Lance 5e weapon

Martial melee weapon · 1d12 piercing · Topple mastery (2024)

Lance stats by edition

	2014 (SRD 5.1)	2024 (SRD 5.2)
Category	Martial melee	Martial melee
Damage	1d12 piercing	1d10 piercing
Properties	Reach, Special	Heavy, Reach, Two-Handed
Mastery	—	Topple
Weight	6 lb.	6 lb.
Cost	10 gp	10 gp

Special (2014)

You have disadvantage when you use a lance to attack a target within 5 feet of you. Also, a lance requires two hands to wield when you aren't mounted.

2024 note: Two-handed unless mounted.

What changed in 2024

Damage: 1d12 piercing → 1d10 piercing.
Gains Heavy and Two-Handed.
Loses Special (its special rules are now covered by its properties and a note).
Gains the Topple mastery property (new in 2024).

Average damage

1d12: 6.5 on average.
With a +3 ability modifier: 9.5 per hit; a critical hit doubles the dice, for 16.

Roll it yourself in the dice roller.

Its properties

Reach

2014: This weapon adds 5 feet to your reach when you attack with it, as well as when determining your reach for opportunity attacks with it.

2024: A Reach weapon adds 5 feet to your reach when you attack with it, as well as when determining your reach for Opportunity Attacks with it.

Special

2014: A weapon with the special property has unusual rules governing its use, explained in the weapon's description (see "Special Weapons" later in this section).

2024: 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

2024: A Two-Handed weapon requires two hands when you attack with it.

Mastery: Topple (2024)

If you hit a creature with this weapon, you can force the creature to make a Constitution saving throw (DC 8 plus the ability modifier used to make the attack roll and your Proficiency Bonus). On a failed save, the creature has the Prone condition.

A character can use this only if a feature lets them use the weapon’s mastery property. Other Topple weapons · all mastery properties.

Who is proficient

Classes proficient with the lance, from their class proficiencies: Barbarian, Fighter, Paladin, Ranger.

Compared with other martial melee weapons

Weapon	Damage	Average (one / two hands)	Properties	Mastery (2024)	Weight	Cost
Greatsword	2d6 slashing	7	Heavy, Two-Handed	Graze	6 lb.	50 gp
Maul	2d6 bludgeoning	7	Heavy, Two-Handed	Topple	10 lb.	10 gp
Greataxe	1d12 slashing	6.5	Heavy, Two-Handed	Cleave	7 lb.	30 gp
Lance	1d12 piercing	6.5	Reach, Special	Topple	6 lb.	10 gp
Glaive	1d10 slashing	5.5	Heavy, Reach, Two-Handed	Graze	6 lb.	20 gp
Halberd	1d10 slashing	5.5	Heavy, Reach, Two-Handed	Cleave	6 lb.	20 gp
Pike	1d10 piercing	5.5	Heavy, Reach, Two-Handed	Push	18 lb.	5 gp
Battleaxe	1d8 slashing	4.5 / 5.5	Versatile (1d10)	Topple	4 lb.	10 gp
Flail	1d8 bludgeoning	4.5	—	Sap	2 lb.	10 gp
Longsword	1d8 slashing	4.5 / 5.5	Versatile (1d10)	Sap	3 lb.	15 gp
Morningstar	1d8 piercing	4.5	—	Sap	4 lb.	15 gp
Rapier	1d8 piercing	4.5	Finesse	Vex	2 lb.	25 gp
War Pick	1d8 piercing	4.5	—	Sap	2 lb.	5 gp
Warhammer	1d8 bludgeoning	4.5 / 5.5	Versatile (1d10)	Push	2 lb.	15 gp
Scimitar	1d6 slashing	3.5	Finesse, Light	Nick	3 lb.	25 gp
Shortsword	1d6 piercing	3.5	Finesse, Light	Vex	2 lb.	10 gp
Trident	1d6 piercing	3.5 / 4.5	Thrown (range 20/60), Versatile (1d8)	Topple	4 lb.	5 gp
Whip	1d4 slashing	2.5	Finesse, Reach	Slow	3 lb.	2 gp

All weapons · Weapon properties · Making an attack · Opportunity attacks