D&D Best Weapon Mastery Options

As a seasoned gamer, I’m thrilled about the new additions to the Dungeons & Dragons 2024 Player’s Handbook! Now, my character’s weapons aren’t just for swinging around; they’ve got extra tricks up their sleeves in combat. It’s like I’ve leveled up my gear, giving me an edge in those intense battles!

In the latest Player’s Handbook, five D&D character classes – Barbarian, Fighter, Paladin, Ranger, and Rogue – now have Weapon Mastery as an option. This added feature provides them with new methods to diversify their combat techniques.

As a seasoned gamer in the year 2024, I’ve discovered some top-tier weapon mastery pairings that truly shine when used with specific character classes and builds. Here are my favorite weapon mastery combos straight from the 2024 Player’s Handbook:

[List of Weapon Mastery combinations]

10. Rogue Shortbow Vex

Better Sneak Attacks All Around

Weapons With Vex Proficiency
Handaxe, Dart, Shortbow Simple
Rapier, Shortsword, Blowgun, Hand Crossbow, Pistol Martial

Vex stands uncontested as the top choice for Weapon Mastery abilities among Rogues, given its advantage in landing the next strike against an enemy before their turn ends, which synergizes perfectly with Sneak Attack.

In terms of weapon choices for a Rogue with limited proficiencies, the Shortbow stands out as the top pick among ranged options due to its ability to utilize the Vex mechanic.

Should a Rogue be armed with a Shortbow, they can station themselves on the outskirts of the combat zone and employ the use of Vex for consistent Sneak Attack success. In case an opponent approaches too closely, they can take advantage of their Cunning Action to swiftly retreat.

9. Paladin Longsword Sap

Breaking Bad Guys

Weapons With Sap Proficiency
Mace, Spear Simple
Flail, Longsword, Morningstar, War Pick, Martial

The Paladin stands out as an exceptional tank class due to its proficiency in handling various types of armor and shields, coupled with its inherent ability to heal through the use of Lay On Hands.

An effective strategy for enhancing the Paladin’s performance on the battlefield could involve wielding a Longsword, given its Sap Weapon Mastery.

As a devoted follower of my cause, when I strike an opponent with my sacred weapon, it seems to rattle them, causing their subsequent attacks against any target to be less effective. Essentially, this empowers me to cast protective spells on my allies, making them harder for the enemy to hit in return.

Besides being a formidable fighting tool, the Longsword offers versatility in combat. You can employ it alongside a shield to enhance your defense, or grip it firmly with both hands to inflict greater damage.

8. Barbarian Greataxe Cleave

Barbarians Have Great Cleavage

Weapons With Cleave Proficiency
Greataxe, Halberd Martial

Since the era of the 3rd edition, Barbarians have been wielding the Great Axe freely, given its significant damage output aligns well with the Barbarian’s daring gameplay.

In the 2024 Player’s Handbook, the Greataxe was further enhanced with the addition of Cleave Weapon Mastery. With Cleave, if you successfully hit an opponent, you have the option to attack another nearby enemy within five feet of the initial target, though the damage for this additional strike won’t be affected by your ability modifier.

Barbarians are infamous for charging headfirst into battles and employing Rage. With the combination of Greataxe and Cleave, they can deliver a significant number of powerful blows in a brief span, earning them the title of excellent hordes eliminators.

7. Fighter Pike Push

The Mighty Kite

Weapons With Push Proficiency
Greatclub Simple
Pike, Warhammer, Heavy Crossbow Martial

In Dungeons & Dragons, the game divides the map into 5-foot sections. This grid system offers an opportunity for players to strategically utilize distance. A tactic for this could be by employing weapons like the Pike or by mastering Push Weapon techniques, both of which can potentially give players an edge in terms of positioning and control over their opponents.

Using the “Push” ability, when you engage a foe, you forcefully push them away approximately 10 feet away from you. However, this effect is limited to creatures of size Large and smaller; thus, it’s not suitable for all combatants.

In simpler terms, the Pike has a characteristic known as “Reach”, enabling users to attack from a distance of ten feet. This gives a Fighter the ability to shove an opponent fifteen feet away, then move out of reach. As a result, the enemy might need to use their Action in a future turn for Dashing back into melee range, possibly wasting it and moving further apart.

6. Ranger Nick Scimitar

Drizzt Best Ranger Confirmed

Weapons With Nick Proficiency
Dagger, Light Hammer Simple
Scimitar Martial

In no book does the humble Ranger class manage to evade Drizzt Do’Urden, for the renowned Drow frequently wields a weapon that makes dual-wielding combat highly effective.

Scimitars offer the Nick Weapon Expertise perk, enabling weapons labeled as ‘Light’ to incorporate an additional strike into their initial Attack move rather than using it as a Bonus Action.

With their Bonus Action, a two-handed Scimitar user can cast or activate the Hunter’s Mark spell, all the while continuing to deliver additional strikes, thereby maximizing their damage output.

5. Rogue Shortsword Vex

The Psylocke Substitute

Weapons With Vex Proficiency
Handaxe, Dart, Shortbow Simple
Rapier, Shortsword, Blowgun, Hand Crossbow, Pistol Martial

If a character is a Rogue specialized in the Soulknife subclass, please skip this passage, because they’ve already got the superior Weapon Mastery choice integrated into their Psychic Blades weapon, which includes Vex.

Other Rogue subclasses can mimic this lethal duo by opting for a Shortsword instead, since it’s the most suitable melee weapon choice among their options that includes the ‘Vex’ trait.

If a Rogue acquires Martial Weapon Proficiency through a Feat or by multi-classing, they have the option to replace their chosen weapon with a Rapier, which is a special weapon that deals greater damage. (Vex weapon refers to the higher damage die, I simplified it for easier understanding)

4. Paladin Halberd Cleave

The Righteous Reach

Weapons With Cleave Proficiency
Greataxe, Halberd Martial

The perk Cleave Weapon Mastery offers an advantage by not defining a range for attacks, making it compatible with long-reaching weapons such as the Halberd.

With its Cleave ability, a Halberd can effectively reach enemies beyond its immediate proximity, since the Reach property allows it to strike foes within five feet of the wielder, and also potentially hit an ally behind the enemy who would otherwise be out of range with a Greataxe.

Paladins can compensate for the lower damage of the second strike by amplifying it through their collection of Smite spells. These spells can be cast using a Bonus Action simultaneously with the initial attack, thereby increasing the overall damage dealt.

3. Barbarian Greatsword Graze

Determined To Damage

Weapons With Graze Proficiency
Glaive, Greatsword Martial

One particularly vexing part about fighting as a warrior is whiffing an attack, especially when a Barbarian employs the Reckless Attack tactic to gain an advantage, yet ends up failing on both die rolls.

With the Graze Weapon Mastery, if your attack misses, it still deals damage based on your ability modifier. So, even when you miss, you’ll always inflict some damage during your turn.

A superior choice for pairing with it would be the Greatsword, given its consistent 2d6 damage and when combined with the Barbarian’s Rage damage, it significantly boosts their dependability during battle.

2. Fighter Battleaxe Topple

Putting Down The Opposition

Weapons With Topple Proficiency
Quarterstaff Simple
Battleaxe, Lance, Maul, Trident Martial

In a battle, the Skill of Toppling Weapons compels an adversary to perform a Constitution Saving Throw. If unsuccessful, the foe falls prone, making melee attacks advantageous against them and necessitating they use half their movement in a turn to rise back up.

Among the outstanding weapons featured in the 2024 Player’s Handbook, one that stands out is the Battleaxe. This weapon boasts an impressive damage roll, and it offers the advantage of being wielded effectively with two hands to increase its power. Moreover, a Battleaxe can be paired with a shield for additional defensive capabilities.

As an avid gamer, I’d say there’s no doubt that I favor the Fighter when it comes to wielding Battleaxes. With one swift strike, they can send an enemy sprawling, and with Action Surge at their disposal, they can capitalize on that initial hit with a follow-up attack, giving them an edge thanks to the advantage this provides.

1. Ranger Longbow Slow

Going The Distance

Weapons With Slow Proficiency
Club, Javelin, Light Crossbow, Sling Simple
Whip, Longbow, Musket Martial

Fight scenes in Dungeons & Dragons aren’t always confined to narrow hallways; sometimes, they take place in vast open spaces like meadows or barren lands.

In spacious combat situations, the Slow Weapon Mastery trait proves beneficial, since it slows down an opponent’s movement speed by about 10 feet upon strike.

As a gamer, I’ve found no weapon quite compares to the mighty Longbow when it comes to slow combat. Its incredible range and damage potential make it an unmatched choice. The Ranger character, with their knack for enhancing bow attacks through an array of spells like Hunter’s Mark, is simply a masterful user of this weapon.

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2025-01-06 21:09