D&D 5E Nonmagical arrows and magic bows

[seebs]

I don't see anything either way on whether an arrow fired from a magic bow counts as a "magic weapon" for purposes of resistances or immunities.

 

[Mouseferatu]

The fact that there don't seem to be any official examples of +x ranged weapons also strikes me as a huge warning sign. (I'm still looking around for an example of such--if anyone knows of one, please point it out!)

"Some magic weapons specify the type of weapon they are in their descriptions, such as a longsword or longbow. If a magic weapon doesn’t specify its weapon type, you may choose the type or determine it randomly." DMG p 140, emphasis mine.

The fact that longbow is one of the examples given, and that many magic weapons do allow you to choose, says to me that even if there's no specific example, it doesn't matter. The intent is clearly to allow magic ranged weapons, as they literally just said so.

 

[Antz7766]

I think by this point we've proven that A) bows with +N property exists and B) bows with +N stacks with ammo with +N.

However, the original question by the OP have not been answered, which is whether or not shooting a non-magical arrow from a magical bow makes the strike "magical".

I would rule that yes, it does, otherwise the hit from the arrow wouldn't receive the +n bonus from the bow. When the non-magical arrow is fired, the magic from the bow temporary imbues it.

"As you draw your string back and prepare to fire, sparkles of light forms around the bow and moves into the arrow, empowering it"

 

[dd.stevenson]

"Some magic weapons specify the type of weapon they are in their descriptions, such as a longsword or longbow. If a magic weapon doesn’t specify its weapon type, you may choose the type or determine it randomly." DMG p 140, emphasis mine.

The fact that longbow is one of the examples given, and that many magic weapons do allow you to choose, says to me that even if there's no specific example, it doesn't matter. The intent is clearly to allow magic ranged weapons, as they literally just said so.

Sorry; you misunderstood me. I'm not questioning the existence of magical bows--that would be weird.

I'm trying to figure out how to build balanced bows in light of the concerns about ammo stacking and the dearth of +X ranged weapon examples in the DMG.

According to Jeremy on twitter (sage advice link) the bonuses from magical ammo and magical bow do stack. He also explains that magic ammunition should be found/crafted one at a time (which would make hoarding lots of them quite hard).

HotDQ - magic longbow, +1. Chapter 4

Thanks a bunch guys. This gives me something to go on. The idea of heavily restricting magical ammo is a little off-theme for what lots of people may expect from D&D, but I can't say as I have a problem with it.

 

[Leatherhead]

Stacking ammo and bow on top of the sharpshooter feat is one of my key concerns

Well, Sharpshooter is a feat, and feats are optional rules to begin with. To me, this is a clear example of RAW needing to be altered when you introduce options.

 

[Athinar]

I would say the Magic Arrows come in a group of 10 arrows like the Silver Arrows in the Players Handbook page 148, 100 gp for 10, but for Magic Arrows would be 500 for 10 arrows and they break with a hit or are no longer magical
But if they come in a 1 each, then they don't break, and all come in Black

DMG page 150; Once it hits a target, the ammunition is no longer magical, 10 magic arrows can be made at a time, or from DMG Page 184, Oil of Sharpness, Up to 5 pieces of slashing or piercing ammunition can be coated

Arrow of Slaying - one can be made at coast

DMG Page 285, Max Bonus is +4

 

[aramis erak]

I think by this point we've proven that A) bows with +N property exists and B) bows with +N stacks with ammo with +N.

Only A is proven. B has not yet been.

 

[Athinar]

but B can not be rule out

 

[Athinar]

Magic Bows do not make non-magical Arrows magical, it would have been written that way like in older version of D&D

 

[steeldragons]

Then what the hell is a magical bow for?! If not to grant its arrows its magical bonus?

What, you're supposed to club enemies with your +N bow?

Honestly.