D&D 5E How often do you use the versatile property?

[Leatherhead]

My barbarian had a magic Battle Axe that he used for situations when he needed the magic damage, right up until he got his magic Greatsword.

Our party monk, on the other hand, constantly uses a quarterstaff, but she should soon outgrow it.

One of our fighters has a longsword, but he never goes into battle without a shield, so it never gets used that way.

 

[spectacle]

Versatile weapons are good for grapplers.

 

[Charles Rampant]

I suppose that we could turn it around, and ask a slightly different question:

"Why would my character want to change how many hands (s)he is using to hold their sword in?"

Style? To cast a spell? To put away a shield and concentrate on damage because they are fighting easy enemies? To use the other hand to cast a spell, make a rude gesture, or open a door?

I would suggest that we don't see it very often, simply because it isn't a particularly interesting thing to do in normal circumstances. As someone noted above, most DMs don't track player hands that closely (for the same reason that they don't track encumbrance, I guess) and that closes down the reasons even more.

 

[Kalshane]

Most longsword or battleaxe users I see have dueling style, so switching to two-handed with the weapon actual lowers your average damage.

So about the only time I see the property used is occasionally with a quarterstaff or spear when the user doesn't have proficiency in a better weapon. Well, the barbarian in my game occaisionally two-hands her magic adamantine warhammer when it's a better choice for the enemy in question than her greatsword, but she'd much prefer if it were a maul instead.

I've house-ruled longswords, battleaxes and war hammers to do 1d12 while used two-handed, but still haven't seen anyone make use of them specifically for the versatility. (I also gave weapons like the greataxe and pick the "deadly" quality, which maximizes their first damage die on a crit, to compensate).