Dueling is a fighting style in the 2014 fifth-edition rules that adds +2 to damage rolls when you wield a melee weapon in one hand and no other weapons. You can still carry a shield, a spellcasting focus, or keep your other hand free.
The exact rule text
The official D&D Basic Rules state the feature this way: “When you are wielding a melee weapon in one hand and no other weapons, you gain a +2 bonus to damage rolls with that weapon.” The bonus applies only to damage rolls made with that weapon, and only while the condition is met.
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The rule has three parts, and each one matters:
- A melee weapon. Ranged weapons such as bows and crossbows do not qualify.
- Wielded in one hand. The weapon must be held in one hand at the moment of the attack.
- No other weapons. You cannot be holding a second weapon, so two-weapon fighting combined with Dueling is not possible.
Can you use a shield with Dueling?
Yes. The official Sage Advice Compendium asks directly whether the Dueling fighting style is intended to support a shield, and answers: “Yes. A character with the Dueling option usually pairs a one-handed weapon with a shield, a spellcasting focus, or a free hand.” A shield is not a weapon, so it does not break the “no other weapons” condition.
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This is the most common question about the style, and it is why Dueling is often chosen by characters who want a longsword and shield build. The bonus stays in place as long as the off hand holds only the shield.
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Which situations qualify
The table below applies the rule text and the Sage Advice answer to common setups. Where a case is not addressed by a specific ruling, it follows directly from the wording.
| Setup | Dueling bonus applies? | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Longsword held in one hand, other hand empty | Yes | Melee weapon, one hand, no other weapons |
| Longsword in one hand, shield in the other | Yes | Sage Advice confirms a shield is intended to be compatible |
| Longsword in one hand, spellcasting focus in the other | Yes | Sage Advice names a spellcasting focus as compatible |
| Versatile weapon (such as a longsword) used one-handed | Yes | The wording requires one-handed wielding and does not exclude versatile weapons |
| Versatile weapon used two-handed | No | The weapon is not wielded in one hand |
| Two melee weapons, one in each hand | No | The character is wielding another weapon |
| Bow or crossbow | No | Not a melee weapon |
The versatile-weapon row follows from the wording. The official text does not separately discuss versatile weapons, so if your table rules something different, use your table’s ruling.
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Who can take Dueling
In the 2014 rules, Dueling is one of several Fighting Style options. It is offered to characters who gain a Fighting Style feature, including the Fighter, the Paladin, and the Ranger, and it can also be picked through the Fighting Initiate feat. Check your class table for the level at which the feature appears, since it differs between classes.
Edition note
This article covers the 2014 fifth-edition text as printed in the Basic Rules and the Sage Advice Compendium. The 2024 revision of the rules is a separate edition with its own fighting-style text, and wording can differ. If you are playing under the 2024 rules, check that book’s version of the feature before applying the bonus at the table.
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Quick checklist at the table
- Is the attack made with a melee weapon?
- Is that weapon held in one hand?
- Is the character holding no other weapon?
- If the other hand holds a shield or focus, is it not a weapon?
If all four answers support the rule, add +2 to the damage roll for that weapon.
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