- Type
- Weapon
- Rarity
- Varies
- Attunement
- Not required
You have a bonus to attack and damage rolls made with this magic weapon. The bonus is determined by the weapon's rarity.
Variants
- Weapon, +1
- Weapon, +2
- Weapon, +3
Weapon, +1, +2, or +3 5e magic item
Weapon (any), uncommon (+1), rare (+2), or very rare (+3) · 2024 version: Weapon
How a +1, +2 or +3 weapon plays
It’s any weapon with a flat bonus to attack and damage rolls: +1 (uncommon), +2 (rare) or +3 (very rare). No attunement, no charges, nothing to activate. Every attack is a bit more likely to hit and does a bit more damage.
The other half of the value is that it’s magical. Many monsters, like werewolves, gargoyles and most devils and demons, resist or ignore damage from nonmagical weapons. A +1 sword cuts through that, which is often worth more than the +1 itself.
Who should wield it
- Martial characters with Extra Attack get the bonus on every swing. A fighter attacking three times a turn gains 3 damage a round from a +1 weapon, before counting extra hits.
- Anyone without another way through resistance. A monk’s fists become magical at 6th level, but a rogue, ranger or fighter needs a magic weapon for it.
- Everyone, when you run out of attunement slots. A +2 or +3 weapon costs no slot, so it’s a great choice next to other items that do.
Common questions
Does a +1 weapon require attunement?
No. Any character proficient with the weapon gets the full bonus just by using it, and anyone can use it without proficiency, just without their proficiency bonus to hit.
Does a +1 weapon count as magical for resistance?
Yes. It’s a magic weapon, so it overcomes resistance and immunity to bludgeoning, piercing and slashing damage from nonmagical attacks.
Does a +1 bow stack with +1 arrows?
Yes. They’re separate magic items, so a +1 longbow firing a +1 arrow gets +2 to attack and damage. The arrow stops being magical once it hits.
Can I cast Magic Weapon on a +1 weapon?
No. Magic Weapon only targets a nonmagical weapon.
How much does a +1, +2 or +3 weapon cost?
The Dungeon Master’s Guide puts uncommon items (+1) at 101 to 500 gp, rare (+2) at 501 to 5,000 gp and very rare (+3) at 5,001 to 50,000 gp. The builder’s Standard Conversion prices them at 500, 5,000 and 50,000 gp.
Is a +1 weapon worth it?
Yes, for anyone who attacks with weapons. It’s about 5% more hits and 1 damage per hit, it ignores nonmagical resistance, and it costs no attunement slot.
+1, +2 and +3 weapons compared with similar items
| Item | How it compares |
|---|---|
| Ammunition, +1, +2 or +3 | The same bonuses on arrows and bolts, lost when each one hits. Stacks with a magic bow. |
| Flame Tongue | Rare sword: no bonus to hit, but +2d6 fire on every hit while it burns. More damage than a +3 weapon. |
| Vicious Weapon | Rare: an extra 2d6 on a natural 20 and nothing otherwise. A +2 weapon is better almost always. |
| Magic Weapon | 2nd-level spell: makes a nonmagical weapon +1 for an hour with concentration, +2 or +3 with higher slots. |
| Armor, +1, +2 or +3 | The defensive version: a bonus to AC, each a step rarer than the weapon with the same bonus. |
Weapon in the 2024 rules
The 2024 Dungeon Master’s Guide revised the magic items, and the SRD 5.2 carries the new text. What changed:
- It’s called Weapon in the 2024 rules.
- Rarity: Varies → Uncommon (+1), Rare (+2), or Very Rare (+3).
- Type
- Weapon (Any Simple or Martial)
- Rarity
- Uncommon (+1), Rare (+2), or Very Rare (+3)
- Attunement
- Not required
You have a bonus to attack rolls and damage rolls made with this magic weapon. The bonus is determined by the weapon's rarity.
Variants
- Weapon +1
- Weapon +2
- Weapon +3
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