Weapon of Warning (Greataxe)

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

Weapon damage

1d12 slashing

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

5.55

Attack bonus

Average normal hit: 9.5 · Average critical hit: 16 · Critical chance: 5%.

Category: Martial weapon
Damage type: Slashing
Reach: 5 ft.
Magic attack bonus: +0
Weight: 7 lb
Attunement: Required
Rarity: Uncommon
Price: Not specified

Magic: Both benefits require attunement and the weapon to be within your reach.

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 Weapon of Warning 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 1d12 weapon damage averages 6.5 before your ability modifier and extra effects. Hit chance matters too: compare expected damage per attack rather than the die alone.
This weapon needs two hands when you attack, so a wielded shield conflicts with that attack setup.
This item uses one of your attunement slots. Compare its benefit with the other items you want to keep attuned.

As long as this weapon is within your reach and you are attuned to it, you and allies within 30 feet of you gain the following benefits. Alarm. The weapon magically awakens each subject who is sleeping naturally when combat begins. This benefit doesn't wake a subject from magically induced sleep. Supernatural Readiness. Each subject has Advantage on its Initiative rolls. This is the Greataxe variant.

Full item details & properties

Magic properties

Activation: Attune to the weapon and keep it within your reach.
Consumable: No
Advantage: Initiative rolls: You and allies within 30 feet; while you are attuned and the weapon is within your reach.
Effect range: 30 ft.; You and Allies. Requires attunement and the weapon within your reach.
Combat alarm: Wakes affected natural sleepers when combat begins; does not wake magically induced sleep.
Conditions & limits: Both benefits require attunement and the weapon to be within your reach. The alarm wakes natural sleepers when combat begins; it does not wake magically induced sleep. This property adds no bonus to attack rolls or damage rolls.

Weapon details

Damage: 1d12 slashing
Weapon class: Martial Melee

Properties

Heavy

You have Disadvantage on attack rolls with a Heavy weapon if it's a Melee weapon and your Strength score isn't at least 13 or if it's a Ranged weapon and your Dexterity score isn't at least 13.

Two-Handed

A Two-Handed weapon requires two hands when you attack with it.

Weapon mastery

Cleave

If you hit a creature with a melee attack roll using this weapon, you can make a melee attack roll with the weapon against a second creature within 5 feet of the first that is also within your reach. On a hit, the second creature takes the weapon's damage, but don't add your ability modifier to that damage unless that modifier is negative. You can make this extra attack only once per turn.

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

Tags & related references

SlashingCleaveUncommon →Combat AlarmInitiative AdvantageMagicalMartial WeaponMelee WeaponRequires AttunementWarningHeavy →Two Handed →Weapon →

Compare alternatives

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

Weapon of Warning (Greataxe) · current5.55 expected damage / attack55% hit chance1d12 slashing · +0 magic attack · 5 ft. reachNot specified · 7 lb Flame Tongue Greataxe5.55 expected damage / attack55% hit chance1d12 slashing · +0 magic attack · 5 ft. reach · Conditional extra damage; see rulesNot specified · 7 lb

Same base weapon; compare its bonuses and rarity

Vicious Greataxe9.75 expected damage / attack55% hit chance1d12 slashing + 2d6 slashing · +0 magic attack · 5 ft. reachNot specified · 7 lb

Same base weapon; compare its bonuses and rarity

Weapon of Warning (Battleaxe)4.35 expected damage / attack55% hit chance1d8 slashing · +0 magic attack · 5 ft. reachNot specified · 4 lb

Uses the same attack ability; compare handling and damage

Weapon of Warning (Club)3.15 expected damage / attack55% hit chance1d4 bludgeoning · +0 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.

Weapon of Warning FAQ

Does Weapon of Warning 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.