7 Underrated Weapons In Dungeons & Dragons

Highlights

• Whips can be versatile weapons with reach, finesse, and various categories based on the character’s skills and knowledge.
• Slingshots offer a simple yet effective ranged option for classes like Druids or Monks, allowing for various ammunition choices.
• Picks can be more than just digging tools, as they provide both piercing and bludgeoning damage for covert heroes like Rogues or Artificers.

A big part of every Dungeons & Dragons campaign is the gear, especially the weapons. An intrepid adventurer is always proud of their big shiny broadsword or fancy daggers. But in addition to some of the more glamorous weapons, there are plenty of other great selections of arms that are often overlooked, but are still just as good.

A creative Dungeon Master can make humble weapons a bigger part of the campaign, depending on the subject matter, and some classes are more suited to uncommon or obscure weapons than others. For those playing characters that prefer simple or non-martial weapons, there are several choices available in the Dungeons & Dragons armory.

7 Whips

Not Only Damage,, But Also Crowd Control

• Damage: 1d4, Slashing
• Type: Melee

Officially, it’s a melee weapon, but some whips are better than others when it comes to reach. When a character knows how to use it, a basic bullwhip can also be effective at a longer range, like a spear or halberd, but more versatile. It’s also a Finesse weapon, so Bards can use them. There is a wide variety of whips out there, and exact categories may vary.

This weapon doesn’t appear much in D&D, even though it’s a dramatic and impressive weapon if used properly. Players keen on Trevor Belmont or Indiana Jones character builds should hone their skills and know their whips.

6 Slingshots

Primitive But Effective

• Damage: 1d4, Bludgeoning
• Type: Ranged

A simple weapon, the sling or slingshot is one of the few ranged, physical weapons that Druids, Monks, or some Clerics can use. There’s some variation depending on the species, Background, and Feats that the player chooses, but for these classes, bows and crossbows are usually not an option. Without them though, there’s still the simple and easy sling.

There are a lot of great features that players can use when they have a humble sling equipped. They can use almost anything for ammunition as long as it’s small enough to fit, which opens up a lot of possibilities. Because the sling is such a basic weapon, it can take on a myriad of forms instead of a simple bit of hide or rope. One unique example is the forearm-mounted sling that Doric used in the D&D movie, Honor Among Thieves.

5 Lance

Ideal For Mounted Characters

• Damage: 1d12, Piercing
• Type: Melee

Similar to a spear in its shape and damage type, the lance is usually associated with mounted classes. Since D&D doesn’t have many of those, it’s not seen very often. Certain subclasses, like Fighters with the Mounted Combatant Feat, can have a mount and carry a lance.

In addition to the obvious use in mounted combat, the lance is also effective in fighting against mounted enemies, thanks to its long reach. For those who are building other mounted classes like Fighters or Paladins, it might be an essential component for role-playing.

4 Nets

An Effective And Versatile Weapon

• Damage: Not applicable, although some have magical properties like fire or electrical damage.
• Type: Ranged

This one isn’t really a weapon, as it’s more about crowd control or catching a quarry alive. However, some nets can have deadly effects depending on their magical properties or the user’s abilities. Rangers who focus on their hunting skills will often carry a net. It works very well for catching the camp dinner, but can also be effective in combat.

Part of winning a fight is battlefield management and crowd control, and that’s when the net comes in handy. If a character can’t cast spells like Hold Person or Web, perhaps because of a Silence spell or a magic dampening field of some kind, the net can be used to serve the same purpose.

3 Halberd

Lethal Reach

• Damage: 1d10, Slashing
• Type: Melee

Intimidating and savage, this is the kind of weapon that players don’t carry often because it’s so noticeable, and most adventurers would prefer not to be seen. Anyone who wants to keep a low profile should choose something else, but some characters don’t care about the social implications of wearing a giant blade. Barbarians, Rangers, and certain kinds of Fighters appreciate the power of the halberd.

Although the halberd is considered a melee weapon, it has a long reach. Not only is it effective at a longer and safer range, but it can also be used against mounted foes. Most halberds also give the character an extra Action with the use of the pommel as a bludgeoning weapon.

2 Trident

The User Can Also Throw It

• Damage: 1D6, Piercing
• Type: Melee, Thrown

Baldur’s Gate 3, a popular video game based on the D&D 5e rules, has some interesting weapon choices along with a few very nice tridents. It’s a nice change, because weapon doesn’t appear very often in other incarnations of D&D.

The trident has many of the same advantages as the spear. They are both piercing weapons that can be thrown, but the trident has three prongs instead of just one. Many tridents also award secondary damage as a Versatile weapon, like a Staff, that can be used to knock enemies prone or off-balance.

1 Picks

Not Just For Digging Or Mining

• Damage: 1d8, Piercing
• Type: Melee

This kind of weapon is easy to overlook, because it’s kept with the other simple tools as opposed to on a weapon’s rack. There’s also a light variety that can be thrown if players are looking for something with some distance. For players looking for gear, they can be found in places like mines and engineering workshops.

Although it’s classed as a piercing weapon, there’s also a blunt edge that can be used for bludgeoning damage like a hammer. This also makes it useful for breaking locks or doors. This is also a handy way for a covert hero to hide their weapons in plain sight, and since these are small martial weapons, it would be a perfect choice for a Rogue or an Artificer.