Rapier

D&D 5e · 2024·Weapons·No attunement

Weapon damage

1d8 piercing

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

4.35

Attack bonus

Average normal hit: 7.5 · Average critical hit: 12 · Critical chance: 5%.

Category: Martial weapon
Damage type: Piercing
Reach: 5 ft.
Magic attack bonus: +0
Weight: 2 lb
Attunement: Not required
Rarity: Nonmagical
Price: 25 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 Rapier

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 1d8 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.

Martial melee weapon dealing 1d8 piercing damage. Properties: Finesse. Mastery: Vex; using it requires a feature that unlocks this mastery property.

Full item details & properties

Weapon details

Damage: 1d8 piercing
Weapon class: Martial Melee

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.

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

PiercingVexMartial WeaponMelee WeaponNo AttunementNonmagicalFinesse →Weapon →

Compare alternatives

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

Rapier · current4.35 expected damage / attack55% hit chance1d8 piercing · +0 magic attack · 5 ft. reach25 GP · 2 lb Dancing Rapier4.35 expected damage / attack55% hit chance1d8 piercing · +0 magic attack · 5 ft. reachNot specified · 2 lb

Same base weapon; compare its bonuses and rarity

Flame Tongue Rapier4.35 expected damage / attack55% hit chance1d8 piercing · +0 magic attack · 5 ft. reach · Conditional extra damage; see rulesNot specified · 2 lb

Same base weapon; compare its bonuses and rarity

Whip3.15 expected damage / attack55% hit chance1d4 slashing · +0 magic attack · 10 ft. reach2 GP · 3 lb

Both use Finesse; compare reach and damage

Scimitar3.75 expected damage / attack55% hit chance1d6 slashing · +0 magic attack · 5 ft. reach25 GP · 3 lb

Both use Finesse; compare reach and damage

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

Rapier FAQ

Does Rapier 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.