Acid Flask
Alchemical Equipment · Corrosive Splash Weapon
A flask of acid breaks on impact, burning a target or eating into an exposed object. It is a cheap answer to a stubborn enemy, but the way you throw it—and whether anyone nearby gets splashed—depends on the edition.
At a Glance
| Type | Single-use alchemical flask |
|---|---|
| Price | 25 gp (5e); 10 gp (PF1e/3.5e) |
| Weight | 1 lb. in every edition |
| Damage | 5e: 2d6 acid. PF1e/3.5e: 1d6 on hit, plus 1 splash nearby |
| Full rules | Choose your edition below for attack, save and range |
Acid Flask Rules by Edition
D&D 5.5e / 2024 — Acid
| Equipment | Acid (vial), single use |
|---|---|
| Cost / weight | 25 gp / 1 lb. |
| Use | Take the Attack action and replace one of its attacks with a throw |
| Range / target | One creature or object you can see within 20 feet |
| Saving throw | Dexterity, DC 8 + your Dexterity modifier + your Proficiency Bonus |
| Failed save | 2d6 Acid damage |
| Successful save | No Acid damage from the vial |
You do not make a ranged attack roll for the throw under these rules. This is not an area effect: the 2024 Acid entry specifies one creature or object, not splash damage to adjacent creatures. The vial is expended.
Rules: 2024 Basic Rules — Equipment (SRD 5.2.1-equivalent Acid entry).
D&D 5e / 2014 — Acid (Vial)
| Equipment | Acid (vial), single use |
|---|---|
| Cost / weight | 25 gp / 1 lb. |
| Use | As an action, splash acid onto a creature within 5 feet or throw the vial up to 20 feet |
| Attack | Ranged attack against one creature or object, treating the vial as an improvised weapon |
| Hit | 2d6 acid damage |
| Miss | No listed splash effect; the vial is expended |
The 2014 entry uses an attack roll, even when splashing from close range. Do not substitute the 2024 Dexterity saving throw or the older editions’ adjacent-square splash damage.
Rules: 2014 Basic Rules — Acid (Vial) (SRD 5.1).
Pathfinder 1e — Acid (Flask)
| Type | Alchemical splash weapon, single use |
|---|---|
| Price / weight | 10 gp / 1 lb. |
| Attack | Ranged touch attack; no weapon-proficiency penalty for thrown splash weapons |
| Range increment | 10 feet |
| Direct hit | 1d6 acid damage |
| Splash | 1 acid damage to creatures within 5 feet of the impact |
Targeting a square: You may aim at an unoccupied grid intersection (AC 5, applying range penalties). On a hit, creatures in adjacent squares take splash damage; no creature takes the 1d6 direct-hit damage.
Miss: Roll 1d8 for direction (1 falls short; 2–8 move clockwise around the target), then move the impact point one square per range increment. Apply splash damage where the flask lands and to adjacent squares. A flask cannot also provide its normal splash effect when used as a spell component.
Alchemical Power Components
Adventurer’s Armory gives Pathfinder spellcasters further uses for a flask of acid. (M) means the flask is consumed as a material component; (F) means it serves as a reusable focus. These benefits belong to Pathfinder, not the 5e or 3.5e tabs.
- Acid Arrow (M): Acid damage lasts one additional round.
- Acid Fog (M): Increase both the fog’s radius and height by 5 feet.
- Acid Splash (F): Add 1 acid damage.
- Acid Splash (M): Extend the spell by one round, as listed in Adventurer’s Armory.
- Dispel Magic (M): Gain +2 on dispel or counterspell checks against an earth-subtype spell or effect.
- Grease (M): The greased area or item deals 1 acid damage each round to creatures in contact with it.
- Wall of Ice (M): Choose one 10-foot section per flask; a creature breaking through that section suffers an additional 1d6 acid damage.
Rules: Pathfinder Core Rulebook equipment and Throw Splash Weapon. Spell components: Adventurer’s Armory.
D&D 3.5e — Acid (Flask)
| Type | Special substance, thrown splash weapon |
|---|---|
| Cost / weight | 10 gp / 1 lb. |
| Attack | Ranged touch attack |
| Range increment | 10 feet |
| Direct hit | 1d6 acid damage |
| Splash | 1 acid damage within 5 feet of the point of impact |
The D&D 3.5e splash-weapon procedure permits targeting a grid intersection (AC 5) when you want the splash instead of direct damage. A missed throw scatters; determine the landing point using the edition’s splash-weapon rules. Acid flasks can be manufactured with Craft (alchemy) under that system’s crafting requirements.
Rules: D&D 3.5e SRD — Special Substances and Splash Weapons.
What Changes Between Editions?
In 2024, the target makes a Dexterity saving throw against your throw. In 2014, you roll a ranged attack with an improvised weapon. Neither 5e entry grants the older editions’ surrounding splash damage. Pathfinder 1e and D&D 3.5e use ranged touch attacks, shorter 10-foot range increments, and a 1-point splash around the impact.
Using Acid at the Table
Against a single dangerous foe: A 5e adventurer can throw a vial to deal acid damage without casting a spell. In Pathfinder and 3.5e, aiming at a creature deals more damage on a hit, while aiming at an intersection can reach several adjacent creatures for less damage. Be wary of allies standing next to the point of impact.
For locks, seals and traps: Acid can damage objects where the edition’s object-damage rules permit it; it does not automatically dissolve a lock or bypass hardness. For supplies and other alchemical options, see Alchemical Items, Alchemical Solvent, and Alkali Flask.
Rules and Sources
Edition-specific mechanics are based on the published D&D 2024 Basic Rules (SRD 5.2.1), 2014 Basic Rules (SRD 5.1), Pathfinder 1e Core Rulebook and Adventurer’s Armory, and D&D 3.5e SRD. Only the Pathfinder tab uses the Adventurer’s Armory spell-component options.
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