Weapon actions

Weapon Actions are a type of Action granted to a character based on the type of weapon they are wielding. For example, bladed weapons such as Longswords will typically grant the Lacerate weapon action.

These actions are only usable once per Short Rest and are special in some way, normally able to do bonus damage, hit multiple targets, debilitate foes, or move the character.

In order to gain access to the Weapon Actions from a weapon, a creature must have Proficiency in that weapon type and have it equipped in the main hand or both hands (off-hand weapons do not grant Weapon Actions).

The Difficulty Class (or DC) for Saving Throws against Weapon Actions is calculated similarly to Spellcasting DC - except for two differences: firstly, the Spellcasting Ability Modifier is replaced with the Ability Modifier of either Strength or Dexterity, whichever is higher and secondly; each Weapon Action can grant its own inherent bonus DC that isn't listed anywhere, but most frequently it's +2. To express all this mathematically:

Weapon Action DC = 8 + Proficiency Bonus + Strength or Dexterity modifier + Inherent Weapon Action Bonus DC

Certain Weapon Action instead uses Hybrid DC, which allows a user to either use their Spellcasting DC or Weapon Action DC with a +2 bonus, whichever is higher.

Prior to Patch 5, weapon actions instead had a base DC of 10 but did not add the players proficiency bonus to their DC, leading to an overall lower DC after Proficiency Bonus increases at level 5. This was changed to the above formula after patch 5.

Overview of Weapon Actions

Melee Weapons

Weapon Action	Associated Weapons	Cost	Effect	Damage
Backbreaker	Warhammers  Mauls	Action	Inflict  Prone Strength saving throw Weapon action DC Duration: 2 turns	1d4 + Strength or Dexterity modifier Inherits weapon damage type
Brace (Melee)	Glaives  Pikes	6 m / 20 ft movement	Reroll melee damage rolls and take the higher value Duration: 1 turn	-
Cleave	Battleaxes  Greataxes  Halberds  Greatswords	Action	Strike up to 3 targets AoE: 1.5 m / 5 ft (Cone)	Halved weapon damage Any bonus damage is not halved, e.g. from  Divine Smite or  Great Weapon Master
Concussive Smash	Morningstars  Clubs  Light Hammers  Maces  Warhammers  Greatclubs  Mauls	Action	Inflict  Dazed Constitution saving throw Hybrid DC Duration: 2 turns	Weapon damage
Maiming Strike	War Picks  Battleaxes	Action	Inflict  Maimed Constitution saving throw Weapon action DC + 2 Duration: 2 turns	1d4 + Strength or Dexterity modifier Inherits weapon damage type
Disarming Strike	Tridents	Action	Target drops weapon Strength saving throw Weapon action DC + 2	1d4 + Strength or Dexterity modifier Inherits weapon damage type
Flourish	Scimitars  Shortswords  Rapiers	Bonus action	Inflict  Off Balance Dexterity saving throw Weapon action DC + 2 Duration: 2 turns	1d4Bludgeoning Non-lethal damage
Heartstopper	Morningstars	Action	Inflict  Chest Trauma Constitution saving throw Weapon action DC + 2 Duration: 2 turns	1d4 + Strength or Dexterity modifier Inherits weapon damage type
Lacerate	Handaxes  Sickles  Scimitars  Battleaxes  Longswords  Glaives  Greataxes  Greatswords  Halberds	Action	Inflict  Bleeding Constitution saving throw Weapon action DC + 2 Duration: 2 turns	Weapon damage
Piercing Strike	Daggers  Rapiers  Shortswords  Tridents  Pikes  Javelins	Action	Inflict  Gaping Wounds Constitution saving throw Weapon action DC + 2 Duration: 2 turns	Weapon damage
Pommel Strike	Longswords  Greatswords	Bonus action	Inflict  Dazed Constitution saving throw Weapon action DC + 2 Duration: 2 turns	1d4Bludgeoning Non-lethal damage
Prepare	Greataxes	6 m / 20 ft movement	Extra damage on melee attacks this turn	Strength modifier Slashing
Rush Attack	Longswords  Spears  Tridents  Glaives  Halberds  Pikes	Action +  Movement	Charge up to 9 m / 30 ft Inflict  Off Balance Strength saving throw Weapon action DC Duration: 2 turns	1d4 + Strength or Dexterity modifier Inherits weapon damage type
Tenacity	Morningstars  Greatclubs  Mauls	Reaction	Inflict damage on a miss	Strength modifier Bludgeoning Minimum 1 damage
Topple	Quarterstaves	Action	Inflict  Prone Dex saving throw Weapon action DC + 2 Duration: 1 turn	1d4Bludgeoning Non-lethal damage
Weakening Strike	Rapiers  War Picks  Warhammers	Action	Inflict  Weak Grip Strength saving throw Weapon action DC + 2 Duration: 2 turns	1d4 + Strength or Dexterity modifier Inherits weapon damage type Non-lethal damage

Ranged Weapons

Weapon Action	Associated Weapons	Cost	Effect	Damage
Brace (Ranged)	Heavy Crossbows  Longbows	6 m / 20 ft movement	Reroll ranged damage rolls and take the higher value Duration: 1 turn	-
Hamstring Shot	Shortbows  Longbows	Action	Inflict  Hamstrung Constitution saving throw Weapon action DC + 2 Duration: 2 turns	Weapon damage
Mobile Shot	Hand Crossbows	Bonus action	Make a bonus action attack after using  Dash or  Disengage	Weapon damage
Piercing Shot	Heavy Crossbows  Light Crossbows  Hand Crossbows	Action	Inflict  Gaping Wounds Constitution saving throw Weapon action DC + 2 Duration: 2 turns	Weapon damage

Special actions

The following weapon actions are available only on specific weapons.

Melee weapons

Weapon action	Associated weapons	Cost	Effect	Damage
Absolute Power	Faithbreaker	Action	Push target back 5 m / 17 ft Strength saving throw Spell save DC	Weapon damage + Strength modifier + 1d6Force
Blood Money	Twist of Fortune	Action	Deal extra damage based on amount of gold carried by the target Target's gold is consumed by this attack	Weapon damage + Proficiency bonus per 300 gold
Colossal Onslaught	Jorgoral's Greatsword	Action	Strike multiple targets in a line AoE: 6 m / 20 ft (Line)	Weapon damage + Proficiency bonus
Corrosive Strike	Corrosive Flail	Action	Create a pool of  Acid around the target Reduces  Armour Class by 2 AoE: 3 m / 10 ft (Radius) Duration: 3 turns	Weapon damage + Proficiency bonusAcid
Crowning Strike	Blade of Oppressed Souls	Action	Inflict  Crown of Madness Intelligence saving throw Weapon action DC + 2 Duration: 3 turns	Weapon damage + Proficiency bonusPsychic
Dawnburst Strike	The Sacred Star	Action	Inflict  Blinded in an AoE Constitution saving throw Weapon action DC + 2 AoE: 3 m / 10 ft (Radius) Duration: 3 turns	Weapon damage + Proficiency bonusRadiant
Dueller's Enthusiasm	Duellist's Prerogative	Bonus action	If not dual-wielding, make a bonus attack with this weapon Recharge: Per turn	Weapon damage
Edge of Darkness	Shar's Spear of Evening	Action	Create a cloud of  Darkness and hit every target inside AoE: 3 m / 10 ft (Radius) Duration: 3 turns	Weapon damage
Gargantuan Cleave	Very Heavy Greataxe	Action	Strike up to 3 targets AoE: 2 m / 7 ft (Cone) Inflict  Off Balance on self Duration: 1 turn	Half weapon damage + 1d6Slashing Bonus damage such as from  Great Weapon Master is not halved
Grand Slam	Corpsegrinder	Action	Damage and push away enemies in an AoE Push equal to normal  Shove distance Dexterity saving throw Weapon action DC + 2 AoE: 3 m / 10 ft (Radius)	Weapon damage + Proficiency bonusThunder
Hellflame Cleave	Hellfire Greataxe	Bonus action	Strike multiple targets and inflict  Roiling Hellfire Dexterity saving throw Spell save DC AoE: 3 m / 10 ft (Cone) Creates  Hellfire surface	Weapon damage + 2d6Fire
Hush You!	Witchbreaker	Action	Inflict  Silenced Constitution saving throw Weapon action DC + 2 Duration: 2 turns	Weapon damage + Proficiency bonus
Moonlight Butterflies	Moonlight Glaive	Action	Create  Moonlight Butterflies area Provides Advantage against creatures inside AoE: 2 m / 7 ft (Radius) Duration: 3 turns	Weapon damage + Proficiency bonus + Proficiency bonusPsychic
Part the Flesh	Fleshrender	Action	Inflict  Rended Flesh Constitution saving throw Weapon action DC + 2 Duration: 3 turns	Weapon damage + Proficiency bonusNecrotic
Perfectly Balanced Strike	Belm	Bonus action	Make an attack with your main-hand weapon If Belm is equipped in your offhand, the attack will not be made with Belm. Recharge: Per turn	Weapon damage
Poison Mist	Argument Solver	Action	Create a  Poison Cloud which inflicts  Poisoned Constitution saving throw Spell save DC AoE: 1.5 m / 5 ft (Radius) Duration: 3 turns	Weapon damage + Proficiency bonus + Proficiency bonusPoison
Profane Scourge	The Undead Bane	Action	Inflict  Bane on undead and fiends Strength saving throw Weapon action DC + 2 Duration: 3 turns Has no effect on other creature types	Weapon damage + Proficiency bonus + 2d6Slashing (only vs. undead and fiends)
Razor Gale	Larethian's Wrath	Action	Strike all enemies in a large cone AoE: 4 m / 13 ft (Cone)	Weapon damage + Proficiency bonus
Revitalising Strike	Hoppy	Action	Heal yourself 1d6hit points	Weapon damage + Proficiency bonusNecrotic
Searing Blood	Rupturing Blade	Action	Inflict  Burning and  Bleeding Constitution saving throw Weapon action DC + 2 Duration: 2 turns The two conditions have separate saving throws Deal 1d6Slashing to self	Weapon damage + Proficiency bonusFire + 1d6Fire
Soulbreaker	Soulbreaker Greatsword Silver Sword of the Astral Plane	Action	Inflict  Stunned Constitution saving throw Weapon action DC + 2 Duration: 2 turns	Weapon damage + Proficiency bonusPsychic
Shadowsoaked Blow	Sword of Clutching Umbra Justiciar's Scimitar	Action	Can attack without losing  Hiding	Weapon damage + Proficiency bonus + 1d6Psychic
Topple the Big Folk	Balduran's Giantslayer	Action	Inflict  Prone to large or greater targets Strength saving throw Weapon action DC + 2 Duration: 2 turns	Weapon damage + Proficiency bonus + 2d6 (if target is large or greater)
Unshackling Strike	Orphic Hammer	Action	Remove  Restrained,  Paralysed, and  Stunned Recharge: Unlimited use	-

Ranged weapons

Weapon action	Associated weapons	Cost	Effect	Damage
Arcane Ammunition	Crossbow of Arcane Force	Bonus action	Increase damage of this weapon by 1d4Force Duration: 1 turn	-
Blinding Shot	Least Expected	Action	Inflict  Blinded Constitution saving throw Weapon action DC + 2 Duration: 2 turns	Weapon damage + Proficiency bonus
Bolt of Celestial Light	Gontr Mael	Action	Increase damage of this weapon by 1d4Radiant Duration: 10 turns Inflict  Frightened Wisdom saving throw Weapon action DC Duration: 2 turns	Weapon damage + Proficiency bonus + 1d8Radiant
Illuminating Shot	Fabricated Arbalest	Bonus action	Inflict  Radiating Orb Duration: 2 turns Recharge: Unlimited use	1d4Piercing Does not benefit from most damage bonuses including  Sharpshooter
Pushing Attack	Titanstring Bow	Action	Push target back 4.5 m / 15 ft Strength saving throw Weapon action DC	Weapon damage
Reposition Malefactor	Hellfire Engine Crossbow	Action	Pull target 9 m / 30 ft towards you DC 15  Dexterity saving throw Recharge: Unlimited use	Half weapon damage Does not benefit from most damage bonuses including  Sharpshooter
Sacred Munitions	Gandrel's Aspiration	Bonus action	Enchant this weapon to inflict  Turned against undead Buff lasts 1 turn  Turned lasts 3 turns With  Destroy Undead, attacks do 4d6Radiant bonus damage against undead	-

NPC-exclusive weapons

These weapon actions are attached to weapons that are normally only available to certain creatures. As such, the only way for a player to access these weapon actions without exploits is to summon a creature wielding the associated weapon.

Weapon action	Associated weapons	Cost	Effect	Damage
Electrified Flail	Flail of the Vortex	Action	Inflict  Stunned DC 13  Constitution saving throw Duration: 2 turns Recharge: Unlimited use	Weapon damage + 1d10Lightning
Hiemal Strike	Trident of the Depths	Action	Inflict  Chilled DC 13  Constitution saving throw Duration: 2 turns Recharge: Unlimited use	Weapon damage + 1d10Cold
Overheat	Azer Warhammer	Bonus action	Inflict  Burning Fiercely in an AoE DC 15  Constitution saving throw AoE: 2 m / 7 ft (Radius) Duration: 3 turns	1d10Fire
Scorching Strike	Scimitar of Cinder	Action	Inflict  Burning DC 13  Constitution saving throw Duration: 2 turns Recharge: Unlimited use	Weapon damage + 1d10Fire

Conditions Inflicted by Weapon Actions

Condition	Inflicted by / Saving Throw	Saving Throw Penalty	Additional Effects	Removed by
Bleeding	Lacerate (CON)	Constitution	Inflicts 2 Slashing per turn for 2 turns	Healing
Chest Trauma	Heartstopper (CON)	Constitution	One fewer Action for 2 turns	Healing
Maimed	Crippling Strike (CON)	Dexterity	Movement Speed reduced to 0	Healing
Dazed	Concussive Smash (CON) Pommel Strike (CON)	Wisdom	Can't take reactions, loses Dexterity bonus to  Armour Class	Ally Help
Gaping Wounds	Piercing Shot (CON) Piercing Strike (CON)	-	Receive additional 2 Piercing damage from attacks for 2 turns	Healing
Hamstrung	Hamstring Shot (CON)	-	Movement Speed halved	Healing
Off Balance	Rush Attack (STR) Flourish (DEX)	Strength Dexterity	Advantage to attackers	Ally Help or taking damage
Prone	Topple (STR) Backbreaker (DEX)	Strength Dexterity	Advantage to nearby attackers	Using half of Movement Speed
Weak Grip	Weakening Strike (STR)	Strength Dexterity	Disadvantage on attacks	Ally Help