UESP Forums

When it comes to different weapons in the game, is there any difference in the weapons? Like a flail is a 2h weapon that deals 2-14 damage, while a Longsword is 2-16 while being 1h. Do weights make a difference?

I think the primary difference in the various types of weapons has to do with character class, since some classes are restricted from using certain types of weapons, armor, and/or shields.

Once you rule out the types of weapons, armor, and shields your character can't use, I think your choice of weapon can revolve around a number of considerations:

Can your character use two-handed weapons? If yes, you might want to use a two-handed weapon, since they usually do more damage than one-handed weapons of the same type (i.e., sword, axe, or mace).

Can your character use shields? If yes, you might want to use a one-handed weapon, even if you can use two-handed weapons, so you can equip a shield-- especially one that boosts an attribute or lets you cast a spell. But even if you can use a shield, you might decide you'd rather not carry around the extra weight of a shield, or that using a two-handed weapon is better than using a shield and a one-handed weapon.

Aside from those primary considerations, it can boil down to which material a given weapon is made of-- since certain monsters can only be damaged by weapons of certain materials-- or whether a given weapon is magical and, if so, what spell it lets you cast or which attribute it boosts. For instance, a dai-katana is generally the best weapon in the game (in my opinion), but a magical ebony dagger might be a far better choice than a non-magical iron dai-katana.

And then there are the role-playing considerations. For example, if you enjoy role-playing a stealth archer, you'll probably want to use a bow even if it isn't the most powerful weapon that your class can use.

Thanks SeaGtGruff, that was a really thorough answer.