Greatsword
D&D 5e · 2024·Weapons·No attunement
Base weapon damage before your ability modifier. Use the calculator to include hit chance and critical hits.
Damage calculator
Hit chance
55%
Expected damage / attack
5.85
Attack bonus
+5
Average normal hit: 10 · Average critical hit: 17 · Critical chance: 5%.
- Category
- Martial weapon
- Damage type
- Slashing
- Reach
- 5 ft.
- Magic attack bonus
- +0
- Weight
- 6 lb
- Attunement
- Not required
- Rarity
- Nonmagical
- Price
- 50 GP
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.
Using Greatsword
- Strength 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 2d6 weapon damage averages 7 before your ability modifier and extra effects. Hit chance matters too: compare expected damage per attack rather than the die alone.
- This weapon needs two hands when you attack, so a wielded shield conflicts with that attack setup.
Martial melee weapon dealing 2d6 slashing damage. Properties: Heavy, Two-Handed. Mastery: Graze; using it requires a feature that unlocks this mastery property.
Full item details & properties
Weapon details
- Damage
- 2d6 slashing
- Weapon class
- Martial Melee
Properties
Heavy
You have Disadvantage on attack rolls with a Heavy weapon if it's a Melee weapon and your Strength score isn't at least 13 or if it's a Ranged weapon and your Dexterity score isn't at least 13.
Two-Handed
A Two-Handed weapon requires two hands when you attack with it.
Weapon mastery
Graze
If your attack roll with this weapon misses a creature, you can deal damage to that creature equal to the ability modifier you used to make the attack roll. This damage is the same type dealt by the weapon, and the damage can be increased only by increasing the ability modifier.
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
Flame Tongue Greatsword5.85 expected damage / attack55% hit chance2d6 slashing · +0 magic attack · 5 ft. reach · Conditional extra damage; see rulesNot specified · 6 lbSame base weapon; compare its bonuses and rarity
Battleaxe4.35 expected damage / attack55% hit chance1d8 slashing · +0 magic attack · 5 ft. reach10 GP · 4 lbUses the same attack ability; compare handling and damage
Club3.15 expected damage / attack55% hit chance1d4 bludgeoning · +0 magic attack · 5 ft. reach1 SP · 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.
Greatsword FAQ
Does Greatsword require attunement?
No. This entry does not require attunement; follow its activation and use rules.
Is the listed price a guaranteed purchase price?
The listed price is a reference from this catalogue entry. Availability and the final price depend on your game and GM.