Maul vs greatsword 5e Nov 11, 2021 · Philosophy the first: Look, it’s a straightforward optimization question. Brutal. 5 (1d12) slashing Heavy, Two-Handed Greatsword 7 (2d6) slashing Heavy, Two-Handed This is why I think Greatsword is superior to Greataxe: Slightly higher average damage Higher A lot of 5e is based on the past and historically going back a greatsword was 2d6 and a greataxe was 1d12 and they didn't change it for this version. 33 damage i. The greatest. Jun 18, 2024 · The Fighter uses their Maul to knock down their opponent, the Rogue dances around with their Rapier to find their foe’s weak point, and the Barbarian swings a Greataxe through two enemies with a single blow. Greatsword debate, let’s first establish a baseline understanding of each weapon. Maul and greatsword have the same damage. which do you prefer? Do you rather the raw squishing power of a warhammer, the crowd controlling swing of an axe or the reach of a Greatsword? Mostly wondering because I only ever played 2H on Origins and then I used the chasind great maul. Commonly paired with light weapons like daggers or shortswords. ) Here’s a breakdown: Mastery Options: Nick Grants an extra attack as part of the Attack action, freeing up the bonus action. 5 vs. For martial characters of other races the 2d6 weapons have more expected damage per hit, including for crits, and as such are optimal even for crit fishing builds. Dungeons and Dragons (D&D) Fifth Edition (5e) Equipment, Gear, & Items - Maul - Proficiency with a Maul allows you to add your proficiency bonus to the Greatsword vs. Firstly; Mauls do 2d6 damage! Same as a Greatsword, and a little better than a Greataxe. In 5e D&D a greatsword swings with 2d6 for an average of 7 damage. And considering that "weapon's damage die" can actually interact with 2 dice (both GWF and Savage Attacker work with both dice of your greatsword or maul) the use of the term "die" does not necessarily mean it only impacts a single die. In all honesty, if you want to play a Barbarian optimally but don’t feel like using a Greatsword or a Greataxe, the Maul would be your best bet. If you assume 60% chance to hit plus advantage. Not saying that other weapons can not work better or are better over all. We will also touch on the aesthetics and Sep 4, 2024 · Table of Contents Simple vs Marital Weapons Melee vs Ranged Weapons How Weapon Proficiency Works Weapons Properties Weapon Mastery Properties Complete Weapons List Simple vs Martial Weapons In the DnD rules, Simple Weapons are generally weapons that are easier to use, requiring little training or skill to wield effectively. com When making an attack with a finesse weapon, you use your choice of your Strength or Dexterity modifier for the attack and damage rolls. Mar 21, 2021 · My magplar uses a sharpened greatsword, my necro uses a sharpened maul, my DK uses a variation (two swords, or two maces, or one sword and one mace) depending on what I feel like that day. See full list on arcaneeye. low-AC foes. The main benefit of greataxe is for halforcs and lv9+ barbarians, adding additional d12s on crits instead of just a single d6. Sep 8, 2018 · The second extra damage die does a little more. Maybe or the Maul a better choice,. 33 average It just sucks to have been playing DnD for a long time, pick up 5e which does so many things right, but then have your favorite type of character feel completely nerfed and like there is no reason to play it. That advantage is compounded by the great weapon fighting style, allowing Or the 1d10 polearms if going Polearm Mastery. A +1 AC increase is far more meaningful then a +0. Someone told me they preferred the greatsword because he's confident he could figure out a way to smash something that needed to be smashed, but he might not be able to cut through things or cut things off without a blade, if he needs to. . Even a rapier would yield a better crit at extreme high levels than the greatsword. Greatsword works better for the Great Weapon Fighting feat and provides better damage on average (7 versus 6. Morningstar - Sigh. If you have the great weapon fighting style you actually need 4 extra dice (so 3 levels of Brutal critical plus savage attack) to surpass the extra damage a great sword would do as the damage is 8. 33 damage. 16 with GWF. Jan 28, 2017 · So the half orc critical hit ability gives him or her an extra dice of dammage in addition to normal extra dice for a critical. 15dmg per attack without advantage. an increase of 1. This is my first DnD character so maybe I’m completely wrong. 66 damage, so an average of 3. 333 instead of 7 vs 6. This makes the greataxe (2d12/3d12/4d12/5d12) preferable to the greatsword or maul. The maul comes with the Topple weapon mastery property. But with 2D6, the probability is more like a bell curve, with Nov 17, 2020 · What is your preferred 2H martial weapon? A 1D12 like a Greataxe, or a 2D6 like a Greatsword or Maul? Damage roll-wise, with a Greataxe, you have equal chance of rolling any number from 1 to 12. With advantage, the Greatsword and Greataxe perform relatively the same vs. Use it if you are going for the GWF + GWM type of build, or something similar. 5 average damage. Creatures that are Small or Tiny have disadvantage on attack rolls with heavy weapons. That's more than some level 1 quests even offer. A d12 increases by . 5E, the Maul has a new purpose—it has rules that make it actually different from the greatsword (besides just weighing more). "Maul deals way too much damage thanks to the passive compared to swords, even when it (the maul) is faced with a situation where it's supposed to be much less effective (E. Do you still have to use Action Surge to make up the damage difference? How are weapon masteries affecting combat? And I see that the Oct 2, 2020 · 5e Maul Vs Greatsword Grab a weapon and and choose your style because we'll be covering everything you need to know to make the best fighter in 5e dungeons & dragons. Every character in D&D has a unique flare they bring to combat, and that’s reflected in the new Weapon Mastery feature in the Player’s Handbook! Let’s explore these fresh ways to GWF says the "attack's damage die" instead of "weapon's damage die" (as the Savage Attack feat does). Possibly the great weapon master or pole arm master feat later on. 333 vs 7. Longsword and Morningstar are both usable with one hand, so they go better with the sword and board (Dueling or Defense) type of build. Each d6 with GWF adds . I have a difficult time understating why this shouldn't be a cheaper, heavier version of the greataxe. GreatAxe works better for things that let you add a single die to a crit (Half Orc or Barbarian brutal Critical) It's not going to matter all that much to be honest so pick whichever one feels more right. Although, I think it makes more sense to use a two handed with great weapon fighting. If anything, enemies are more likely to attack the Greatsword user because of the lower AC. Nov 17, 2020 · What is your preferred 2H martial weapon? A 1D12 like a Greataxe, or a 2D6 like a Greatsword or Maul? Damage roll-wise, with a Greataxe, you have equal chance of rolling any number from 1 to 12. Nov 20, 2023 · A martial character's choice of weapons can be a major decision point when building your character. Maul is a two-handed weapon. The impact of specific feats and weapon properties can make a big difference in your tactics, so understanding your weapon options can help you make informed decisions. 3. Their criticals are also 11 vs 16. Savage Attacks. Why does Maul never get mentioned? It does 2d6 just like the greatsword but all I ever hear is greatsword. For a standard attack, the Greatsword is better against low-AC foes, while the Greataxe is better against very high-AC foes. Barbarians with mauls look cool. Aug 30, 2023 · Top 7 Best Melee Weapons for Barbarians In DnD 5e Ah, the life of a DnD 5e barbarian! You’re all about the thrill of battle, but even the mightiest warrior needs the right tool for the job. You probably meant using a greatsword or a maul as opposed to a greataxe. The Barbarian has the class feature Brutal Critical that reads: Beginning at 9th level, you can roll one additional weapon damage die when determining the extra damage for a critical hit with a m May 8, 2020 · It seems the greatsword or maul is a better choice even for half orcs unless all the enemies you fight have Shield prepared. Due to a really dumb oversight in the rulings, barbarians can potentially get much better crits with greataxes than greatswords. Jul 21, 2025 · However, in 5. but there was no AOE damage in origins. The best. G. So the average damage of 6. 5. Like, someone who doesn't care for aesthetics and has martial weapon proficiency could grab a greatsword as starter, then sell it at price, then buy a maul for 40 GP profit (In theory). Critical adds about 0. Apr 17, 2025 · The maul has similar stats to the greatsword but has the Topple weapon mastery property instead of Graze. would the weapon damage die be 2d6, or a single d6? The Maul has a single d6 as a weapon die, but it normally rolls two for damage. , a ranger with a greatsword or maul) aren't optimized, I was wondering what anybody's thoughts/experiences were playing them. Nov 22, 2019 · Traditionally, the Greatsword, Maul and Greataxe are considered the strongest two-handed weapons (unless you take the Polearm Master feat, where Glaives and Halberds rock out). I don’t see the point in using a shield since I’m planning to use heavy armour. It’s paramount you understand their basic attributes, damage potential, and unique properties that can influence their utility in different game scenarios. From role play perspective a shield is nice. 83. So, this is a spiked mace. Nov 10, 2023 · Is the Falchion better than say, the Great Sword. Also, nothing is stopping you from carrying multiple weapons. I also prefer throwing hammers to javelins. If you're not using Greatsword or Maul but using any other 2 handed weapon, you're straight up better selecting Blind Fighting or Defense. 5, becomes 7. Like the title says. Greataxe After some recent Barbarian discussion which ushered numerous half-baked efforts at running the numbers on Greatsword vs. Barbarians and Half- Greatsword vs Greataxe | D&D 5e | Dungeons & Dragons 0:00 - Intro 1:26 - Why a Greatsword 2:09 - Why a Greataxe 3:04 - Critical Hits 4:29 - Outro Sep 12, 2021 · Getting to reroll 1s and 2s, GWF would be best with the 2d6, of the standard weapons. Mauls. 5 before, becomes 4. Apr 22, 2018 · There's no reason to deliberately choose low damage weapons, but there are plenty of weapons that might be better than a greataxe sometimes: the two-handed sword deals more damage on average than the greataxe (2d6 is more than 1d12) you might be fighting something that cares about your damage type -- for example, a skeleton is vulnerable to bludgeoning damage, so you should prefer a maul which Oct 31, 2024 · How does the Fighter compare with the Paladin, Ranger, and Barbarian for damage-dealing and general combat? I'm looking at 3rd and 11th levels in particular. These two-handed behemoths deliver devastating blows and testify to a Paladin’s unwavering commitment to righteousness. Greataxe, I decided to make some charts to see which is better. Javelin Cost: 5 SP Damage: 1d6 Oct 23, 2023 · Greatsword: 2d6 damage Greataxe: d12 damage Maul: 2d6 damage This means that the damage range for Greatsword and Maul is 2-12, whereas for Greataxe it is 1-12. hitting someone with low armor)". Jan 1, 2025 · Weapon Masteries (2024 5e) Each weapon may have a specific mastery, granting additional combat options. 16 or roughly 8. We’ve rolled the dice, consulted the rulebooks, and even had a chat with a few battle-hardened adventurers. How do you play that 1d6 extra or 2d6 extra if using a greatsword or maul? Thanks in advance Please leave the " (5e Equipment)" identifier in the page title when creating your new equipment! Aug 9, 2022 · 2 Greatsword or Maul For Paladins who prefer to wield their divine might with sheer force, heavy weapons such as the greatsword or maul are the go-to choices. 25 average DPR per hit increase. Flavor wise it somewhat makes sense as we tend to associate a Great Ax with powerful but less precise swings than a GreatSword. But wait! It’s not slashing- it’s bludgeoning! A less resisted damage type! Plus, skeleton killer! Second: They cost 10gp! Yes, 10gp! A greatsword will run you 50 gold, but the Maul is an easy Jan 22, 2018 · From a purely numerical viewpoint, a greatsword or maul beats a greataxe hands-down unless you have a feature like a barbarian's Brutal Critical that you want to get the most out of. Over the life of a campaign, you’re just straight up dealing more Oct 23, 2023 · The Maul is often described as a blunt Greatsword, so that means it works just as well as the Greatsword, but instead of being a giant sword, it’s a giant hammer. You must use the same modifier for both rolls. g. 6. To be fair if we're comparing a Longsword with Duelist to a Greatsword, we should compare it to a Greatsword with Great Weapon Fighting, which is 6. I’m here to inform you why this is the BEST weapon for all your melee needs. Reply reply phasmantistes • Greatsword or maul when two-handing, longsword and shield when sword-and-board. Also, a heavier, more expensive version of the war pick. What are your thoughts on the greatsword and how it compares to longsword+shield? Share Sort by: Best Open comment sort options Add a Basicly 2d6 (2h sword or Maul) or 1d12 (Greataxe)? I realize there are mobs with resistance vs damage types etc, but from a pure dps potential viewpoint. But that's only a single d6, so with two of them with a greatsword or maul, you get 2 x 4. 4. As it turns out, the Greatsword actually outdamages the Greataxe until Level 17, unless there are other factors at play (Half-Orc, Reckless Attack). If non-Half-Orc, then either Greatsword or Maul if going two-handed, or Pike/Glaive/Halberd if going Reach weapons or basically any 1d8 one-handed weapon if going sword and board, though the Versatile ones are better in that corner case where you can't get your shield on or it's destroyed or something. 5). Meaning that whenever you hit an enemy with it, they have to make a Constitution save equal to 8 + your Proficiency Modifier bonus + the ability you used to make the attack (most likely Strength or Aug 20, 2023 · The Basics of Greataxe and Greatsword Before we delve into the nitty-gritty complexities of the Greataxe vs. Mechanically, 2d6 (greatsword) has a higher damage potential and a consistently better average than 1d10. When you score a critical hit in 5e, you roll all of the damage dice twice, so 2d12 for the battleaxe and 4d6 for the maul and greatsword, then add modifiers. So the damage can swing wildly. Instead, if sticking to how GWF works, it should have scaled too damage die. Just a matter of preference in seeing what works best for me. Finally, with the third tier of Brutal Critical, the Greataxe pulls ahead. Dec 30, 2014 · This question goes out to all those 2H players. Apr 16, 2018 · Greataxe 6. Sep 1, 2017 · Understanding that great weapon rangers (e. A greataxe has that impressive 1d12 damage die, but that’s only 6. Could be. Paladin players what are your Jan 17, 2025 · Paladin characters do get access to spells in a similar way to Clerics, but they also specialize in martial weapons, which include things like greatswords, lances, war hammers, whips, and more. Dec 1, 2024 · In 5E, if you want to hit the absolute hardest with a melee weapon, the options that have the highest damage potential have always been the Maul, Greatsword, and Greataxe (this used to include the Lance, but that was brought closer in line with the other reach weapons in the 2024 update. Jan 30, 2020 · Conquering Maul Weapon (maul), legendary (requires attunement by a paladin) You gain a +3 bonus to attack and damage rolls made with this magic weapon. 8. Over the life of a campaign, you’re just straight up dealing more damage with a greatsword. The 1d4+STR PAM attack probably more than offsets that, but only if you don't have anything else to do with your bonus action. When a creature would become frightened of you and its current hit points are less than half of its maximum hit points, you can make it become charmed instead. e. But with 2D6, the probability is more like a bell curve, with Mar 24, 2022 · Oversized weapons in D&D 5E: The what and how explained fully and concisely. In my experience it works better over all. Jul 17, 2022 · Fighting tanky foes: Use the Greatsword or Maul ⚔️|🔨 There is no arguing with the fact that these weapons do more damage on average over time, and so if you are ground-pounding some BBEG, pull out your Maul or unsheathe your 6 foot sword! You have chosen the Great Weapon Fighting Style: Regardless of foe, use the Greatsword or Maul ⚔ May 26, 2018 · Maul - a cheaper, heavier version of the greatsword. Something that says to add a damage die would add 1d6. Starting equipment is interesting when you start considering item prices. A must-see guide for players interested in using oversized weapons at their tables. We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. Also as per probability the damage roll that has the highest chance to be rolled for Greatsword and Maul is 7, basicly there is a 1 out of 6 times chance. Off the top of my head, I'm assuming I'd want to take the defense fighting style as well as go Hunter archetype. Knocking an opponent prone will feel badass, but the target gets a Constitution save; and if you're clashing head to head with the enemy fighting line, it's likely that they have a good Constitution save. Not a single reason to The obvious use case is if you are trying to optimize critical damage (as greatswords and mauls only get an additional 1d6 on critical hits vs a greataxe getting an additional 1d12) However even in that use case, the increase in average DPR by using a Maul/Greatsword (without PAM) or a Halberd/Glaive (with PAM) will be significantly higher than Thats the thing, the maul dont have sharpered trait! Im comparing a full greatsword with sharpered trait vs a maul without and the difference are are 4 of dmg, and this vs mobs without high armor. Is that hard to understand? you will get a 50% higher damage increase by using a greatsword as opposed to a Greataxe or Maul. For myself I prefer the Great Axe. Someone at WotC hates maces. Sep 30, 2019 · Philosophy the first: Look, it’s a straightforward optimization question. (Weapon Mastery is a feature and not automatic unless your chosen class or subclass states it. kgawks tbz pkhr zfkgx lmli qddlb jasgqul vrgmagx qabaj ike ihew fsl qov ucs qyqo