D&D Weapon Dice Damage Comparison
PHB average rolls, from a d4 dagger at 2.5 to 10d6 at 35. Pick any two.
Visual comparison
All values
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| Name | Value | Context | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| d4 (Dagger) Cheapest here. Formula (1 plus 4) over 2. | 2.5 damage | Simple melee, PHB ch.5 | D&D 5e PHB ch.5: Dagger 1d4, average 2.5 |
| d6 (Shortsword) One over d4. | 3.5 damage | Martial light, PHB ch.5 | D&D 5e PHB ch.5: Shortsword 1d6, average 3.5 |
| d8 (Longsword one hand) Versatile two hands uses d10. | 4.5 damage | Versatile one hand, PHB ch.5 | D&D 5e PHB ch.5: Longsword 1d8, average 4.5 |
| d10 (Fire Bolt) Ties longsword versatile d10. | 5.5 damage | Cantrip, PHB ch.11 | D&D 5e PHB ch.11: Fire Bolt 1d10, average 5.5 |
| d12 (Greataxe) Highest single die. | 6.5 damage | Heavy two hands, PHB ch.5 | D&D 5e PHB ch.5: Greataxe 1d12, average 6.5 |
| 2d6 (Greatsword) More reliable than d12. | 7 damage | Heavy two hands, PHB ch.5 | D&D 5e PHB ch.5: Greatsword 2d6, average 7 |
| d20 (Fate roll) Ties 3d6 at 10.5. Rarely rolled for damage. | 10.5 damage | Die math reference | Dice math: (1 plus 20) over 2 equals 10.5 |
| 3d6 (Lightning facsimile) Ties d20. | 10.5 damage | Dice math reference | Dice math: 3 times 3.5 equals 10.5 |
| 2d10 (Heavy crossbow crit) Half a point over 3d6. | 11 damage | Crit math reference | D&D 5e PHB ch.9: crit doubles dice, 2d10 average 11 |
| 4d6 (Falling 40 ft) Forty foot fall. | 14 damage | PHB ch.9 falling 1d6 per 10 ft | D&D 5e PHB ch.9: 1d6 per 10 ft, 4d6 average 14 |
| 5d6 (Cone of Cold slice) Half of 10d6. | 17.5 damage | Dice math reference | Dice math: 5 times 3.5 equals 17.5 |
| 6d6 (Fireball upcast) Three greatswords. | 21 damage | Spell scaling reference | D&D 5e PHB ch.11: spell slots add 1d6 per level |
| 7d6 (Delayed blast) One under fireball 8d6. | 24.5 damage | Dice math reference | Dice math: 7 times 3.5 equals 24.5 |
| 8d6 (Fireball) Four greatswords. Dex save halves. | 28 damage | 3rd level spell, PHB ch.11 | D&D 5e PHB ch.11: Fireball 8d6, average 28 |
| 9d6 (Meteor slice) One over fireball. | 31.5 damage | Dice math reference | Dice math: 9 times 3.5 equals 31.5 |
| 10d6 (High spell) Top here. Fourteen daggers. | 35 damage | Spell scaling reference | Dice math: 10 times 3.5 equals 35 |
About this converter
D&D damage is dice plus math with fixed averages. Singles run d4 at 2.5 for daggers, d6 at 3.5 for shortswords, d8 at 4.5 for longswords, d10 at 5.5 for fire bolt and d12 at 6.5 for greataxes. Pairs and volleys climb through 2d6 greatsword at 7, d20 and 3d6 at 10.5, 2d10 crit at 11, 4d6 fall at 14, 5d6 at 17.5, 6d6 at 21, 7d6 at 24.5, 8d6 fireball at 28, 9d6 at 31.5 and 10d6 at 35. That makes one fireball equal four greatswords or over eleven daggers. Every value here is exact average before modifiers.
How to use it
Pick two dice and a unit in the top row. The three boxes below stay linked. Change any box and the other two update. One box holds a count of the first, one holds the matching count of the second, one holds the total in damage. Try 1 Fireball against Greatswords.
Modifiers stay out: strength, spellcasting bonus and magic weapons add on top of these bases. Crits double dice only, so a greatsword crit averages 14. Saves like fireball dex halve the total after the roll. Disintegrate adds a flat 40 on 10d6 and stays out to keep rows to pure dice.
FAQ
What is a greatsword average?
7 from 2d6. More reliable than a greataxe d12 at 6.5.
What is fireball average?
28 from 8d6. Dex save halves it.
What is a dagger average?
2.5 from d4. Fourteen daggers equal one 10d6.
Why no modifiers?
Bonus, crits and saves vary per build, so rows pin pure dice math.
Sources
- D&D 5e Player Handbook ch.5 (Dagger 1d4, Shortsword 1d6, Longsword 1d8, Greataxe 1d12, Greatsword 2d6)
- D&D 5e Player Handbook ch.9 (falling 1d6 per 10 ft, crit doubles dice)
- D&D 5e Player Handbook ch.11 (Fire Bolt 1d10, Fireball 8d6, slot scaling 1d6 per level)
Last verified: 2026-09-28 · 16 entries
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