Rationale and Changelog

Y
es, it's yet another "weapon expansion"
supplement for D&D 5e made by some
nobody on the internet.
People who make supplements like this
are lovers of complexity and medieval
warfare. If they weren't, they wouldn't make
supplements like this.
Unfortunately, that means such supplements are often
convoluted and over-complicated, with far too many
modifiers possible at once that go against the established
design of 5e.

Design Goals
With that rationale in mind, I had several goals when
creating this system:

First, simplicity. Weapons should feel different; most

weapons should behave in an interesting way, but this
must not over-complicate their use.

Second, new weapons should be added that are not

represented by 5e's base selection, particularly in light
of the new properties added to make weapons feel
different.

Third, buffs should be as subtle as possible - enough to

make the weapon feel different without throwing off
balance.

Fourth, Special weapons in base 5e should be buffed so

that they are more useful, as they are almost never
used in their current form.

Finally, exotic weapon materials should be more

diverse and more worthwhile without being too close in
power to magical weapons.

Changelog
Version 1 completed.

First draft distributed for feedback and adjustment.

 Better Weapons for D&D 5e
T
his supplement is intended to be dropped
into an existing D&D 5e campaign quickly
and easily so that different weapons can
behave differently. The intention is for
players' choices to be more important and
for martial characters to have more options
on their turn in combat.
It can be used on its own or alongside Better Shields.
Supplement User Guide
To begin using Better Weapons, do the following in your
game:
Replace the 5e Longsword with this supplement's
Bastard Sword
Replace the 5e Scimitar with this supplement's
Backsword
Replace the 5e Greatsword with this supplement's
Longsword
Replace the 5e Handaxe with this supplement's Hatchet
If you are using the optional Disarm action from the
Dungeon Master's Guide (p. 251), consider allowing
weapons with the Disarming property to have advantage
on attempts to Disarm.
Finally, all weapons with the Special property have been
tweaked. The new rules can be found in the Special
Weapons section.
Weapon Properties
Agile. This weapon is nimble. When an enemy triggers an
attack of opportunity, you gain a bonus on the attack roll
with this weapon equal to half your proficiency bonus.
Anti-armor. This weapon is suited to attacking armored
foes. When attacking a creature that has natural armor or
that is wearing medium or heavy armor that is not hide
armor, you gain a +1 bonus to your attack roll.
Concealable. If this weapon is hidden on your person, for
example with a Dexterity (Sleight of Hand) check, any
Wisdom (Perception) checks made to spot the weapon are
made with disadvantage.
Disarming. Using this weapon, you can use a weapon
attack to knock a weapon or item from a target’s grasp.
You make an attack roll contested by your target’s
Strength (Athletics) or Dexterity (Acrobatics). If you win, the
target drops the item. If they are holding the item with
multiple hands, you have disadvantage. You have
advantage if your size is larger than your target,
disadvantage if it is smaller.
Part 1 | Usage & Properties
2
Holdout. If this weapon is hidden on your person, for
example with a Dexterity (Sleight of Hand) check, it cannot
be spotted from a distance. Any checks made to physically
search you for the weapon are made at disadvantage.
Impactful. This weapon relies more on power than
accuracy. When making a damage roll for a ranged attack
with this weapon, add your Strength modifier.
Joint-locking. This weapon is especially useful when
grappling. When using your action to Grapple your enemy
with this weapon equipped, you can add this weapon's
damage die to your Grapple check.
Lobbed. This weapon can launch projectiles in a stable
arc, making them do additional damage from gravity equal
to half your proficiency bonus when the target is in the
second range increment.
Momentum. This weapon can build momentum to hit
harder. When you miss a melee attack with this weapon,
add +1 to the next damage roll made with this weapon in
that turn. If you miss multiple times in a row, add +1 for
each miss.
Parrying. This weapon is good for fighting defensively.
When another creature hits you with a melee attack, you
can use your Reaction to add +1 to your AC for that attack,
potentially causing it to miss.
Shoving. When using a Shove attack to push an enemy
away with this weapon equipped, you can add its damage
die to the roll. If it has the Reach property, you may use
that Reach as your reach for the Shove attack. Creatures
that are not moving using legs or wings are immune.
Sweeping. This weapon uses wide sweeping motions.
When you use it to attack multiple times in one turn, you
gain a bonus equal to half your proficiency bonus on
attack rolls against creatures that are not the first one you
hit.
Tripping. When using a Shove attack to knock an enemy
prone with this weapon equipped, you can add its damage
die to the roll. If it has the Reach property, you may use
that Reach as your reach for the Shove attack. Creatures
that are not using their legs to move are immune.
Ranged Tripping. When you make a successful ranged
attack with this weapon, you can use the attack roll against
the target's Strength (Athletics) or Dexterity (Acrobatics)
check, adding its damage die to the roll. If you win, the
creature falls prone. Creatures that are not using their legs
to move are immune.
Unhorsing. When you hit a target with this weapon, they
must make a DC10 Dexterity saving throw to avoid falling
off their mount.
Weapons Tables

T
he following are the new weapons tables.
The Proficiency column is used for new or
renamed weapons to indicate which
weapon proficiency they fall under
according to the standard 5e rules. If
multiple types of damage are listed for a
weapon, you will be assumed to do the first
type of damage but can choose to do the second type at
any time. The Materials column indicates the typical
material used to make that weapon. All martial melee
weapons are assumed to be made of steel except the
whip, which is made of leather.

Simple Weapons & Ammunition

Simple Melee Weapons
Weapon Cost Damage Weight Properties Proficiency Material
Club 1 sp 1d4 bludgeoning 2 lb. Concealable, light, — Wood
Dagger 2 gp 1d4 piercing/slashing 1 lb. Finesse, holdout, light, thrown (range 20/60) — Steel
Greatclub 2 sp 1d8 bludgeoning 10 lb. Momentum, two-handed — Wood
Hatchet 5 gp 1d6 slashing 2 lb. Concealable, light, thrown (range 20/60) Handaxe Steel
Javelin 5 sp 1d6 piercing 2 lb. Thrown (range 30/120) — Steel
Light hammer 2 gp 1d4 bludgeoning 2 lb. Light, thrown (range 20/60) — Steel
Mace 5 gp 1d6 bludgeoning 4 lb. Anti-armor — Steel
Quarterstaff 2 sp 1d6 bludgeoning 4 lb. Parrying, shoving, tripping, versatile (1d8) — Wood
Sickle 1 gp 1d4 slashing 2 lb. Disarming, light — Iron
Spear 1 gp 1d6 piercing 3 lb. Agile, thrown (range 20/60), versatile (1d8) — Steel
Baton 1 sp 1d4 bludgeoning 2 lb. Joint-locking, light, parrying, shoving Club Wood
Pitchfork 2 gp 1d8 piercing 10 lb. Disarming, two-handed Spear Steel
War-scythe 2 gp 1d8 slashing 6 lb. Sweeping, two-handed Spear Steel

Simple Ranged Weapons

Weapon Cost Damage Weight Properties Proficiency Material
1d4
Bolas 5 sp 2 lb. Ranged tripping, special, thrown (range 20/60) Net Stone
bludgeoning
Crossbow, 25
1d8 piercing 5 lb. Ammunition (range 80/320), loading, two-handed — Wood
light gp
Dart 5 cp 1d4 piercing 1/4 lb. Finesse, thrown (range 20/60), holdout — Steel
Harpoon 1 gp 1d4 piercing 3 lb. Thrown (range 10/30), special Javelin Steel
25
Shortbow 1d6 piercing 2 lb. Ammunition (range 80/320), two-handed, lobbed — Wood
gp
1d4 Ammunition (range 100/400), holdout, impactful,
Sling 1 sp — — Rope
bludgeoning lobbed

Ammunition
Type Cost Weight Material
Arrows (20) 1 gp 1 lb. Steel
Blowgun needles (50) 1 gp 1 lb. Wood
Part 2 | Simple Weapons
Crossbow bolts (20) 1 gp 1 1/2 lb. Steel 3
Sling bullets (20) 4 cp 1 1/2 lb. Stone
 Martial Weapons
Martial Melee Weapons
Weapon Cost Damage Weight Properties Proficiency
Arming sword 15 gp 1d8 slashing/piercing 2 lb. Agile Longsword
Backsword 10 gp 1d6 slashing 3 lb. Finesse, light Scimitar
Bastard sword 20 gp 1d8 slashing/piercing 3 lb. Versatile (1d10) Longsword
Battleaxe 10 gp 1d8 slashing 4 lb. Sweeping —
Duelling dagger 5 gp 1d4 piercing 1 lb. Disarming, finesse, light, parrying, Rapier
Fauchard 20 gp 1d10 slashing/piercing 6 lb. Heavy, reach, tripping, two-handed Glaive
Flail 5 gp 1d6 bludgeoning 4 lb. Anti-armor —
Glaive 20 gp 1d10 slashing/piercing 6 lb. Heavy, reach, two-handed, momentum —
Greataxe 30 gp 1d12 slashing 7 lb. Heavy, momentum, sweeping, two-handed —
Greatsword 50 gp 1d10 slashing/piercing 6 lb. Heavy, reach, sweeping, two-handed Glaive
Halberd 20 gp 1d10 slashing/piercing 6 lb. Heavy, reach, two-handed, unhorsing —
Heavy trident 20 gp 1d10 piercing 6 lb. Disarming, heavy, reach, two-handed Pike
Lance 10 gp 1d12 piercing 3 lb. Reach, special, unhorsing —
Longsword 35 gp 2d6 slashing/piercing 4 lb. Heavy, two-handed Greatsword
Maul 10 gp 2d6 bludgeoning 10 lb. Heavy, two-handed —
Morningstar 15 gp 1d8 bludgeoning 4 lb. Anti-armor —
Pike 5 gp 1d10 piercing 6 lb. Agile, heavy, reach, two-handed —
Rapier 25 gp 1d8 piercing 2 lb. Finesse —
Sabre 25 gp 1d8 slashing 2 lb. Sweeping —
Shortsword 10 gp 1d6 piercing/slashing 2 lb. Finesse, light —
Trident 5 gp 1d6 piercing 4 lb. Disarm, thrown (range 20/60), versatile (1d8), —
Tuck 35 gp 1d10 piercing/bludgeoning 4 lb. Anti-armor, two-handed Longsword
War pick 5 gp 1d8 piercing 2 lb. Anti-armor —
Warhammer 15 gp 1d8 bludgeoning 2 lb. Anti-armor, versatile (1d10) —
Whip 2 gp 1d4 slashing 2 lb. Disarm, finesse, reach, trip —

Martial Ranged Weapons

Weapon Cost Damage Weight Properties Proficiency Material
10
Blowgun 1 piercing 1 lb. Ammunition (range 25/75), holdout, loading — Wood
gp
Crossbow, 75
1d6 piercing 3 lb. Ammunition (range 30/120), concealable, light, loading — Wood
hand gp
Crossbow, 50 Ammunition (range 100/400), heavy, loading, two-
1d10 piercing 8 lb. — Wood
heavy gp handed
50 Ammunition (range 150/600), heavy, impactful, lobbed,
Longbow 1d8 piercing 2 lb. — Wood
gp two-handed
Net 1 gp — 3 lb. Special, thrown (range 5/15) — Rope
1d6 Ammunition (range 150/600), lobbed, special, two-
Staff-sling 3 sp 4 lb. Sling Wood
bludgeoning handed

Part 3 | Martial Weapons

4
Special Weapons
Some weapons have specific rules governing their use.
Those will be described here.
Bolas. If you successfully trip a creature with a bolas, that
creature is knocked prone and its movement speed is
reduced to 5ft until it uses an action to untangle itself. A
bolas only affects creatures that are walking or running.
Harpoon. A Huge or smaller creature hit by a harpoon is
Grappled until it is freed. A harpoon has no effect on
creatures that are incorporeal or amorphous. While the
creature is grappled by the harpoon, you can use your
action to make a Strength (Athletics) check contested
against the target's Strength (Athletics) check. If you are
successful, you can drag the creature a number of feet
towards you equal to 5 times your Strength modifier,
provided it is no more than one size larger than yourself.
A creature can use its action to make a DC 10 Strength
(Athletics) check, freeing itself on a success. Dealing 5
slashing damage to the harpoon's tether (AC 10) also frees
the creature, ending the effect and destroying the
harpoon. When you attack with a harpoon, you can make
only one attack regardless of the number of attacks you
can normally make.
Lance. You have disadvantage when using a lance on a
creature within 5ft of you. If you are not mounted, you
must use two hands to wield a lance.
Net. When throwing a net at a hostile target within five
feet of you, you do not suffer the disadvantage from
making a ranged attack within 5ft of an enemy.
A Large or smaller creature hit by a net is Restrained
until it is freed. A net has no effect on creatures that are
incorporeal or amorphous. A creature can use its action to
make a DC 10 Strength (Athletics) check, freeing itself on a
success. Dealing 5 slashing damage to the net (AC 10) also
frees the creature, ending the effect and destroying the
net. When you attack with a net, you can make only one
attack regardless of the number of attacks you can
normally make.
Double Weapons
Some weapons have two ends made for striking enemies.
A double weapon can be made from any two Light
weapons, each end taking the damage die of the weapon it
was modeled after. Such a weapon typically takes the form
of the two ends connected by a long haft.
When using a double weapon, use the usual rules for
fighting with two weapons. The two weapons used for the
ends create a new weapon that does not keep the Light
property, but does retain the other properties.
These weapons also gain the Versatile property, allowing
them to use the next largest damage die when wielded
with both hands. For example, a weapon made with two
backswords would use a d8 damage die when used in
both hands. When used in this fashion, the weapon cannot
strike on a bonus action.
Materials and Improvements
The weapons in this supplement are assumed to be in
their most common form and made of typical materials,
common wood and steel. By including exotic materials in
the weapon's construction somehow or adding
attachments, it is possible to imbue them with extra
effects.
Adamantine. A weapon can be made from adamantine,
an ultrahard metal. Against objects, any hit from an
adamantine weapon is a critical hit. Against creatures
made of stone or wood, an adamantine weapon does 1
point of extra damage. The adamantine version of a
weapon or ten pieces of ammunition costs 500 gp more
than the standard version, and weighs 1.5 times as much.
Additionally, adamantine weapons do not rust or corrode.
Dragon-horn. A bow can be made from the horns of a
dragon. Such bows are prized the world over. Bows of
dragon-horn multiply both of their ranges by 1.5 but weigh
twice as much. Crossbow prods cannot be made from
dragon-horn. Dragon-horn bows are rarely sold due to the
rarity of suitable horns and the difficulty of working with
such materials.
Iron. A weapon that is normally made of steel or wood
can instead be made of iron. If usually made of wood, the
weapon doubles in cost when made in iron, but if usually
made of steel the cost for an iron version is the same. Fey
creatures and creatures with the Fey Ancestry trait take 1
point of extra damage from iron weapons. If you roll a
natural 1 when attacking with an iron weapon, it is bent or
broken and useless until it can be repaired.
Mithral. A weapon can be made from mithral, a light
metal that is otherwise equal to steel, save that it is more
lustrous and does not rust or corrode. Weapons made
from Mithral are half their usual weight. Additionally, a
Heavy weapon loses that property, a normal weapon gains
the Light property. Two-handed weapons made of mithral
become usable in one hand, and Light weapons gain the
Finesse property if they do not already have it. Mithral
weapons cost 500 gp more than the standard version.
Silvered. Any weapon can be silvered by adding runes
and glyphs to its striking surfaces or blades and using
silver to filigree them. Against undead, a Silvered weapon
is considered magical for the purposes of bypassing
resistances or vulnerabilities. If an undead creature is not
resistant to damage from non-magical weapons, they take
1 point of extra damage from silvered weapons. The
silvered version of a weapon or ten pieces of ammunition
costs 100 gp more than the standard version.
Tether. For 1 gp, you can attach a narrow rope tether to
any weapon with the Thrown and Light properties. Once
thrown, you may use a bonus action to retrieve the
weapon, but the weapon's range is halved.
Part 4 | Special Weapons and Modification
5
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