Adventuring in the many worlds of Dungeons & Dragons can be dangerous. Going into an encounter unprepared can result in an entire party being wiped out. Fortunately, players have a variety of weapons to choose from when playing Dungeons & Dragons. Certain classes have proficiencies in specific weapons that often reflect the class's focus.
GMs and players can both use the Players Handbook to find some of the most common weapons found in any fantasy setting. However, players can often find themselves in situations where their weapons have been taken and there are no traditional replacements to be found. Creative players can turn even the most mundane object into a lethal weapon, and this special category of weapons is called "Improvised Weapons."
3 Improvised Weapons
Improvised weapons are objects that characters can wield in one or two hands, ranging from broken glass, frying pans, and the body of a fallen foe. As long as a character can physically lift, swing, or throw the item, it can be used as an improvised weapon.
Most improvised weapons will be able to use the same damage type and damage die as an existing common weapon. A table or chair leg can act as a club, while a shard of glass or a broken bottle can count as an improvised dagger. GMs also have the option to allow players to use their proficiency bonuses on improvised weapons that are similar enough to their weapon proficiencies.
Types Of Weapons That Can Use Common Melee Weapon Damage Stats
- Table/chair leg acts as a club and does 1d4 bludgeoning damage.
- Using an arrow as a makeshift dagger would deal 1d4 piercing damage.
- A boat oar would act as a two-handed great club dealing 1d8 bludgeoning damage.
- A carpentry hammer or meat tenderizer would act as a light hammer dealing 1d4 bludgeoning damage.
- A branch or walking stick will act as improvised quarterstaffs dealing 1d6 bludgeoning.
2 Unconventional Improvised Weapons
GMs are encouraged to use 1d4 as the damage amount for objects that do not resemble or bear similar enough properties as a common weapon. Hitting an enemy with a spellbook would deal 1d4 bludgeoning damage.
Types Of Improvised Weapons That Do Not Resemble Common Weapons
- A lit torch would deal 1d4 fire damage and 1d4 bludgeoning damage.
- A guitar or lute would deal 1d4 bludgeoning damage.
- The body of a foe would deal 1d4 bludgeoning damage, GMs can adjust this based on the type of foe as well as the player's strength modifiers.
- A sack of rice could deal 1d4 bludgeoning and 1d4 force damage.
- A pie would deal 1d4 bludgeoning or give a target the blind status effect for a round of combat.
1 Thrown Improvised Weapons
Throwing objects that do not have the thrown property such as a greatsword or other melee weapons can turn that melee weapon into an improvised weapon. An improvised thrown weapon has a range of 20 to 60 feet.
Types Of Improvised Thrown Or Ranged Weapons
- A flag pole can act as a javelin dealing 1d6 piercing damage and would have the optional thrown property.
- Ball bearings can be used as sling ammunition for 1d4 bludgeoning damage.
What counts as an improvised weapon is purely left up to the players' and GM's imaginations in Dungeons & Dragons.