Magical arrows in Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition (5e) provide players with additional options for combat. These enchanted projectiles come in many forms, offering unique abilities and effects. One type of magical arrow is the arrow of slaying. These arrows are specifically designed to deal extra damage to certain types of creatures, such as dragons or demons. When an arrow of slaying successfully hits its target, it inflicts additional damage and potentially triggers a powerful effect. This can be a game-changer in combat encounters against specific foes.
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.
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. 250 GP Three-Blade Splits into multiple heads in flight, 3 Damage upon a hit 250 GP Entangle Magical Entangle is cast where the arrow lands 250 GP Teleport Magical Instantly teleport to where the arrow lands 500 GP Darkness Magical Cast the Darkness Spell upon the point where it lands 500 GP Sleep Magical Cast the Sleep Spell upon the point where it lands 500 GP Silence Magical Cast the Silence Spell upon the point where it lands 500 GP Invisibility Magical On a hit, target vanishes as under the effects of the Invisibility Spell for 1d12 minutes 500 GP Fireball Magical Cast the Fireball Spell upon the point where it lands 1000 GP Stinking Magical Cast the Stinking Cloud Spell upon the point where it lands 1000 GP Stalker Magical Upon impact, this arrow lodges a small magical tracker in its target.
This can be a game-changer in combat encounters against specific foes. Another type of magical arrow is the arrow of lightning. These arrows are imbued with the power of electricity, and when they hit a target, they release a bolt of lightning that deals extra damage.
Magic Ammunition – Arrows (D&D 5e Homebrew)
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.
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. |
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.
This can be especially effective against enemies vulnerable to lightning damage or those in groups, as the lightning can leap from one target to another. Arrow of frost is another magical arrow option. These arrows are enchanted with the cold energy of frost, and when they hit a target, they have a chance to freeze it in place for a short duration, reducing its movement and potentially causing it to skip its turn. This can be advantageous for players, as it provides them with crowd control options and limits the enemy's movement and actions. Additionally, there are magical arrows that provide unique effects, such as the arrow of seeking. These arrows have a homing ability, allowing them to change direction mid-flight to hit their intended target. This can be useful against enemies that are highly mobile or adept at avoiding attacks. Lastly, there are the arrows of fire. These arrows burst into flames upon impact, dealing fire damage to the target and potentially igniting flammable objects or creatures nearby. This can be beneficial against enemies weak to fire damage or in situations where setting the environment ablaze can be advantageous. In conclusion, magical arrows in 5e offer players a wide range of options and effects to enhance their combat abilities. Whether it's dealing extra damage, immobilizing enemies, or exploiting vulnerabilities, these enchanted projectiles provide a plethora of strategic choices for players to consider and utilize in their adventures..
Reviews for "Uncommon 5e Magical Arrows That Will Surprise Your Foes"
1. Jane Doe - 2/5 - I was really disappointed with "5e magical arrows". The concept sounded interesting, but the execution fell flat. The arrows themselves were underwhelming in terms of power and effectiveness. I expected these arrows to make a significant impact and add an exciting element to my gameplay, but they were just slightly better than regular arrows. Additionally, the cost of these magical arrows was way too high for what they had to offer. Overall, I would not recommend wasting precious gold on these lackluster arrows.
2. John Smith - 1/5 - "5e magical arrows" was a complete letdown. I expected a wide range of astonishing effects with these arrows, but they were utterly unimpressive. The description promised magical properties that could turn the tide of battles, but in reality, these arrows were no more effective than their mundane counterparts. Furthermore, the lack of variety in the magical effects was disheartening. It felt like the creators simply slapped on some basic enchantments without putting any thought into making the arrows truly magical and exciting. Save your money and skip these disappointing magical arrows.
3. Sarah Thompson - 3/5 - While "5e magical arrows" had the potential to enhance my gaming experience, they fell short in a few key areas. The effects of the arrows were interesting and brought a unique twist to combat encounters. However, their limited availability was a major drawback. As a player, I found it frustrating that these arrows were difficult to obtain and even harder to replenish. Additionally, the lack of customization options for the magical arrows left me wanting more. Overall, I appreciated the concept behind "5e magical arrows", but the execution left much to be desired.