Javelin of Lightning
D&D 5e · 2014·Weapons·Uncommon·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
3.75
Attack bonus
+5
Average normal hit: 6.5 · Average critical hit: 10 · Critical chance: 5%.
- Category
- Simple weapon
- Damage type
- Piercing
- Reach
- 5 ft.
- Magic attack bonus
- +0
- Weight
- 2 lb
- Attunement
- Not required
- Rarity
- Uncommon
- 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 Javelin of Lightning 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 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 30 feet and the maximum is 120 feet; attacks beyond normal range have Disadvantage. The calculator lets you model the attack mode separately.
This javelin is a magic weapon. When you hurl it and speak its command word, it transforms into a bolt of lightning, forming a line 5 feet wide that extends out from you to a target within 120 feet. Each creature in the line excluding you and the target must make a DC 13 Dexterity saving throw, taking 4d6 lightning damage on a failed save, and half as much damage on a successful one. The lightning bolt turns back into a javelin when it reaches the target. Make a ranged weapon attack against the target. On a hit, the target takes damage from the javelin plus 4d6 lightning damage. The javelin's property can't be used again until the next dawn. In the meantime, the javelin can still be used as a magic weapon.
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
- Use limit
- 1 use(s); resets next dawn (special throw only)
- Lightning throw
- Hurl and speak command word: 5-ft.-wide Line to target within 120 ft. Other creatures in line save Dexterity DC 13 for 4d6 Lightning, half on success. Excludes you and primary target from the save.
- Primary target
- Make a ranged weapon attack: on hit, normal Javelin damage plus 4d6 Lightning. Special throw once until next dawn; no automatic return is specified.
Weapon details
- Damage
- 1d6 piercing
- Weapon class
- Simple Melee
- Range
- 30 / 120 ft. (normal / long)
Properties
Thrown(range 30/120)
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
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
Javelin (+1)4.68 expected damage / attack60% hit chance1d6 +1 piercing · +1 magic attack · 5 ft. reachNot specified · 2 lbSame base weapon; compare its bonuses and rarity
Trident of Fish Command3.75 expected damage / attack55% hit chance1d6 piercing · +0 magic attack · 5 ft. reachNot specified · 4 lbUses the same attack ability; compare handling and damage
Javelin (+2)5.7 expected damage / attack65% hit chance1d6 +2 piercing · +2 magic attack · 5 ft. reachNot specified · 2 lbSame base weapon; compare its bonuses and rarity
Ordinary attacks only. Matching extra-damage conditions follow your input; alternatives keep their default bonus allocation.
Javelin of Lightning FAQ
Does Javelin of Lightning 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.