Dagger of Venom

D&D 5e · 2024·Weapons·Rare·No attunement

Weapon damage

1d4 +1 piercing

Base weapon damage before your ability modifier. Use the calculator to include hit chance and critical hits.

Damage calculator

Hit chance

60%

Expected damage / attack

4.03

Attack bonus

Average normal hit: 6.5 · Average critical hit: 9 · Critical chance: 5%.

Category: Simple weapon
Damage type: Piercing
Reach: 5 ft.
Magic attack bonus: +1
Weight: 1 lb
Attunement: Not required
Rarity: Rare
Price: Not specified

Magic: Weapon damage is before applicable ability modifiers; extra effects require the stated conditions.

Calculator assumptions & rules

One attack against a creature. Natural 1 misses; natural 20 hits and doubles damage dice, not flat modifiers. Expected damage includes misses and critical hits. Advantage uses the higher of two d20s; Disadvantage uses the lower. Magic bonuses shown on the item are counted once.

Uses only the weapon’s ordinary hit and the listed on-hit extra dice, when enabled. Class features, Sneak Attack, fighting styles, mastery effects, damage on a miss, special critical-hit effects, ongoing damage, resistance and immunity are excluded. Check the full rules below for additional effects.

Changing calculator inputs does not change the item’s rules or create a new page URL.

What Dagger of Venom does

Strength or Dexterity can drive this simple weapon’s attack and damage rolls. Add your proficiency bonus to the attack roll only if you are proficient.
The base 1d4 +1 weapon damage averages 3.5 before your ability modifier and extra effects. Hit chance matters too: compare expected damage per attack rather than the die alone.
The normal range is 20 feet and the maximum is 60 feet; attacks beyond normal range have Disadvantage. The calculator lets you model the attack mode separately.

You gain a +1 bonus to attack rolls and damage rolls made with this magic weapon. You can take a Bonus Action to magically coat the blade with poison. The poison remains for 1 minute or until an attack using this weapon hits a creature. That creature must succeed on a DC 15 Constitution saving throw or take 2d10 Poison damage and have the Poisoned condition for 1 minute. The weapon can't be used this way again until the next dawn.

Full item details & properties

Magic properties

Activation: Bonus Action to coat the blade.
Consumable: No
Use limit: 1 use(s); resets next dawn (coating only)
Attack Rolls: +1. Default with this weapon; obey any stated target-dependent replacement.
Damage Rolls: +1. Included in displayed default damage; add the applicable ability modifier separately.
Conditions & limits: Weapon damage is before applicable ability modifiers; extra effects require the stated conditions.
Venom coating: Lasts 1 minute or until first creature hit. DC 15 Constitution save or 2d10 Poison and Poisoned for 1 minute; success avoids both. Once until next dawn.

Weapon details

Damage: 1d4 + 1 piercing
Weapon class: Simple Melee
Range: 20 / 60 ft. (normal / long)

Properties

Finesse

When making an attack with a Finesse weapon, use your choice of your Strength or Dexterity modifier for the attack and damage rolls. You must use the same modifier for both rolls.

Light

When you take the Attack action on your turn and attack with a Light weapon, you can make one extra attack as a Bonus Action later on the same turn. That extra attack must be made with a different Light weapon, and you don't add your ability modifier to the extra attack's damage unless that modifier is negative.

Thrown(Range 20/60)

If a weapon has the Thrown property, you can throw the weapon to make a ranged attack, and you can draw that weapon as part of the attack. If the weapon is a Melee weapon, use the same ability modifier for the attack and damage rolls that you use for a melee attack with that weapon.

Weapon mastery

Nick

When you make the extra attack of the Light property, you can make it as part of the Attack action instead of as a Bonus Action. You can make this extra attack only once per turn.

You need a feature, such as Weapon Mastery, that unlocks this property for you.

Tags & related references

PiercingNickRare →MagicalMelee WeaponNo AttunementPoison CoatingSimple WeaponFinesse →Light →Thrown →Weapon →

Compare alternatives

Same edition, using your calculator inputs above. Special properties and character features can change the choice.

Dagger of Venom · current4.03 expected damage / attack60% hit chance1d4 +1 piercing · +1 magic attack · 5 ft. reachNot specified · 1 lb Dragon Slayer (Dagger)4.03 expected damage / attack60% hit chance1d4 +1 piercing · +1 magic attack · 5 ft. reach · Conditional extra damage; see rulesNot specified · 1 lb

Same base weapon; compare its bonuses and rarity

Giant Slayer (Dagger)4.03 expected damage / attack60% hit chance1d4 +1 piercing · +1 magic attack · 5 ft. reach · Conditional extra damage; see rulesNot specified · 1 lb

Same base weapon; compare its bonuses and rarity

Dragon Slayer (Whip)4.03 expected damage / attack60% hit chance1d4 +1 slashing · +1 magic attack · 10 ft. reach · Conditional extra damage; see rulesNot specified · 3 lb

Both use Finesse; compare reach and damage

Giant Slayer (Whip)4.03 expected damage / attack60% hit chance1d4 +1 slashing · +1 magic attack · 10 ft. reach · Conditional extra damage; see rulesNot specified · 3 lb

Both use Finesse; compare reach and damage

Ordinary attacks only. Matching extra-damage conditions follow your input; alternatives keep their default bonus allocation.

Dagger of Venom FAQ

Does Dagger of Venom require attunement?

No. This entry does not require attunement; follow its activation and use rules.

Is the listed price a guaranteed purchase price?

The source does not specify a price for this entry. Ask your GM about availability and cost.