Quick Links
Dungeons & Dragonshas always allowed players to create characters that are masters of their chosen weapon, but the 2024 rules have codified this expertise into something called Weapon Mastery. By obtaining a Mastery in a particular weapon, you gain a new ability that allows you to do more than merely roll for damage.
Weapon Mastery adds an entirely new dynamic to choosing which weapon (or weapons) your character will use, giving certain classes abilities they’d otherwise never have access to. If you’re looking to become a master of the blade, hammer, bow, or any other weapon type, then read on to learn how to obtain Weapon Mastery.
What Is Weapon Mastery And Mastery Properties?
Weapon Mastery is a feature of the D&D’s 2024 rules, available for martial classes or unlocked through certain feats. Weapon Mastery allows a player tounlock their chosen weapon’s Weapon Property, a special skill available on all simple and martial weapons.
Those characters withmastery of the Light Crossbow, for example,unlock the ‘Vex’ Mastery Property, which provides advantage on subsequent attacks against the same target. We’ll list all the potential Mastery Properties and which weapons they apply to later on.
Weapon Mastery is typicallya feature of martial, physical combat classesin the 2024 rules. Mage classes such as Wizard or Sorcerer do not gain Weapon Mastery as they focus their training towards arcane knowledge and magical combat. However,any class can gain Weapon Mastery by obtaining the Weapon Master feat.
How To Get Weapon Mastery
Weapon Mastery is available to the classes that focus on using weapons to deliver damage.Below is a list of the classes that have Weapon Mastery and how many weapon types they can master. Each class obtains Weapon Mastery at level one, allowing them to use the Mastery Property of at least two weapons.
Classes With Weapon Mastery
As the class most concerned with mastery of weapons,Fighters can master three weapons whereas other martial classes can master only two. This allows Fighters to unlock the Mastery Property of both a ranged and melee weapon and still have one more Weapon Mastery leftfor potentially dual wielding.
Weapon Mastery can also be obtained by taking the Weapon Master feat. This feat can be taken by any classor species, but can only be taken once.
Prerequisite
Weapon Master
Allows you to use the Mastery Property of one simple or martial weapon you are proficient with. You may change the weapon you’ve mastered after finishing a long rest. Also, increase your Strength or Dexterity score by 1.
Level 4 and above
Each Mastery Property And What It Does
Each weapon typehas a Mastery Propertythat is unlocked when a character has the Weapon Mastery for that weapon type. There are eight different Mastery Properties, each of which are listed below along with what weapons have these Mastery Properties.
Weapons
Cleave
After a successful melee attack, make a second attack against another creature within reach standing within five feet of the first target. Do not add your ability modifier to this second attack (unless it’s negative). You may Cleave only once per turn.
Greataxe, Halberd
Graze
If your attack misses, the target still receives damage equal to your ability modifier.
Glaive, Greatsword
Nick
An extra attack made using the Light property can be part of an attack action rather than a bonus action once per turn.
Dagger, Light Hammer, Sickle, Scimitar
Push
Creatures hit by this weapon can be pushed 10 feet away from you (if the target is large or smaller).
Greatclub, Pike, Warhammer, Heavy Crossbow
Sap
Creatures hit by this weapon have disadvantage on their next attack roll before the start of your next turn.
Mace, Spear, Flail, Longsword, Morningstar, War Pick
Slow
Reduce the speed of creatures hit by this weapon by 10 feet until your next turn (multiple hits do not reduce the speed of the creature by more than 10 feet).
Club, Javelin, Light Crossbow, Sling, Whip, Longbow, Musket
Topple
Creatures hit by this weapon perform a Constitution saving throw. On a failed save, they’re knocked prone.
Quarterstaff, Battleaxe, Lance, Maul, Trident
Vex
A successful hit provides advantage to subsequent attack rolls against the same creature until the end of your next turn.
