Vicious Shortsword
D&D 5e · 2024·Weapons·Rare·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
7.95
Attack bonus
+5
Average normal hit: 13.5 · Average critical hit: 24 · Critical chance: 5%.
- Category
- Martial weapon
- Damage type
- Piercing
- Reach
- 5 ft.
- Magic attack bonus
- +0
- Weight
- 2 lb
- Attunement
- Not required
- Rarity
- Rare
- Price
- Not specified
Magic: The extra 2d6 applies on each hit against a creature, and has the weapon’s normal damage type.
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 Vicious Shortsword 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 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.
This magic weapon deals an extra 2d6 damage to any creature it hits. This extra damage is of the same type as the weapon's normal damage. This is the Shortsword variant.
Full item details & properties
Magic properties
- Activation
- Hit a creature with this weapon.
- Consumable
- No
- Conditions & limits
- The extra 2d6 applies on each hit against a creature, and has the weapon’s normal damage type. The base damage applies against objects. The Vicious property adds no bonus to attack rolls.
Weapon details
- Damage vs. creatures
- 1d6 + 2d6 piercing
- Damage vs. objects
- 1d6 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.
Light
When you take the Attack action on your turn and attack with a Light weapon, you can make one extra attack as a Bonus Action later on the same turn. That extra attack must be made with a different Light weapon, and you don't add your ability modifier to the extra attack's damage unless that modifier is negative.
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
Shortsword of Life Stealing3.75 expected damage / attack55% hit chance1d6 piercing · +0 magic attack · 5 ft. reachNot specified · 2 lbSame base weapon; compare its bonuses and rarity
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
Vicious Rapier8.55 expected damage / attack55% hit chance1d8 piercing + 2d6 piercing · +0 magic attack · 5 ft. reachNot specified · 2 lbBoth use Finesse; compare reach and damage
Ordinary attacks only. Matching extra-damage conditions follow your input; alternatives keep their default bonus allocation.
Vicious Shortsword FAQ
Does Vicious Shortsword 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.