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I'm making a character, and this part always had me confused, so a friend helped me but never explained.
When you do your weapon damage, like 1d12 + 4, you use your Strength modifier for the damage bonus of 4. But what ability do you use for javelins - is it Dexterity or Strength?
This is spelled out in the Basic Rules where it describes the Thrown weapon property (emphasis mine):
If a weapon has the thrown property, you can throw the weapon to make a ranged attack. If the weapon is a melee weapon, you use the same ability modifier for that attack roll and damage roll that you would use for a melee attack with the weapon.
The modifier you use for a melee attack with a javelin is strength (can also be found in the Basic Rules in the Combat section):
Ability Modifier. The ability modifier used for a melee weapon attack is Strength
Since you would have been making a melee weapon attack with Strength, the Thrown property causes you to continue to use Strength, even though it's a ranged attack in this instance.
Basically, Strength is the ability you use for calculating hit/damage, unless otherwise specified. For example, the Monk can use their Strength, or Dexterity, as they see fit:
You can use Dexterity instead of Strength for the attack and damage rolls of your unarmed strikes and monk weapons.
Or the finesse property, again allows you to use Strength, or Dex (the dagger, and darts have this property, for example):
Finesse. When making an attack with a finesse weapon, you use your choice of your Strength or Dexterity modifier for the attack and damage rolls. You must use the same modifier for both rolls.
The important thing to differentiate is that Ranged weapons use Dex, and Thrown weapons use Strength (unless they have the "Finesse" property, as explained above).
