Why 2-Handed Weapons Matter in Dragonwilds

Every RuneScape Dragonwilds 2 handed weapon exists for one reason: to hit harder and wider than anything you can hold in one hand. Where daggers and swords let you stunlock a single target with fast combos, warhammers, greatswords, and greataxes trade that speed for reach and raw base damage, letting a single swing clip two or three enemies at once. If you've ever wondered why anyone bothers with slower, heavier gear when one-handed weapons stunlock so easily, the answer comes down to swing width, crowd control, and sheer power per hit.

This guide breaks down every two-handed weapon currently documented in the game, how it compares to one-handed alternatives, and what materials you'll need to craft each one.

One-Handed vs. Two-Handed: The Core Tradeoff

Dragonwilds' combat triangle covers melee, ranged, and magic damage types, but within melee itself there's a second layer of choice: one-handed versus two-handed. One-handed weapons hit faster, recover quicker after an attack (making blocking easier), and let you pair a shield for extra defense. Two-handed weapons give up that shield slot and swing slower, but they hit significantly harder per attack and cover a wider arc, which matters when you're facing goblin packs or Garou berserkers instead of a lone target.

Both weapon classes can use the block mechanic even without a shield, so defense isn't exclusively a one-handed perk. The real differentiator is reach: a greatsword can catch multiple enemies at a wider distance, while a dagger typically only connects with one or two targets standing very close together.

  • One-handed weapons: faster combos, shorter recovery, shield compatibility
  • Two-handed weapons: higher base damage, wider swing arc, no shield slot
  • Both: can block without a shield equipped

Two-Handed vs. One-Handed Stat Comparison

Below are the two-handed melee weapons documented in Dragonwilds, along with their base damage, attack combo length, block value, and power level requirement.

| Weapon | Base Damage | Attack Combo | Block | Power Level | |---|---|---|---|---| | Bronze Warhammer | 52 | 4 | 32.5 | 3 | | Bronze Greatsword | 42 | 4 | 32.5 | 3 | | Iron Warhammer | 76 | 4 | 39.5 | 4 | | Iron Greatsword | 62 | 4 | 39.5 | 4 | | Iron Greataxe | 82 | 4 | 40 | 4 |

For reference, some sources list slightly wider base damage ranges (for example, a greatsword's damage can scale within a range rather than a single fixed number), so treat these figures as a baseline for comparing weapons at the same power level rather than an exact damage-per-hit guarantee.

It helps to see those numbers next to their one-handed counterparts at similar power levels. The table below pulls a handful of one-handed weapons documented alongside the two-handed lineup, showing how much attack speed and block one-handers keep in exchange for lower base damage.

| Weapon | Base Damage | Attack Combo | Block | Power Level | |---|---|---|---|---| | Bronze Sword | 31 | 5 | 19.5 | 3 | | Bronze Mace | 38 | 5 | 19.5 | 3 | | Iron Sword | 45 | 5 | 23 | 4 | | Iron Mace | 55 | 5 | 23 | 4 | | Iron Dagger | 29 | 7 | 23 | 4 |

Comparing rows across both tables at power level 4 makes the tradeoff obvious: the Iron Greataxe's 82 base damage dwarfs the Iron Sword's 45, but the sword swings in a five-hit combo against the greataxe's four, and pairs with a shield for extra defense that the greataxe simply cannot use.

Crafting Requirements for Two-Handed Weapons

Two-handed weapons are crafted at the Smithing Anvil, which means you'll need bars, hide, and logs rather than the stone and ash logs used for early crafting-table weapons. Here's what each one costs to build.

| Weapon | Crafting Requirements | |---|---| | Bronze Warhammer | 12 Bronze Bar, 2 Leather | | Bronze Greatsword | 10 Bronze Bar, 4 Leather, 2 Wool Thread | | Iron Warhammer | 12 Iron Bar, 2 Hard Leather, 4 Vault Shard | | Iron Greatsword | 10 Iron Bar, 4 Hard Leather, 2 Wool Thread, 4 Vault Shard | | Iron Greataxe | 12 Iron Bar, 6 Oak Logs, 4 Hard Leather, 4 Vault Shard |

Notice the pattern: warhammers and greatswords share nearly identical material costs at each tier, with the greataxe pulling ahead in raw damage but requiring extra oak logs on top of the usual iron bars and hard leather. As you progress from bronze to iron gear, Vault Shards become a recurring requirement, so it's worth stockpiling them before committing to an iron-tier two-handed weapon.

The wiki also documents a Greatsword-specific line that expands further up the tiers, including Steel, Mithril, Shadow Sword, and Adamant Greatsword variants, confirming that greatswords keep scaling well past the iron tier shown in the table above. That means the two-handed category isn't a dead end once you outgrow iron gear — there's a clear upgrade path waiting as you unlock higher-tier smithing materials.

Choosing Between Warhammers, Greatswords, and Greataxes

All three two-handed weapon families share the same attack combo length (four hits) and similar block values at matching power levels, so the decision mostly comes down to your enemy type and damage type preference. Warhammers and greataxes lean into crushing damage, useful against armored or bony enemies, while greatswords bring a slashing profile suited to catching groups of weaker foes in a single wide swing.

A few practical notes for picking a two-handed weapon:

  • If you're fighting scattered goblin packs or beast groups, a greatsword's wide arc lets you tag multiple enemies per swing instead of committing to one target at a time.
  • If you're facing a single tough enemy and want maximum single-hit damage, the Iron Greataxe currently posts the highest base damage of the documented two-handed weapons at 82.
  • Since two-handed weapons occupy both hand slots, you lose shield access entirely, so plan around block timing rather than shield blocking when using them.
  • Durability and repair both happen at the same crafting stations used to build the weapon, so keep spare materials on hand for the Smithing Anvil if you're relying on iron-tier gear.
  • Consider your current Power Level before committing materials — a bronze-tier two-hander is cheap to build but will fall behind quickly once you're farming iron and Vault Shards anyway.

Weapon Expertise, unlocked at 16 Attack, adds bonus attacks to combos across both one-handed and two-handed weapons, so investing in that skill benefits whichever weapon type you favor rather than locking you into one playstyle. This means the choice between one-handed and two-handed gear stays a matter of preference and situation throughout the game rather than something you're forced into by your skill investments.

FAQ

Are RuneScape Dragonwilds 2 handed weapons better than one-handed weapons? Neither is strictly better — one-handed weapons hit faster and allow shield use, while two-handed weapons deal more base damage per hit and swing across a wider arc, letting them catch multiple enemies at once.

Which two-handed weapon hits the hardest? Among documented weapons, the Iron Greataxe has the highest base damage at 82, ahead of the Iron Warhammer (76) and Iron Greatsword (62).

Can I use a shield with a two-handed weapon? No. Two-handed weapons occupy both hand slots, so shields are reserved for one-handed loadouts, though both weapon types can still block without one.

What do I need to craft two-handed weapons? Two-handed weapons are made at the Smithing Anvil using bars (bronze or iron), leather or hard leather, and sometimes Vault Shards or oak logs depending on the specific weapon.

Does greatsword scaling stop at iron tier? No, the wiki lists further greatsword tiers beyond iron, including Steel, Mithril, Shadow Sword, and Adamant Greatsword, indicating the weapon line continues to scale as you progress toward endgame gear.