Shortsword 5e weapon

Martial melee weapon · 1d6 piercing · Vex mastery (2024)

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

Finesse

2014: When making an attack with a finesse weapon, you use your choice of your Strength or Dexterity modifier for the attack and damage rolls. You must use the same modifier for both rolls.

2024: When making an attack with a Finesse weapon, use your choice of your Strength or Dexterity modifier for the attack and damage rolls. You must use the same modifier for both rolls.

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.

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 shortsword, from their class proficiencies: Barbarian, Bard, Fighter, Monk, Paladin, Ranger, Rogue.

Compared with other martial melee weapons

All weapons · Weapon properties · Making an attack · Two-weapon fighting