Buckler Gun
At a Glance
- Weapon: Buckler Gun
- Campaign status: Rare specialist shield-firearm
- 5.5e / 2024: Campaign conversion combining a buckler and compact two-shot pistol
- 5e / 2014: Campaign conversion
- Pathfinder 1e: Early one-handed firearm; capacity 2; off-hand weapon
- D&D 3.5e: Campaign conversion from Renaissance Pistol
A buckler gun mounts a compact double-barrelled firearm into the face of a small round shield. It is a gunsmithing curiosity designed to keep two shots available while the wielder still carries a defensive buckler.
Use only the tab for the rules system being played. Mechanics are not shared automatically between editions.
Buckler Gun Rules by Edition
Buckler Gun — D&D 5.5e / 2024
Campaign conversion. Treat each barrel as a compact Pistol shot while the item is also a buckler.
| Damage | Range | Capacity | Properties | Mastery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1d10 Piercing | 30/90 ft. | 2 barrels | Ammunition (Bullet), Loading | Vex |
Only one barrel can be fired with an attack. The buckler must be removed before either barrel can be reloaded. The item is cumbersome enough that it cannot be used to gain extra attacks beyond what the character could normally make.
Buckler Gun — D&D 5e / 2014
Campaign conversion. Use the 2014 Pistol for each barrel. The buckler must be removed to reload, and only one barrel can be fired per attack. There is no Weapon Mastery.
Buckler Gun — Pathfinder 1e
| Cost | Dmg (S) | Dmg (M) | Critical | Range | Misfire | Capacity | Weight | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 750 gp | 1d4 | 1d6 | ×4 | 10 ft. | 1 (5 ft.) | 2 | 6 lbs. | B and P |
Only one barrel can be fired at a time. The buckler must be removed to reload. Each barrel uses one bullet and one dose of black powder or one alchemical cartridge. Because of the awkward construction, it is always considered an off-hand weapon.
Buckler Gun — D&D 3.5e
Campaign conversion. Each barrel uses the Renaissance Pistol profile. Only one can be fired per attack, and the buckler must be removed before reloading. The firearm portion requires Exotic Weapon Proficiency (firearms).
What Changes Between Editions?
- 2024/2014/3.5e: the exact shield-firearm is a campaign conversion built from each edition’s pistol rules.
- PF1e: supplies the published two-barrel, off-hand and reload restrictions.
Related Equipment
Sources and Licensing
D&D 5.5e / 2024 and D&D 5e / 2014 firearm baselines use the corresponding D&D firearm rules where an exact weapon exists. D&D 3.5e uses the Dungeon Master’s Guide Renaissance or modern firearm baselines. Pathfinder firearm statistics and rules derive from Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Ultimate Combat, © 2011 Paizo Publishing, LLC; authors Jason Bulmahn, Tim Hitchcock, Colin McComb, Rob McCreary, Jason Nelson, Stephen Radney-MacFarland, Sean K Reynolds, Owen K.C. Stephens and Russ Taylor. Edition tabs explicitly identify campaign conversions when the exact weapon is not a core entry.
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