D&D (2024) Rogues can now Sneak Attack with all thrown weapons - Tridents, Spears, Handaxes, they all work!

[Vaalingrade]

To summarise:

Dagger: uses dexterity because it's a finesse weapon. Can sneak attack.
Dart: uses dexterity because it's a ranged weapon. Can sneak attack.
Javelin, spear, hand axe, trident, any other thrown weapon. Uses strength because it's a melee weapon. Cannot sneak attack.
Bows, slings etc. Use dexterity because they are ranged weapons. Can sneak attack.

This is the same in 2014 and 2024, despite slight changes in the wording.

Ah. So sneak attack rules still conspire to ensure rogues are forced to be cookie cutter and lame with their weapon choices.

Good to know.

 

[James Gasik]

I blame the end of Ladyhawke. After that movie everyone wanted to throw their sword!

It's a staple of fantasy movies- throwing your sword always works!

 

[Mistwell]

No, thrown weapons are not ranged weapons. The distinction is in the table headings.

This is incorrect. It either says Ammunition or Thrown. It does not say Ranged in the table headings.

 

[CreamCloud0]

Ah. So sneak attack rules still conspire to ensure rogues are forced to be cookie cutter and lame with their weapon choices.

Good to know.

we wouldn't want to let someone actually create a competent STRogue getting their sneak attack with a melee thrown weapon.

 

[Mistwell]

Exactly. "Range" (p.214) is a property some weapons have. Specifically, two kinds of weapons have the "range" property: Ranged weapons (which is a binary classification: weapons are either ranged or melee, p.213), and "thrown" weapons (which is a property some but not all melee weapons have, p.214).

By the rules, rogues cannot sneak attack with thrown melee weapons, unless they are also finesse weapons.

Which rule says that?

Sneak Attack says, "the attack uses a Finesse or a Ranged weapon." Clicking on "Ranged" takes you to:

"A Range weapon has a range in parentheses after the Ammunition or Thrown property."

Right now, by the rules, they can sneak attack with a thrown weapon. Now if they change that rule, which they might do, you will be right. But right now, that is the rule.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

This is incorrect. It either says Ammunition or Thrown. It does not say Ranged in the table headings.

The headings in italics in weapons table. First one - simple melee weapons - is directly above the word “club”. 2024 and 2014 are the same.

 

[Mistwell]

The headings in italics in weapons table. First one - simple melee weapons - is directly above the word “club”. 2024 and 2014 are the same.

Ah I see where you're referencing. So you are arguing you cannot sneak attack with a thrown dagger now?

 

[Maxperson]

Hey, John Cleese was throwing swords ten years before Ladyhawke.

"None shall pass!"

Gandalf did it with a staff!

 

[Paul Farquhar]

This is incorrect. It either says Ammunition or Thrown. It does not say Ranged in the table headings.

You are looking in the wrong place. Find the word “club” look directly above. You will see the words “simple melee weapons” in italics. The other three weapon categories are similar.

 

[Mistwell]

This is how WOTC has DNDBeyond programmed for right now. You hover or click on the "Ranged" in sneak attack and it shows: