Like the title says, I was wondering how often the versatile property is used. I don't think it's ever come up at my table and I can't think of a reason to use it regularly. So what sort of character would want to use the versatile property, have any of you played as/with such a character and how did it work out? What am I missing?
D&D 5E How often do you use the versatile property?
- Thread starter SHAFFSTER
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Kid Charlemagne
I am the Very Model of a Modern Moderator
I would imagine that mostly the value of the versatile property comes from different styles of characters being able to make use of the same weapon; if you want to play a sword and shield fighter, you can use a longsword, and if you want something more thematically like a 3e or earlier bastard sword wielder, you still just need a longsword. The same weapon can be used by different kinds of characters.
AaronOfBarbaria
Adventurer
Throughout the campaigns my group has going now, and have planned to come up soon, quite a few characters (a monk, two wizards, two warlocks, and a fighter) utilize the versatile property of a weapon in some way. Only the fighter frequently changes between one-handed and two-handed usage, the rest usually only use the weapon two-handed and are using a versatile weapon rather than a two-handed weapon due to proficiency or size limitations (though one of the wizards is using a longsword rather than a greatsword while proficient with both because she has a magic longsword - she'll likely trade to a greatsword if she finds one that is at least as useful as her current favored sword).
The Grassy Gnoll
Explorer
Druid in my party has shield and quarterstaff. I have to keep reminding him to roll 1H damage unless he wants retrospective damage for not wearing his shield...
The Crimson Binome
Hero
Once, when the paladin was awoken in the middle of the night, and did not want to spend an entire action to equip a shield.
Ganymede81
First Post
I have a Halfling paladin that uses a longsword two-handed as a mini greatsword.
Rhogar_Rarr
First Post
I most often see it on monks using a quarterstaff. Similar to AaronOfBarbaria's experience, I have a character with a magical longsword that uses it two handed because he has the Great Weapon Fighting Style. He certainly could use a bigger, greater sword, but we tend to fight a lot of things with resistance to non-magical weapons. In that case: 1d10+Magic & half str > (2d6)/2 .
Ahh, I hadn't considered monks. I suppose that's the only way for them to deal1d8 at the beginning right?
Sword and board users losing their shield was the main use I had thought of but lots of them have the dueling fighting style so they're better off sticking with it 1-handed.
I love it you don't see those too often and a perfect use for versatile
Sword and board users losing their shield was the main use I had thought of but lots of them have the dueling fighting style so they're better off sticking with it 1-handed.
I love it you don't see those too often and a perfect use for versatile
Makes sense if it's all you've got but what did you mean by half str? Is that a house rule or did I miss something about versatile weapons(away from my books atm)
Tony Vargas
Legend
Come to think of it, except for the odd small character, I haven't made significant use of that property with a PC since 3.5 - it's remained basically the same - use the weapon one- or two-handed, with slightly more damage two-handed, but as you say it isn't coming up.
In 5e, maybe it's that there isn't a particular feat or style that lends itself to choosing a versatile weapon & swapping between one- and two-handed use vs just using it one-handed or going with a two-handed weapon.
Yeah, seems like most replies are about using it one way or the other but not so much switching between. All the options for specializing one or two handed are quite good so you miss out on a lot if you don't use them or have to invest a lot to get the best of both.
Z. H. Darkstar
Explorer
Unless he's using Shillelagh, then his damage die would be 1d8.
Wyckedemus
Explorer
The Greatsword-wielding barbarian in my group liberated an intelligent sun blade (longsword) from a long-lost dungeon, and now uses it two-handed exclusively. Unless he needs his other hand for something, like swinging across a chasm on vines and attacking his opponent mid-way, like some sort of Tarzan-like brachiating joust.
Saeviomagy
Adventurer
I think that the primary reason you don't see it used much is that DMs are easygoing when it comes to administering free hands and the like. Shield wearers can typically open doors, pick things up, cast spells etc.
On the flipside, wielders of 2 handed weapons tend to be allowed to 'carry' their weapon in one hand, even if they've attacked with it this round.
Unless you crack down on both of those scenarios, there's very little use to the versatile property.
On the flipside, wielders of 2 handed weapons tend to be allowed to 'carry' their weapon in one hand, even if they've attacked with it this round.
Unless you crack down on both of those scenarios, there's very little use to the versatile property.
Krakenspire
First Post
My Mountain dwarf bladelock uses a battleaxe one or two handed depending on the situation. He likes to have one had free for casting the odd spell should that be needed. Doesn't come up that often but it's not that much damage lost and adds to the fluff of the character.
Mouseferatu
Hero
It may be someone accidentally carrying over a rule from 3E that doesn't exist in 5E. In 3E, using a weapon two-handed added 1.5 x Str bonus rather than just Str bonus to damage.
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