Staff of the Python
D&D 5e · 2024·Staves·Uncommon·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
3.75
Attack bonus
+5
Average normal hit: 6.5 · Average critical hit: 10 · Critical chance: 5%.
- Category
- Simple weapon
- Damage type
- Bludgeoning
- Reach
- 5 ft.
- Magic attack bonus
- +0
- Weight
- Not specified
- Attunement
- Required
- Rarity
- Uncommon
- Price
- Not specified
Magic: Magic action: throw into unoccupied space within 10 ft.
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 Staff of the Python 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.
- Using two hands changes the weapon die from 1d6 to 1d8. Compare that damage gain with keeping a hand available for a shield or another task.
- This item uses one of your attunement slots. Compare its benefit with the other items you want to keep attuned.
As a Magic action, you can throw this staff so that it lands in an unoccupied space within 10 feet of you, causing the staff to become a Giant Constrictor Snake in that space. The snake is under your control and shares your Initiative count, taking its turn immediately after yours. On your turn, you can mentally command the snake (no action required) if it is within 60 feet of you and you don't have the Incapacitated condition. You decide what action the snake takes and where it moves during its turn, or you can issue it a general command, such as to attack your enemies or guard a location. Absent commands from you, the snake defends itself. As a Bonus Action, you can command the snake to revert to staff form in its current space, and you can't use the staff's property again for 1 hour. If the snake is reduced to 0 Hit Points, it dies and reverts to its staff form; the staff then shatters and is destroyed. If the snake reverts to staff form before losing all its Hit Points, it regains all of them.
Full item details & properties
Magic properties
- Activation
- Magic action: throw into unoccupied space within 10 ft.
- Consumable
- No
- Snake control
- Giant Constrictor Snake acts after you; mental commands on your turn within 60 ft., no action, unless Incapacitated.
- Reversion
- Bonus Action reversion restores snake HP but prevents reuse for 1 hour. At 0 HP the staff is destroyed.
- Weapon damage
- Default Quarterstaff: 1d6 bludgeoning; two hands 1d8, before ability modifier; enhancement included once.
- Arcane Focus
- Can be used as an Arcane Focus under the general item-category rules.
Weapon details
- Damage
- 1d6 bludgeoning
- Weapon class
- Simple Melee
- Two-handed damage
- 1d8
Properties
Versatile(1d8)
A Versatile weapon can be used with one or two hands. A damage value in parentheses appears with the property. The weapon deals that damage when used with two hands to make a melee attack.
Weapon mastery
Topple
If you hit a creature with this weapon, you can force the creature to make a Constitution saving throw (DC 8 plus the ability modifier used to make the attack roll and your Proficiency Bonus). On a failed save, the creature has the Prone condition.
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
Staff of Fire3.75 expected damage / attack55% hit chance1d6 bludgeoning · +0 magic attack · 5 ft. reachNot specified · Not specifiedSame base weapon; compare its bonuses and rarity
Staff of Frost3.75 expected damage / attack55% hit chance1d6 bludgeoning · +0 magic attack · 5 ft. reachNot specified · Not specifiedSame base weapon; compare its bonuses and rarity
Staff of Healing3.75 expected damage / attack55% hit chance1d6 bludgeoning · +0 magic attack · 5 ft. reachNot specified · Not specifiedSame base weapon; compare its bonuses and rarity
Ordinary attacks only. Matching extra-damage conditions follow your input; alternatives keep their default bonus allocation.
Staff of the Python FAQ
Does Staff of the Python 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.