Melee Weapons, Part I

Martial Melee Weapons, Part I
Item	Cost	Damage	Weight	Properties
Aklys	2 gp	1d4 bludgeoning	2 lb.	Light, special, thrown (10/15)
Ankus (elephant goad)	6 gp	1d6 piercing	3 lb.	Light, tripping
Battleaxe	10 gp	1d8 slashing	4 lb.	Versatile (1d10)
Bhuj	25 gp	1d8 slashing	4 lb.	Alternate (P), versatile (1d10)
Blade, hidden	20 gp	1d3 piercing	—	Special
Clawed gauntlet	6 gp	1d4 slashing	2 lb.	Deadly, finesse, light
Dagger, parrying	6 gp	1d4 piercing	2 lb.	Defensive, finesse, light
Dueling shield	12 gp	1d6 piercing	12 lb.	Special, two-handed
Flail	10 gp	1d8 bludgeoning	2 lb.	—
Flail staff	12 gp	1d8 bludgeoning	4 lb.	Reach, two-handed
Flail, twin	16 gp	2d4 bludgeoning	3 lb.	Heavy, tripping
Greataxe	30 gp	1d12 slashing	7 lb.	Heavy, two-handed
Hammer, great	25 gp	1d12 bludgeoning	7 lb.	Heavy, two-handed
Harpoon	6 gp	1d6 piercing	2 lb.	Special, thrown (30/60)
Kpinga (mambele)	3 gp	1d4+1 slashing	2 lb.	Alternate (P), light, thrown (20/40)
Kukri	5 gp	1d4+1 slashing	1 lb.	High-critical, light

Aklys. A long leather thong is attached to one end of this weighted club. Its other end is tied to the wielder’s wrist. The club end can be used in melee but is also weighted for throwing.
It takes an action to attach the thong to the wrist. Once attached, this weapon cannot be disarmed. If thrown with the thong attached, the wielder may use an action or bonus action to pull back the thong, bringing the club back into the hand.
Ankus. A long handle with a pointed end and a short perpendicular hook. This weapon evolved from a tool used to guide large creatures like elephants.
Battleaxe. A medium-hafted weapon designed for chopping. It sports a single rounded blade mounted at one end, perpendicular to the handle.
Bhuj. Sometimes called an “axe-knife,” this weapon has a single-sided blade shaped like a large chopping knife, attached to a long handle. Traditional versions are built with a hidden blade in the butt of the handle, a dagger that can be drawn in emergencies.
Blade, Hidden. This small, spring-loaded blade can be hidden in various objects. It is often hidden in stiff articles of clothing, like a leather bracer or the sole of a boot, but it can also be hidden at the end of a staff, at the bottom of a shield, or inside various innocuous tools.
A hidden blade can be drawn (or revealed by a spring-loaded mechanism) as an action or a bonus action. This typically requires some complex adjustment of the item in order to reveal the blade. Some versions remain attached to the objects they were concealed in; others are drawn free like a knife.
One classic example of a hidden blade is called a “toe spike.” This blade is concealed in the sole of a boot and “drawn” by pressing the heal sideways into the ground, causing the blade to appear, projecting from the toe of the boot.
A hidden blade is an improvised weapon that closely resembles a small dagger. It inflicts 1d4 piercing damage in combat. The DM decides if a weapon proficiency bonus applies, depending on where the blade is attached; at the end of a pole, the weapon might closely resemble a spear, a version that projects from a bracer might resemble a punching dagger, and a version that draws clear might be a normal dagger.
Clawed Gauntlet. Long, bladed claws extend from the fingers of this gauntlet.
Dagger, Parrying. This category of daggers is typically used in the offhand. It incorporates a wider guard, sometimes with a basket hilt or a pair of long prongs angling away from the main blade.
Dueling Shield. Rarely seen in war, this tall shield is used primarily for dramatic ritual contests. It has dangerous spikes at either end and is wielded with both hands using the long, vertical post on the back side.
While wielding the dueling shield with two hands, you are considered to have a shield equipped, gaining a +2 bonus to Armor Class and any other benefits you might derive from a shield.
Flail. A short chain with a handle attached to one end and a small (usually-spiked) weight at the other end.
Flail Staff. A flail-headed chain attached to the end of a short staff.
Flail, Twin. This version of the flail uses two weighted chains instead of a single chain.
Greataxe. A greataxe is a large, long-hafted weapon with an enormous double-bladed axe head. This weapon is so large that it requires two hands to wield.
Hammer, Great. A great hammer is a large, long-hafted weapon with an enormous double-sided hammer head. This weapon is so large that it requires two hands to wield.
Harpoon. A harpoon is a thrown weapon designed to impale its target. A trailing rope restricts the target’s movement after the weapon binds in the target’s flesh.
Despite its standard range increments, a harpoon cannot be used to attack a creature that is farther away than the length of its attached rope. These special rules apply only if the harpoon is attached to such a trailing rope; otherwise treat the weapon in all ways as a javelin.
A harpoon attack that inflicts at least 5 damage binds the target. A harpooned creature is restrained except that it can still move its normal speed, provided it goes no further away from the attacker. This range can be shortened over time if the other end of the rope is attached to a winch.
A harpooned creature can use its action to make a Strength check to free itself from the weapon. The DC is 10, or the damage inflicted by the harpoon attack, whichever is higher. A creature with an Intelligence of 7 or higher automatically succeeds at this check, understanding innately how to manipulate the weapon to free itself.
Alternately, the creature can attempt to pull free, dragging the weapon and rope with it. If you control the other end of the rope, this is an opposed check of Strength (Athletics). If the creature is two or more sizes larger than you, this check succeeds automatically. If the rope is tied to an object, the creature must instead try to burst the rope or drag the attached object.
Kpinga. A one-handed multi-bladed weapon used like a knife or axe and balanced for throwing.
Kukri. This large dagger has a heavy blade, curved slightly toward its cutting edge. The weapon is designed for chopping.

Item type

Weapon, Melee