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	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 actions are available only on specific weapons.

Weapon Action	Associated Weapons	Cost	Effect	Saving Throw	Extra Damage
Absolute Power	Faithbreaker	Action	A surge of Divine energy accompanies your swing. It deals an additional 1d6Force damage and possibly pushes your target back 5 m / 16 ft.	-	+1d6  Force
Arcane Ammunition	Crossbow of Arcane Force	Bonus action	Infuse your bolts to deal additional an 1d4Force damage.	-	-
Blood Money	Twist of Fortune	Action	Strike out greedily, dealing an additional 4Piercing damage per 300 Gold that the target possesses.	-	-
Bolt of Celestial Light	Gontr Mael	Action	Frighten your target with intimidating arrows. After attacking, ranged weapon attacks made by Gontr Mael deal an additional 1~4 Radiant damage.	DC 11  Wisdom saving throw	-
Colossal Onslaught	Jorgoral's Greatsword	Action	Strike multiple foes in a AoE: 6 m / 20 ft (Line).	-	+ Proficiency Bonus  Slashing
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.	-	+ Proficiency Bonus  Acid
Crowning Strike	Blade of Oppressed Souls	Action	Unleash the wails of the dead that fell to your blade, and possibly instil Crown of Madness in the target.	-	+ Proficiency Bonus  Psychic
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	+ Proficiency Bonus  Radiant
Dueller's Enthusiasm	Duellist's Prerogative	Bonus action	While you are not dual-wielding, you can make an additional melee attack with The Dueller.	-	1d8 + Strength modifier  Bludgeoning
Edge of Darkness	Shar's Spear of Evening	Action	Create a cloud of Darkness while you attack.	-	+ Weapon Damage  Piercing to all creatures in cloud
Gargantuan Cleave	Very Heavy Greataxe	Action	Strike multiple foes but inflict Off Balance on self	-	+ 1d6  Slashing
Grand Slam	Corpsegrinder	Action	Slam your weapon into the ground, dealing additional  Thunder damage each your proficiency bonus, thunderously impacting nearby foes and possibly pushing them away.	-	+ Proficiency Bonus  Thunder
Hellflame Cleave	Hellfire Greataxe	Bonus action	Spew hellish flames and strike your foes. On Save: Targets still take half damage. Hellfire ignores resistance and immunity to  Fire damage.	-	+ 2d6  Fire
Hush You!	Witchbreaker	Action	Slash a target and possibly Silence it.	Constitution (+1)	+ Proficiency Bonus  Slashing
Illuminating Shot	Fabricated Arbalest	Action	Fire a shimmering bolt that inflicts 1 turn of Radiating Orb upon the target.	-	-
Maiming Strike	Thermodynamo Axe File:Pactbound Battleaxe Unfaded Icon.pngPactbound Battleaxe	Action	Possibly inflict Maimed on your target. They can't move.	Constitution (+1)	1d4 + Strength modifier  Bludgeoning
Moonlight Butterflies	Moonlight Glaive	Action	Strike a foe, conjuring an illusory swarm of moon-pale butterflies, gaining Advantage on attacks against the target. Deal additional Psychic damage equal to your Proficiency Bonus. When the target moves away from your illusion, it takes 1~6 Psychic damage.	-	+ Proficiency Bonus  Slashing + Proficiency Bonus  Psychic
Overheat	Azer Warhammer	Bonus action	Release a fraction of your inner fire. All nearby creatures take damage and start Burning Fiercely.	-	-
Part the Flesh	Fleshrender	Action	Thrust forward with diabolical precision, possibly stymying your target's ability to heal.	-	+ Proficiency Bonus  Necrotic
Poison Mist	Argument Solver	Action	On a hit, deal extra  Poison damage equal to your proficiency bonus and surround the target in a noxious cloud that possibly Poisons those within it.	-	+ Proficiency Bonus  Poison
Profane Scourge	The Undead Bane	Action	Strike with subjugating fury, adding your proficiency bonus to the damage roll. If you hit a Fiend or Undead creature, deal an additional 2d6SlashingDRS damage and possibly Bane it.	-	+ Proficiency Bonus  Physical + 2d6  Slashing if Fiend or Undead
Razor Gale	Larethian's Wrath	Action	Swing your weapon in a AoE: 4 m / 13 ft (Cone) that deals damage to all enemies within range.	-	+ Proficiency Bonus  Slashing
Revitalising Strike	Hoppy	Action	Smash into a foe, wounding them and healing your own injuries. On a hit, heal 1d6hit points. You deal additional  Necrotic damage equal to your Proficiency Bonus.	-	+ Proficiency Bonus  Necrotic
Searing Blood	Rupturing Blade	Action	Cut into an enemy, dealing an extra proficiency bonusFire and 1d6Fire damage to them, while you yourself take 1d6Slashing damage. Additionally, the attack might cause the target to Bleed and Burn.	-	+ Proficiency Bonus  Fire + 1d6  Fire
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)	+ Proficiency Bonus  Psychic
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.	-	+ Proficiency Bonus  Piercing + 1d6  Psychic
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)	+ Proficiency Bonus  Physical + 2d6  Slashing if Large/Huge/Gargantuan
Unshackling Strike	Orphic Hammer	Action	Smite the magical bonds keeping a creature Restrained, Paralysed, and Stunned, freeing it.	-	-

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