Defender (Mace)
D&D 5e · 2024·Weapons·Legendary·Requires attunement
Base weapon damage before your ability modifier. Use the calculator to include hit chance and critical hits.
Damage calculator
Hit chance
70%
Expected damage / attack
6.83
Attack bonus
+8
Average normal hit: 9.5 · Average critical hit: 13 · Critical chance: 5%.
- Category
- Simple weapon
- Damage type
- Bludgeoning
- Reach
- 5 ft.
- Magic attack bonus
- +3
- Weight
- 4 lb
- Attunement
- Required
- Rarity
- Legendary
- Price
- Not specified
Magic: Displayed damage includes the default magic bonus, before applicable ability modifiers.
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 Defender does
- Strength 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 1d6 +3 weapon damage averages 6.5 before your ability modifier and extra effects. Hit chance matters too: compare expected damage per attack rather than the die alone.
- Moving 3 points to AC removes the same bonus from both attack and damage rolls. Use the allocation control to see that defensive trade-off.
- This item uses one of your attunement slots. Compare its benefit with the other items you want to keep attuned.
You gain a +3 bonus to attack rolls and damage rolls made with this magic weapon. The first time you attack with the weapon on each of your turns, you can transfer some or all of the weapon's bonus to your Armor Class. For example, you could reduce the bonus to your attack rolls and damage rolls to +1 and gain a +2 bonus to Armor Class. The adjusted bonuses remain in effect until the start of your next turn, although you must hold the weapon to gain a bonus to AC from it. This is the Mace variant.
Full item details & properties
Magic properties
- Activation
- Make attacks using this weapon.
- Consumable
- No
- Attack Rolls
- +3. Before any bonus is transferred to AC; reduced by the amount transferred.
- Damage Rolls
- +3. Included once in the displayed default damage; add applicable ability modifiers separately.
- Attack / defense allocation
- Transfer 0–3 of the default +3 to AC; attack and damage bonuses each become 3 minus the transferred amount.
- Transfer timing
- The first time you attack with this weapon on each of your turns; lasts until start of your next turn. The AC bonus requires holding this weapon.
- Conditions & limits
- Displayed damage includes the default magic bonus, before applicable ability modifiers. You can transfer some or all of the +3 to AC on your first attack with this weapon on each of your turns. Reduce both attack and damage bonuses by the same amount. The adjustment lasts until the start of your next turn; the AC bonus applies only while holding the weapon. The displayed +3 attack and damage are the default before transfer; the weapon does not simultaneously grant +3 to attacks, damage and AC.
Weapon details
- Damage
- 1d6 + 3 bludgeoning
- Weapon class
- Simple Melee
Weapon mastery
Sap
If you hit a creature with this weapon, that creature has Disadvantage on its next attack roll before the start of your next turn.
You need a feature, such as Weapon Mastery, that unlocks this property for you.
Tags & related references
Compare alternatives
Same edition, using your calculator inputs above. Special properties and character features can change the choice.
Same base weapon; compare its bonuses and rarity
Mace (+3)6.83 expected damage / attack70% hit chance1d6 +3 bludgeoning · +3 magic attack · 5 ft. reachNot specified · 4 lbSame base weapon; compare its bonuses and rarity
Defender (Battleaxe)7.58 expected damage / attack70% hit chance1d8 +3 slashing · +3 magic attack · 5 ft. reachNot specified · 4 lbUses the same attack ability; compare handling and damage
Defender (Club)6.08 expected damage / attack70% hit chance1d4 +3 bludgeoning · +3 magic attack · 5 ft. reachNot specified · 2 lbUses the same attack ability; compare handling and damage
Ordinary attacks only. Matching extra-damage conditions follow your input; alternatives keep their default bonus allocation.
Defender FAQ
Does Defender require attunement?
Yes. You need to attune to this item to use the properties that require attunement.
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.