Improvised weapons: choose the ordinary rule or a weapon equivalent
A makeshift weapon normally has its own damage, range and proficiency rules. A GM-approved resemblance to an existing weapon can replace that procedure with the named weapon’s rules.
Use it at the table
- Identify whether the object is improvised or a weapon used contrary to its design.
- Ordinarily, omit Proficiency Bonus, use 1d4 damage of a GM-selected type, and use 20/60 feet if thrown.
- If the GM treats it as an equivalent Simple or Martial weapon, use that weapon’s rules instead.
Make the call
A character throws a household pan. The GM has not assigned a weapon equivalent, and no special feature changes the attack. What damage die and thrown ranges apply?
The ruling
1d4 damage and 20/60 feet.
The default improvised-weapon rules supply 1d4 damage and normal/long ranges of 20 and 60 feet. The GM chooses a suitable damage type. Proficiency is not added under the ordinary rule. Resemblance can lead the GM to assign an existing weapon’s rules, but that is a distinct ruling, not a free choice by the attacker.
Watch for this mistake
A manufactured weapon can still become improvised when used contrary to its design, such as throwing a melee weapon that lacks Thrown. Check the actual use.
Ask the table
Is the GM treating this as an improvised object or as a specific weapon equivalent?
The source rule
SRD 5.2.1, page 183. Read the official PDF.
An improvised weapon is an object wielded as a makeshift weapon, such as broken glass, a table leg, or a frying pan. A Simple or Martial weapon also counts as an improvised weapon if it’s wielded in a way contrary to its design; if you use a Ranged weapon to make a melee attack or throw a Melee weapon that lacks the Thrown property, the weapon counts as an improvised weapon. An improvised weapon follows the rules below. Proficiency. Don’t add your Proficiency Bonus to attack rolls with an improvised weapon. Damage. On a hit, the weapon deals 1d4 damage of a type the GM thinks is appropriate for the object. Range. If you throw the weapon, it has a normal range of 20 feet and a long range of 60 feet. Weapon Equivalents. If an improvised weapon resembles a Simple or Martial weapon, the GM may say it functions as that weapon and uses that weapon’s rules. For example, the GM could treat a table leg as a Club.
Source and reuse
This work includes material from the System Reference Document 5.2.1 (“SRD 5.2.1”) by Wizards of the Coast LLC, available at dndbeyond.com/srd. The SRD 5.2.1 is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, available at creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode.
The explanation, example and table prompt are Table Ready adaptations; source text has been reflowed. This guide and its printable card are available under the same CC BY 4.0 license. Independent reference; no official affiliation. These rules are optional for our system-neutral adventures.