Giant Slayer (Shortsword)

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

Weapon damage

1d6 +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

4.68

Attack bonus

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

Category: Martial weapon
Damage type: Piercing
Reach: 5 ft.
Magic attack bonus: +1
Weight: 2 lb
Attunement: Not required
Rarity: Rare
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 Giant Slayer does

Strength or Dexterity can drive this martial 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 extra damage is conditional: 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 rolls and damage rolls made with this magic weapon. When you hit a Giant with this weapon, the Giant takes an extra 2d6 damage of the weapon's type and must succeed on a DC 15 Strength saving throw or have the Prone condition. This is the Shortsword variant.

Full item details & properties

Magic properties

Activation: Make attacks using this weapon.
Consumable: No
Attack Rolls: +1. With attacks made using this weapon
Damage Rolls: +1. Included once in the displayed default damage; add applicable ability modifiers separately.
On-hit saving throw: Giant only: DC 15 Strength or Prone. The save does not prevent the extra damage.
Conditions & limits: Displayed damage includes the default magic bonus, before applicable ability modifiers. Only a Giant hit by this weapon takes the extra 2d6 of the weapon's damage type. The DC 15 Strength save prevents Prone, not the extra damage.

Weapon details

Damage: 1d6 + 1 piercing
Weapon class: Martial Melee
Damage vs. Giants: 1d6 + 1 + 2d6 piercing

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.

Weapon mastery

Vex

If you hit a creature with this weapon and deal damage to the creature, you have Advantage on your next attack roll against that creature before the end of your next turn.

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

Tags & related references

PiercingVexRare →Attack Roll BonusDamage BonusExtra Damage Vs GiantsGiant SlayerMagicalMartial WeaponMelee WeaponNo AttunementProne Vs GiantsFinesse →Light →Weapon →

Compare alternatives

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

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

Same base weapon; compare its bonuses and rarity

Luck Blade (Shortsword)4.68 expected damage / attack60% hit chance1d6 +1 piercing · +1 magic attack · 5 ft. reachNot specified · 2 lb

Same base weapon; compare its bonuses and rarity

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

Giant Slayer (Rapier)5.33 expected damage / attack60% hit chance1d8 +1 piercing · +1 magic attack · 5 ft. reach · Conditional extra damage; see rulesNot specified · 2 lb

Both use Finesse; compare reach 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.