Handaxe 5e weapon
Simple melee weapon · 1d6 slashing · Vex mastery (2024)
Handaxe stats by edition
What changed in 2024
- Gains the Vex mastery property (new in 2024).
Average damage
- 1d6: 3.5 on average.
- With a +3 ability modifier: 6.5 per hit; a critical hit doubles the dice, for 10.
Roll it yourself in the dice roller.
Its properties
Light
2014: A light weapon is small and easy to handle, making it ideal for use when fighting with two weapons.
2024: 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. For example, you can attack with a Shortsword in one hand and a Dagger in the other using the Attack action and a Bonus Action, but you don't add your Strength or Dexterity modifier to the damage roll of the Bonus Action unless that modifier is negative.
Thrown
2014: If a weapon has the thrown property, you can throw the weapon to make a ranged attack. If the weapon is a melee weapon, you use the same ability modifier for that attack roll and damage roll that you would use for a melee attack with the weapon. For example, if you throw a handaxe, you use your Strength, but if you throw a dagger, you can use either your Strength or your Dexterity, since the dagger has the finesse property.
2024: If a weapon has the Thrown property, you can throw the weapon to make a ranged attack, and you can draw that weapon as part of the attack. If the weapon is a Melee weapon, use the same ability modifier for the attack and damage rolls that you use for a melee attack with that weapon.
Mastery: Vex (2024)
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.
A character can use this only if a feature lets them use the weapon’s mastery property. Other Vex weapons · all mastery properties.
Who is proficient
Classes proficient with the handaxe, from their class proficiencies: Artificer, Barbarian, Bard, Cleric, Fighter, Monk, Paladin, Ranger, Rogue, Warlock.
Compared with other simple melee weapons
| Weapon | Damage | Average (one / two hands) | Properties | Mastery (2024) | Weight | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greatclub | 1d8 bludgeoning | 4.5 | Two-Handed | Push | 10 lb. | 2 sp |
| Handaxe | 1d6 slashing | 3.5 | Light, Thrown (range 20/60) | Vex | 2 lb. | 5 gp |
| Javelin | 1d6 piercing | 3.5 | Thrown (range 30/120) | Slow | 2 lb. | 5 sp |
| Mace | 1d6 bludgeoning | 3.5 | — | Sap | 4 lb. | 5 gp |
| Quarterstaff | 1d6 bludgeoning | 3.5 / 4.5 | Versatile (1d8) | Topple | 4 lb. | 2 sp |
| Spear | 1d6 piercing | 3.5 / 4.5 | Thrown (range 20/60), Versatile (1d8) | Sap | 3 lb. | 1 gp |
| Club | 1d4 bludgeoning | 2.5 | Light | Slow | 2 lb. | 1 sp |
| Dagger | 1d4 piercing | 2.5 | Finesse, Light, Thrown (range 20/60) | Nick | 1 lb. | 2 gp |
| Light Hammer | 1d4 bludgeoning | 2.5 | Light, Thrown (range 20/60) | Nick | 2 lb. | 2 gp |
| Sickle | 1d4 slashing | 2.5 | Light | Nick | 2 lb. | 1 gp |
All weapons · Weapon properties · Making an attack · Two-weapon fighting