A creature wielding a double weapon in one hand can’t use it as a double weapon-only one end of the weapon can be used in any given round.ĭaggers, clubs, shortspears, spears, darts, javelins, throwing axes, light hammers, tridents, shuriken, and nets are thrown weapons. The character can also choose to use a double weapon two handed, attacking with only one end of it.

A character can fight with both ends of a double weapon as if fighting with two weapons, but he or she incurs all the normal attack penalties associated with two-weapon combat, just as though the character were wielding a one-handed weapon and a light weapon.

(This is an exception to the rule that 2 squares of diagonal distance is measured as 15 feet.)ĭire flails, dwarven urgroshes, gnome hooked hammers, orc double axes, quarterstaffs, and two-bladed swords are double weapons. Note: Small and Medium creatures wielding reach weapons threaten all squares 10 feet (2 squares) away, even diagonally. A typical Large character wielding a reach weapon of the appropriate size can attack a creature 15 or 20 feet away, but not adjacent creatures or creatures up to 10 feet away. Most reach weapons double the wielder’s natural reach, meaning that a typical Small or Medium wielder of such a weapon can attack a creature 10 feet away, but not a creature in an adjacent square. A reach weapon is a melee weapon that allows its wielder to strike at targets that aren’t adjacent to him or her. Glaives, guisarmes, lances, longspears, ranseurs, spiked chains, and whips are reach weapons. Ranged weapons are thrown weapons or projectile weapons that are not effective in melee. Melee weapons are used for making melee attacks, though some of them can be thrown as well. A character who uses a weapon with which he or she is not proficient takes a -4 penalty on attack rolls. Characters of other classes are proficient with an assortment of mainly simple weapons and possibly also some martial or even exotic weapons. Barbarians, fighters, paladins, and rangers are proficient with all simple and all martial weapons. These categories pertain to what training is needed to become proficient in a weapon’s use (simple, martial, or exotic), the weapon’s usefulness either in close combat (melee) or at a distance (ranged, which includes both thrown and projectile weapons), its relative encumbrance (light, one-handed, or two-handed), and its size (Small, Medium, or Large).Īnybody but a druid, monk, or wizard is proficient with all simple weapons. Weapons are grouped into several interlocking sets of categories.

Dnd unarmed strike 5e rules