Not allDungeons & Dragonsplayers go charging headfirst into battle wielding a massive sword or flinging fireballs. Many characters prefer to strike from a distance, staying away from the fray and dealing damage out of sight. A well-placed arrow or thrown dagger may be the difference between life and death for a party member caught in a head-to-head struggle with a foe.
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Fighting styles such as these rely onranged attacks. Though melee and ranged blows function quite similarly, there are a few distinctions between these two main types of weapons inD&D.Before a player draws their bow, here’s everything they should keep in mind when springing into action.
Types Of Ranged Weapons
Like melee weapons, there are two main categories of ranged weapons inD&D:simpleandmartial.Usually, when player characters loot or purchase weapons in-game,the DM will let players knowwhether a weapon is simple or martial.
There are fewer types of ranged weapons than melee weapons, and they don’t offer quite as much versatility as melee weapons when it comes to damage type. Whereas their close-quarters cousins may slash, pierce, or bludgeon,ranged weapons almost exclusively deal Piercing damage (with the exception of Slings).However, Piercing is an effective form of damage for many enemies, and for those who prefer to stay out of sight, it serves their purposes just fine.
Simple Ranged Weapons
Simple weapons are basic tools often found in the hands of the common folk, andnearly every class isproficient with these weaponsstarting at Level 1.Wizards, Sorcerers, and Druids, while they do not have proficiency with all simple weapons, do have mastery over any items included in their starting equipment.
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Martial Ranged Weapons
Unlike simple weapons, martial weapons require a bit more training and practice to use. Barbarians, Fighters, and Paladins all begin the game with proficiency in these weapons, but any other character may gain the ability to use them skillfully with theMartial Weapon Proficiencyfeat.
Making Ranged Weapon Attacks
Attacking with a ranged weapon is a simple process, and works just like any other attack roll inD&D.To determine whether an attack hits, players willusetheir character’s Dexterity modifier.Roll a d20, and add this number to the result (except in the case of a critical success or failure). Add the character’s proficiency bonus if applicable.
If the final number exceeds the enemy’s AC, the attack will hit, and the player can roll to determine how much damage their attack has done. The appropriate die for a damage roll is determined by the weapon type, as listed above.
Who Uses Ranged Weapons?
Depending on build and subclass, ranged weapons can find themselves in the hands of a wide variety of characters. Since these weapons are based on Dexterity,those with a high Dex skillare more likely to use these weapons. Classes that frequently rely on ranged weapons as their main damage-dealers include:
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Though they are less frequently associated with ranged weapons, the following classes also may include such items among their starting equipment. Often in these cases, players will be able to choose between a melee and ranged option;the ranged choice is usually better for a character whose Dexterity is higher than their Strength.These characters may rely on these weapons if they are out of spell slots or ki, Silenced, or facing an opponent resistant to magic.
Properties Of Ranged Weapons
Every weapon inD&Dhas a set ofproperties,attributes which govern how that weapon is used in combat. Certain properties are specific to ranged weapons; thus, those who favor bows or slingshots should understand how the following properties work.
Ammunition
A bow is useless without an arrow. Characters who rely on ranged weapons need a supply of arrows, bolts, bullets, or whatever type of ammunition their weapon of choice requires. As noted above,starting equipment typically includes 20 units of necessary ammo,but once it’s used up, characters will have to find more.
Depending on the campaign, players, and DM, those involved in a gamemay or may not choose to keep track of ammunition.In acasual game that’s more focused on narrative, players may decide that everyone has unlimited ammo, to help keep the story from getting bogged down in minutia. Such cases might be narratively explained with magical quivers that never run out, or retrieving ammo after a fight. For other players, though, monitoring and carefully conserving ammunition is a fun part of the game’s strategy. It’s up to the group to decide what works best.
Loading
Some weapons that require ammunition may have the Loadingproperty; namely, crossbows and blowguns. This indicates that time is required to properly load the weapon, and thus, the user canonly fire it once per action, bonus action, or reaction.For example,a level 5 Fighter with the Extra Attackfeature can typically attack twice when using the Attack action, but when using a crossbow, they may only fire a single bolt. As an alternative, they may choose to utilize a separate weapon in their second attack.
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