Weapon Actions

This page was last confirmed to be up-to-date at: 2023-08-29

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 four differences: firstly, the Spellcasting Ability Modifier is replaced with the Ability Modifier of either Strength or Dexterity, whichever is higher; secondly, proficiency bonus isn't added; thirdly, the base DC is 10 instead of 8; and finally, 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 = 10 + Strength or Dexterity + 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.

Overview of Weapon Actions

Melee Weapons

Weapon Action	Associated Weapons	Cost	Effect	Bonus DC	Damage
Backbreaker	Warhammers Mauls	Action	Inflict Prone	Strength (+1)	1d4 + Strength Modifier  Bludgeoning
Brace (Melee)	Glaives Pikes	6 m / 20 ft Movement	'Advantage' on damage rolls for this turn	-	-
Cleave	Battleaxes Greataxes Halberds Greatswords	Action	Strike 3 targets 1.5 m / 5 ft cone	-	Halved weapon damage (added damage is not halved e.g. from Divine Smite, Great Weapon Master)
Concussive Smash	Morningstars Clubs Light Hammers Maces Warhammers Greatclubs Mauls	Action	Inflict Dazed	Constitution (Hybrid DC)	Weapon damage
Crippling Strike	War Picks Battleaxes	Action	Inflict Crippled	Constitution (+2)	1d4 + Strength Modifier  Slashing
Disarming Strike	Tridents	Action	Target drops Weapon	Strength (+2)	1d4 + Strength Modifier  Piercing
Flourish	Scimitars Shortswords Rapiers	Bonus Action	Inflict Off Balance	Dexterity (+2)	None
Heartstopper	Morningstars	Action	Inflict Chest Trauma	Constitution (+2)	1d4 + Strength Modifier  Bludgeoning
Lacerate	Handaxes Sickles Scimitars Battleaxes Longswords Glaives Greataxes Greatswords Halberds	Action	Inflict Bleeding	Constitution (+2)	Weapon damage
Piercing Strike	Rapiers Shortswords Tridents Pikes Javelins	Action	Inflict Gaping Wounds	Constitution (+2)	Weapon damage
Pommel Strike	Longswords Greatswords	Bonus Action	Inflict Dazed	Constitution (+2)	1d4 + Strength Modifier  Slashing
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	Charge 9 m / 30 ft Inflict Off Balance (Condition)	Strength (+1)	1d4 + Strength Modifier Inherits weapon damage type
Tenacity	Morningstars Greatclubs Mauls	Reaction	Inflict damage on a miss	-	Strength Modifier  Bludgeoning
Topple	Quarterstaves	Action	Inflict Prone	Dexterity (+2)	None
Weakening Strike	Rapiers War Picks Warhammers	Action	Inflict Weak Grip	Strength (+2)	1d4 + Strength Modifier Inherits weapon damage type

Ranged Weapons

Weapon Action	Associated Weapons	Cost	Effect	Saving Throw	Damage
Brace (Ranged)	Longbows Heavy Crossbows	6 m / 20 ft Movement	'Advantage' on damage rolls for this turn	-	-
Hamstring Shot	Shortbows Longbows	Action	Inflict Hamstrung	Constitution (+1)	Weapon damage
Mobile Shot	Hand Crossbows	Bonus Action	Weapon attack as a bonus action Prerequisite: Dashed or Disengaged this turn	-	Weapon damage
Piercing Shot	Light Crossbows Hand Crossbows Heavy Crossbows	Action	Inflict Gaping Wounds	Constitution (+1)	Weapon damage

Special Actions

The following actions are available only on specific weapons.

Weapon Action	Associated Weapons	Cost	Effect	Saving Throw	Damage
Arcane Ammunition	Crossbow of Arcane Force	Bonus Action	Infuse your bolts to deal additional an 1d4Force damage.	-	-
Colossal Onslaught	Jorgoral's Greatsword	Action	Strike multiple foes in a line 3m wide and 6m long.	-	1d8 + Strength Modifier  Bludgeoning
Corrosive Strike	Corrosive Flail	Action	Deal additional Acid damage equal to your Proficiency Bonus. On a hit, create a pool of acid around the target which reduces  Armour Class by 2.	-	1d8 + Strength Modifier  Bludgeoning + Proficiency Bonus  Acid
Dawnburst Strike	The Sacred Star	Action	Deal additional Radiant damage equal to your Proficiency Bonus. On a hit, light erupts around you in a 3m area. Enemies in the light must succeed a DC 13 Constitution Saving Throw or be Blinded.	Constitution	1d8 + Strength Modifier +4 Radiant
Gargantuan Cleave	Very Heavy Greataxe	Action	Strike multiple foes but inflict Off Balance on self	-	Weapon damage + 1d6
Hush You!	Witchbreaker	Action	Slash a target and possibly Silence it.	Constitution (+1)	1d8 + Strength Modifier  Bludgeoning
Maiming Strike (Weapon Action)	Thermodynamo Axe Pactbound Battleaxe	Action	Possibly inflict Maimed on your target. They can't move.	Constitution (+1)	1d4 + Strength Modifier  Bludgeoning
Razor Gale	Larethian's Wrath	Action	Swing your weapon in a 4m cone that deals damage to all enemies within range.	-	1d8 + Dexterity Modifier  Bludgeoning
Soulbreaker	Soulbreaker Greatsword Silver Sword of the Astral Plane	Action	Rend the enemy's body and soul, dealing an additional 4Psychic damage and possibly Stun them.	Constitution (+1)	1d6 + Strength Modifier  Piercing + 4Psychic
Shadowsoaked Blow	Sword of Clutching Umbra	Action	Strike an enemy, adding your Proficiency Bonus and 1d6Psychic to the damage. This attack doesn't break concealment.	-	1d8 + Dexterity Modifier  Bludgeoning + 1d6Psychic
Topple the Big Folk	Balduran's Giantslayer	Action	Deal additional damage. Large, Huge or Gargantuan creatures take an additional 2-12Slashing damage and may fall Prone.	Strength (+1)	2d6 + 2x Strength Modifier + Proficiency Bonus  Slashing

Conditions Inflicted by Weapon Actions

Condition	Inflicted by / Saving Throw	Saving Throw Penalty	Additional Effects	Removed by
Prone	Topple (STR) Backbreaker (DEX)	Strength Dexterity	Advantage to nearby attackers	Using half of Movement Speed
Off Balance	Rush Attack (STR) Flourish (DEX)	Strength Dexterity	Advantage to attackers	Ally Help or taking damage
Weak Grip	Weakening Strike (STR)	Strength Dexterity	Disadvantage on attacks	Ally Help
Crippled	Crippling Strike (CON)	Dexterity	Movement Speed reduced to 0	Healing
Chest Trauma	Heartstopper (CON)	Constitution	One fewer Action for 2 turns	Healing
Bleeding	Lacerate (CON)	Constitution	Inflicts 2  Slashing per turn for 2 turns	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