Weapon Mastery Secrets | DND 2024 Player's Handbook

[@Oddthebard]

I watched this video multiple times and kept coming back because of how well you organized it.

[@ConstructedChaos]

Haha thanks man! I’m glad you’re finding it useful! To think I had this out and predicted the ability to weapon juggle before I even had a copy of the book 🤪

[@laffingist218]

trying to get this idea started: "bonus masteries" secondary weapon masteries that give mechanical bonuses to social/utility for martials, out of combat reflecting the class fantasy of being a world weary experienced traveled tactile gear-oriented veteran, mercenary, high class student, etc example: "Impressive" your weapon is so gnarly or fancy and you know how to wear it, some kinda bonus to persuasion and/or intimidation "Leverage", you know how to use this weapon to aid movement, bonus to difficult terrain and/or climbing out of combat, what-have-you "Surgical" some kinda of small HP heal out of combat give dedicated martials more relatable tricks outside of fighting cheers ❤ the channel!

[@ConstructedChaos]

I LOVE these ideas! I once made a homebrew magic item to the effect of "impressive" but it was just the hilt of a sword and it only worked when it was sheathed because the blade itself was unimpressive haha.

[@laffingist218]

@ConstructedChaos that's dope I love crunchy esoteric weapon and gear ideas that kinda still emphasize the "weapon-ness" instead of kinda undercutting the vibe by making it feel like any focus or talisman. I love those too tho!

[@ConstructedChaos]

@@laffingist218 Absolutely. Either way, I'm glad we're getting baked in features that can work as a foundation for new and fun martial abilities!

[@kongoaurius]

That's so creative, I love that idea!

[@shixter]

@@ConstructedChaos Are you able to update this video now that the Embargo is lifted? Really liked this preliminary vid!

[@paraschauhan1603]

The power of Vex-Hex-Hunter's Mark when you play with the new rules (Ranger and Warlock get some freebies with their signature spells), is brutal.

[@ConstructedChaos]

Ohhh that's a good point! Someone else mentioned using hex/hunter's mark with cleave as well and I dig it!

[@jonsaucy8440]

Can’t wait to start using these on some of my enemies! Being able to free up some bonus actions for dash or disengage in some instances is going to be fun!!

[@ConstructedChaos]

@@jonsaucy8440 absolutely! Its power lies in its simplicity and the ability to use most these weapon masteries as many times as you have attacks! I can’t wait to see what people do with them!

[@xiongray]

Topple uses the ability modifier for the attack huh. Magic Initiate: Druid's Shillelagh on a Quarterstaff on a Monk with Weapon Master Feat.

[@ConstructedChaos]

That is correct and could afford us some interesting combos with monk weapons. However, unarmed strikes can just as easily be used for shoves now so long as we skip on a little damage to do it. Some monk subclasses even allow us to shove without losing out on damage.

[@Mrryn]

@@ConstructedChaos Or the Tavern Brawler/Grappler feat can make it so the Monk can shove/grapple without skipping out on damage

[@ConstructedChaos]

@@Mrryn I think tavern brawler only offers a shove, correct?

[@Mrryn]

@@ConstructedChaos It does, and only a 5ft shove. But iirc it isn't once per turn and it is an origin feat, so one the monk can have from level 1.

[@ConstructedChaos]

@@Mrryn I actually included it in my recent monk guide! It is only once per turn but it's definitely the best origin feat for monks!

[@altair6491]

While I'm mostly excited for weapon masteries, I have gripes with two of them. 1. Graze - what happens when you apply a poison (like purple worm poison) to say a greatsword? Does a simple scratch apply the poison? If yes, then you can apply the poison on every attack, regardless if you hit or miss. 2. Nick - If you use 2 weapons with the nick property, you get no mechanical advantage. Characters that dual wield scimitars or daggers are weaker than someone using a shortsword and dagger for instance. They've already confirmed that using the nick property doesn't mean you can also use your bonus action for another offhand attack. I think using 2 nick weapons should bypass that restriction.

[@ConstructedChaos]

Ohh these are interesting observations! I feel like the poison would only activate on a hit, sadly (just a guess here). And the you only need one nick weapon to get the benefit of freeing up your bonus action so it's basically a free extra chance to hit for sneak attack, smite, or something like it. I think it's worth it!

[@XanderHarris1023]

In one of the interviews Todd Kendric asked if you could throw three daggers and JC said yes with no pushback. Sometimes they do mis remember their own rules though. The mastery I have an issue with it, and it is entirely pacing issue, is topple. A saving throw every attack is going to get tedious. Using some like their Con score instead of rolling might help but that means some monsters are always going down and some are always standing but maybe that's OK.

[@ConstructedChaos]

@@XanderHarris1023 you have an excellent point about the saving throw here. I’d thought about that as well but I’m not sure how you’d solve that because topple without a save seems pretty strong.

[@Grymreefer]

nicely done , glad you're getting a jump on these .

[@ConstructedChaos]

You and me both! This has honestly been one of the parts I've been most excited for in the new books. We needed it badly!

[@Mage-mc7mz]

Vex psychic blades for the win!

[@kongoaurius]

I wanted to see Nick instead of Vex

[@ConstructedChaos]

Oh that would have been interesting... Although, I do think Vex might be more useful for triggering sneak attack eh?

[@20storiesunder]

Ooooh a D&D youtuber I havent seen before, looking forward to taking a look at yer stuff

[@ConstructedChaos]

@@20storiesunder thanks!! Happy to have ya as part of the chaos!

[@lethe5052]

The notes your provide in this video are the most complete and precise summary of weapon masteries I've seen on the internet! Any chance you have a pdf or just that text I could take off your hands for a party wanting to implement them before the actual book comes out?

[@ConstructedChaos]

Thank you! I actually have the book now and I can tell you that everything is pretty much the same as it was in the playtest material so you can get it there. The only thing that didn't stick around was the ability to swap weapon masteries on weapons. Just refer to the weapon chart and what each weapon has by default and the mastery descriptions themselves and it's all the same!

[@jjsasquatch101]

Great summary and additional analysis. Thanks!

[@ConstructedChaos]

I’m happy you found it helpful!

[@TheRobversion1]

The 1st thing i've seen that i've liked about dnd 5.24. this reminds me of PF2E weapon properties.

[@ConstructedChaos]

It's definitely my favorite change as well. It just makes playing a martial that much more interesting!

[@TheRobversion1]

@@ConstructedChaos i'd say though without looking at the power level of other stuff, especially on casters, this doesnt bridge the gap to balance martials and casters..it inches martials closer but balance still looks very far away.

[@ConstructedChaos]

@@TheRobversion1 I'd agree that they're still not on the same level but I'd actually argue that it's closer now than you might think. The equip/stow rules allow for multiple masteries in a round and I think there's a lot of potential there as I'm sure you've seen.

[@TheRobversion1]

@@ConstructedChaos definitely alot of potential there. I just think if spells like wish, wall of force, forcecage, simulacrum, conjure animals, etc still exist in their 5.14 form, no amount of additional dmg/attacks/debuffs will make up for power of action economy advantage. Martials basically need ways to remove enemies from combat to catch up. Or to be able to deal so much dmg that, that dmg removes a big threat off the board (similar to how wizards can just maze the biggest threat off the board). This is the key to balance in PF2E. paizo made all of the removal effects for casters either non-existent, nerfed or only works against lower levelled enemies (trash mobs). Thus, martials caught up.

[@ConstructedChaos]

@@TheRobversion1 Oh, absolutely. I just think that martials shine better in the lower tiers of play (which I think is the intent)

[@Oddthebard]

Looking forward to breaking this system.

[@ConstructedChaos]

@@Oddthebard there’s a lot we can do with it and I have a feeling that we’re just scratching the surface!

[@Tidesofmo]

So stoked for this! 🎉

[@ConstructedChaos]

Haha me too! I can't wait to see how this changes the dynamic of our combats!

[@pedromontano6263]

Great video! Congrats!!! Can a cleric or wizard learn this weapon mastery?

[@ConstructedChaos]

The base class wouldn’t allow for it without multiclassing to get it but it’s not clear if there may be feats or certain subclasses that give access to the feature. For that, we’ll have to wait and see

[@iLitTheSun]

Patiently waiting for someone to make a definitive list of best combos of weapon mastery + BM Maneuvers. And then while they’re at it, cunning strike and brutal strike combos. 😏

[@ConstructedChaos]

@@iLitTheSun we’ll have to wait for the official PHB release for that but I’m chomping at the bit!

[@iLitTheSun]

@@ConstructedChaos haha of course, I’ll be hacking together my own in the meantime!

[@mezcla191]

Where in the PHB is the equip/unequip a weapon feature. I've been looking at my book for quite a while and can't find it.

[@ConstructedChaos]

It's under the Attack action in the rules reference.

[@kongoaurius]

Correct me if I'm wrong but Cleave seems to be affected by hex, rage damage or any other feature that adds damage, maybe there is a way to take advantge on that for a build

[@ConstructedChaos]

I think you're absolutely right about that! I'll have to consider that idea for a build when the official rules drop!

[@dulshafer]

Quick question about the Nick property: do you get to add your modifier to it as well? I haven’t seen a definitive answer on this, maybe it’s in the Light property of weapons? I’m guessing no, since it’s essentially the two-weapon fighting mechanic slid over from BA to action. And it feels slightly different from Extra Attack. Also from the name, the second attack probably just nicks the foe with a little damage. What are your thoughts?

[@ConstructedChaos]

Based on what's in the playtest, they have no intention of removing the bit about not adding your modifier to the second attack. So, since nick is just making the dual wielding mechanic use one action instead of an action and a bonus action, it seems you still wouldn't add your modifier to the second attack.

[@dulshafer]

@@ConstructedChaos that’s what I thought, thanks! Might have to add this in for a player.

[@ConstructedChaos]

@@dulshaferno problem!

[@bodhidaruma]

Maybe I misheard, but did he say how many masteries someone can have on a single weapon? I’m attempting to play a barbarian/rogue multiclass.

[@ConstructedChaos]

Maybe I didn't mention but each weapon only has one mastery--although some classes and subclasses provide different masteries and some even give additional masteries that can be applied to the base ones.

[@jessie-buns839]

Im gutted they removed weapon masteries from the monk. Attacking with a pair of simple Nick weapons for three attacks per turn at level 1 was a fun idea

[@ConstructedChaos]

I'm pretty upset about it as well but I wonder if they'll add it back in a way we don't expect. I could see them giving weapon mastery on your monk weapon specifically but it wouldn't be its own level 1 feature. Probably wishful thinking on my part. But they did at least boost the monk a decent amount in the playtests. I'm hoping that all translates well into the final version.

[@Mrryn]

​@@ConstructedChaosI think them getting Weapon Mastery would have been overkill with all of the other positive changes, as well as subclasses like Open Hand adding that utility into FoB. Plus, I wouldn't be shocked if an updated Kensei subclass down the adds weapon mastery in for your dedicated weapon. Which is the one Monk that actually makes sense for weapon mastery.

[@zaimzafrullah2853]

Can someone help me explain the Nick masteries? If i am a Lvl 5 Barbarian, use my first attack and trigger my Nick weapon mastery, does that mean i dont get my "extra attack" feature?

[@RyanRichardson-q3y]

I'm confused about something. A short sword is a light weapon which meets the requirement for nick, but they are also saying it gets vex. Does that mean I can choose if it has nick or vex, changing between them on a long rest, or will it just have vex no matter what?

[@Mrryn]

No. Each weapon has one specific mastery linked to it. It will be on the same table that lists the other properties like damage die, weight, gold cost, and properties like Light, Heavy, and Reach. So all weapons with the Nick mastery have the Light property but not all Light weapons have the Nick mastery. For example, the Shortsword, Handaxe, and Club are all Light weapons, meaning you can initiate two weapon fighting with them if you have another Light weapon in your offhand, but none of them have the Nick mastery; shortswords and handaxe iirc both have the Vex mastery and clubs have the Slow mastery. But scimitars, daggers, sickles and light hammers are all Light weapons that have the Nick mastery; you can initiate two weapon fighting if you attack with them because they are Light, and if you have then in your offhand, because they have the Nick mastery (and you have a feature giving you mastery with that weapon) you can make your offhand attack with them as part of the same attack rather than as a separate bonus action. So you can dual wield two scimitars, a shortsword and scimitar, two light hammers, or a handaxe and a dagger and you'd be able to make your attack with the first weapon followed by an attack with the second without using your bonus action. But attacking with a Nick weapon as the first attack doesn't give any benefit. And on the other side, if you have two shortswords or two handaxes, you can still dual wield and perform two weapon fighting because both are Light but it would have to use your bonus action because neither have the Nick property. Basically it's a rectangles-squares scenario: all squares are rectangles but not all rectangles are squares. So all Nick weapons are Light weapons but not all Light weapons are Nick weapons.

[@tw0bold]

Every weapon has a "default" mastery, from what I can tell the requirements are only relevant with the fighter's new feature to replace a weapon's mastery during a long rest

[@JoshuaH225]

They already revealed that the ability to swap masteries on weapons didn’t make it in.

[@ConstructedChaos]

Where did they say that? I know you can't change at will but I believe certain classes will still allow for certain masteries to be applied to certain weapons.

[@michaelcolon4162]

@@ConstructedChaos they said it in the fighter video. The fighter can now apply slow, sap or push ok any weapon attack. But the ability to change weapon properties other then that was removed because it was creating design issues.

[@ConstructedChaos]

@@michaelcolon4162 My impression is that the video was speaking to a fighter's ability to switch properties on their weapons at will. I don't believe this was in direct reference to the base feature referenced in the rules glossary of the final playtest (which was a more general rule about ANY class that gets a similar ability). Treantmonk (who has a copy of the book) did mention that there are some reasons that they didn't go into more detail as well. This leads me to believe that there are other features that still utilize this core rule. But, regardless, it is playtest. So that may be gone as well and I could be wrong on my intuition here.

[@ConstructedChaos]

And I did at least have the forethought to structure the video so that part can be cut out seamlessly if I end up being off base here. So I do appreciate you bringing it to my attention!

[@michaelcolon4162]

I my bad. You can still switch mastery properties after a long rest no problem.

[@wolflover306]

Weapon Mastery is the most confusing one to me, like WHAT DOES IT MEAN???/

[@erixforge]

Graze is beyond dumb. As a fighter you go in to a fight and you don't worry at all. You will always do damage. With every action. Wow.

[@SuperHollowVegeta]

Sounds like they just gave battle master to all martial classes.

[@ConstructedChaos]

Yep! They said that they even experimented with that specifically early on. Eventually they settled on this simplified system so it wasn't too complex for new players.

[@MrMuddyWheels]

Longbow can vex and slow

[@ConstructedChaos]

At the same time? That doesn't seem right. Where did you see that? From what I've seen the longbow only has the slow property by default.

[@MrMuddyWheels]

@ConstructedChaos not at the same time I don't think.

[@ConstructedChaos]

@@MrMuddyWheels I don't think everyone gets to choose either. I believe some classes / subclasses may be able to apply different weapon properties, though.

[@MrMuddyWheels]

@ConstructedChaos fighter and swap out a property on any weapon choosing from a few options

[@ConstructedChaos]

@@MrMuddyWheels Yep! That much I do know is true. I thought you were saying that the longbow had both for anyone to choose from.

[@thecreep7147]

That sounds like an absolute nightmare for DMs. I mean yeah it's cool for players and all but now every enemy has to be a miniboss or consist of 20 trashmobs. This makes encounters even harder to make challenging unless you give them all weird gimmicks like it's a jojo battle.

[@ConstructedChaos]

That’s fair but I don’t think this is introducing anything for martials that casters weren’t already doing

[@sagebrown5643]

I've playtested this as a DM and it's perfectly fine

[@ConstructedChaos]

@@sagebrown5643 Absolutely. Aside from the saving throw on topple, I don't even see these slowing down combat in most cases.