Vorpal Longsword

D&D 5e · 2024·Weapons·Legendary·Requires attunement

Weapon damage

1d8 +3 slashing

Base weapon damage before your ability modifier. Use the calculator to include hit chance and critical hits.

Damage calculator

Hit chance

70%

Expected damage / attack

7.58

Attack bonus

Average normal hit: 10.5 · Average critical hit: 15 · Critical chance: 5%.

Category: Martial weapon
Damage type: Slashing
Reach: 5 ft.
Magic attack bonus: +3
Weight: 3 lb
Attunement: Required
Rarity: Legendary
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 Vorpal Longsword does

Strength 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 +3 weapon damage averages 7.5 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 1d8 to 1d10. 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.

You gain a +3 bonus to attack rolls and damage rolls made with this magic weapon. In addition, the weapon ignores Resistance to Slashing damage. When you use this weapon to attack a creature that has at least one head and roll a 20 on the d20 for the attack roll, you cut off one of the creature's heads. The creature dies if it can't survive without the lost head. A creature is immune to this effect if it has Immunity to Slashing damage, if it doesn't have or need a head, or if the GM decides that the creature is too big for its head to be cut off with this weapon. Such a creature instead takes an extra 30 Slashing damage from the hit. If the creature has Legendary Resistance, it can expend one daily use of that trait to avoid losing its head, taking the extra damage instead. This is the Longsword variant.

Full item details & properties

Magic properties

Activation: Attack a creature and roll 20 on the attack d20.
Consumable: No
Attack Rolls: +3. Attacks made with this weapon
Damage Rolls: +3. Included in displayed damage; add the applicable ability modifier separately.
Conditions & limits: Displayed damage is before applicable ability modifiers. Conditional extra damage applies only when its trigger and target requirements are met.
Resistance bypass: Ignores Resistance to Slashing damage; does not ignore Immunity.
Decapitation: On a 20 on the attack d20, cut off one head. The creature dies only if it cannot survive that loss.
Exceptions & Legendary Resistance: Slashing Immunity, no needed head, or GM size ruling use extra 30 Slashing damage instead, subject to normal defenses. A creature with Legendary Resistance can spend one daily use to take the extra damage instead of losing its head.

Weapon details

Damage: 1d8 + 3 slashing
Weapon class: Martial Melee
Two-handed damage: 1d10 + 3

Properties

Versatile(1d10)

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

Sap

If you hit a creature with this weapon, that creature has Disadvantage on its next attack roll before the start of your next turn.

You need a feature, such as Weapon Mastery, that unlocks this property for you.

Tags & related references

SlashingSapLegendary →Attack Roll BonusConditional DecapitationDamage BonusIgnores Slashing ResistanceMagicalMartial WeaponMelee WeaponRequires AttunementVorpalVersatile →Weapon →

Compare alternatives

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

Vorpal Longsword · current7.58 expected damage / attack70% hit chance1d8 +3 slashing · +3 magic attack · 5 ft. reachNot specified · 3 lb Defender (Longsword)7.58 expected damage / attack70% hit chance1d8 +3 slashing · +3 magic attack · 5 ft. reachNot specified · 3 lb

Same base weapon; compare its bonuses and rarity

Holy Avenger (Longsword)7.58 expected damage / attack70% hit chance1d8 +3 slashing · +3 magic attack · 5 ft. reach · Conditional extra damage; see rulesNot specified · 3 lb

Same base weapon; compare its bonuses and rarity

Defender (Battleaxe)7.58 expected damage / attack70% hit chance1d8 +3 slashing · +3 magic attack · 5 ft. reachNot specified · 4 lb

Uses the same attack ability; compare handling and damage

Defender (Club)6.08 expected damage / attack70% hit chance1d4 +3 bludgeoning · +3 magic attack · 5 ft. reachNot specified · 2 lb

Uses the same attack ability; compare handling and damage

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

Vorpal Longsword FAQ

Does Vorpal Longsword 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.