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A detailed tactical guide to mastering Weapon Mastery in battle
Curious about how Weapon Mastery works in D&D 2024? You're in the right place. This brand-new class feature, designed for fighters, barbarians, rangers, paladins, and rogues, introduces mastery properties—unique effects and attacks tied to specific weapons. Dive in to explore everything from individual mastery traits to top strategies for making the most of this game-changing mechanic!
2024 Weapon Mastery Rules at a Glance
Introduced in D&D 2024, Weapon Mastery enables barbarians, fighters, paladins, rangers, and rogues to specialize in weapons, unlocking unique “mastery properties” that enhance attacks. These properties can be changed after completing a Long Rest.
How to Use It
Defining Weapon Mastery in One D&D (2024)
Weapon Mastery allows you to focus your combat style around specific weapons. Certain classes gain access to this feature, unlocking special “mastery properties” that enhance your attacks depending on the weapon you’re wielding. This system offers greater tactical depth and lets you influence the battlefield more effectively.
- Weapon Mastery is an entirely new mechanic introduced in the 2024 ruleset—it's not a rework of an existing Player’s Handbook feature!
Overview of Weapon Mastery Mechanics in One D&D 2024
Each weapon is tied to a specific mastery property. If your class’s Weapon Mastery feature allows it, you can train in and use a weapon’s associated mastery property in combat. These can be swapped during Long Rests to fit your evolving needs.
- For instance, if you’re skilled with a glaive and use its Graze property but find a longsword, you can switch to the Sap property during a Long Rest by practicing with your new weapon.
Mastery property access varies by class. Some classes can acquire more properties than others, depending on weapon types. Rogues, rangers, and paladins can hold 2 at once, while fighters start with 3 and barbarians with 2, expanding as they level up. The following classes support Weapon Mastery:
- Barbarians (for Simple and Martial melee weapons)
- Fighters (for all Simple and Martial weapons)
- Paladins (for Simple and Martial weapons based on proficiency)
- Rangers (for Simple and Martial weapons based on proficiency)
- Rogues (for Simple weapons and Martial weapons with Finesse or Light traits, based on proficiency)
- Certain subclasses also grant extra mastery properties that don't count toward your main limit—check your subclass for bonus abilities!
Mastering the Use of Weapon Mastery
Activate your mastery properties every turn—if you want to. There’s no limit to how often you can use weapon mastery properties, as long as you’re wielding a weapon linked to that property. Each one has its own trigger, so make sure you understand when and how it activates.
- Unlike certain features that require rests to recharge, mastery properties are always available. Seize the moment when the opportunity strikes!
Change weapons mid-fight to access different mastery effects. If you’ve learned several mastery properties, don’t feel locked into one per encounter. With the 2024 rules, you can draw or stow a weapon as part of your attack action—so you’re free to switch things up each turn.
- Have Extra Attack? You can strike with one weapon first, then pull a second and swing again with a different mastery effect.
- This opens up combo potential—like applying Slow to an enemy, then switching to a weapon with Push to create space and escape.
Breakdown of Weapon Mastery Effects
Selecting the Right Weapon Mastery for Your Style
Choose weapons and masteries that align with your character’s strengths. Before selecting your mastery properties, consider how your character contributes to the party and your preferred combat style. Look for combinations that enhance what your character already does best.
- Frontline melee warriors might favor masteries like Cleave and Push for battlefield control, or Topple to boost melee damage.
- Archers can use masteries such as Slow, Push, and Vex to apply effects with each ranged strike.
- Defenders focused on protecting allies could pair Slow and Sap to weaken and immobilize enemies.
- Duelists wielding two weapons might use Nick to ramp up single-target damage.
- Specialists who hunt powerful foes can use Topple and Vex together for advantage on attacks and follow-ups.
Feats Supporting Weapon Mastery
All classes can unlock Weapon Mastery through the Weapon Master feat. Want to experiment with Weapon Mastery but your class doesn’t have it? At level 4—or whenever you gain a feat—you can choose Weapon Master. This allows you to use the mastery property of any Simple or Martial weapon you’re proficient with.
- Like the core mastery rules, you can change your selected mastery property after a Long Rest.
- Note: The 2014 version of the Weapon Master feat is different—it grants proficiency with four weapons of your choice instead.
Key Takeaways
Weapon Mastery brings fresh depth to martial combat. It provides martial classes like fighters and barbarians with more tactical variety, helping prevent combat from becoming stale. The rule has been well received by players and is seen as a worthwhile update to the 2024 system.
- Ultimately, it’s up to your table to decide whether to implement Weapon Mastery or stick with the 2014 edition. Just be sure everyone agrees before starting.
