A Complete Guide to D&D 5th Edition Weapons

Download Article

Board and dice game expert Jess Hamlet shares what to know about weapons in D&D 5e

Co-authored by Jess Hamlet and Glenn Carreau

Last Updated: April 28, 2026 Fact Checked

Download Article

• Weapon Types
|
• Weapon Properties
|
• Mastery Properties
|
• Weapon Proficiency
|
• Video
|
• Tips

|Show more |Show less

Do you want to learn more about the available weapons in Dungeons & Dragons 5th edition? We’ve got you covered! There’s a wide variety of weapons that characters and enemies alike can pick up, from simple weapons to the more specialized martial weapons. We partnered with a board and dice game expert to help us provide you with all the information you need for each weapon type, including damage values and properties. That way, you can make an informed decision when it’s time to get your character a new weapon!

A Quick Overview of DnD Weapons

Board and dice game expert Jess Hamlet says the sky is the limit when it comes to weapons in D&D. There are standard weapons, like long swords, crossbows, staffs, clubs, and daggers. Weapons are often classified as simple or martial, with simple weapons being easier to use and martial weapons being specialized.

Steps

Section 1 of 4:

Weapon Types in D&D 5e

Download Article

1. 1
   Simple weaponsThere are two main weapon categories: simple and martial. Hamlet says, “Simple weapons include clubs and daggers. These weapons are usually wielded by commoners, casters, and newbies. If you wanted to use a weapon that likely wouldn’t hurt you if you used it with little to no training, a simple weapon would do the trick.” Melee weapons are the ones you can wield in close combat, while ranged weapons can be used to attack from a distance.
Advertisement

Simple Melee Weapons
Name	Damage	Properties	Mastery	Weight	Cost
Club	1d4 bludgeoning damage	Light	Slow	2 lb.	1 SP
Dagger	1d4 piercing damage	Finesse, Light, Thrown (range 20/60)	Nick	1 lb.	2 GP
Greatclub	1d8 bludgeoning damage	Two-Handed	Push	10 lb.	2 SP
Handaxe	1d6 slashing damage	Light, Thrown (range 20/60)	Vex	2 lb.	5 GP
Javelin	1d6 piercing damage	Thrown (range 30/120)	Slow	2 lb.	5 SP
Light Hammer	1d4 bludgeoning damagee	Light, Thrown (range 20/60)	Nick	2 lb.	2 GP
Mace	1d6 bludgeoning damage	N/A	Sap	4 lb.	5 GP
Quarterstaff	1d6 bludgeoning damage	Versatile (1d8)	Topple	4 lb.	2 SP
Sickle	1d4 slashing damage	Light	Nick	2 lb.	1 GP
Spear	1d6 piercing damage	Thrown (range 20/60), Versatile (1d8)	Sap	3 lb.	1 GP
Simple Ranged Weapons
Name	Damage	Properties	Mastery	Weight	Cost
Dart	1d4 piercing damage	Finesse, Thrown (range 20/60)	Vex	1/4 lb.	1 SP
Light Crossbow	1d8 piercing damage	Ammunition (range 80/320); bolt), Loading, Two-Handed	Slow	5 lb.	2 GP
Shortbow	1d6 piercing damage	Ammunition (range 80/320); arrow), Two-Handed	Vex	2 lb.	2 SP
Sling	1d4 bludgeoning damage	Ammunition (range 30/120); bullet)	Slow	N/A	5 GP

1. 1
   Martial weaponsHamlet says that martial weapons deal more damage in trained hands, and include options like swords, bows, and crossbows. You’ll most often see warrior-type characters (like fighters, barbarians, paladins, or rangers) using martial weapons, since they tend to be more effective and deal greater damage in combat. Here are the existing martial weapons in D&D 5e:

Martial Melee Weapons
Name	Damage	Properties	Mastery	Weight	Cost
Battleaxe	1d8 slashing damage	Versatile (1d10)	Topple	4 lb.	10 GP
Flail	1d8 bludgeoning damage	N/A	Sap	2 lb.	10 GP
Glaive	1d10 slashing damage	Heavy, Reach, Two-Handed	Graze	6 lb.	20 GP
Greataxe	1d12 slashing damage	Heavy, Two-Handed	Cleave	7 lb.	30 GP
Greatsword	2d6 slashing damage	Heavy, Two-Handed	Graze	6 lb.	50 GP
Halberd	1d10 slashing damage	Heavy, Reach, Two-Handed	Cleave	6 lb.	20 GP
Lance	1d10 piercing damage	Heavy, Reach, Two-Handed (unless mounted)	Topple	6 lb.	10 GP
Longsword	1d8 slashing damage	Versatile (1d10)	Sap	3 lb.	15 GP
Maul	2d6 bludgeoning damage	Heavy, Two-Handed	Topple	10 lb.	10 GP
Morningstar	1d8 piercing damage	N/A	Sap	4 lb.	15 GP
Pike	1d10 piercing damage	Heavy, Reach, Two-Handed	Push	18 lb.	5 GP
Rapier	1d8 piercing damage	Finesse	Vex	2 lb.	25 GP
Scimitar	1d6 slashing damage	Finesse, Light	Nick	3 lb.	25 GP
Shortsword	1d6 piercing damage	Finesse, Light	Vex	2 lb.	10 GP
Trident	1d8 piercing damage	Thrown (range 20/60), Versatile (1d10)	Topple	4 lb.	5 GP
Warhammer	1d8 bludgeoning damage	Versatile (1d10)	Push	5 lb.	15 GP
War Pick	1d8 piercing damage	Versatile (1d10)	Sap	2 lb.	5 GP
Whip	1d4 slashing damage	Finesse, Reach	Slow	3 lb.	2 GP
Martial Ranged Weapons
Name	Damage	Properties	Mastery	Weight	Cost
Blowgun	1 piercing damage	Ammunition (range 25/100; needle), Loading	Vex	1 lb.	10 GP
Hand Crossbow	1d6 piercing damage	Ammunition (range 30/120); bolt), Light, Loading	Vex	3 lb.	75 GP
Heavy Crossbow	1d10 piercing damage	Ammunition (range 100/400); bolt), Heavy, Loading, Two-Handed	Push	18 lb.	50 GP
Longbow	1d8 piercing damage	Ammunition (range 150/600); arrow), Heavy, Two-Handed	Slow	2 lb.	50 GP
Musket	1d12 piercing damage	Ammunition (range 40/120; bullet), Loading, Two-Handed	Slow	10 lb.	500 GP
Pistol	1d10 piercing damage	Ammunition (range 30/90; bullet), Loading	Vex	3 lb.	250 GP

Section 2 of 4:

Weapon Properties, Explained

Download Article

1. 
   1
   AmmunitionWeapons with the “Ammunition” property require the proper ammunition to make ranged attacks, with each attack expending a single piece of ammunition (bolts, arrows, bullets, and so on). A single attack involves drawing the ammunition, loading it, and firing the weapon—although you need a free hand to load one-handed weapons.

   • Ammunition can generally be purchased in-game. You can also spend 1 minute after combat and recover half of the ammunition used in the fight.
2. 
   2
   FinesseFinesse weapons allow you to use your Strength or Dexterity modifier for attack and damage rolls. Keep in mind that you’ll need to use the same modifier for both rolls; for instance, if you make an attack using Strength, you should also roll damage using Strength.
3. 
   3
   HeavyMelee weapons with the “Heavy” property require a Strength score of at least 13 to wield properly (or a Dexterity score of at least 13 for ranged weapons). If you use a Heavy weapon without having the prerequisite ability score, you’ll have to roll attacks with disadvantage.

   • Disadvantage means rolling the d20 twice and taking the lower result.
4. 
   4
   LightWhen using weapons with the “Light” property, you can take the Attack action on your turn and then make an extra attack as a Bonus Action (all in the same turn). However, the extra attack must be made using a different Light weapon in your character’s off-hand, and you can’t add your ability modifier to the damage (unless it’s a negative modifier).

   • For instance, say your character has a rapier in their main hand and a shortsword in the other.
   • That means they can attack with both weapons using an action and a bonus action, but they can’t add their Dexterity modifier to the bonus action attack.
5. 
   5
   LoadingWeapons with the “Loading” property require ammunition to be loaded each time you use an action, bonus action, or reaction to fire it. Additionally, only one piece of ammunition can be fired from a Loading weapon at a time.
6. 
   6
   RangeWeapons with the “Range” property have a specific range in which they can be used, noted in parentheses. Every range has two numbers: the first is the weapon’s maximum normal range, and the second is the weapon’s maximum long range. If you attack with a ranged weapon and fire at a target beyond the normal range, you’ll have to make the attack roll with disadvantage.

   • For instance, longbows have a range of 150/600. That means the normal range for a longbow is 150 feet, and the long range is 600 feet.
   • You can’t attack a target that’s further beyond a weapon’s long range. So, if an enemy were more than 600 feet away, you wouldn’t be able to attack with a longbow.
7. 
   7
   ReachWeapons with the “Reach” property add an extra 5 feet to your reach on attacks (including opportunity attacks). So, for instance, if your normal reach is 5 feet (which is the standard for most characters), you’d have a total reach of 10 feet when wielding a weapon with this property.

   • In D&D, a character’s reach determines how far away they can hit enemies with a melee weapon.
8. 
   8
   ThrownWeapons with the “Thrown” property can be thrown in ranged attacks (with your character drawing the weapon as part of the attack). Some throwing weapons are also melee weapons, meaning you can either wield them normally or throw them. If a melee weapon has the “Thrown” property, your ranged attacks should use the same ability modifier on attack and damage rolls that you use on melee attacks.
9. 
   9
   Two-handedSimply put, two-handed weapons require your character to wield them with two hands for attacks (not one). For example, you can’t hold a two-handed weapon and a shield at the same time (unless you have a specific feat that allows it).
10. 
    10
    VersatileVersatile weapons can be used with either one or two hands—your choice. Using a versatile weapon with two hands over one generally increases the amount of damage it can do. On the charts above, you’ll see a damage value in parentheses next to weapons with the “Versatile” property; that value indicates the damage dealt when using the weapon with two hands.

    • For example, longswords deal 1d8 slashing damage when held in one hand, and 1d10 damage when held in two hands.
Advertisement

Section 3 of 4:

Weapon Mastery Properties

Download Article

1. 
   Every weapon has a special “mastery property.” Mastery properties can be used by characters who have a specific feature (like Weapon Mastery) that allows them to do so. Here are the different mastery properties a weapon can have:

   • Cleave - Once per turn, when you hit a creature with a melee attack, you can make another melee attack against a second creature within 5 feet. If you hit, that second creature takes the weapon’s damage (without your ability modifier added).
   • Graze - If you make an attack and miss, you can still deal damage equal to the ability modifier used to make the attack (using the same damage type dealt by the weapon).
   • Nick - Once per turn, when making an extra attack with a Light weapon, you can make that attack part of the action (instead of as a bonus action).
   • Push - When you hit a creature that is Large or smaller, you can push them up to 10 feet away.
   • Sap - When you hit a creature with your weapon, they have disadvantage on their next attack roll (so long as they attack before the start of your next turn).
   • Slow - When you hit a creature and deal damage, you can reduce the creature’s speed by 10 feet until the start of your next turn. However, the creature’s speed can’t be reduced by more than 10 feet (even if hit multiple times).
   • Topple - Upon hitting a creature with the weapon, you can force them to make a Constitution saving throw (DC 8 plus your attack ability modifier); on a failure, the creature is knocked prone.
   • Vex - Hitting a creature and dealing damage allows you to roll the next attack against the same creature with advantage (before the end of your next turn).

Section 4 of 4:

What is weapon proficiency in D&D?

Download Article

1. 
   Proficiency lets you add your proficiency bonus to weapon attacks. Essentially, any character can use a weapon in D&D—but you need to have proficiency with a weapon to add your proficiency bonus to attack rolls. Player characters gain proficiency through various features, including their class, race/bloodline, and optional feats during level-ups. Monsters are automatically proficient with weapons in their stat blocks.

   • For instance, if your character is proficient with simple weapons, they can make melee attacks with a dagger by rolling a d20 and adding both their ability score modifier and proficiency bonus.
   • However, if your character isn’t proficient with simple weapons, they can only make melee attacks by rolling a d20 and adding their ability score modifier—not their proficiency bonus.
Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Search

Add New Question

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Advertisement

Tips

• Hamlet says the sky is the limit when it comes to what weapons you can use in D&D 5e. “While there are the standard suspects, like long sword, crossbow, or staff, those aren’t your only choices. What constitutes a weapon is limited only by your imagination and the Dungeon Master’s discretion.”
  Thanks

  Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

Submit a Tip

All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published

Name

Please provide your name and last initial

Submit

Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

Advertisement

Video