In Dungeons and Dragons 5th edition, magical arrows are a powerful tool for ranged fighters. These enchanted projectiles can add variety and potency to an adventurer's arsenal. One common type of magical arrow is the +1 arrow. When fired, these arrows provide a +1 bonus to attack and damage rolls, increasing the likelihood of hitting an opponent and dealing greater damage. They can be especially useful against foes with high armor class. Another type of magical arrow is the elemental arrow.
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.
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. 1000 GP Water Bomb Magical One use of the Spell Wall of Water where it lands 1000 GP Water Wave Magical Casts the Tidal Wave Spell upon the point where it lands 1000 GP Conjure Volley Magical Casts the Conjure Volley Spell upon the point where it lands 3000 GP Antimagic Magical Dispels all ongoing magical effects within a 10ft radius of it s impact for one round 4000 GP, and rare Antimagic Substances.
Another type of magical arrow is the elemental arrow. These arrows are imbued with the power of the elements, such as fire, ice, or lightning. When these arrows hit a target, they deal additional elemental damage in addition to their normal piercing 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 with vulnerabilities or resistances to certain types of damage. Some magical arrows have special properties that can provide unique advantages in combat. For example, there are arrows that explode upon impact, dealing damage to multiple targets in the vicinity. These explosive arrows can be great for crowd control or dealing damage to groups of enemies. Other magical arrows can inflict debilitating conditions on their targets. For instance, there are arrows that can poison or paralyze an opponent upon a successful hit. This can be advantageous for disabling particularly tough foes or setting up advantageous situations for the rest of the party. Lastly, some magical arrows have the ability to seek out their targets. These arrows can change direction mid-flight to ensure that they hit their intended mark. This can be especially helpful for targeting enemies at long range or when they are behind cover. Overall, 5e magical arrows provide a range of options for adventurers to enhance their ranged combat abilities. They offer increased accuracy, damage, and utility, making them a valuable asset for any archer or ranged fighter..
Reviews for "Exploring the Lore and Legend of 5e Magical Arrows"
1. Lisa - 1/5 - I was extremely disappointed with the 5e magical arrows. They promised so much but delivered so little. The arrows were supposed to have incredible powers and unique abilities, but in reality, they were just ordinary arrows with some fancy names attached to them. The descriptions were vague and uninspiring, and there was no real sense of excitement or wonder. Overall, it felt like a missed opportunity and a waste of money.
2. Mark - 2/5 - I was really looking forward to using the 5e magical arrows in my campaign, but they turned out to be a huge letdown. The artwork on the packaging was stunning, but the arrows themselves were lackluster and underwhelming. The supposed magical effects were ineffective and didn't add any real value to combat situations. It felt like they were just trying to cash in on the popularity of magical items without putting much thought or effort into their design.
3. Sarah - 1/5 - I regret purchasing the 5e magical arrows. They were advertised as game-changing additions to the world of archery, but they were anything but that. The arrows didn't possess any unique qualities or powers that would make them stand out from regular arrows. They were just regular arrows with fancy names and inflated prices. I expected something more innovative and exciting, but all I got was a poor excuse for a magical item.
4. Ryan - 2/5 - The 5e magical arrows didn't live up to the hype. They were marketed as essential items for any archer, but they didn't offer any significant advantages over regular arrows. The price you pay for these arrows is not justified by their lackluster performance. The descriptions on the packaging were misleading and exaggerated, leading to a disappointing overall experience. I would not recommend spending your hard-earned money on these magical arrows.