Rapier of Life Stealing
D&D 5e · 2024·Weapons·Rare·Requires 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
4.35
Attack bonus
+5
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
- Required
- Rarity
- Rare
- Price
- Not specified
Magic: Displayed damage is before applicable ability modifiers. Conditional extra damage applies only when its trigger and target requirements are met.
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 Rapier of Life Stealing 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 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.
- The extra damage is conditional: Target is not construct or undead. Enable it only when that condition is met; otherwise compare the weapon’s ordinary hit.
- This item uses one of your attunement slots. Compare its benefit with the other items you want to keep attuned.
When you attack a creature with this magic weapon and roll a 20 on the d20 for the attack roll, that target takes an extra 15 Necrotic damage if it isn't a Construct or an Undead, and you gain Temporary Hit Points equal to the amount of Necrotic damage taken. This is the Rapier variant.
Full item details & properties
Magic properties
- Activation
- Attack a creature and roll a 20 on the attack d20.
- Consumable
- No
- Conditions & limits
- Displayed damage is before applicable ability modifiers. Conditional extra damage applies only when its trigger and target requirements are met.
- Life Stealing
- A 20 on the attack d20 adds 15 Necrotic damage against creatures other than Constructs and Undead. Expanded critical range does not trigger this.
- Temporary Hit Points
- Equal to the Necrotic damage the target actually takes; not automatically 15 and not healing.
Weapon details
- Damage
- 1d8 piercing
- Weapon class
- Martial Melee
- Damage on qualifying d20 roll of 20
- Normal Critical Hit damage + 15 necrotic
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
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
Rapier of Wounding8.55 expected damage / attack55% hit chance1d8 piercing + 2d6 necrotic · +0 magic attack · 5 ft. reachNot specified · 2 lbSame base weapon; compare its bonuses and rarity
Flame Tongue Whip3.15 expected damage / attack55% hit chance1d4 slashing · +0 magic attack · 10 ft. reach · Conditional extra damage; see rulesNot specified · 3 lbBoth use Finesse; compare reach and damage
Vicious Whip7.35 expected damage / attack55% hit chance1d4 slashing + 2d6 slashing · +0 magic attack · 10 ft. reachNot specified · 3 lbBoth use Finesse; compare reach and damage
Ordinary attacks only. Matching extra-damage conditions follow your input; alternatives keep their default bonus allocation.
Rapier of Life Stealing FAQ
Does Rapier of Life Stealing require attunement?
Yes. You need to attune to this item to use the properties that require attunement.
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.