5e Magical Arrows In the 5th edition of Dungeons and Dragons (5e), magical arrows are a powerful tool for players to enhance their ranged attacks and deliver devastating blows to their enemies. These enchanted projectiles come in various forms, each with its own unique effects and abilities. One type of magical arrow commonly found in the game is the elemental arrow. These arrows are imbued with the power of one of the four elements - fire, ice, lightning, or acid. When fired, the arrow releases the energy of its corresponding element upon impact, dealing additional damage and potentially causing status effects such as burning, freezing, stunning, or corroding the target. Another type of magical arrow is the seeking arrow.
NOTE: Any of the arrows listed may be +1, +2, +3 or arrows of slaying, as described in the DMG. These increase their value. Any of the magical arrows may also be silvered (+100gp) or use a head variant (blunt, broad, corkscrew)
Arrow Quantity, default 5x Effect Price Invisible Magical Arrow is invisible to all but the shooter 50 GP Phasing Magical Arrow shifts into the Ethereal Plane after firing, then shifts back 1 foot away from the target before it hits, ignoring cover. 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.
Another type of magical arrow is the seeking arrow. These arrows possess a magical homing ability, allowing them to track and strike a target with greater accuracy. Whether the target is evading, hiding, or simply moving quickly, the seeking arrow adjusts its trajectory to ensure a successful hit.
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.
Players also have access to exploding arrows in the 5e game. These arrows detonate upon impact, creating an area of effect explosion that damages multiple targets within a radius. This makes them particularly useful against groups of enemies or tightly clustered foes. Additionally, players can acquire arrows with enchantments that grant additional buffs or debuffs to their attacks. These can include arrows that lower the target's defenses, arrows that deal multiple hits per shot, arrows that cause extra damage against specific creature types such as undead or fiends, or arrows that provide temporary bonuses to the player's attack rolls or damage output. It's important to note that magical arrows are typically limited in supply and can be expensive to obtain or craft. Most players will need to find these arrows as rare and valuable loot during their adventures or purchase them from specialized magical item vendors. In conclusion, 5e magical arrows offer players a range of exciting options to enhance their ranged attacks and add flair to their combat encounters. Whether it's unleashing the fury of the elements, ensuring a hit on a fast-moving target, causing explosive damage, or applying additional effects to the enemy, these enchanted projectiles are a valuable asset for any archer or ranged combatant..
Reviews for "Arrows of the Ancients: Tapping into Forgotten Powers in 5e"
1. Sarah - 2 stars - I was really excited to try out the "5e magical arrows" supplement, but I ended up feeling disappointed. The arrows were described as being powerful and unique, but I found them to be underwhelming. The effects were not as impactful as I had hoped, and the limited quantity of arrows available made them feel more like novelty items rather than something you could use in a meaningful way during gameplay. Overall, I felt like the supplement was a missed opportunity and didn't add much value to my gaming experience.
2. John - 1 star - I was really not a fan of the "5e magical arrows" supplement. The concept seemed interesting, but the execution was lackluster. The arrows were poorly balanced, often being either too overpowered or completely useless. The lack of variety in the types of magical arrows also left a lot to be desired. Additionally, the supplement lacked clear guidelines on how to incorporate these arrows into the game, making it difficult for the DM and players to effectively utilize them. Overall, I felt like this was a poorly thought out addition to the game that did not enhance the gameplay in any meaningful way.
3. Emily - 2 stars - I had high hopes for the "5e magical arrows" supplement, but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. The descriptions of the arrows made them sound unique and exciting, but in reality, they were rather generic and didn't offer much in terms of gameplay mechanics. The lack of variety and limited effects left me feeling uninspired. Additionally, the price for this supplement felt a bit steep for what it offered. I would have liked to see more creativity and depth in the design of these magical arrows. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this supplement to other players looking for a fresh addition to their game.