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

[ECMO3]

2. It's a hyperlink shortcut error that should instead refer back to Melee or Ranged in the Weapon details section and not the Range Property.

Which would still "classify" an Axe or Spear or Javelin thrown to attack a target at "a greater distance" than 5 feet as a Ranged Weapon.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

The part you are quoting is specific to the use, and you left out wording:

"A weapon is classified as either Melee or Ranged. A Melee weapon is used to attack a target within 5 feet, whereas a Ranged weapon is used to attack at a greater distance."

So yes under this definition on page 213, which you qouted a Spear thrown beyond 5 feet is "classified" as a "Ranged Weapon" according to the very text YOU quoted. The same spear used to attack someone within 5 feet is a melee weapon.

So you can sneak attack with a helberd or a pike. Becuase they are obviously ranged weapons by that "definition".
Again I think those wordings are not great.

 

[ECMO3]

Evidence is in PHB, Sage Advice and Tweets from the Dev. This question has been addressed multiple time since 5E launched.

And not once since 2024 changed the definition to wording that now specifically includes all thrown weapons.

 

[Plaguescarred]

A spear is never a ranged weapon regardless of how you attack with it.

 

[ECMO3]

... So you just keep ignoring the rules...

And you won't provide any rules that support your position.

I don't just have one section of the PHB, thanks to Planescarred, I now have two different areas of the PHB stating that a thrown weapon is a Ranged weapon and still no verbiage that says it is not.

 

[Mistwell]

They can't be both. So what are you suggesting, exactly? That handaxes and spears, which have the Thrown and Range (20/60) properties, are Ranged and not Melee? Does that satisfy you, as a D&D rule? Does it Make Sense? Does it seem Intended? And is it really Written?

It can be both, based on how the weapon is being used. See for example the Improvised Weapon definition.

But really, the issue is whether Sneak Attack is asking for a weapon Classification, or a weapon Property. It's unclear. The text just says "the attack uses a Finesse or a Ranged weapon". It doesn't say weapon Classification ("A weapon is classified as either Melee or Ranged"), nor does it say weapon Property ("A Range weapon has a range in parentheses after the Ammunition or Thrown property").

There is a reasonable argument for either interpretation. The only thing I question at this point is why people are so confident of their answer. It doesn't look clear cut anymore to me.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

And you won't provide any rules that support your position.

Table. List.

I don't just have one section of the PHB, thanks to Planescarred, I now have two different areas of the PHB stating that a thrown weapon is a Ranged weapon and still no verbiage that says it is not.

If that is the hill you want to die on...

I think everyone has now plenty info that you are wrong and dndbeyond is not reliable. So eveyone can decide.

I back out. Becuase discussing with you makes no sense.

 

[ECMO3]

A spear is never a ranged weapon regardless of how you attack with it.

That is not what the rules YOU quoted say. I will put them here again for you:

Melee or Ranged. A weapon is classified as either Melee or Ranged. A Melee weapon is used to attack a target within 5 feet, whereas a Ranged weapon is used to attack at a greater distance.

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

A spear used to attack someone at a greater distance than 5 feet is a Ranged Weapon according to BOTH of these rules. Further these rules are complimentary. Every simple and martial weapon that would be a Ranged Weapon under the 1st definition would also be a Ranged Weapon under the second.

 

[ECMO3]

Table. List.

I am asking for something that says thrown weapons are not ranged weapons or alternatively a definition of what a Ranged weapon is. I am not asking for a list of weapons. That is useless.

Please let me know when you find this.

If that is the hill you want to die on...

The actual words written in the PHB? Yes that is the hill I am dying on when discussing what is and is not RAW.

I am not going on intent or what was written in 5E or what must be an error just because I don't like it.

I think everyone has now plenty info that you are wrong and dndbeyond is not reliable. So eveyone can decide.

Except no one has provided a single bit of wording contrary to my position. Not one.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

It can be both, based on how the weapon is being used. See for example the Improvised Weapon definition.

But really, the issue is whether Sneak Attack is asking for a weapon Classification, or a weapon Property. It's unclear. The text just says "the attack uses a Finesse or a Ranged weapon". It doesn't say weapon Classification ("A weapon is classified as either Melee or Ranged"), nor does it say weapon Property ("A Range weapon has a range in parentheses after the Ammunition or Thrown property").

There is a reasonable argument for either interpretation. The only thing I question at this point is why people are so confident of their answer.

Because range and ranged are differe t words.

It doesn't look clear cut anymore to me.

Yes. I agree, because the words are confusingly similar. And the section that describes (not defines) melee and ranged weapons is messed up if you take this as a definition.