Every Martial Melee Weapon in Dungeons & Dragons
Want to know which Dungeons & Dragons weapon you should use for your character? Sure, you could go with the classic sword and shield combo, but there are a ton of options to consider when picking the perfect weapon for your build.
Weapon choice is an important decision in the fantasy game, as it can affect your damage output and even your defences because of how armour class is calculated. We’ll give you the lowdown on every weapon in the game, including the best and worst options for your build and the enemies you’ll face along the way.
Ranking of Weapons
The glaive is a heavy-hitting weapon with a d10 damage, reach property, and requires two hands to wield. The reach property allows you to attack enemies at a range of 10ft, bringing some strategy to the battlefield as you can attack enemies from a safe distance.
The trident is a versatile weapon, causing d6 damage and can be thrown with a range of 20ft to 60ft. The reach property makes this an effective weapon for anyone who can’t wield a shield and is excellent for barbarian builds.
The spear is a glorified dagger with reach and finesse properties. With reach, you can attack from 10ft away, making it a good weapon for anyone who can’t pick up a shield without sacrificing your ability to attack. This weapon also makes for excellent sneak attacks and can be used to pull enemies toward you.
The whip is a slashing weapon with reach and finesse properties. This weapon also has the grapple property, allowing you to pull enemies toward you and attack them from a safe distance. The whip is best suited to rogues, but it can be used by anyone who can attack from a distance.
The morningstar, war pick, and warhammer are basic weapons with a d8 damage. They don’t have any special properties, but you should still pick one up if you’re in need of a weapon.
The lance is a powerful weapon with a d12 damage and reach, but disadvantage when attacking at close range. This weapon is best used by mounted characters and anyone who can attack at a distance.
The rapier is the finesse weapon with the highest damage. This weapon requires finesse training and is perfect for dexterity-focused characters, as it’s unlikely you’ll find any better options.
The greataxe is a two-handed weapon with a d12 damage, making it ideal for barbarians and high-strength characters. The greataxe also has the versatile property, which can be effective against resistant creatures.
The maul and greatsword are two-handed weapons with 2d6 damage, offering greater average damage. These weapons can be used by anyone who can’t wield a shield and has high strength.
The halberd and glaive are long-reaching weapons with reach and two-handed properties, offering a tactical advantage. You can attack enemies from a distance without exposing your entire body to danger, making these weapons ideal for anyone who can’t wield a shield.
The rapier, shortsword, and scimitar are versatile weapons with d8 or d10 damage. These weapons are good all-rounders, so you should pick one up if you can’t find anything better.
The warhammer stands out with its bludgeoning damage type, making it effective against resistant creatures. If you’re going to pick a two-handed weapon, this should be your first choice, as it offers the most versatility.
These weapons, such as the longsword, battleaxe, and war pick, are versatile, offering good damage and flexibility. These are your best bet if you’re not sure which weapon to use.
The greatsword is another two-handed weapon with 2d6 damage, but it has the versatile property, making it perfect for anyone who can’t wield a shield and wants to maximise their damage output.
The battleaxe is a powerful weapon with a d10 damage and the versatile property, making it ideal for anyone who wants to maximise their damage output.
