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

[Horwath]

Sure, but he's sacrificing a significant + to hit, since it's unlikely that his Int will match his Dex.

this, and also you will compete with you party primary casters for items that raise attack roll(wands) instead of having your own magic crossbow.

20 dex vs 16 int and +3 weapons/wands

+14 attack 1d8+8 +10d6 vs
+12 attack 4d10 + 10d6

47,5 damage vs 57 damage, at that level +2 attack is worth 9,5 damage

 

[Maxperson]

An improvised weapon does not have the thrown property.

It does if it's similar enough to a weapon with the thrown property. A goblin certainly wouldn't be in that category, but some improvised weapons would.

 

[Swarmkeeper]

I don't agree with that. Below is what it takes to qualify for sneak attack.

"Once per turn, you can deal an extra 1d6 damage to one creature you hit with an attack if you have advantage on the attack roll. The attack must use a finesse or a ranged weapon."

And below defines what a ranged weapon is.

"Range. A weapon that can be used to make a ranged attack has a range in parentheses after the ammunition or thrown property. The range lists two numbers. The first is the weapon's normal range in feet, and the second indicates the weapon's long range. When attacking a target beyond normal range, you have disadvantage on the attack roll. You can't attack a target beyond the weapon's long range."

As you can see, the axe is a ranged weapon just by virtue of having the thrown property, so if a Rogue throws the handaxe, by RAW he gets sneak attack. He would not get it if he used the handaxe as a melee weapon, because it does not have finesse.

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.

Sneak Attack clearly states (PHB p96) that the weapon must be a finesse or ranged weapon. It does not say “ranged attack”.

Confusing because WotC is using the same term (“ranged”) for two related but different things here.

 

[DND_Reborn]

Sure, but he's sacrificing a significant + to hit, since it's unlikely that his Int will match his Dex.

Maybe, most of my rogues have high INT, usually just below DEX, so I don't think he is sacrificing much IME.

At that level, an extra 15 damage or so (rough estimate) might or might not be worth the -5 to 10% chance of hitting.

Also, given how low ACs can be even at tier 4, it makes the difference even less significant.

An improvised weapon does not have the thrown property.

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.

 

[DND_Reborn]

this, and also you will compete with you party primary casters for items that raise attack roll(wands) instead of having your own magic crossbow.

20 dex vs 16 int and +3 weapons/wands

+14 attack 1d8+8 +10d6 vs
+12 attack 4d10 + 10d6

47,5 damage vs 57 damage, at that level +2 attack is worth 9,5 damage

I think overall, you are slightly better off with the cantrip (but by less than 1.5 DPR).

The big benefit of continuing to use weapons is the off-hand TWF bonus action attack, allowing you a second chance to land your SA. You don't get that with the AT using a ranged firebolt sneak attack...

 

[Horwath]

I think overall, you are slightly better off with the cantrip (but by less than 1.5 DPR).

The big benefit of continuing to use weapons is the off-hand TWF bonus action attack, allowing you a second chance to land your SA. You don't get that with the AT using a ranged firebolt sneak attack...

I mean you could poach eldritch blast with a feat and that would give you 4 attacks to land. But that is also a big cost to pay.

 

[TwoSix]

Confusing because WotC is using the same term (“ranged”) for two related but different things here.

Fortunately, it's all just natural language so we can just use our common sense and no one will ever have any issues, never ever.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Now I might be wrong here, but are rogues proficent with improvised weapons? Because you can't sneak attack with a weapon you are not proficent in.

 

[Oofta]

Fortunately, it's all just natural language so we can just use our common sense and no one will ever have any issues, never ever.

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.

 

[Oofta]

Now I might be wrong here, but are rogues proficent with improvised weapons? Because you can't sneak attack with a weapon you are not proficent in.

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