What is a Great Weapon in D&D? A Comprehensive Guide
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In Dungeons & Dragons (D&D), the term “great weapon” commonly refers to melee weapons with the heavy and two-handed properties. These weapons, such as greatswords, greataxes, and mauls, are designed to be wielded with both hands, offering significant damage potential in exchange for the lack of a shield or the ability to dual-wield. These weapons are often associated with the Great Weapon Fighting style and the Great Weapon Master feat, further enhancing their damage output. They are a staple for characters looking to deal massive damage in melee combat.
Understanding Great Weapons in Detail
Great weapons are more than just big sticks used to hit monsters. They represent a commitment to raw power and offensive capability. Let’s break down the key aspects that define them:
- Heavy Property: This property is crucial. Only weapons with the heavy property can be used with the Great Weapon Master feat. This feat allows you to take a -5 penalty to your attack roll to add +10 damage on a successful hit, making it a high-risk, high-reward option. Also, small creatures have disadvantage on attack rolls using heavy weapons.
- Two-Handed Property: This property signifies that the weapon requires both hands to wield effectively. While this prevents the use of a shield for added defense, it frees up your bonus action if you’re not using it for an off-hand attack.
- Damage Dice: Great weapons typically feature higher damage dice compared to one-handed weapons. For instance, a greatsword deals 2d6 slashing damage, while a longsword deals 1d8 slashing damage (or 1d10 when wielded with two hands, but without the heavy property).
- Great Weapon Fighting Style: This fighting style, available to fighters and paladins (and occasionally others via feats or multiclassing), allows you to reroll damage dice rolls of 1 or 2 when wielding a two-handed or versatile weapon with two hands. You must use the new roll, even if it’s lower.
- Roleplaying Implications: Great weapons often fit the archetype of a brutal, strong warrior. Characters wielding these weapons might be intimidating, relentless, or even reckless in their pursuit of victory.
Strategic Considerations
Choosing to use a great weapon isn’t just about maximizing damage. It involves a strategic trade-off:
- Defense vs. Offense: Sacrificing a shield means accepting less protection. Characters who rely on great weapons need to consider other ways to mitigate damage, such as high hit points, defensive abilities, or tactical positioning.
- Accuracy vs. Power: The Great Weapon Master feat encourages a risk-reward approach. The -5 penalty to attack rolls can be significant, especially at lower levels. However, the +10 damage can dramatically increase your damage output.
- Party Composition: The effectiveness of a great weapon user can depend on the party. Support from allies, such as advantage on attack rolls or buffs to accuracy, can greatly increase the reliability of landing hits with Great Weapon Master.
- Creature Type: Some creatures are resistant or immune to certain damage types. Being proficient with multiple weapon types ensures versatility.
Examples of Great Weapons in D&D 5e
Here are some of the most common and effective great weapons in D&D 5e:
- Greatsword: Deals 2d6 slashing damage. A classic choice for its balance of damage and reliability.
- Greataxe: Deals 1d12 slashing damage. Offers the highest potential damage die for a standard weapon, but with less consistent damage output compared to the greatsword.
- Maul: Deals 2d6 bludgeoning damage. Useful against enemies vulnerable to bludgeoning damage, such as skeletons.
- Glaive/Halberd: Deal 1d10 slashing damage. These polearms have the Reach property, allowing you to attack from 10 feet away. Combine this with Polearm Master and Great Weapon Master for a devastating build!
Enhancing Great Weapons with Feats and Abilities
Several feats and abilities synergize well with great weapons:
- Great Weapon Master: As mentioned, this is the cornerstone feat for many great weapon builds.
- Polearm Master: Allows you to make a bonus action attack with the butt of the weapon and make opportunity attacks when a creature enters your reach.
- Fighting Initiate: Grants a fighting style, which can be chosen from a list, potentially unlocking Great Weapon Fighting for classes that normally don’t have access to it.
- Brute Fighting Style: This is a fighter subclass option available in Unearthed Arcana and other unofficial materials. It allows you to add damage with your weapon attacks.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Great Weapons
1. What is the difference between a greatsword and a longsword?
A greatsword is a heavy, two-handed weapon that deals 2d6 slashing damage. A longsword is a versatile weapon that deals 1d8 slashing damage when wielded in one hand, or 1d10 slashing damage when wielded in two hands. Only the greatsword benefits from Great Weapon Master.
2. Can a rogue use Great Weapon Master?
While a rogue could take the Great Weapon Master feat if they meet the prerequisites, it is generally not a good choice. Rogues rely on Sneak Attack, which requires them to hit an enemy with an attack. The -5 penalty to attack rolls from Great Weapon Master significantly reduces their chances of hitting, thus hindering their Sneak Attack.
3. What classes benefit most from using great weapons?
Barbarians, Fighters, and Paladins are the classes that typically benefit the most from using great weapons, due to their class features, fighting styles, and access to feats like Great Weapon Master.
4. Does Great Weapon Master work with ranged weapons?
No. The Great Weapon Master feat specifically requires a melee attack with a heavy weapon you’re proficient with.
5. Is Great Weapon Master overpowered?
Great Weapon Master is considered a very powerful feat, but not necessarily overpowered. The -5 penalty to attack rolls balances the +10 damage. Its effectiveness depends on the character build, party composition, and encounter design.
6. Can you use a shield with a great weapon?
No. Great weapons require two hands to wield, preventing the use of a shield.
7. How does the Great Weapon Fighting style work?
The Great Weapon Fighting style allows you to reroll damage dice rolls of 1 or 2 when wielding a two-handed or versatile weapon with two hands. You must use the new roll, even if it’s lower. This increases the average damage output of the weapon.
8. What are the alternatives to Great Weapon Master?
Alternatives to Great Weapon Master include feats like Savage Attacker, which lets you reroll the weapon’s damage dice, or focusing on feats that increase accuracy, such as Fighting Initiate, which can allow you to pick up the Archery fighting style and use it with the great weapon, giving you a +2 to your attack roll.
9. What is the best great weapon?
There is no single “best” great weapon. The ideal choice depends on the character’s build, the campaign setting, and personal preference. Generally, the greatsword is considered a reliable all-around choice, while the greataxe offers the highest potential damage die.
10. Does Great Weapon Master work on opportunity attacks?
Yes, Great Weapon Master can be used on opportunity attacks if you meet the requirements (melee attack with a heavy weapon you’re proficient with).
11. What are some magic great weapons?
There are many magic great weapons in D&D, such as the Sword of Sharpness, the Oathbow (a longbow that deals extra damage to a sworn enemy), and the Hammer of Thunderbolts . The specific magic weapon will depend on the DM and the campaign.
12. How does the Polearm Master feat interact with great weapons?
The Polearm Master feat allows you to make a bonus action attack with the butt of the weapon and make opportunity attacks when a creature enters your reach, if wielding a glaive, halberd, or quarterstaff. These polearms that are also great weapons, benefit from both Great Weapon Master and Polearm Master.
13. Does the -5 attack penalty from GWM affect critical hits?
Yes, the -5 attack penalty from Great Weapon Master applies to all attack rolls, including those that would result in a critical hit. However, the +10 damage is still added to the critical hit damage.
14. How does advantage affect Great Weapon Master?
Advantage on attack rolls helps to offset the -5 penalty from Great Weapon Master, making it more likely that you will hit your target. This makes advantage a valuable asset for great weapon builds.
15. What is the average damage of a greatsword with Great Weapon Fighting?
The average damage of a greatsword (2d6) is 7. With the Great Weapon Fighting style, the average damage increases to approximately 8.33, making it a slight but noticeable improvement.
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By understanding the nuances of great weapons, you can create a powerful and effective character that dominates the battlefield. Remember to consider the trade-offs, strategize your choices, and have fun!