Outward 2 Beta Combat Analysis: Why Shields Currently Outclass Two-Handed Weapons

Players participating in the ongoing Outward 2 beta are beginning to share their findings after spending dozens of hours exploring the game's updated mechanics. While the sequel retains the challenging, slow-paced survival combat that defined the original game, early playtest discussions suggest that weapon balance needs tuning—specifically regarding the effectiveness of two-handed weapons compared to one-handed weapons paired with a shield.

According to community-reported feedback from players with 20 to 30 hours of playtime, two-handed weapons currently struggle to find a clear identity in the Outward 2 combat loop. Currently, these heavier armaments do not deal significantly more raw damage or impact damage than their one-handed counterparts. More importantly, their ability to stagger enemies is reportedly overshadowed by the defensive and offensive capabilities of shields.

In the current version of the playtest, wielding a shield offers much higher impact damage than most two-handed alternatives. While players have noted that specific heavy weapons like the Palladium Greataxe and the Greataxe of the Boar can still reliably stagger foes, other options fail to justify their lack of defensive utility. A combination like the Scowl sword and the Palladium Shield is currently regarded by some testers as powerful enough to make two-handed setups feel redundant.

The Struggle with the Impact System

Another major point of discussion in the community involves the game's enemy impact bars. In Outward 2, reducing an enemy's impact bar is crucial for creating stagger windows and interrupting attacks. However, testers report that stronger enemies recover their impact bars too quickly.

When a player successfully blocks or dodges an incoming attack, the window to punish the enemy is narrow. By the time the player initiates a counterattack, the enemy often begins another offensive sequence or has already started regenerating their impact meter. Players are suggesting that enemies should have a longer delay before their impact begins to regenerate, alongside a slower regeneration rate, to reward precise defensive play.

How to Join the Playtest

For players who want to test these mechanics firsthand, the developer is hosting a closed playtest. You can request access directly through the official Outward 2 Steam Store Page.

Because the game is still in active development, these weapon tuning values, impact formulas, and equipment states are highly likely to change before launch. Developers frequently adjust these numbers based on playtest feedback, so two-handed weapons will likely receive buffs to their stagger potential in future updates.