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How do you load a crossbow?
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I know how you load a crossbow IRL but in the game you need a freehand to load them, and crossbows are two handed weapons(except the hand crossbow but even that is sort of a two handed weapon because you need a freehand to load it so you sort of need to treat it like one). So if you using to hands to hold it then how do you load it?
dnd-5e weapons ranged-attack
edited 16 mins ago
V2Blast
14.8k23597
asked 45 mins ago
Nathan Santee
10616
New contributor
Nathan Santee is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
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up vote
2
down vote
favorite
I know how you load a crossbow IRL but in the game you need a freehand to load them, and crossbows are two handed weapons(except the hand crossbow but even that is sort of a two handed weapon because you need a freehand to load it so you sort of need to treat it like one). So if you using to hands to hold it then how do you load it?
dnd-5e weapons ranged-attack
edited 16 mins ago
V2Blast
14.8k23597
asked 45 mins ago
Nathan Santee
10616
New contributor
Nathan Santee is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
"if you using to hands to hold it" — you mean "two hands", right?
– enkryptor
41 mins ago
Related on Can you Cast spells with a somatic component if you're holding a two-handed weapon?
– NautArch
40 mins ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
favorite
up vote
2
down vote
favorite
I know how you load a crossbow IRL but in the game you need a freehand to load them, and crossbows are two handed weapons(except the hand crossbow but even that is sort of a two handed weapon because you need a freehand to load it so you sort of need to treat it like one). So if you using to hands to hold it then how do you load it?
dnd-5e weapons ranged-attack
edited 16 mins ago
V2Blast
14.8k23597
asked 45 mins ago
Nathan Santee
10616
New contributor
Nathan Santee is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
I know how you load a crossbow IRL but in the game you need a freehand to load them, and crossbows are two handed weapons(except the hand crossbow but even that is sort of a two handed weapon because you need a freehand to load it so you sort of need to treat it like one). So if you using to hands to hold it then how do you load it?
dnd-5e weapons ranged-attack
dnd-5e weapons ranged-attack
edited 16 mins ago
V2Blast
14.8k23597
asked 45 mins ago
Nathan Santee
10616
New contributor
Nathan Santee is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited 16 mins ago
V2Blast
14.8k23597
asked 45 mins ago
Nathan Santee
10616
New contributor
Nathan Santee is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited 16 mins ago
V2Blast
14.8k23597
edited 16 mins ago
V2Blast
14.8k23597
edited 16 mins ago
V2Blast
14.8k23597
14.8k23597
asked 45 mins ago
Nathan Santee
10616
New contributor
Nathan Santee is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 45 mins ago
Nathan Santee
10616
asked 45 mins ago
Nathan Santee
10616
10616
New contributor
Nathan Santee is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Nathan Santee is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Nathan Santee is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
"if you using to hands to hold it" — you mean "two hands", right?
– enkryptor
41 mins ago
Related on Can you Cast spells with a somatic component if you're holding a two-handed weapon?
– NautArch
40 mins ago
add a comment |Â
"if you using to hands to hold it" — you mean "two hands", right?
– enkryptor
41 mins ago
Related on Can you Cast spells with a somatic component if you're holding a two-handed weapon?
– NautArch
40 mins ago
"if you using to hands to hold it" — you mean "two hands", right?
– enkryptor
41 mins ago
"if you using to hands to hold it" — you mean "two hands", right?
– enkryptor
41 mins ago
Related on Can you Cast spells with a somatic component if you're holding a two-handed weapon?
– NautArch
40 mins ago
Related on Can you Cast spells with a somatic component if you're holding a two-handed weapon?
– NautArch
40 mins ago
add a comment |Â
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
up vote
5
down vote
From the rules:
Two-handed. This weapon requires two hands when you attack with it
(emphasis mine).
So you only need two hands when you actually make an attack with it.
I think it is safe to assume that when loading you are temporarily holding it in one hand (perhaps propped against your body or the ground) while you use the other hand to load the bolt.
answered 41 mins ago
PJRZ
5,1971331
add a comment |Â
up vote
4
down vote
You don't actually need a free hand to load a light or heavy crossbow.
You only need a free hand to load a one-handed weapon, not a two-handed weapon. This is clarified in newer printings of the Player's Handbook.
Both light and heavy crossbows have the Ammunition, Loading and Two-Handed properties:
Two-handed means the weapon "requires two hands when you attack with it". This is an errata of the original, which said "requires two hands to use."
Ammunition means you need ammunition, and drawing the ammunition is an automatic part of the attack. "You need a free hand to load a one-handed weapon", but the crossbow is two-handed. That line was added in an errata.
Loading means you can't fire multiple times per action.
You need a free hand to load a hand crossbow, as that's a one-handed weapon.
answered 30 mins ago
Quadratic Wizard
19.9k367111
add a comment |Â
up vote
0
down vote
If you look at the item description for most Crossbow-type weapons, they usually have a property called Loading, which is described like this in the Player's Handbook:
Loading. Because of the time required to load this weapon, you can fire only one piece of ammunition from it when you use an action, bonus action, or reaction to fire it, regardless of the number of attacks you can normally make.
The consequence of this is that the time and effort required to load a crossbow—the action you're looking for clarification on—is normally abstracted as simply being part of the process of firing the weapon, the consequence being that it prevents using the crossbow more than once per attack-action.
The Crossbow Expert feat eliminates the time needed to load a crossbow
Among its other features, the Crossbow Expert feat permits a user to gain the normal benefits of their Extra Attacks feature when using a Crossbow:
Thanks to extensive practice with the crossbow, you gain the following benefits:
- You ignore the loading quality of crossbows with which you are proficient.
- Being within 5 feet of a hostile creature doesn't impose disadvantage on your ranged attack rolls.
- When you use the Attack action and attack with a one-handed weapon, you can use a bonus action to attack with a hand crossbow you are holding.
So if you take this feat, you can ignore the cost of loading a crossbow altogether.
answered 38 mins ago
Xirema
5,8271742
but you still need a free hand
– Nathan Santee
14 mins ago
@NathanSantee You don't need a free hand to load a two-handed crossbow (see my answer for clarification on this point).
– Quadratic Wizard
13 mins ago
add a comment |Â
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
5
down vote
From the rules:
Two-handed. This weapon requires two hands when you attack with it
(emphasis mine).
So you only need two hands when you actually make an attack with it.
I think it is safe to assume that when loading you are temporarily holding it in one hand (perhaps propped against your body or the ground) while you use the other hand to load the bolt.
answered 41 mins ago
PJRZ
5,1971331
add a comment |Â
up vote
5
down vote
From the rules:
Two-handed. This weapon requires two hands when you attack with it
(emphasis mine).
So you only need two hands when you actually make an attack with it.
I think it is safe to assume that when loading you are temporarily holding it in one hand (perhaps propped against your body or the ground) while you use the other hand to load the bolt.
answered 41 mins ago
PJRZ
5,1971331
add a comment |Â
up vote
5
down vote
up vote
5
down vote
From the rules:
Two-handed. This weapon requires two hands when you attack with it
(emphasis mine).
So you only need two hands when you actually make an attack with it.
I think it is safe to assume that when loading you are temporarily holding it in one hand (perhaps propped against your body or the ground) while you use the other hand to load the bolt.
answered 41 mins ago
PJRZ
5,1971331
From the rules:
Two-handed. This weapon requires two hands when you attack with it
(emphasis mine).
So you only need two hands when you actually make an attack with it.
I think it is safe to assume that when loading you are temporarily holding it in one hand (perhaps propped against your body or the ground) while you use the other hand to load the bolt.
answered 41 mins ago
PJRZ
5,1971331
answered 41 mins ago
PJRZ
5,1971331
answered 41 mins ago
PJRZ
5,1971331
answered 41 mins ago
PJRZ
5,1971331
5,1971331
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
up vote
4
down vote
You don't actually need a free hand to load a light or heavy crossbow.
You only need a free hand to load a one-handed weapon, not a two-handed weapon. This is clarified in newer printings of the Player's Handbook.
Both light and heavy crossbows have the Ammunition, Loading and Two-Handed properties:
Two-handed means the weapon "requires two hands when you attack with it". This is an errata of the original, which said "requires two hands to use."
Ammunition means you need ammunition, and drawing the ammunition is an automatic part of the attack. "You need a free hand to load a one-handed weapon", but the crossbow is two-handed. That line was added in an errata.
Loading means you can't fire multiple times per action.
You need a free hand to load a hand crossbow, as that's a one-handed weapon.
answered 30 mins ago
Quadratic Wizard
19.9k367111
add a comment |Â
up vote
4
down vote
You don't actually need a free hand to load a light or heavy crossbow.
You only need a free hand to load a one-handed weapon, not a two-handed weapon. This is clarified in newer printings of the Player's Handbook.
Both light and heavy crossbows have the Ammunition, Loading and Two-Handed properties:
Two-handed means the weapon "requires two hands when you attack with it". This is an errata of the original, which said "requires two hands to use."
Ammunition means you need ammunition, and drawing the ammunition is an automatic part of the attack. "You need a free hand to load a one-handed weapon", but the crossbow is two-handed. That line was added in an errata.
Loading means you can't fire multiple times per action.
You need a free hand to load a hand crossbow, as that's a one-handed weapon.
answered 30 mins ago
Quadratic Wizard
19.9k367111
add a comment |Â
up vote
4
down vote
up vote
4
down vote
You don't actually need a free hand to load a light or heavy crossbow.
You only need a free hand to load a one-handed weapon, not a two-handed weapon. This is clarified in newer printings of the Player's Handbook.
Both light and heavy crossbows have the Ammunition, Loading and Two-Handed properties:
Two-handed means the weapon "requires two hands when you attack with it". This is an errata of the original, which said "requires two hands to use."
Ammunition means you need ammunition, and drawing the ammunition is an automatic part of the attack. "You need a free hand to load a one-handed weapon", but the crossbow is two-handed. That line was added in an errata.
Loading means you can't fire multiple times per action.
You need a free hand to load a hand crossbow, as that's a one-handed weapon.
answered 30 mins ago
Quadratic Wizard
19.9k367111
You don't actually need a free hand to load a light or heavy crossbow.
You only need a free hand to load a one-handed weapon, not a two-handed weapon. This is clarified in newer printings of the Player's Handbook.
Both light and heavy crossbows have the Ammunition, Loading and Two-Handed properties:
Two-handed means the weapon "requires two hands when you attack with it". This is an errata of the original, which said "requires two hands to use."
Ammunition means you need ammunition, and drawing the ammunition is an automatic part of the attack. "You need a free hand to load a one-handed weapon", but the crossbow is two-handed. That line was added in an errata.
Loading means you can't fire multiple times per action.
You need a free hand to load a hand crossbow, as that's a one-handed weapon.
answered 30 mins ago
Quadratic Wizard
19.9k367111
answered 30 mins ago
Quadratic Wizard
19.9k367111
answered 30 mins ago
Quadratic Wizard
19.9k367111
answered 30 mins ago
Quadratic Wizard
19.9k367111
19.9k367111
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
up vote
0
down vote
If you look at the item description for most Crossbow-type weapons, they usually have a property called Loading, which is described like this in the Player's Handbook:
Loading. Because of the time required to load this weapon, you can fire only one piece of ammunition from it when you use an action, bonus action, or reaction to fire it, regardless of the number of attacks you can normally make.
The consequence of this is that the time and effort required to load a crossbow—the action you're looking for clarification on—is normally abstracted as simply being part of the process of firing the weapon, the consequence being that it prevents using the crossbow more than once per attack-action.
The Crossbow Expert feat eliminates the time needed to load a crossbow
Among its other features, the Crossbow Expert feat permits a user to gain the normal benefits of their Extra Attacks feature when using a Crossbow:
Thanks to extensive practice with the crossbow, you gain the following benefits:
- You ignore the loading quality of crossbows with which you are proficient.
- Being within 5 feet of a hostile creature doesn't impose disadvantage on your ranged attack rolls.
- When you use the Attack action and attack with a one-handed weapon, you can use a bonus action to attack with a hand crossbow you are holding.
So if you take this feat, you can ignore the cost of loading a crossbow altogether.
answered 38 mins ago
Xirema
5,8271742
but you still need a free hand
– Nathan Santee
14 mins ago
@NathanSantee You don't need a free hand to load a two-handed crossbow (see my answer for clarification on this point).
– Quadratic Wizard
13 mins ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
0
down vote
If you look at the item description for most Crossbow-type weapons, they usually have a property called Loading, which is described like this in the Player's Handbook:
Loading. Because of the time required to load this weapon, you can fire only one piece of ammunition from it when you use an action, bonus action, or reaction to fire it, regardless of the number of attacks you can normally make.
The consequence of this is that the time and effort required to load a crossbow—the action you're looking for clarification on—is normally abstracted as simply being part of the process of firing the weapon, the consequence being that it prevents using the crossbow more than once per attack-action.
The Crossbow Expert feat eliminates the time needed to load a crossbow
Among its other features, the Crossbow Expert feat permits a user to gain the normal benefits of their Extra Attacks feature when using a Crossbow:
Thanks to extensive practice with the crossbow, you gain the following benefits:
- You ignore the loading quality of crossbows with which you are proficient.
- Being within 5 feet of a hostile creature doesn't impose disadvantage on your ranged attack rolls.
- When you use the Attack action and attack with a one-handed weapon, you can use a bonus action to attack with a hand crossbow you are holding.
So if you take this feat, you can ignore the cost of loading a crossbow altogether.
answered 38 mins ago
Xirema
5,8271742
but you still need a free hand
– Nathan Santee
14 mins ago
@NathanSantee You don't need a free hand to load a two-handed crossbow (see my answer for clarification on this point).
– Quadratic Wizard
13 mins ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
0
down vote
up vote
0
down vote
If you look at the item description for most Crossbow-type weapons, they usually have a property called Loading, which is described like this in the Player's Handbook:
Loading. Because of the time required to load this weapon, you can fire only one piece of ammunition from it when you use an action, bonus action, or reaction to fire it, regardless of the number of attacks you can normally make.
The consequence of this is that the time and effort required to load a crossbow—the action you're looking for clarification on—is normally abstracted as simply being part of the process of firing the weapon, the consequence being that it prevents using the crossbow more than once per attack-action.
The Crossbow Expert feat eliminates the time needed to load a crossbow
Among its other features, the Crossbow Expert feat permits a user to gain the normal benefits of their Extra Attacks feature when using a Crossbow:
Thanks to extensive practice with the crossbow, you gain the following benefits:
- You ignore the loading quality of crossbows with which you are proficient.
- Being within 5 feet of a hostile creature doesn't impose disadvantage on your ranged attack rolls.
- When you use the Attack action and attack with a one-handed weapon, you can use a bonus action to attack with a hand crossbow you are holding.
So if you take this feat, you can ignore the cost of loading a crossbow altogether.
answered 38 mins ago
Xirema
5,8271742
If you look at the item description for most Crossbow-type weapons, they usually have a property called Loading, which is described like this in the Player's Handbook:
Loading. Because of the time required to load this weapon, you can fire only one piece of ammunition from it when you use an action, bonus action, or reaction to fire it, regardless of the number of attacks you can normally make.
The consequence of this is that the time and effort required to load a crossbow—the action you're looking for clarification on—is normally abstracted as simply being part of the process of firing the weapon, the consequence being that it prevents using the crossbow more than once per attack-action.
The Crossbow Expert feat eliminates the time needed to load a crossbow
Among its other features, the Crossbow Expert feat permits a user to gain the normal benefits of their Extra Attacks feature when using a Crossbow:
Thanks to extensive practice with the crossbow, you gain the following benefits:
- You ignore the loading quality of crossbows with which you are proficient.
- Being within 5 feet of a hostile creature doesn't impose disadvantage on your ranged attack rolls.
- When you use the Attack action and attack with a one-handed weapon, you can use a bonus action to attack with a hand crossbow you are holding.
So if you take this feat, you can ignore the cost of loading a crossbow altogether.
answered 38 mins ago
Xirema
5,8271742
edited 29 mins ago
answered 38 mins ago
Xirema
5,8271742
answered 38 mins ago
Xirema
5,8271742
answered 38 mins ago
Xirema
5,8271742
5,8271742
but you still need a free hand
– Nathan Santee
14 mins ago
@NathanSantee You don't need a free hand to load a two-handed crossbow (see my answer for clarification on this point).
– Quadratic Wizard
13 mins ago
add a comment |Â
but you still need a free hand
– Nathan Santee
14 mins ago
@NathanSantee You don't need a free hand to load a two-handed crossbow (see my answer for clarification on this point).
– Quadratic Wizard
13 mins ago
but you still need a free hand
– Nathan Santee
14 mins ago
but you still need a free hand
– Nathan Santee
14 mins ago
@NathanSantee You don't need a free hand to load a two-handed crossbow (see my answer for clarification on this point).
– Quadratic Wizard
13 mins ago
@NathanSantee You don't need a free hand to load a two-handed crossbow (see my answer for clarification on this point).
– Quadratic Wizard
13 mins ago
add a comment |Â
Nathan Santee is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Nathan Santee is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Nathan Santee is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Nathan Santee is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
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"if you using to hands to hold it" — you mean "two hands", right?
– enkryptor
41 mins ago
Related on Can you Cast spells with a somatic component if you're holding a two-handed weapon?
– NautArch
40 mins ago