Pair two short swords—or a long sword and shield

Check both item types

Check the pair in play

1. Read the type of each equipped weapon in your inventory. Similar names or models do not prove both are short swords.
2. Choose the pair for your goal from the table. Use your build’s equipment prompts; this guide does not supply unverified slot controls.
3. Make that set active and draw it. In the older blocking explanation, a shield had to be held, not merely present in the inventory.
4. Look at the held equipment before trying a low-risk block. If an item is still invisible, move to the missing-weapon diagnostic.

Recognize the held equipment

A supported pair does not make every old bug current

Update 1.04 separated rolling from blocking and added sword blocking; 1.05 fixed getting stuck while blocking with two swords. Those changes address controls and animation, not a newly documented permission to dual-wield a long and short sword. For a blocking symptom, compare your build with the dated defense branches.

This is a compatibility choice, not a best-build ranking

The developer’s reply establishes which types go together. It does not compare damage, attack speed, stamina efficiency or the strongest equipment. Version 1.06 adds a stamina parameter, so importing an older “best build” conclusion would need fresh evidence. Choose the supported style you want; this reference does not claim one is optimal.

The pair is ready when…

You can identify both types and see the intended active set. If two valid short swords still do not appear correctly, the next task is diagnosis, not replacing unrelated gear at random.