In the world of Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition, magical arrows can add an exciting twist to a character's arsenal. These enchanted projectiles offer unique and potent effects that can turn the tide of battle in the player's favor. One type of magical arrow is the Arrow of Slaying. These arrows are tailored to be especially deadly against specific types of creatures, such as dragons or giants. When fired at the intended target, the Arrow of Slaying has an increased chance of causing massive damage, making it an excellent choice for adventurers facing formidable foes. Another magical arrow variant is the Arrow of Dispelling.
\$\begingroup\$ Stop the mouth of an animal from closing. They make great bars for small entries or prison windows. If you tread them like a basket inside of an anti-magical field without breaking them, you have an unbreakable basket. In the same line of thought you can make a wall from this an use it as a shield or plating. IF you can get enough of them. \$\endgroup\$
It seems that ammunition breakage is baked in to ammunition recovery after a fight, and that an unbreakable arrow would improve the recovery rate somehow, but RAW is RAW. Any creatures within 5ft of a line between you and your target including your target, but not yourself must make a DC15 dex saving throw or take 1d8 lightning damage.
Another magical arrow variant is the Arrow of Dispelling. These arrows excel at disrupting magical effects, allowing players to neutralize dangerous spells or enchantments. When shot at a target protected by magical defenses, the Arrow of Dispelling can potentially dispel these protections, leaving the enemy vulnerable to subsequent attacks.
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.
For players who prefer a more supportive role, there are also magical arrows that provide healing properties. These arrows, known as Arrows of Healing, deliver a small burst of healing energy upon striking a friendly target. This can be a beneficial option for ranged characters who want to provide support to their allies from a distance. In addition to these specific types, there are also arrows imbued with elemental powers. These arrows, such as Arrows of Fire or Arrows of Frost, deal additional elemental damage upon hitting their target. This can be particularly useful against enemies with specific elemental weaknesses or when exploiting vulnerabilities in combat. Lastly, there are magical arrows that offer utility and tactical advantages. For example, the Arrow of Silence can be used to silence a spellcaster, preventing them from casting verbal spells. The Arrow of Grappling allows the player to fire an arrow with a grappling hook, enabling them to swing across gaps or climb walls with ease. While magical arrows can be powerful assets, they are often limited in quantity and may come with a higher cost compared to regular ammunition. Careful consideration should be given to their usage, as they can greatly impact the outcome of encounters. In conclusion, magical arrows provide 5th Edition players with unique abilities to customize their characters and engage in exciting battles. From slaying powerful creatures to dispelling enchantments, healing allies, or inflicting elemental damage, these arrows offer a variety of options to enhance a player's effectiveness in combat. By considering the specific needs of their character and the situation at hand, players can make the most of these mystical projectiles and ensure their success on the battlefield..
Reviews for "5e Magical Arrows for Every Situation: A Versatile Guide"
1. Sarah - 2 stars - The "5e magical arrows" were a huge disappointment for me. The concept seemed promising, but the execution fell short. The arrows lacked variety and creativity, and it felt like the same boring effects were repeated over and over again. Additionally, the pricing was outrageous for what you actually got. I expected a lot more for the price I paid. Overall, I would not recommend purchasing these magical arrows as they do not live up to the hype.
2. John - 1 star - I was extremely dissatisfied with the "5e magical arrows". The effects promised were underwhelming and hardly made any difference in combat. I was expecting something game-changing, but instead, it felt like a minor inconvenience to my opponents at best. The arrows didn't live up to their supposed magical properties and were a waste of money. Save your coins and look for better alternatives out there.
3. Emily - 3 stars - I have mixed feelings about the "5e magical arrows". While they did offer some interesting effects, I found that they were not as impactful as I had hoped. The arrows seemed to be more suitable for lower-level encounters and lacked the power needed to make a significant difference in higher-level battles. Additionally, some of the effects felt unbalanced, giving an unfair advantage to certain playstyles. Overall, I think there are better options available for enhancing your archery gameplay in 5e.