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I'd like to know which option is more efficient (Dmg dealt / Dmg Taken). I personally prefer S +S because it allows you to take miniscule damage while still being able to dispatch multiple enemies. Also there's lots more strategy rather than doing a power attack then flailing your arms around until your stamina regens.

i like sword and shield, and have done ever since they revamped it in Oblivion, for me it's the quintessential melee fighting experience,

tho i will probably try a dagger/dagger dervish type fighting style with my current character if i don't run out of perks lol

the beheading move with two weapons is very satisfying

stick with sword and shield unless your good at evading most attacks

I tend to play an assassin style character and so i went for the two daggers, but usually im a sword person. Honestly i dont use weapons for damage but for what i think looks cool or would suit my character.

With my Redguard character, I opted for dual blades, but I take quite a few hits, especially with someone coming at me with a two handed weapon because of their longer reach. I must admit, there is something very satisfying about using a two handed great sword, and seeing the cut scene with your character impaling the bad guy, hehehehehehe. Makes me go:

Yah! Yah! Take that! Got something else you wanna say about my mom? Didn't think so!

I haven't tried the 2-h option yet,

but i think my nord with dual enchanted pickaxes (i thought soul trap on one and slow on the other - if that's an effect i can put on a weapon lol) will have a 2-h weapon for backup

i've found that some combat styles work well against some enemies, and others haven't.. so two daggers is great for milling your way through bandits, but you need a more considered sword/shield approach for something big and scary, or a foe who can take you down with a 2-h crit

I tend to have my Warrior characters with sword and sheild because its easier to fight off more than one person because you can hit off with the sheild. If im playing an assassin character i like dual blades because ill build my sneak up so i can just kill everyone from crouching and kill them in one shot. if i get overwhelmed ill just summon a deadra and let them take some damage and ill use my stamina to dual power attack the enemies.

My thief-ey character is sword and dagger dual, so I went with Sword and Board on my Paladin.

I hit 100 Block and got the shield charge perk: HILARIOUS!!

Just for fun, I aggroe'd the guards in Whiterun just to try it out. I went en-guarde, then sprinted from one end of the lower area to the other, back and force, making guards and townsfolk FLY INTO THE AIR! It even makes a little 'bong' sound when they get hit.

Not to mention, you get the Elemental Shield block, then charge at casters. You resist an additional 50% of magic damage, then knock the caster down, and whack them while they are on the ground. They get up, you shield power-bash, they fall down and get hacked more.

VERRRRY satisfying.

In the words of the Malleus Malificarum: Suffer not the witch to live.

I would quake in my boots before you!

Shield and sword is the way to go, honestly. I tend to neglect the shield since I've done more of a battlemage - relying on magical shields/protections and then just healing when things get too rough - but to be honest, the more I use the shield and sword the more I realize it's just a great way to go. You get a lot of good control that way over the situation, I feel. I do love that now you can manually decide when to bash someone's face in with the shield, too. I remember that being a perk in Oblivion once your level was high enough, but being able to do it at will is great.

Yup, sword and shield is more effective for the most part. But dual daggers looks really cool , you can use whichever, but if you're playing on like master difficulty you will want a shield because the daggers are not going to cut it.

Ive also noticed that a good sword that does fire damage in your right hand and a good war axe that deals shock damage in your left hand is really fun to roll with. it takes most enemies down with only a few hits.

Honestly, when in first person I think dual anything looks wierd and unnatural.

It all depends on what kind of character you are playing, and what perks you have taken. Either combat style will prove more efficient depending on which perks you have taken. I say if you're a warrior, use a sword and shield, as it will do more damage and give you better defense, obviously. Maybe if you get enough health at later levels, it may make more sense to use dual swords.

Sword and Shield is easily the most effective but if dual wielding was improved it would be so much more fun and worthwhile to use. Though I like to go all Highlander on their asses with a Two-handed sword.

Dual daggers were meant for stealth builds, and are very balanced via the perks offered in One-Handed.

I mean using them in combat, they feel clunky and weird to me, or maybe I'm just not used to dual wielding. But stealth kills are very easy with them, so I guess you're right about them being meant for stealthy people.

Dual wielding is challenging and takes strategy, but can deal some serious damage if used well.

Its not an option but I only use a bow. I just don't care for melee, it goes against my play style, but of the two I prefer dual wielding.

I didn't think I was going to be a fan of dual wielding, but once the perk became available, I gave it a try with twin war axes. Loads of fun. The only time the shield comes out is vs. the dragons since I had already taken the elemental protection perk.

I much prefer shield and sword. For me, it improves my immersion in the game world. Obviously, we're not dealing with 100% realism here, but I find being hit very 'worrying' - if that's the right word. A poorly directed swipe of a sword against armour and light injury is to be expected in full-on melee, but I can't help but feel that I've cheated a bit if I get brained with war-hammer without much consequence.

With a shield I can at least try to block. An odd sentiment I know, particularly considering that I don't usually take games that seriously, but whatever.

As the others said, dual wielding daggers is for sneak-oriented characters. In an open combat situation the sword and shield is the winner (for defensive warriors) and a two-handed weapon (for offensive warriors).

Dual wield. They can't hurt you if they're falling over dead.

The best defense is a good offense. The best offense is juggling a trio of chainsaws.

HAHAHAHAHA! Well said!

dual daggers w/

-dual flurry, +35% faster
-2 legendary daedric daggers
-elemental fury shout, full, su-grah-dun

I didn't vote. Not sure. Have been using dual blades. Based on the posts here, along with recent pleasant surprise re effectiveness of using an axe, I plan on trying axe and shield for melee combat. I have a reduce magic damage enchant on my shield and I am thinking it might help me out with the mages that keep blasting me.