Weapon Damage
Weapon damage is the amount of harm a weapon deals when an attack hits. The exact die, number of dice, modifiers and damage type depend on the weapon and the rules edition being used, so the weapon’s own entry remains the authority for its final damage line.
See the Weapons hub for weapon categories, tables and related combat equipment. For encumbrance and weapon-size weight instead, use Weapon Weight.
Reading a Weapon Damage Entry
| Element | What it means |
|---|---|
| Damage dice | The dice rolled when the weapon hits. |
| Damage type | The kind of physical or other damage dealt, such as bludgeoning, piercing or slashing. |
| Size changes | Legacy rules may alter a weapon’s damage when the weapon is made for a creature of a different size. |
| Critical rules | Critical hits use the rules of the edition being played rather than creating a separate base damage value. |
Worked Example: One Longsword, Four Editions
A Medium longsword shows why the damage line and the weapon’s properties must be read together. In both 2024 and 2014 fifth-edition rules, its base damage is 1d8 slashing, or 1d10 when used with two hands through the Versatile property. In Pathfinder 1e and D&D 3.5e, the Medium longsword’s base damage remains 1d8 slashing when used with either one or two hands; wielding it in two hands changes the applicable Strength contribution, not the base weapon die.
Older d20 tables also distinguish a longsword made for a Small creature (1d6) from one made for a Large creature (2d6). Do not automatically apply those size-based dice to fifth-edition equipment. Critical damage, magical bonuses and class features use their own edition’s rules.
Check the actual source tables: 2024 SRD, 2014 SRD weapons, Pathfinder 1e equipment and D&D 3.5e weapons. For a specific sword, spear or bow, return to the Weapons directory.
At the Table
Record the damage expression beside the attack bonus so it can be rolled immediately after a successful hit. If an ability, spell, magic weapon or special material adds extra damage, keep that extra damage separate from the weapon’s base damage unless the rule explicitly changes the weapon itself.
When converting equipment between editions, do not assume that the same weapon keeps exactly the same damage die. Use the weapon table for that edition first, then apply character abilities and magic effects.
Legacy Rules
Older d20 rules often present damage in a weapon table alongside cost, critical information, range, weight and damage type. Size-dependent weapon damage is especially important in those editions. Modern rules may handle size and critical hits differently, so use the edition-specific weapon entry rather than carrying legacy assumptions forward.
For the Games Master
Damage is only one part of a weapon’s value. Reach, range, handedness, ammunition, concealability, special properties and the situations in which the weapon can actually be brought to bear may matter just as much in play.
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