Javelin of Lightning
D&D 5e · 2024·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: Weapon damage is before applicable ability modifiers; extra effects require the stated conditions.
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.
Each time you make an attack roll with this magic weapon and hit, you can have it deal Lightning damage instead of Piercing damage. Lightning Bolt. When you throw this weapon at a target no farther than 120 feet from you, you can forgo making a ranged attack roll and instead turn the weapon into a bolt of lightning. This bolt forms a 5-foot-wide Line between you and the target. The target and each other creature in the Line (excluding you) makes a DC 13 Dexterity saving throw, taking 4d6 Lightning damage on a failed save or half as much damage on a successful one. Immediately after dealing this damage, the weapon reappears in your hand. This property can't be used again until the next dawn.
Full item details & properties
Magic properties
- Activation
- On hit may replace Piercing with Lightning; special throw for the line.
- Consumable
- No
- Use limit
- 1 use(s); resets next dawn (Lightning Bolt only)
- Conditions & limits
- Weapon damage is before applicable ability modifiers; extra effects require the stated conditions.
- Lightning Bolt
- Throw at a target within 120 ft. instead of an attack roll: 5-foot-wide Line; target and every other creature in it except you save Dexterity DC 13, 4d6 Lightning or half. Returns after damage; once until next dawn.
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, and you can draw that weapon as part of the attack. If the weapon is a Melee weapon, use the same ability modifier for the attack and damage rolls that you use for a melee attack with that weapon.
Weapon mastery
Slow
If you hit a creature with this weapon and deal damage to it, you can reduce its Speed by 10 feet until the start of your next turn. If the creature is hit more than once by weapons that have this property, the Speed reduction doesn't exceed 10 feet.
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 Javelin3.75 expected damage / attack55% hit chance1d6 piercing · +0 magic attack · 5 ft. reach · Conditional extra damage; see rulesNot specified · 2 lbSame base weapon; compare its bonuses and rarity
Trident of Fish Command4.35 expected damage / attack55% hit chance1d8 piercing · +0 magic attack · 5 ft. reachNot specified · 4 lbUses the same attack ability; compare handling and damage
Weapon of Warning (Battleaxe)4.35 expected damage / attack55% hit chance1d8 slashing · +0 magic attack · 5 ft. reachNot specified · 4 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.
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.