Chain (10 ft.)

Chain Costs, Restraints and Breaking Rules

A chain can secure a gate, hold an object in place or restrain a captive. The price, weight and rules for breaking it change between editions. Choose the rules for your game below.

Close view of the links in a length of metal chain

At a Glance

Item: Chain, sold by length in older editions. The 2024 equipment entry is simply called Chain.

2024 and 2014: 5 gp; 10 lb.; Strength-based burst DC 20.

Pathfinder 1e and 3.5e: 30 gp; 2 lb.; hardness 10; 5 HP; Strength-based burst DC 26.

Important difference: 2024 has specific rules for binding and escaping; 2014 does not use those same item-specific checks.

Rules references: D&D 2024 Basic Rules; D&D 2014 Basic Rules; Pathfinder 1e Core Rulebook and Ultimate Equipment; D&D 3.5e SRD. Edition-specific sources are linked below.

Chain Rules by Edition

5.5e / 2024 5e / 2014 Pathfinder 1e D&D 3.5e

D&D 5.5e / 2024

Equipment	Published rule
Cost / weight	5 gp / 10 lb.
Bind a creature	Utilize action; target within 5 feet that is Grappled, Incapacitated or Restrained; DC 13 Strength (Athletics) check
Legs bound	Creature has the Restrained condition until it escapes
Escape	DC 18 Dexterity (Acrobatics) check as an action
Burst chain	DC 20 Strength (Athletics) check as an action

A chain cannot simply be wrapped around an alert, unrestricted enemy to restrain them: the target must already satisfy the stated condition, and the check is required.

Source: 2024 Basic Rules equipment (SRD 5.2.1).

D&D 5e / 2014

Equipment	Published rule
Length / cost / weight	10 ft. / 5 gp / 10 lb.
Hit points	10
Burst chain	DC 20 Strength check

The 2014 item specifies its durability and break check, but does not supply the 2024 edition’s special Utilize action or fixed Acrobatics escape DC. Do not automatically import those later mechanics.

Source: 2014 Basic Rules equipment (SRD 5.1).

Pathfinder 1e

Equipment	Published rule
Length / price / weight	10 ft. / 30 gp / 2 lb.
Hardness	10
Hit points	5
Burst chain	DC 26 Strength check

Hardness protects the chain when an attack damages it; a Strength check can burst it without reducing those hit points first. A locked restraint has its own rules: see manacles.

Source: Pathfinder 1e adventuring gear and breaking objects.

D&D 3.5e

Equipment	Published rule
Length / price / weight	10 ft. / 30 gp / 2 lb.
Hardness	10
Hit points	5
Burst chain	DC 26 Strength check

Unlike the 2014 and 2024 rules, this edition gives a chain hardness as well as hit points. A creature breaking the links by force uses the listed Strength DC.

Sources: D&D 3.5e adventuring gear and object hardness and break DCs.

Using chain in an adventure: A broken chain can leave a gate unsecured, and a key or a lock does not make the chain itself tougher. For prices and rules for locks, shackles and fetters, consult Locks, Keys, Chains & Manacles.