![]() ![]() Sage Advice makes this distinction between firing and the loading aspect of the attack action explicit:Ī hand crossbow is a one-handed weapon, so it can, indeed, be used for both attacks, assuming you have a hand free to load the hand crossbow between the two attacks. When you use the Attack action and attack with a one-handed weapon, you can use a bonus action to attack with a loaded hand crossbow you are holding.īecause the description does not say "you may drop or sheath your one-handed weapon, you can use a bonus action to attack with a loaded hand crossbow you are holding," and because it says "holding", the necessary implication is that you are making the crossbow attack with a single hand. For example, see the text of the crossbow expert feat in the Player's Handbook : The exceptions to look out for are getting significantly more attacks (Fighter Action Surge, Fighter Extra Attack, Haste, etc.), extremely hard to hit enemies (I'm not going to do the math to figure out exactly what die roll you need, but high), and finding a magic Heavy Crossbow.Īdditional Notes: BBeast, rightly, points out that if your opponent is outside of the Hand Crossbow's maximum range (120), but within the Heavy Crossbow's maximum range (400), then the Heavy Crossbow wins by default.The Player's Handbook description of the light weapon property beginsĪ light weapon is small and easy to handle, making it ideal for use when fighting with two weapons.Ī loaded hand crossbow does not need two hands to fire. ![]() All together nowĪlmost always, for most characters, the Hand Crossbow is going to be better if you have Crossbow Master and Sharpshooter. If something is limiting your ability to take your bonus action (slow, needing it for something else, etc), then that makes the Heavy Crossbow strictly better. Finding a special Hand/Heavy CrossbowĪ +3 Heavy Crossbow of Awesomeness is almost always going to be worth using over most mundane Hand Crossbows. are all going to have a similar effect, wherein more attacks is better. Magic ammunition, a vulnerable enemy, Elemental weapon, etc. This is equally true of anything that's going to bump your damage. Increasing your Dexterity to 18 or 20 (or beyond) are going to lean this towards the hand crossbow by the increase of the modifier (+1 modifier makes it +1 damage better, etc.). also lean towards Heavy Crossbow Factoring in higher Ability Scores (and damage increases) And after you fired with crossbow (1), you stow it, freeing a hand so that you can take the shot with crossbow (2). A hand crossbow is a one-handed weapon, so it can, indeed, be used for both attacks, assuming you have a hand free to load. This has even been clarified officially by WoTC in Sage Advice. Before firing the last shot just draw the other hand crossbow (2). The Crossbow Expert feat does allow one to attack with one hand crossbow twice (Thanks Carcer) since you only need to make an attack with a one-handed weapon. When fighters get Extra Attack (2), expected sharpshooter damage goes up to about 55.5 (Heavy) and 66 (Hand), but expected non-sharpshooter damage to 25.5 (Heavy) and 26 (Hand)Īnd Extra Attack (3) brings us up to sharpshooter 74 (Heavy) and 82.5 (Hand), with non-sharpshooter damage at 34 (Heavy) and 32.5 (Hand).Īdditionally, things like Action Surge, Haste, etc. You would start your turn with one crossbow (1) in hand and a free hand so that you can fire all the attacks you have and reload. Keep in mind that the half-orc trait, brutal critical, and Savage Attacker only trigger on melee attacks. This is especially true for Champion Fighter's expanded critical range. Expected critical damage is 28 (Heavy) and 26.5 (Hand), if you're not using the sharpshooter bonus (48 heavy and 56.5 hand, with the bonus). If you need a high roll to hit, then it's likely that many of your hits are going to be critical hits. Hits are more or less likely to be critical hits, depending on how likely it is for you to hit in the first place. It's still in favor of hand crossbow, but when combined with the points below, it might tip the scale. If you're not using the "bonus" from the Sharpshooter feat, that brings you down to 17 damage (Heavy) vs 19.5 damage (hand). ![]() However, there are some things that skew this one way or the other. Hand Crossbow is going to be better in that scenario.Ĥ9.5 damage for three hits is just better than 37 damage for two hits. ![]() Assuming that you're level five, you have Extra Attack (1), those two feats (and you're using the sharpshooter bonus), and a Dexterity of 16. You've kind of answered your own question. See "All Together Now" at the bottom for the summary. ![]()
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