D&D 5E Have you ever seen these weapons used regularly by PC's in a D&D 5e game?

[James Gasik]

Looking at the 5e weapon list, there are some weapons that either don't seem to have much purpose, or are unusual. I'm curious if these are used more than I think.

I made an exception for clubs and greatclubs because of shillelagh users, however.

 

[Maxperson]

I've seen greataxe and scimitar.

 

[James Gasik]

I've seen greataxe and scimitar.

I guess I should have expected greataxe to be used, even if the greatsword is strictly better. People love axes. Scimitars though? That's a pretty narrow niche "I need a finesse, light, slashing weapon"!

 

[Snarf Zagyg]

I guess I should have expected greataxe to be used, even if the greatsword is strictly better. People love axes. Scimitars though? That's a pretty narrow niche "I need a finesse, light, slashing weapon"!

well, I’ve seen enough great axes and scimitars and tridents that they aren’t unusual.

Nets and whips I’ve seen, but are far more niche.

I’ve seen the occasional blowgun and halberd. Lance for a cavalier.

….the rest I’m drawing a blank on in 5e play.

 

[Maxperson]

I guess I should have expected greataxe to be used, even if the greatsword is strictly better. People love axes. Scimitars though? That's a pretty narrow niche "I need a finesse, light, slashing weapon"!

You'd be surprised. A lot of people like Sinbad and the Arabian Nights. Scimitars have some popularity. And then there's the Drizzt crowd.

 

[Aurel Guthrie]

I personally used a whip as a paladin. It worked out pretty well since most of the damage came from my smites anyways, but I also wasn't trying to be optimal.

 

[Charlaquin]

I guess I should have expected greataxe to be used, even if the greatsword is strictly better. People love axes. Scimitars though? That's a pretty narrow niche "I need a finesse, light, slashing weapon"!

Greatsword is not strictly better. It has lower average damage, but it’s more likely to roll results above (or below) the average, which can be desirable. If nothing else, Greataxes are better for half-orcs since Savage Attacks only re-rolls one of the weapon’s damage dice.

 

[Charlaquin]

You'd be surprised. A lot of people like Sinbad and the Arabian Nights. Scimitars have some popularity. And then there's the Drizzt crowd.

Scimitar is basically a shortsword with different aesthetics. The price difference basically doesn’t matter, and the weight difference will only matter in rare cases.

 

[James Gasik]

Greatsword is not strictly better. It has lower average damage, but it’s more likely to roll results above (or below) the average, which can be desirable. If nothing else, Greataxes are better for half-orcs since Savage Attacks only re-rolls one of the weapon’s damage dice.

Huh? The average damage of 2d6 is 7, while 1d12 is 6.5?

 

[Charlaquin]

Huh? The average damage of 2d6 is 7, while 1d12 is 6.5?

Yes, and the first sentence of the post you just quoted was that the average damage (of a greataxe) is lower (than that of a greatsword). But I can see how that was unclear from my phrasing. Point is, average damage is only one part of the story. There are reasons one might prefer the flatter distribution of 1d12 over the slightly higher average of 2d6.