try a sword and dagger combo. Daggers apply bleed effects with every hit, so you can stack damage over time while dodging enemy attacks, then let the bleed finish off low-health enemies while you focus on bigger targets.
Axe and mace combos work best for high-armor enemies like armored bandits and late-game Shroud knights. Axes have built-in armor penetration that cuts through even the thickest plate armor, while maces deal extra stagger damage that can knock enemies off balance mid-attack. This combo is a bit slower than swords, but the damage against high-armor targets is unbeatable. The only combo I recommend avoiding is two heavy one-handed maces or axes—their slow attack speed leaves you open to being swarmed, and you’ll take far more damage than you deal against groups of enemies.
Key Pros and Cons of Dual Wielding in Enshrouded
If you’re still on the fence about whether learning how to dual wield in Enshrouded is worth the perk investment, weighing these pros and cons will help you decide. It’s an incredibly strong playstyle for certain builds, but it does come with real tradeoffs that you need to plan for.
On the plus side, dual wielding gives you a base 20% damage boost over using a single one-handed weapon, which adds up very quickly when you pair it with damage-boosting perks. You can also apply two different weapon effects at once, like fire on one sword and poison on the other, so you stack status effects far faster than you can with a single weapon. You don’t have to sacrifice mobility to get high damage either—unlike two-handed weapons, which slow your movement and dodge speed by 15%, dual wield lets you run, dodge, and roll just as fast as if you were holding a single one-handed weapon.
The biggest downside is that you can’t use a shield while dual wielding, so you have to rely entirely on dodging and parrying to avoid damage. That can be a big adjustment for players who are used to hiding behind a shield for every fight. Your weapon durability also drops twice as fast, since you’re hitting enemies with two weapons every combo, so you’ll need to carry extra repair kits or stop at blacksmiths more often. Dual wield builds have a much steeper learning curve for new players, and you’ll probably die a lot in your first few fights while you get used to dodge timing. It’s also worth noting that dual wield only works with melee weapons—you can’t dual wield bows, wands, or any ranged gear.
Pro Tips to Master Dual Wield Combat Fast
I used to die constantly when I first switched to dual wield, until I picked up a few small tricks that made the playstyle feel effortless. These tips will help you avoid the most common mistakes new dual wield players make, and you’ll be clearing shroud zones twice as fast in no time.
First, always pair your dual wield build with the Parry Master perk if you can. It reduces the parry timing window by 30%, so you can deflect incoming attacks and stun enemies mid-swing, then unload your full heavy attack combo while they’re staggered. Parrying while dual wielding deals extra counter damage too, so you can take down even heavy enemies in just two or three countered combos.
Don’t spam heavy attacks nonstop. Heavy attacks with dual wield do 60% more damage than light attacks, but they leave you open for twice as long, so only use them when an enemy is stunned or knocked down. For regular groups of mobs, stick to light attack combos that you can cancel into a dodge at any time. One of the biggest mistakes new players make when learning how to dual wield in Enshrouded is spamming heavy attacks and getting hit by stun locks they can’t escape.
Keep a shield in your quick slot for tough boss fights. Some late-game bosses have unblockable area attacks that are almost impossible to dodge consistently, so switching back to a shield for those phases will save you a lot of resurrection scrolls. You can swap back to dual wield as soon as the attack phase ends, so you don’t lose out on damage during the rest of the fight. Also, remember to apply weapon coatings to both of your weapons—stacking two different status effects at once will melt even the toughest Shroud bosses in seconds.
Dual wielding isn’t the right playstyle for every player, but if you love fast, aggressive combat that lets you take down enemies before they get a chance to hit you, it’s absolutely worth trying. Once you know how to dual wield in Enshrouded, you’ll wonder how you ever got through early-game shroud zones with just a single sword and shield. Take it slow at first, practice your dodges on weak mobs before you take on tough bosses, and don’t be afraid to tweak your weapon combinations until you find something that feels right for you. You might just find it’s your new favorite way to play the game.