i am a pretty new player. seems that if i was not a tank and i used sword and shield peeps might look at me sideways . . . but just my little experience so far, and trying to research it online, seems the sword and shield might be ok (or even better) for dps role?
what do all of you more experienced players say.
kind of a drag that it is relegated to tanking. i like using sword and shield but i like to dps
So, identical perks on the sword and shield stack, but you can also run 6 unique perks. These two options are necessary for sword dps to dare try to compete.
Empowering Leaping Strike is necessary. You must run it if you want your sword dps to be worth using.
Fortifying Shield Rush will keep you alive, and it’ll also slow enemies if you fully-upgrade it, and swords at 200str and a few rows down the leadership tree both give +10% damage to slowed enemies.
You’ll want a slash damage + leeching ring. +refreshing if you can find/afford the 3 perker.
I recommend keen/bane, vicious, keenly empowered, bane, rogue/enchanted refreshing move.
You can stack bane on both sword and shield. It does stack. You can test on fort dummies.
Keenly Empowered + Slash = 20% empower. Heavy attack once every 5 seconds = 30% empower. There’s your empower cap. You don’t rely on Oblivion, but it’s nice for when keenly empowered isn’t active, as you will be at empower cap whether you have keenly empowered up or are in an oblivion.
Whirling blade isn’t necessary or worth it, and you probably have a spear in your group, anyway. I recommend reverse stab as it lowers cooldowns and the more you get to use empowering leaping strike, the better. Contagious Reverse Stab will make the ability deal at least 10% more damage.
I recommend Leaping Strike, Reverse Stab, Shield Rush.
I run 266 strength, 200 dex, 50 int, and 5 con in light armor as SnS/VG dps (or tank.)
At 200 dex, you deal 10% more backstab damage.
At 50 int, you deal 10% more crit damage.
Dropping 45 points from your primary attribute for 50 int is a loss of 5% base damage, but an increase of 8% for a +3% damage gain. Because of this, being in a position to backstab is important.
5 con light is the only way for a sword dps to compete, but we can compete. Stack full refreshing for the maximum carnage.
you can use sword as dps but it will not be as effective as other weapons in a personal perpective
because sword skills isnt made for dps…
but you can use leadership and boosty your groups dmg up… % 10 dmg up for each person means your group willl do % 40 more dmg exluding yourself.
i never seriusly tried to dps with sword… if you try it… i like to hear about your dps . how much you hit the mobs. 3k ? 4k ? 5 k ?
Actually sword and shield has been proven to have the highest DPS if you get the right perk on the shield and sword. A youtuber called DukeSloth has proven it in a video. You can check it out.
5k to 7k on light attacks, 17k to 22k light attack chains, depending on empower status and other debuffs. Sword can put out a lot of damage, and it can compete. You simply have to be really well-geared to do so.
It is one of those dps builds that you must be pimped out to be effective; the gear requirement is much-higher.
5-7k on light attacks ? seriusly ?
damn i though spear was the highest dmg.
i will try going dps with sword ^^
if vicious and rogue stacks on SnS yes 
thats all
do you guys remember that hatchet with vicious and rogue holy moly. same thing
perks do not stack on SnS. Vicious for example, 100% confirmed does not stack. 0 damage increase when having a 2nd vicious. Also, dropping some of your main stat for the 50 int passive is only worth if the large majority of your hits are backstabs, the more you hit the front or side the less worth it is.
They don’t stack
overall hatchet is the highest damage and easiest to play. Defy death allows you to ignore a lot of mechanics and the weapon simply does the most damage in a lot of situations. Sometimes it’s not the best and sword is close in terms of damage so if you like the weapon go ahead and use it 
I have personally tested a few months ago that lifestealing on both sword and kite shield also do not stack.
It’s a shame that they don’t. I don’t think it would be OP if they stacked. It would make sword and shield more viable.
I wanted to say. shield has vicious and sword has rogue for example they have multiplier for inc crit damage so. if yes , yes. not 2 vicios ofc
Well SnS is already pretty viable in both PVE and PVP. it’s directly behind hatchet it terms of DPS for PVE and it’s great in PVP for a variety of builds.
If you have on your sword and shield, vicious + keen + enchanted + bane + empowered + refreshing, it does good damage.
So definitely yes, if the tank does not have leadership, and you have leadership, as you will be giving a +10% damage bonus to the whole team. The exception is Ancients where there is a -15% slash damage penalty.
if you have bane that penalty doesnt count so its still good ^^
Actually SnS has highest dps out of all weapons outperforming even hatchet 
so yes, you can definitely use it.
I am interested in trying SnS/Blunderbuss build.
Once i finish my main set 
hey all, ty for the input. lots to think about.
How can I stay in light when I equip a shield. It immediately goes in medium category. Probably I need light chest piece also?
I guess you are referenckng the dukesloth video?
Keep in mind this is only true for light attacks / heavy attacks (sustained single target dps) and doesnt take skills or other situations besides sustained singletarget dps into account.
We have no way of telling currently how good a weapon performs in detail and there are also different damage profiles for a number of situations.
Rapier and spear both reach almost the same dps but can actually benefit from skills. Thats an indicator these weapins both outperform sns / hatchet.
But yes, sns is a very competitive choice and is easily in the top 4 together with hatchet, spear and rapier.