The pen is mightier than the sword
if the sword is very short,
and the pen is very sharp

—Terry Pratchett, The Light Fantastic

Weapon Actions (5e)

Weapon Actions (5e) is a plug-and-play modular subsystem designed for Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition (5e). It draws inspiration from a range of game systems, but is most heavily inspired and influenced by a similar subsystem developed by Larian Studios for their CRPG Baldur's Gate III. The purpose of this subsystem is to provide additional tactical combat options to martial characters, as well as increasing the relative distinctiveness of different weapon choices, making the choice between weapons and access to weapon proficiencies more meaningful.

This subsystem also includes optional new conditions intended to streamline the descriptions of weapon actions, a new weapon (the sabre), and a new optional rule for improvised weapons. You can find a short tangential discussion on how to incorporate this subsystem into your 5e games without stepping on the toes of a existing martial class subclasses here.

Playtest Content: Note that most of these actions will not have been playtested at time of release. Do not attempt to use homebrew in your home game without explicit prior GM permission. If you playtest any of these actions and have feedback for future design iterations, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

Using weapon actions

Weapon actions are special abilities that characters gain through tactical proficiency with weapons. Weapon actions can typically be used when a character makes an attack with a weapon, granting that weapon attack an additional effect or benefit. A character can only use a weapon action if they are proficient with the weapon granting that weapon action. Once a weapon action has been used, a character cannot use that same weapon action again until they finish a short or long rest, unless some other feature or trait allows the character to do so.

Each weapon grants one or more weapon actions, as shown in the Revised Weapons Table below. If a weapon action involves making an attack, you must make that attack with the weapon granting the weapon action.

Some weapon actions may require the target to make a saving throw. In such cases, the DC for this saving throw is calculated as follows:

Versatile: Weapons with the versatile property can be used with one or two hands. While wielding this weapon with two hands, you gain access to an additional weapon action, which you can only use with two-handed attacks with this weapons. This additional weapon action is written as 'Versatile: [action name]' and placed at the end of the list of weapon actions.

Revised weapons table

1. Damage die increased from 1d8 to 2d4 to increase distinctiveness and for parallels with other pure two-handed weapons like the maul.
2. See discussion of the Versatile property above.
3. New with this subsystem.

Weapon Actions, A—Z

Brace1

Granted by: spear, glaive, halberd, pike, heavy crossbow, longbow

At the start of your turn while wielding this weapon, you can brace yourself to release a powerful attack. Your movement speed is reduced to 10 feet until the end of your turn. The next time you hit with an attack with this weapon before the end of your turn, you can roll the damage dice twice and choose either result. The attack which benefits from this feature is considered part of this weapon action. Once you have used this feature, you can't do so again until you finish a short or long rest.

Cleave²

Granted by: battleaxe, glaive, greataxe, greatsword, halberd

You swing your weapon wide, cutting through many enemies at once. When you would make a weapon attack with this weapon during your turn, you can choose to instead attack all creatures in a cone with a length equal to your reach with this weapon, centered on you. When you do so, make one attack roll and one damage roll for all targets, but compare your attack roll against each target's AC to determine if the attack hits or misses that target. Once you have used this feature, you can't do so again until you finish a short or long rest.

Charge

Granted by: lance, pike

If you move at least 10 feet in a straight line towards a target before making a melee attack with this weapon against that target, you can strike that target with a forceful blow. If your attack hits, you can attempt to shove the target as part of the same action. Once you have used this feature, you can't do so again until you finish a short or long rest.

Concussing Strike

Granted by: club, greatclub, quarterstaff, maul, morningstar, warhammer

When you would make a melee attack with this weapon, you can choose to aim a heavy blow at the target's head. Make a weapon attack with this weapon as normal. On a hit, the target takes the usual damage for the attack and must make on a Constitution saving throw. On a failed save, the target is dazed until the end of your next turn. (A dazed creature cannot take reactions and has disadvantage on Constitution saving throws made to maintain concentration.) Once you have used this feature, you can't do so again until you finish a short or long rest.

Crippling Strike

Granted by: light hammer, battleaxe, longsword, maul

When you would make an attack with this weapon, you can choose to strike your opponent's limbs. Make a weapon attack with this weapon as normal. On a hit, the target takes the usual damage for the attack and must make a Constitution saving throw. On a failed save, the target is maimed until the end of your next turn. (A maimed creature's movement speed is reduced to 0 and it has disadvantage on Dexterity saving throws. If a maimed creature recovers hit points, the maimed condition ends on that creature.) Once you have used this feature, you can't do so again until you finish a short or long rest.

Crushing Strike

Granted by: mace, sling, flail, warhammer, heavy crossbow

When you would make an attack with this weapon, you can choose to aim a blow against your opponent's chest. Make a weapon attack with this weapon as normal. On a hit, the target takes the usual damage for the attack and must make a Constitution saving throw. On a failed save, the target is winded until the end of your next turn. (A winded creature has disadvantage on Constitution saving throws and can only take either an action or a bonus action on their turn, not both.) Once you have used this feature, you can't do so again until you finish a short or long rest.

Disarm

Granted by: rapier, sabre, whip, net

When you would make an attack with this weapon, you can choose to strike out at a creature's hands, forcing it to drop what it is holding. Make a weapon attack with this weapon as normal. On a hit, the target takes the usual damage for the attack and must make a Strength saving throw. On a failed save, the target must drop an item of your choice that it is holding in its space. Once you have used this feature, you can't do so again until you finish a short or long rest.

Flourish

Granted by: scimitar, shortsword

As a bonus action when wielding this weapon, you flourish your blade to distract your enemy. Choose a creature that can see you within 30 feet of you. Make a Strength or Dexterity (Deception) check (your choice) against the target's passive Wisdom (Insight) check. On a success, you have advantage on the next weapon attack you make against the target. Once you have used this feature, you can't do so again until you finish a short or long rest.

Grazing Strike

Granted by: dart, blowgun

When you would make an attack with this weapon, you can make a careful strike that is sure to at least graze your opponent. Make a weapon attack with this weapon as normal. On a miss, the target takes half the damage they would have taken on a hit. If the weapon or ammunition used for the attack carried a poison, the target is still afflicted by the poison on a miss, but has advantage on any saving throw they make against that poison. Once you have used this feature, you can't do so again until you finish a short or long rest.

Hamstring Shot

Granted by: shortbow, longbow

When you would make an attack with this weapon, you can choose to strike your opponent's limbs. Make a weapon attack with this weapon as normal. On a hit, the target takes the usual damage for the attack and must make a Constitution saving throw. On a failed save, the target's movement speed is reduced by 15 feet until the end of your next turn or until the target recovers hit points. Once you have used this feature, you can't do so again until you finish a short or long rest.

Lacerating Strike

Granted by: handaxe, battleaxe, glaive, greataxe, greatsword, longsword, sabre, scimitar

When you would make an attack with this weapon, you can choose to slash that target with a deep cut. Make a weapon attack with this weapon as normal. On a hit, the target takes the usual damage for the attack and must make a Constitution saving throw. On a failed save, the target begins to bleed, suffering 1d4 piercing damage at the start of each of its turns for 1 minute, until it recovers hit points, or until it or another creature uses an action and succeeds on a Wisdom (Medicine) check against your weapon action DC.

Parting Shot

Granted by: hand crossbow

You fire a quick shot as you rush away. If you take the Disengage or Dash action on your turn, once before the end of your turn you can use a bonus action to make a ranged attack with this weapon. Once you have used this feature, you can't do so again until you finish a short or long rest.

Piercing Strike⁴

Granted by: dagger, javelin, spear, light crossbow, halberd, lance, morningstar, pike, rapier, shortsword, trident, war pick, blowgun, hand crossbow, heavy crossbow

When you would make an attack with this weapon, you can choose to inflict a jagged wound that weakens the target against further atacks. Make a weapon attack with this weapon as normal. On a hit, the target takes the usual damage for the attack and must make a Constitution saving throw. On a failed save, piercing and slashing damage the target takes is increased by 1 until the end of your next turn or until the target recovers hit points. Once you have used this feature, you can't do so again until you finish a short or long rest.

Pommel Strike

Granted by: greatsword, longsword

As a bonus action, make a melee attack with the pommel of this weapon, using the same ability modifier as a normal attack. On a hit, the weapon deals 1d4 bludgeoning damage instead of is normal damage die. (Add your ability modifier to the damage for this attack as normal.) Once you have used this feature, you can't do so again until you finish a short or long rest.

Ready

Granted by: greataxe

At the start of your turn while wielding a greataxe, you can plant your feet firmly and swing your axe high to release a deadly blow. Your movement speed is reduced to 0 until the end of your turn. The next time you hit with an attack with this weapon before the end of your turn, if you roll an 11 or higher on one or more damage dice for this attack, you can reroll each of those dice and add the new roll(s) to the total damage, continuing to do so for each die until you do not roll an 11 or higher on that die. The attack which benefits from this feature is considered part of this weapon action. Once you have used this feature, you can't do so again until you finish a short or long rest.

Slaming Strike

Granted by: greatclub, flail, maul, warhammer

When you would make an attack with this weapon, you can choose to slam down on that target with great force, causing it to buckle. Make a weapon attack with this weapon as normal. On a hit, this attack deals normal damage to creatures, but double damage to objects. If the target is a creature, it must also succeed on a Strength saving throw. On a failed save, the target falls prone. Once you have used this feature, you can't do so again until you finish a short or long rest.

Trip

Granted by: quarterstaff, sickle, trident, whip, net

When you would make an attack with this weapon, you can strike at the target's legs, attempting to trip them. Make a weapon attack with this weapon as normal. On a hit, the target takes the usual damage for the attack and must make a Dexterity saving throw. On a failed save, the target falls prone. Once you have used this feature, you can't do so again until you finish a short or long rest.

Volley¹

Granted by: longbow

You release a rapid volley of arrows into the air, falling on many enemies. When you would make a weapon attack with this weapon during your turn, you can choose to instead attack all creatures in a 10-foot cube centered on a point you choose within your range with this weapon. When you do so, make one attack roll and one damage roll for all targets. Make this attack roll with advantage or disadvantage (respectively) if you would normally have advantage or disadvantage on a ranged attack with this weapon against a target standing at the point of origin of the cube—for example, if the point of origin is beyond this weapon's short range but within its long range, or if a hostile creature is within 5 feet of you. Compare your attack roll against each target's AC to determine if the attack hits or misses that target. You expend 1 piece of ammunition for each creature you target with this attack. Once you have used this feature, you can't do so again until you finish a short or long rest.

Weakening Strike

Granted by: war pick

When you would make an attack with this weapon, you can strike at the target's hands or limbs, weakening their grip. Make a weapon attack with this weapon as normal. On a hit, the target takes the usual damage for the attack and must make a Strength saving throw. On a failed save, the target's grip is weakened until the end of your next turn. It has disadvantage on weapon attack rolls, ability checks made to grapple or hold on to a creature, and on saving throws made to resist being disarmed or dropping what it is holding. Once you have used this feature, you can't do so again until you finish a short or long rest.