D&D 5E How do you handle a shield bash?

[Ruin Explorer]

if you John Walker an enemy with your shield

Too soon lol.

I do think it's a bit silly that they're improvised weapons. That's definitely and unarguably RAW. But I feel like there's no way, just no way, a competent combat w/shield proficiency, from a culture that fights w/shields, doesn't get formally trained to shield-bash.

I think as a DM I'd be tempted to rule (and this is clearly not RAW) that shield proficiency means you're proficient with shield bashes, but that you lose the AC bonus if you do it (assuming no Shield Master feat). I can see why they avoided this complication I suppose, you don't really want a situation where everyone with a shield is also dual-wielding as you'd have to re-balance around that.

 

[Oofta]

Allowing a shield to be used as an off-hand weapon if you have two-weapon fighting while retaining shield AC would make sense to me. Helps out the sword-and-board fighter a bit, which it could use. I would still leave it at 1d4 damage, that puts it on par with polearm master.

 

[MGibster]

1d4 bludgeoning, proficient if they are proficient with the shield.

I'm with you on this one because I don't consider a shield to be an improvised weapon. I assume training involving shields includes how to use them offensively.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

if you John Walker an enemy with your shield,

Tyrion Lannister did it first, and with more style.

 

[Disgruntled Hobbit]

Lookin at the rules for Improvised weapons - dndbeyond.com/sources/basic-rules/equipment#ImprovisedWeapons
It says

An object that bears no resemblance to a weapon deals 1d4 damage (the DM assigns a damage type appropriate to the object).

and

Often, an improvised weapon is similar to an actual weapon and can be treated as such. For example, a table leg is akin to a club. At the DM's option, a character proficient with a weapon can use a similar object as if it were that weapon and use his or her proficiency bonus.

A shield feels like it should do more damage. Like a d6. And its designed for fighting. People hit other peeps with shields all the time. So proficiency seems fine.

 

[Sithlord]

I would add plus your ability modifier to damage

Lookin at the rules for Improvised weapons - dndbeyond.com/sources/basic-rules/equipment#ImprovisedWeapons
It says

and

A shield feels like it should do more damage. Like a d6. And its designed for fighting. People hit other peeps with shields all the time. So proficiency seems fine.

Is shield on the list of marital or simple weapons? If not then it is an improvised weapon.

 

[Disgruntled Hobbit]

Is shield on the list of marital or simple weapons? If not then it is an improvised weapon.

Did ya actually read what I wrote?

Yeah, it's an improvised weapon. That's not being debated. But if a table leg which also isn't on the list of martial or simple weapons can be an improvised weapon that allows a warrior to add their proficiency, then why can't a 6 pound slab of reinforced metal strapped to the soldier's arm do the same?

 

[Tales and Chronicles]

I added shields to the Weapon tables myself.
Shield: 1d4 blunt, shieding*
Heavy shield: 1d6 blunt, warding*, heavy, requires 13 str.

*Shielding: +2 AC.
*Warding: +2 AC, can use 1 Attack to gain 3/4 cover against ranged attacks.

In my games dual-wielding doesnt not require a bonus action, so a character could take the dual-wield FS to deal, say, 1d8+Str and 1d4+ str while attacking.

 

[Oofta]

Did ya actually read what I wrote?

Yeah, it's an improvised weapon. That's not being debated. But if a table leg which also isn't on the list of martial or simple weapons can be an improvised weapon that allows a warrior to add their proficiency, then why can't a 6 pound slab of reinforced metal strapped to the soldier's arm do the same?

A table leg is close enough to a club to be considered a club. There's no weapon that is wielded like a shield in the book.

For example, a table leg is akin to a club. At the DM's option, a character proficient with a weapon can use a similar object as if it were that weapon and use his or her proficiency bonus.​

​

 

[jgsugden]

Did ya actually read what I wrote?

One might similarly ask if you read what you quoted.

Yeah, it's an improvised weapon. That's not being debated. But if a table leg which also isn't on the list of martial or simple weapons can be an improvised weapon that allows a warrior to add their proficiency, then why can't a 6 pound slab of reinforced metal strapped to the soldier's arm do the same?

Often, an improvised weapon is similar to an actual weapon and can be treated as such.

What weapon in the PHB is similar to a shield? A shield is strapped to your arm, reducing the momentum you can generate on a swing, as well as limiting the angle you can use it in fighting. There is no weapon in the PHB shaped like it, or used like it - not even remotely.

Further, if there was an intention for it to be used as a weapon, it would be a pretty massive oversight not to list it. It seems pretty clear that the intention was not to allow it to be used as a weapon with proficiency bonus, or do more than d4 damage, without some additional ability.

DMs can rule anything they want, of course, but there is no basis to assume that the shield was intended to be allowed to be used with proficiency, or to deal more damage than any other basic improvised weapon (d4).