AD&D Weapon Information

First Edition Advanced Dungeons & Dragons™ Character Creation

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AD&D Weapon Information

In selecting weapons, there are many points to be considered. These include at the basics the restrictions of class, along with the amount of damage which is done by the weapon and the weight, size, cost, and availability in the milieu. Also, characters will need a mix of weapon types--edged weapons, blunt weapons, pole arms, thrown weapons, missile weapons, martial arts weapons, and ninja weapons all have their special strengths and weaknesses, and although no character will have weapons of every type, few characters will limit themselves to a single type of weapon. Weapons often have special uses or rules for special situations which should be considered--the lasso, for example, does no damage at all, but is an extremely useful in many situations. Some referees use speed factors, or armor class adjustments, or space requirements, or missile fire rates, and for a game in which such factors are used by the DM, the player should consider them along with everything else. Martial arts weapons and weapons which are martial arts capable gain bonuses when used with martial arts styles, described elsewhere.

The weight, cost, and availability of weapons is covered under Step 20: Buy Equipment, specifically on the Equipment: Weapons page. Other information is on these tables; I regret that it is not complete--one of my books has been damaged beyond reclamation, and I'm piecing together a few torn pages to get information from it. If anyone sends me corrected information, I will add it as I am able. The designation "MJY" indicates a rule or interpretation used at the MyWorld table but not part of the official rules. Ranges are in game inches, listed in the Multiverser format short:medium:long, except as indicated.

Weapon	Type	Damage		Size	Special Information
		S/M	L
Aklys	Thrown/Melee	d6	d4		Range 10 foot (rope to recover) Entangling attack
Atlatl	Missile	d6	d6		Range 3:6:9, fires javelins
Arrow-- Armor Piercer	Missile	d4+1	d4		Bow ranges MJY gives +1 to hit
Arrow-- Frog Crotch	Missile	d6	d3		Bow Ranges Used to cut cords
Arrow-- Humming Bulb	Missile	d2	d2		Bow Ranges Signals up to 1 mile distant d3 as a flaming arrow without signaling
Arrow-- Leafhead	Missile	d8	d6		Bow Ranges MJY penalizes -1 to hit
Arrow-- Standard	Missile	d6	d6		Bow Ranges
Axe, Battle	Melee	d8	d8	4'
Axe, Hand	Melee/Thrown	d6	d4	1.5'	Ranges 1:2:3
Bardiche	Polearm	2d4	3d4	5'
Bec de Corbin	Polearm	d8	d6	6'
Bill-Guisarme	Polearm	2d4	d10	8'
Blowgun/Needle	Missile	1	1	4'-7'	Ranges 1:2:3
Bolt--see Quarrel
Bo Stick	Melee	d6	d4	5'-7'	Martial arts capable In occidental rules, d3 against L
Boku-toh	Melee	d4	d2	3'	Wooden Practice Katana MJY: Proficiency presumed with katana MJY: Specialization distinct from katana
Bow, Long Composite	Bow				Ranges 6:12:21
Bow, Long	Bow				Ranges 7:14:21
Bow, Short Composite	Bow				Ranges 5:10:18
Bow, Short	Bow				Ranges 5:10:15
Caltrop	Special	1	d2		Portable ground spikes MJY: Hard boots protect MJY: Proficiency not required for use
Chain	Melee	d4+1	d4	5'-10'	Martial arts capable Entangling attacks
Chijiriki	Melee	d6	d8	7'-10'	Two-handed Spear or flail attack modes
Chopsticks	Melee	d3	d2	0.5'
Chu-ko-nu	Bow				Ranges 5:10:15 Repeating Crossbow
Club	Melee/Thrown	d6	d3	3'	Ranges 2:4:6
Crossbow, Hand	Bow				Ranges 2:4:6 Drow weapon
Crossbow, Heavy	Bow				Ranges 8:16:24 Fire Rate 1/2
Crossbow, Light	Bow				Ranges 6:12:18
Dagger	Melee/Thrown	d4	d3	1'-1.5'	Ranges 1:2:3
Daikyu	Bow			7'	Ranges 7:14:21
Dart, Blowgun	Missile	d2	1		Ranges 1.5:3:4.5
Dart, Thrown	Thrown	d3	d2		Ranges 1.5:3:4.5
Fang	Martial Arts	d6	d4	3'	Elephant goad
Fauchard	Polearm	d6	d8	8'	Dismount opponent on any hit
Fauchard-Fork	Polearm	d8	d10	8'	Dismount opponent on any hit
Flail, Footman's	Melee	d6+1	2d4	4'
Flail, Horseman's	Melee	d4+1	d4+1	2'
Fork, Military	Polearm	d8	2d4	7'	Dismount opponent on any hit
Garrot	Backstab	d4	d6	3'	Choking attack surprise from behind Stout collar negates Not used in combat
Glaive	Polearm	d6	d10	8'	Double damage set against charge (L)
Glaive-Guisarme	Polearm	2d4	2d6	8'	Dismount opponent on any hit
Grenade	Thrown				Ninja weapons--various effects Ranges 1:1.5:2
Guisarme	Polearm	2d4	d8	6'	Dismount opponent on any hit
Guisarme-Voulge	Polearm	2d4	2d4	7'	Dismount opponent on any hit
Gunsen	Melee	d3	d2	1'	Martial Arts Capable
Halberd	Polearm	d10	2d6	5'	Two-handed axe
Hankyu	Bow				Ranges 5:10:15
Hammer	Melee/Thrown	d4+1	d4	1.5'	Ranges 1:2:3
Hammer, Lucerne	Polearm	2d4	d6	5'	Dismount opponent on any hit
Harpoon	Melee/Thrown	2d4	2d6	6'	Ranges 1:2:3 Entangling attack
Hook Fauchard	Polearm	d4	d4	8'	May dismount or topple opponent
Javelin	Melee/Thrown	d6	d6	3'	Double damage set against charge (L)
Jitte	Martial Arts	d4	d2	1'-1.5'
Jo Stick	Melee	d6	d3	3'	Martial arts capable
Kama	Melee	d6	d4	2'	Ninja weapon
Katana	Melee	d10	d12	3'	MJY: proficiency extends to Bokutoh
Kau Sin Ke	Martial Arts	d8	d6	4'-6'	Whipping chain
Kawanaga	Melee	d3	d2	8'	Ninja weapon Grappling hook Entangling attacks
Kiseru	Melee	d4	d2	2'	Martial arts capable Iron smoking pipe
Knife	Melee/Thrown	d3	d2	1'	Ranges 1:2:3
Kumade	Polearm	d4	d3	6'	Ninja weapon Climbing pole
Kusari-gama	Melee	d6	d4	2'	Ninja weapon Entangling attacks Two-handed weapon
Kyoketsu-shogi	Melee/Thrown	d4	d4	6'	Ninja weapon Entangling attacks Near silent when used Thrown use referenced but not defined
Lajatang	Melee	d10	d10	5'	Martial arts capable
Lance, heavy	Polearm	2d4+1	3d6	14'	Double damage in mounted charge Mounted use only (except Cavalier)
Lance, light	Polearm	d6	d8	10'	Double damage in mounted charge Mounted use only (except Cavalier)
Lance, medium	Polearm	d6+1	2d6	12'	Double damage in mounted charge Mounted use only (except Cavalier)
Lasso	Thrown	0	0	10'-20'	Ranges 1:2:3 Entangling attack May dismount or topple opponent
Mace, footman's	Melee	d6+1	d6	2.5'
Mace, horseman's	Melee	d6	d4	1.5'
Mace, Oriental	Melee	d6+1	d6	3'
Man Catcher	Polearm	d2	d2	8'	Two-handed weapon Tatget must be near man-sized
Metsubishi	Special	0	0		Ninja weapon Pepper blower Range 3'
Morningstar	Melee	2d4	d6+1	4'
Nagimaki	Polearm	d6	d8	5'-8'	Horseman's Naginata
Naginata	Polearm	d8	d10	8'	Glaive
Needle	Special	1	1		Ninja weapon Fired from mouth Concealed in mouth May be fired in bursts
Nekode	Melee	d4	d3	0.5'	Ninja weapon Climbing claws
Ninja-to	Melee	d8	d6	2'	Ninja weapon Scabbard usually has special features
Nunchaku	Martial Arts	d6	d6	2'
Parang	Melee	d8	d8	2'	Heavy machete
Partisan	Polearm	d6	d6+1	7'
Pellet Bow with Bullet	Bow	d4+1	d6+1		Range 6:12:18
Pellet Bow with Stone	Bow	d4	d4		Range 6:12:18
Pick, Footman's Military	Melee	d6+1	2d4	4'
Pick, Horseman's Military	Melee	d4+1	d4	2'
Pike, Awl	Polearm	d6	2d6	18'
Quarrel, Hand	Missile	d3	d2		Hand Crossbow Use Drow weapon
Quarrel, Heavy	Missile	d4+1	d6+1		Heavy Crossbow Use
Quarrel, Light	Missile	d4	d4		Light Crossbow Use Chu-ko-nu Use
Ranseur	Polearm	2d4	2d4		Disarm on hit v. AC8 Double damage set against charge (L)
Sai	Martial Arts	d4	d2	1'-1.5'
Sang Kauw	Martial Arts	d8	d6	3'-5'	May include shield function
Sap	Backstab	d2	d2	0.5'	5% per point Strength of knockout Helmet negates effect
Scimitar	Melee	d8	d8	3'
Shaken	Thrown	d4	d4		Ninja weapon Similar to a shuriken Range 1:2:3
Shakujo yari	Melee/Thrown				Spear concealed in Bo Stick Used in either form Martial arts capable
Shikomi-zue	Melee/Thrown				Ninja weapon Bo Stick changes to Spear May switch forms in combat Martial arts capable
Shuriken, large star	Thrown	d6	d4		Ninja weapon Range 0.5:1:2
Shuriken, small star	Thrown	d4	d4		Ninja weapon Range 0.5:1:2
Shuriken, spike	Thrown	d4	d3		Ninja weapon Range 1
Siangkam	Martial Arts	d4+1	d4	1'	Iron Arrow
Sling with Bullet	Missile	d4+1	d6+1		Range 5:10:20
Sling with Stone	Missile	d4	d4		Range 4:8:16
Sode garami	Polearm	d4	d3	6'	Ninja weapon Sleeve entangler
Spear	Melee/Thrown	d6	d8	5'-10'	Two-handed weapon Double damage set against charge Martial arts capable
Spetum	Polearm	d6+1	2d6	8'	Disarm on hit v. AC8
Spiked Buckler	Melee	d4	d3	1'	Shield function Usually used as off-hand weapon
Staff, quarter	Melee	d6	d6	6'-8'
Staff Sling with Bullet	Missile	2d4	2d4+1	4'	Range 0:6:9 No targets closer than 3
Staff Sling with Stone	Missile	d8	2d4	4'	Range 0:6:9 No targets closer than 3
Sword, Bastard	Melee	2d4	2d8	4.5'	Two-handed weapon May be used one-handed as Long Sword
Sword, Broad	Melee	2d4	d6+1	3.5'
Sword, Falchion	Melee	d6+1	2d4	3.5'	Includes sabre
Sword, Khopesh	Melee	2d4	d6	3.5'	May impede opponent attack May bring down opponent
Sword, Long	Melee	d8	d12	3.5'	Most common sword in occident
Sword, Short	Melee	d6	d8	2'
Sword, Two-handed	Melee	d10	3d6	6'	Two-handed weapon
Tetsu-bishi	Special	d4	d4	2"	Ninja weapon Oriental caltrops MJY: Proficiency not required
Tetsubo	Melee	d8	d8	4'	Martial arts capable Two-handed weapon
Three-piece rod	Martial Arts	d6	d4	6'	Two-handed weapon
Trident	Polearm	d6+1	3d4	4'-8'
Tui-fa/Tonfa	Martial Arts	d6	d4	2'	Millstone handle
Uchi-ne	Melee/Thrown	d4	d4		Short heavy javelin Range 1:2:3 Commonly carried by nobles
Voulge	Polearm	2d4	2d4	8'
Wakizashi	Melee	d8	d8	2'-3'	Small sword Often with matching katana
Whip	Melee	d2	1	8'-20'	Entangling attack

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