D&D 5E Do I get sneak attack if I throw a Rapier or whack someone with my heavy crossbow

[Maxperson]

Well, I disagree. If you throw an improvised weapon, it has a range and is, in fact, thrown. But if that's your logic, no worries.

Also, by your logic, it wouldn't use DEX, either, because it does not have the "ranged" property, either.

Being thrown and having the thrown property are two different things. If they weren't, every weapon would be listed as thrown and have a range.

For an improvised weapon to have the thrown property, it has to be similar enough to a weapon with the thrown property to qualify. Or have a very generous DM.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

I don't see that requirement anywhere. "The attack must use a finesse or a ranged weapon."

Must have dreamt it said "in which you are proficent". Maybe that was a different edition?

 

[jmartkdr2]

For what it's worth - I'd count the heavy crossbow as a greatclub and have it do 1d8 damage if you swing it with both hands.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

For what it's worth - I'd count the heavy crossbow as a greatclub and have it do 1d8 damage if you swing it with both hands.

If you swing it that hard it aint going to work afterwards.

 

[Maxperson]

A handaxe is not a Ranged weapon (see PHB p148: the weapons are clearly categorized as Melee or Ranged weapons). A handaxe has the thrown property and when throwing it the PC would make a ranged attack, but that does not qualify it for sneak attack per RAW.

Seems silly to exclude thrown daggers from getting sneak attack. That's literally one of the classical rogue abilities. It's an arbitrary exclusion. This bow and this dart can use sneak attack, but these equally precise dagger and handaxe can't.

 

[Oofta]

Being thrown and having the thrown property are two different things. If they weren't, every weapon would be listed as thrown and have a range.

For an improvised weapon to have the thrown property, it has to be similar enough to a weapon with the thrown property to qualify. Or have a very generous DM.

Right, but according to the tweet from Crawford the thrown rapier would qualify because it's a finesse weapon. Now, I think that's goofy so we allow any weapon attack. Unless of course you rule that it's being used as an improvised weapon, not a finesse weapon in which case ...

Ah forget it. Ask your DM.

 

[Swarmkeeper]

Seems silly to exclude thrown daggers from getting sneak attack. That's literally one of the classical rogue abilities. It's an arbitrary exclusion. This bow and this dart can use sneak attack, but these equally precise dagger and handaxe can't.

The thrown dagger gets sneak attack because it is a finesse weapon.

 

[Maxperson]

For what it's worth - I'd count the heavy crossbow as a greatclub and have it do 1d8 damage if you swing it with both hands.

I'd keep it at 1d4 since it's not shaped like a club and would be really difficult to swing effectively.

 

[TwoSix]

Or you just decide like I do that it doesn't really matter much and allow people to use whatever weapon they want.

AKA, there is no such thing as a perfect ruleset and for questions like this it's always going to be "ask your DM". Oh, and if you're reduced to clubbing someone with a crossbow, think about buying a real melee weapon at some point.

I don't have it as an official house rule, but I generally let my rogue players know that sneak attack can work with any weapon they find. I don't see it being a balance issue, sneak attack stack poorly with the weapon based bonus damage feats (GWM and SS) anyway. I guess it would benefit a polearm using PAM rogue (especially if they take Sentinel), but that sounds like such a fun build that I don't even mind.

 

[Maxperson]

The thrown dagger gets sneak attack because it is a finesse weapon.

Which leaves us back at such stupidity as a thrown rapier gets sneak attack, but a weapon designed for precise throwing(handaxe) does not. Thankfully, this is a rulings over rules edition.