What is the proper way to refer to non-spell attacks in D&D 5e? "Non-spell" attacks doesn't seem right.
I'm looking for a term that includes attacks made with a melee weapon, a ranged weapon, an improvised weapon, and unarmed strikes.
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3\$\begingroup\$ If you share with us more about the context, the answers will be more likely to be relevant to your problem. \$\endgroup\$– SzegaCommented Feb 16, 2018 at 16:26
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\$\begingroup\$ Are you looking for a way to describe them mechanically (according to the rules) or in-fiction (narratively describing it to players/characters in the story)? \$\endgroup\$– RubiksmooseCommented Feb 16, 2018 at 17:07
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2 Answers
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"Weapon Attacks"
Attacks that are not "spell attacks" are necessarily "weapon attacks".
Even attacks that aren't made with a weapon can be weapon attacks.
As an example, the vampire's Unarmed Strike action on page 353 of the SRD (direct PDF) is listed as a "Melee Weapon Attack".
Sage Advice
Jeremy Crawford, lead rules designer of Dungeons & Dragons, confirmed on Twitter that "every attack is either a weapon attack or a spell attack."
answered Feb 16, 2018 at 16:42
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\$\begingroup\$ Except for the attacks that are neither spell nor weapon (e.g. unarmed attacks, claw attacks, shove etc.) \$\endgroup\$– Dale MCommented Feb 16, 2018 at 23:17
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\$\begingroup\$ unarmed is an attack with a natural weapon instead of with a tool. still a weapon attack, claws, teeth. fist. etc. \$\endgroup\$– JasenCommented Feb 16, 2018 at 23:44
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\$\begingroup\$ Unarmed attacks are melee weapon attacks made with a non-weapon. \$\endgroup\$– V2BlastCommented Jul 1, 2018 at 0:32
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1\$\begingroup\$ Also, there are two exceptions to this: shoves and grapples. Both are described in the rules as "special melee attacks". Besides such exceptions, though, the answer is correct. \$\endgroup\$– V2BlastCommented Jan 10, 2019 at 23:25
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All the given examples are considered 'weapon attacks'.
Even unarmed strikes are considered melee weapon attacks; see the following quote from the Sage Advice Compendium:
Some attacks count as a melee or ranged weapon attack even if a weapon isn’t involved, as specified in the text of those attacks. For example, an unarmed strike counts as a melee weapon attack, even though the attacker’s body isn’t considered a weapon.
Ultimately, there are (currently) only two types of attacks: spell attacks and weapon attacks. Everything that isn't a spell attack is a weapon attack, and vice versa.
If I understand it correctly, there are weapon attacks and there are spell attacks and that covers all attacks. So if an attack isn't one, it's the other.
This is correct: every attack is either a weapon attack or a spell attack. #DnD
