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The 2024 Player's Handbook has dropped, and with it comes a slew of new updates, changes, and additions to everyone’s favorite tabletop RPG. One of the most exciting and highly-anticipated updates is the new weapon mastery system.

This fresh addition to D&D gives martial characters more tactical options in combat without relying on spellcasting. But what does Weapons Mastery bring to the table – and how can it potentially change the way we play?

What is Weapon Mastery?

Weapon Mastery is a new system that grants special properties to certain weapons when wielded by characters of specific classes. These properties add unique effects to your attacks, allowing for more dynamic and strategic combat encounters.

Who Gets Weapon Mastery?

The following classes gain access to Weapon Mastery:

  • Barbarian
  • Fighter
  • Paladin
  • Ranger
  • Rogue

Don't worry if your favorite class isn't on this list! You can still get in on the action by taking the Weapon Master feat.

Mastery Properties

The real magic behind Weapon Mastery lies in the properties within. Let's break down each of the Weapon Mastery properties and see how they can change up your battles:

1. Cleave

Weapons: Greataxe, Halberd

Cleave allows you to make an additional attack against a second target adjacent to your first. It's like getting a two-for-one special on your attacks! This property shines in crowd control situations, letting you carve through groups of enemies like a hot knife through butter.

2. Graze

Weapons: Glaive, Greatsword

Never let a missed attack go to waste again! Graze lets you deal some damage even when you miss, adding a bit of your ability modifier to soften the blow of a bad roll. It's perfect for those of us who seem to be cursed by the dice gods.

3. Nick

Weapons: Dagger, Light Hammer, Sickle, Scimitar

Two-weapon fighters, rejoice! Nick weapons allow you to make an additional attack during your Attack action when wielded in your off-hand. This frees up your Bonus Action for other shenanigans while still getting that extra attack goodness. Pair this with the Dual Wielder feat for even more off-hand attack potential!

4. Push

Weapons: Greatclub, Pike, Warhammer, Heavy Crossbow

Who doesn't love a good shove? Push lets you, well, push your target 10 feet away after a successful hit. It's great for battlefield control, breaking grapples, or sending enemies tumbling off cliffs (if you're into that sort of thing).

5. Sap

Weapons: Mace, Spear, Flail, Longsword, Morningstar, War Pick

Sap is all about giving your foes a bad time on their next attack. After you hit, your target has disadvantage on their next attack roll. It's like a mini-Stunning Strike for the non-monk crowd!

6. Slow

Weapons: Club, Javelin, Light Crossbow, Sling, Whip, Longbow, Musket

Want to keep that pesky enemy from closing in or running away? Slow reduces their speed by 10 feet until the start of your next turn – perfect for kiting or maintaining that crucial distance in combat.

7. Topple

Weapons: Quarterstaff, Battleaxe, Lance, Maul, Trident

Nothing says "stay down" quite like Topple. This property forces your target to make a Constitution saving throw or fall prone. It's great for setting up advantage for your melee allies or just making your foes eat dirt.

8. Vex

Weapons: Handaxe, Dart, Shortbow, Rapier, Shortsword, Blowgun, Hand Crossbow, Pistol

Vex is all about focusing fire. When you hit a target with a Vex weapon, you have advantage on your next attack roll against that same target. It's perfect for taking down big, tough enemies or just being really, really annoying to one specific foe.

Mastering the Art of Weapon Switching

One of the coolest aspects of the new Weapon Mastery system is how it interacts with drawing and stowing weapons. In D&D 2024, you can draw or stow one weapon each time you attack as part of the Attack action.

Imagine this scenario: You're a Fighter with Extra Attack. You start by swinging your Slow greatclub, reducing your enemy's speed. 

Then, you stow the club and draw your Push warhammer, knocking the slowed enemy even further away. This allows you to move out of their reach, leaving them frustrated and out of position.

This kind of weapon juggling adds a new layer of strategy to combat, rewarding players who think ahead and plan their actions carefully.

Tips on Choosing the Right Masteries

When selecting your Weapon Mastery options, consider your character's role in the party and your preferred playstyle. The key it to find weapons that complement your abilities and enhance your combat tactics.

If you're a frontline tank, choose masteries that increase your defensive capabilities and allow you to control the battlefield. For example, the Parry mastery allows you to deflect attacks with a shield, while the Cleave mastery lets you hit multiple enemies in one swing.

For ranged characters, look for masteries that improve accuracy and add special effects to your attacks. The Precision mastery gives a bonus to attack rolls, while the Stunning Shot mastery has a chance of stunning enemies with every arrow.

Here are few other fun and creative ideas:

  1. The Crowd Controller: Combine Cleave and Push to manage groups of enemies and control the battlefield.
  2. The Duelist: Use Vex and Nick for a two-weapon fighting style that focuses on taking down single targets efficiently.
  3. The Defender: Mix Sap and Slow to debuff enemies and protect your allies by making it harder for foes to attack effectively.
  4. The Skirmisher: Pair Slow with ranged weapons to keep mobile and avoid enemy retaliation.
  5. The Titan Slayer: Combine Topple and Vex to knock down big enemies and gain advantage on follow-up attacks.

Give Weapon Mastery a Try on Roll20

Ready to put these new Weapon Mastery rules into action? Roll20 has got you covered! Our digital toolset makes it easy to incorporate these exciting new options into your games. Sign up and sign into a game, and you'll be able to access all the features needed to make your weapons even deadlier.

Make sure to check out the Weapon Mastery update and many other great additions to the newest handbook – including three new subclasses and changes to the primary class abilities – all available now on Roll20.