Can You Gain Proficiency With a Weapon?
Yes, absolutely! In Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition (5e), you can definitely gain proficiency with weapons, though the method depends on your character’s background, class, and choices you make during your adventures. Weapon proficiency is a crucial aspect of combat, determining your character’s effectiveness with different types of arms. It essentially means your character has been trained and knows how to handle a specific weapon or group of weapons efficiently. Without proficiency, you’ll find yourself at a significant disadvantage in combat. Let’s delve into the details of how you can become proficient with various weapons.
How to Gain Weapon Proficiency
Class Proficiency
The most common way to gain weapon proficiency is through your chosen class. At character creation, each class grants you proficiency with specific weapons or categories of weapons. Here’s a general breakdown:
- Simple Weapons: Most classes have proficiency with simple weapons, which include basic arms like clubs, daggers, and light crossbows.
- Martial Weapons: Classes focused on combat, such as Fighters, Paladins, and Rangers, typically grant proficiency with martial weapons. These are more complex and powerful weapons like longswords, greatswords, and longbows.
- Specific Weapon Proficiencies: Some classes, like the Monk, will gain specific proficiencies at the start like shortswords.
When you take your first level in a class, you gain all the weapon proficiencies listed for that class. For instance, a Fighter at 1st level will be proficient with all simple and martial weapons.
Racial Proficiency
Certain races also grant proficiencies with specific weapons. This can be a small bonus and add some extra flavor to your character. A good example is elves having proficiency with longbows and shortbows.
Feats
Another way to become proficient with weapons is by taking feats. The Weapon Master feat is specifically designed for this purpose. This feat allows you to gain proficiency with four weapons of your choice. This is an excellent way to expand your weapon options, particularly if your chosen class doesn’t have broad weapon proficiencies.
Multiclassing
Multiclassing also provides opportunities for additional proficiencies. When you take a level in a new class, you gain the proficiencies that class grants. However, there are some rules. For example, you do not gain heavy armor proficiency by multiclassing.
How Weapon Proficiency Works
When you are proficient with a weapon, you add your proficiency bonus to your attack rolls made with that weapon. Your proficiency bonus is tied to your overall character level. This bonus increases as your character levels up, enhancing your accuracy in combat. If you are not proficient with a weapon, you can still use it, but you won’t add your proficiency bonus to the attack roll. This makes it much more difficult to hit your target.
The Impact of Not Being Proficient
Using a weapon you’re not proficient with does not impose a disadvantage, but it significantly reduces your chance of hitting. In short, you do not add your proficiency bonus to the attack roll. This can make your character less effective in combat, since the proficiency bonus is a significant part of the hit modifier.
Proficiency Does Not Stack
It is worth noting that proficiency doesn’t stack. If you gain proficiency with a weapon from multiple sources, it does not provide additional benefits, but you are still proficient with that weapon.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the difference between simple and martial weapons?
Simple weapons are the basic weapons most characters can easily use, such as clubs, daggers, and light crossbows. Martial weapons are more complex, powerful, and often require specialized training, such as longswords, great axes, and longbows.
2. Can I become proficient in all weapons?
While it’s difficult, it’s possible. Taking the Weapon Master feat several times could give you multiple proficiencies. Alternatively, being a high-level character with many class levels will give a wide variety of weapons. However, it is not necessary since a good player can be just as effective with limited choices.
3. Does weapon proficiency apply to damage rolls?
No, weapon proficiency only applies to attack rolls, not damage rolls. Your damage is determined by the weapon’s damage die and your strength/dexterity modifier.
4. If I multi-class, do I get all weapon proficiencies?
Not always. You gain the weapon proficiencies specifically listed for the class you are multiclassing into, not necessarily all proficiencies.
5. Can I use a weapon I’m not proficient with?
Yes, you can use a weapon you’re not proficient with, but you do not add your proficiency bonus to the attack roll, reducing your chances of hitting.
6. How does proficiency bonus increase?
Your proficiency bonus is based on your total character level and increases as you level up as per the Character Advancement table. It doesn’t matter how many levels you have in any particular class, only your total.
7. Can my natural weapons be affected by proficiencies?
Creatures are assumed to be proficient with their natural weapons. There aren’t different proficiency rules for subsets of natural weapons or natural weapons gained suddenly.
8. Does being proficient with a weapon count as a skill?
No, weapon proficiency is not considered a skill. Skills are abilities like Athletics, Perception, or Stealth. Skills utilize ability modifiers instead of a proficiency bonus.
9. Can I gain expertise with a weapon?
No, in 5e, you cannot gain expertise with a weapon. Expertise only applies to skills and tool proficiencies.
10. What happens if I wear armor I am not proficient in?
If you wear armor you are not proficient with, you have disadvantage on any ability check, saving throw, or attack roll that involves Strength or Dexterity, and you cannot cast spells.
11. What is the strongest one-handed weapon in D&D?
The strongest one-handed weapon in D&D based on damage die is the Yklwa, dealing 1d8 damage. Other options include maces and scimitars dealing a d6.
12. Why is a greatsword often considered better than a greataxe?
The greatsword’s damage is 2d6, which tends to provide more consistent average damage, while the greataxe’s 1d12 damage is more variable, although it can be more dramatic on a high roll.
13. Who is proficient with heavy armor?
In D&D, Paladins and Fighters are automatically proficient with heavy armor. Certain Clerics and other classes can also gain this with a class/subclass.
14. Can I use a shield if I am not proficient?
You can physically use a shield, but if you’re not proficient, you suffer penalties similar to wearing armor without proficiency. This includes penalties to hit rolls, skill rolls, and saving throws.
15. Is there a level cap in D&D 5e?
Yes, the general level cap in D&D 5e is level 20. D&D Beyond, a digital toolset for D&D, reinforces this hard cap.