Shuriken (Throwing Star)

A shuriken is a small piece of metal with sharpened edges, designed for throwing.

Shuriken are small metal throwing weapons, often made in the flat, pointed form called a throwing star. They suit a close-range distraction or a quick attack while closing or escaping. Keep a hand weapon ready: these are not a substitute for a sword once the fight reaches you.

At a Glance

Form	Compact throwing iron; the pictured example is a flat throwing star
Role	Short-range thrown weapon; easy to carry in a small bundle
Rules distinction	Named exotic weapon in Pathfinder and 3.5e; uses the Dart profile here in fifth edition
Special versions	Check the edition before pricing masterwork, silvered or magical ammunition

Rules by Edition

5.5e / 20245e / 2014Pathfinder 1eD&D 3.5e

Shuriken — 5.5e / 2024

Campaign representation using the published Dart profile. Shuriken is not a separate weapon in the 2024 equipment table; the shape changes, while the Dart mechanics stay intact.

Category / proficiency	Simple ranged weapon (Dart profile)
Damage	1d4 Piercing
Properties / range	Finesse, Thrown (20/60 ft.); no Light or Ammunition property
Ability / hands	Strength or Dexterity for both attack and damage; one hand
Mastery	Vex, only if a feature unlocks Dart mastery
Cost / weight	5 cp / ¼ lb. each, using Dart equipment values

Vex: after a hit that deals damage, your next attack roll against that creature has Advantage if made before the end of your next turn. You may draw this Thrown weapon as part of the attack. Use the long-range Disadvantage rule beyond 20 feet; 60 feet is the maximum.

A Dart is a ranged weapon. Calling it a shuriken does not automatically make it a Monk weapon, grant an extra attack or add the Light property.

Source: 2024 equipment and weapon properties.

Shuriken — 5e / 2014

Campaign representation using the published Dart profile. This supplies a complete playable option without claiming an official fifth-edition Shuriken entry.

Category / proficiency	Simple ranged weapon (Dart profile)
Damage / type	1d4 piercing
Properties / range	Finesse, thrown (20/60 ft.); not Light or Ammunition
Ability / hands	Strength or Dexterity for both attack and damage; one hand
Cost / weight	5 cp / ¼ lb. each
Mastery	No Vex or other Weapon Mastery property

Attacks beyond 20 feet have disadvantage; 60 feet is the limit. Unlike the 2024 Thrown property, this version does not include drawing another weapon as part of every attack. Monk weapon benefits require the actual class rules; a cosmetic name does not expand them.

Source: 2014 Basic Rules equipment.

Shuriken — Pathfinder 1e

An exotic ranged weapon with the monk property. A Small weapon deals 1 damage; a Medium one deals 1d2.

Ranged Weapons Exotic
Weapon	Cost	Damage (S)	Damage (M)	Critical	Range Increment	Weight	Type	Special
Shuriken (5)	1 gp	1	1d2	×2	10 ft.	½ lb.	Piercing	monk

A shuriken is a special monk weapon.

This designation gives a monk wielding shuriken special options.

Although they are thrown weapons, shuriken are treated as ammunition for the purposes of drawing them, crafting masterwork or otherwise special versions of them and what happens to them after they are thrown.

Drawback: A shuriken can’t be used as a melee weapon.

Traits: ammunition, monk

Use Dexterity for the attack roll and Strength for damage. Apply −2 per extra 10-foot range increment; the maximum is five increments. Ammunition treatment does not turn it into a bow or grant longer projectile range. The listed price and weight are for five Medium shuriken.

Source: Pathfinder RPG Core Rulebook (First Edition). Equipment rules and weapon table.

Shuriken — D&D 3.5e

Published 3.5e weapon. Its special monk and ammunition rules belong to this edition.

Category / proficiency	Exotic ranged weapon; special monk weapon
Damage / type	Small: 1; Medium: 1d2; piercing
Critical	20/×2
Range increment	10 ft.; five increments maximum; −2 per extra increment
Ability	Dexterity to attack; Strength to damage
Cost / weight	1 gp / ½ lb. for five Medium shuriken
Melee	Cannot be used as a melee weapon

Treat shuriken as ammunition when drawing them, making masterwork or special versions, and determining what survives after a throw. Draw them as ammunition, but check the actions and attacks your character actually has; this does not create extra attacks.

Source: 3.5e System Reference Document: weapons.

Handling and Counterplay

A thrown star does not ignore cover or armour. It does not deliver a silent kill, return to the thrower or act as a caltrop unless a separate rule says so. Count the attacks, drawing actions and recovery rules of the selected edition.

The fifth-edition Dart profile has Finesse but is not Light. The Pathfinder and 3.5e shuriken has its own ammunition rules and much shorter range increments. Keep those distinctions when copying equipment into a character sheet.

Supply and Campaign Use

These Japanese throwing weapons fit specialist training and travelling equipment sellers better than a universal village weapon rack. Plain iron versions are replaceable; unusual materials and enchantments need their proper rules and prices. The Fūma Clan provides related Japanese campaign material without making shuriken compulsory equipment for every scout.

Related Equipment

Return to weapons or compare the javelin for a larger thrown weapon.

Sources and Licences

Rules summaries use the named editions; the fifth-edition shuriken profiles are the cosmetic Dart adaptations stated above. The Pathfinder and 3.5e weapon-rule sections are Open Game Content under the Open Game License 1.0a. The rules licences below do not cover the photograph.

Fifth-edition source documents and attribution

2024 rules: SRD 5.2.1. 2014 rules: SRD 5.1. Rule summaries and examples have been reworded; a Dart representation changes appearance only.

This work includes material from the System Reference Document 5.2.1 (“SRD 5.2.1”) by Wizards of the Coast LLC, available at https://www.dndbeyond.com/srd. The SRD 5.2.1 is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, available at https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode.

This work includes material taken from the System Reference Document 5.1 (“SRD 5.1”) by Wizards of the Coast LLC and available at https://dnd.wizards.com/resources/systems-reference-document. The SRD 5.1 is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License available at https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode.

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