Can an Armorer artificer using the Guardian armor model wield a shield or weapon in one Thunder Gauntlet, and still attack with the other gauntlet?

Question

This question is about the Armorer artificer's Armor Model feature. The description of the Guardian armor model's Thunder Gauntlets says (TCoE, p. 16):

Thunder Gauntlets. Each of the armor's gauntlets counts as a simple melee weapon while you aren't holding anything in it, and it deals 1d8 thunder damage on a hit. A creature hit by the gauntlet has disadvantage on attack rolls against targets other than you until the start of your next turn, as the armor magically emits a distracting pulse when the creature attacks someone else.

Can you wield a shield (or weapon) with one gauntlet, and still make the special attack with your other hand? Or do I need both gauntlets free to do this?

Answer 1

Each gauntlet is an individual melee weapon.

The Thunder Gauntlets state:

Each of the armor's gauntlets counts as a simple melee weapon while you aren't holding anything in it.

This indicates that each gauntlet is individually a simple melee weapon, each wielded in one hand.

So you can wield something in one hand and use a Thunder Gauntlet with the other, with all the benefits a Thunder Gauntlet brings.