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When I’m a player, one of my favorite PC builds is an archer that shoots magic arrows with interesting splash effects (versus just a +2 to attack and damage rolls). When my PC is shooting arrows I want to be more than just Robin Hood, I want to play someone like Hawkeye, Green Arrow or League of Legend’s Ashe (see photo above). The D&D 5th Edition Dungeon Master’s Guide is tops, but I really wish they provided a little more content for magical ammunition for archers who can’t just enchant arrows. I really like the magic ammunition found in D&D 4th edition’s Adventurer’s Vault 2 and there are lots of sources for magic ammo in Pathfinder & older version of D&D too. One of my players was recently asking for magic arrows, so I thought I’d post my magical ammunition conversions/creations for D&D 5th edition.

If you are a little worried about giving an archer a magic weapon you could give out magic arrows instead. They are consumable and you can give just enough for an upcoming tough encounter. I thought about creating stats for arrows of revelation, acid, phasing and others, but for this article I picked the Sleep Arrow and kept the other 3 to be more damage focused. As a DM, you can put any spell on an arrow, you just have to figure out what the damage and/or DC should be.

The D&D 5th Edition Dungeon Master’s Guide has magical ammunition and the Arrow of Slaying, but here are some additional options that might work for you.

 

hawkeye

Firestorm Arrow +1, +2, +3

Uncommon (+1 ), Rare (+2), Very Rare (+3)

This arrow feels warm when touched, is painted red and has red fletching. Its tip is filled with a magical explosive. You get a bonus to attack and damage rolls made by this piece of magic ammunition. The bonus, additional fire damage and any other effects are determined by the rarity of the ammunition. Once fired the arrow is destroyed and can not be recovered.

Uncommon +1 to attack and damage rolls Hit: Additional 1d6 fire damage to creature.
Rare +2 to attack and damage rolls Hit: Additional 2d6 fire damage to creature.
Very Rare +3 to attack and damage rolls Hit: Additional 3d6 fire damage to hit creature and any creatures within 5′ (including allies) that fail a DC 13 Dexterity save take 1d6 fire damage.

Lightning Arrow +1, +2, +3

Uncommon (+1 ), Rare (+2), Very Rare (+3)

This arrow is painted yellow has yellow fletching. You get a bonus to attack and damage rolls made by this piece of magic ammunition. The bonus, lightning damage and any other effects are determined by the rarity of the ammunition. Once fired the arrow is destroyed and can not be recovered.

Uncommon +1 to attack and damage rolls Hit: Additional 1d6 lightning damage to hit creature.
Rare +2 to attack and damage rolls Hit: Additional 2d6 lightning damage to hit creature.
Very Rare +3 to attack and damage rolls Hit: Additional 3d6 lightning damage to hit creature and the creature must make a DC 15 Constitution save or become stunned until the end of its next turn.

Freezing Arrow +1, +2, +3

Uncommon (+1 ), Rare (+2), Very Rare (+3)

This arrow feels cold when touched and covered it frost. It is painted blueish white and has light blue fletching. You get a bonus to attack and damage rolls made by this piece of magic ammunition. The bonus, cold damage and any other effects are determined by the rarity of the ammunition. Once fired the arrow is destroyed and can not be recovered.

Uncommon +1 to attack and damage rolls Hit: Additional 1d6 cold damage to hit creature.
Rare +2 to attack and damage rolls Hit: Additional 2d6 cold damage to hit creature.
Very Rare +3 to attack and damage rolls Hit: Additional 3d6 cold damage to hit creature and the creature must make a DC 15 Constitution save or become petrified (frozen) until the end of its next turn.

Sleep Arrow +1, +2, +3

Uncommon (+1 ), Rare (+2), Very Rare (+3)

This arrow is painted white and has white fletching. You get a bonus to attack and damage rolls made by this piece of magic ammunition determined by its rarity. If the arrow hits a creature it bursts into magical energy and deals only nonlethal damage (equal to the amount of damage rolled). A creature that has fallen asleep is unconscious for 1 minute or until the sleeper takes damage or is slapped/shaken awake. Unconscious, undead or creatures that are immune to being charmed aren’t affected by the sleep magic of this arrow and only take the nonlethal damage. Once fired the arrow is destroyed and can not be recovered.

Uncommon +1 to attack and damage rolls Hit: The creature must make a DC 11 Wisdom save or fall asleep.
Rare +2 to attack and damage rolls Hit: The creature must make a DC 14 Wisdom save or fall asleep.
Very Rare +3 to attack and damage rolls Hit: The creature must make a DC 17 Wisdom save or fall asleep.

 

 

lego-green-arrow

D&D 5th edition doesn’t provide specific prices for magic items, but it does provide ranges for how much to charge for how rare an item is in your world. If you want to know the prices in my world too for reference, I sell the above magic arrows at 30gp each for uncommon and 125gp each for rare. I didn’t even offer the very rare +3 ammunition. For basic +1, +2 and +3 arrows I’d put my prices on the lower end of the ranges found on page 135 of the DMG.

 

Want More?

Skip the ammo and check out the D&D Cartoon Energy Bow

Rambo likes arrows that explode things. I might create some non-magical explosive arrows in the future.

rambo