Giant Slayer (Handaxe)

D&D 5e · 2014·Weapons·Rare·No attunement

Weapon damage

1d6 +1 slashing

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

4.68

Attack bonus

Average normal hit: 7.5 · Average critical hit: 11 · Critical chance: 5%.

Category: Simple weapon
Damage type: Slashing
Reach: 5 ft.
Magic attack bonus: +1
Weight: 2 lb
Attunement: Not required
Rarity: Rare
Price: Not specified

Magic: Attack with this weapon.

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 Giant Slayer 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 +1 weapon damage averages 4.5 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.
The extra damage is conditional: Only when hitting a creature of the Giant type, including ettins and trolls.; Target is giant. Enable it only when that condition is met; otherwise compare the weapon’s ordinary hit.

You gain a +1 bonus to attack and damage rolls made with this magic weapon. When you hit a giant with it, the giant takes an extra 2d6 damage of the weapon's type and must succeed on a DC 15 Strength saving throw or fall prone. For the purpose of this weapon, “giant” refers to any creature with the giant type, including ettins and trolls. This is the Handaxe variant.

Full item details & properties

Rules for this edition

Proficiency: A simple melee weapon; proficiency allows adding your Proficiency Bonus to its attack rolls.

Magic properties

Activation: Attack with this weapon.
Consumable: No
Attack Rolls: +1. With this weapon; use any target-specific or allocation rule below.
Damage Rolls: +1. Included once in the displayed weapon damage; add the applicable ability modifier separately.
On-hit saving throw: Giant only: DC 15 Strength or Prone. The save does not prevent the extra damage.
Extra damage: 2d6 slashing. Only when hitting a creature of the Giant type, including ettins and trolls.

Weapon details

Damage: 1d6 + 1 slashing
Weapon class: Simple Melee
Range: 20 / 60 ft. (normal / long)

Properties

Light

A light weapon is small and easy to handle, making it ideal for use when fighting with two weapons.

Thrown(range 20/60)

If a weapon has the thrown property, you can throw the weapon to make a ranged attack. If the weapon is a melee weapon, you use the same ability modifier for that attack roll and damage roll that you would use for a melee attack with the weapon. For example, if you throw a handaxe, you use your Strength, but if you throw a dagger, you can use either your Strength or your Dexterity, since the dagger has the finesse property.

Tags & related references

SlashingRare →Attack Roll BonusDamage BonusExtra Damage Vs GiantsGiant KnockdownMagicalMelee WeaponNo AttunementSimple WeaponLight →Thrown →Weapon →

Compare alternatives

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

Giant Slayer (Handaxe) · current4.68 expected damage / attack60% hit chance1d6 +1 slashing · +1 magic attack · 5 ft. reach · Conditional extra damage; see rulesNot specified · 2 lb Handaxe (+1)4.68 expected damage / attack60% hit chance1d6 +1 slashing · +1 magic attack · 5 ft. reachNot specified · 2 lb

Same base weapon; compare its bonuses and rarity

Handaxe (+2)5.7 expected damage / attack65% hit chance1d6 +2 slashing · +2 magic attack · 5 ft. reachNot specified · 2 lb

Same base weapon; compare its bonuses and rarity

Giant Slayer (Battleaxe)5.33 expected damage / attack60% hit chance1d8 +1 slashing · +1 magic attack · 5 ft. reach · Conditional extra damage; see rulesNot specified · 4 lb

Uses the same attack ability; compare handling and damage

Giant Slayer (Greataxe)6.63 expected damage / attack60% hit chance1d12 +1 slashing · +1 magic attack · 5 ft. reach · Conditional extra damage; see rulesNot specified · 7 lb

Uses the same attack ability; compare handling and damage

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

Giant Slayer FAQ

Does Giant Slayer 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.