Do you use backup weapons?

Generally, yes, I do use back-up weps.

+5 Lighting Pike and +5 Lighting Zweihander. Pike normally is the weapon I will hold during spawn, and I will consider to switch depending on weapon and armor of my opponent. I switch weapon manually when bowing if I deem necessary.

Pike are normally reserved for the better players.. Zwei is meant for 3v1 fight or when I feel like 1shotting my opponent or Fishing.

As combat progress and when I learn more about his combat level, i make choice if I need to switch strategy and weapon again..

The builds I use don't tend to have room for a backup weapon, but pyro or melee builds definitely would use one.

I constantly swith between weapons mostly its my claws and great scythe
Every attack swith to make opponement guessing

i always go in with my DGM but i switch around weapons depending on the weapon of my opponent, i alwasy have my MSGS, DGH, and GA as back ups.

I usually use the giants halberd which has fantastic reach and because of that I don't need a secondary, not to mention it's weight either, all I have room for after that is my grass crest and black bow.