Best Weapons in D&D 5e

Pick the right weapon for your build. Here's the guide.

Martial Weapons by Damage

Two-Handed Power

• Greatsword: 2d6 slashing (avg 7). Best for Great Weapon Fighting (rerolls 1s and 2s).
• Greataxe: 1d12 slashing (avg 6.5). Higher max, lower avg. Berserker-style.
• Maul: 2d6 bludgeoning. Same as greatsword.

Pick Greatsword for Great Weapon Fighting Style. Pick Greataxe for Berserker/Half-Orc Savage Attacks.

One-Handed + Shield

• Longsword: 1d8 slashing (versatile 1d10). Balanced.
• Warhammer: 1d8 bludgeoning.
• Battleaxe: 1d8 slashing.
• Rapier: 1d8 piercing, Finesse (use Dex instead of Str).

Pick Longsword for versatility (swing two-handed for 1d10). Pick Rapier for Dex builds.

Reach Weapons

• Halberd: 1d10 slashing, reach, heavy, two-handed.
• Glaive: Same as halberd.
• Pike: 1d10 piercing, reach, heavy, two-handed.
• Spear: 1d6 piercing, versatile, thrown.

Pick Halberd/Glaive for Polearm Master + Sentinel build.

Ranged Weapons

Bows

• Longbow: 1d8 piercing, 150/600 ft. Best ranged option for most builds.
• Shortbow: 1d6 piercing, 80/320 ft. Lower damage but no Strength requirement.

Crossbows

• Heavy Crossbow: 1d10 piercing. Best ranged damage. Loading property.
• Hand Crossbow: 1d6 piercing. Light. Crossbow Expert feat makes this shine.

Pick Longbow for general ranged. Pick Hand Crossbow with Crossbow Expert for bonus action attacks.

Weapon Properties

Finesse

• Use Dex instead of Str. Rapier, shortsword, scimitar.

Light

• Can be dual-wielded. Shortsword, dagger.

Two-Handed

• Requires both hands. Bigger damage.

Heavy

• Penalty for Small creatures (Halflings, Gnomes).

Reach

• +5 ft reach. Halberd, glaive, whip.

Thrown

• Can be thrown. Dagger, javelin, hand axe.

Versatile

• Can be used 1H or 2H. 1H damage vs. 2H damage.

Best Picks by Class

Barbarian

Greataxe (Berserker) or Greatsword (GWF).

Fighter

Longsword + shield OR Halberd for Polearm Master.

Paladin

Longsword + shield (smite-optimal with shield) OR Great Weapon.

Ranger (Archer)

Longbow. No question.

Rogue

Rapier + Dagger (dual wield).

Monk

Monk weapons: quarterstaff, shortsword. Or unarmed strikes.

Cleric

Domain-dependent. Mace (bludgeoning = good vs. skeletons) is common.

Bard

Rapier (Dex-based), dagger.

Wizard / Sorcerer / Druid

Quarterstaff (for Shillelagh) or a dagger (for Shocking Grasp melee range).

In The Endlessness

Our AI Dungeon Master handles weapon damage, properties, and special rules automatically.

For related reads, our fighter guide, ranger guide, and class guides cover more.

Final Takeaway

Pick weapons based on class. Heavy hitters for martial. Finesse for Dex. Ranged for archers.

Start a character at The Endlessness and equip appropriately.