Do you start combat with your weapon drawn when combat is not expected?

Question

I've been reading through various D&D 5e questions on rpg.se and this question (Does Sheathing and Unsheathing Separate Weapons Count As a Full Action?) has brought to my attention the free item interaction rule (from linked question's accepted answer/Basic Rules p. 70):

You can also interact with one object or feature of the environment for free, during either your move or your action. For example, you could open a door during your move as you stride toward a foe, or you could draw your weapon as part of the same action you use to attack.

If you want to interact with a second object, you need to use your action. Some magic items and other special objects always require an action to use, as stated in their descriptions.

Reading this and the accepted answer from that other question, I get that to switch weapons mid-battle means sheathing one at the end of one turn and drawing the other at the start of your next turn (I'm ignoring dual wielding in this question for simplicity).

I've always assumed that combat starts with weapons drawn, meaning you could use your free item interaction to draw your second weapon and attack with both (action and bonus action) on your first turn. It's perfectly reasonable to assume that the PCs have their weapons ready if they're expecting trouble.

But in a situation where the PCs are not expecting trouble, then if it's actually the case that you use that free item interaction to draw your primary weapon at the start of your first turn, then obviously that won't work (since that's two weapon interactions; this is all assuming you don't want to use an action, of course).

Does combat start with at least one weapon drawn automatically when combat is not expected? Or does drawing your weapon take up your first turn's free item interaction?

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If the latter, this also raises the question that if an enemy wins initiative (or you're "Surprised" by them) then you can't do opportunity attacks since you don't have your weapon out yet (unless unarmed strike is an option), but I don't want that to get anyone side-tracked from my main question here, which is about the free item interaction thing.

Answer 1

There are no specific rules vis-à-vis how a character starts combat. D&D5E attempts to avoid that kind of specificity when basic logic and reasoning will do:

• If the character is hanging out in a tavern, their hands are empty... or full of food. Utensils are Improvised Weapons, by the way.
• If the character is hanging from a chandelier, at least one hand very well ought to be weaponless (in so far as one does not wield a chandelier, it had best be making use of one hand).
• If the character just finished picking a lock, their hands are empty.
• If the character just finished picking their nose, at least one hand is empty.
• If the character is dungeon delving and carrying a torch or lantern, they probably have a weapon in the other hand or have a shield strapped to the other arm.
• If the character is dungeon delving and doesn't need a hand for a light source, they'd be smart to have weapons out.

Either way, it's a matter of common sense and story description, not codified rules.

Answer 2

There is no rule in the PHB or DMG that suggests you have your weapon drawn automatically and so the general approach of letting the fiction follow natural expectation applies. With no reason to expect a character to have a weapon in hand they must use their free action to draw the weapon, so a dual wielder is left with one hand free in the first round.

Answer 3

If you are not expecting combat, you would very likely not have a weapon at the ready. Caveat: The weapon is being utilized as a tool for a different purpose.

This answer relies solely on logic.

If you are not expecting to be attacked or engaged in combat, you would not likely have a drawn weapon. There are certain exceptions to this that require a liberal application of common sense.

Examples:

1. You're using your axe to split wood when you are attacked, obviously you have it ready;
2. You are a Rogue performing a juggling routine and have 6 knives twirling in the air at once when somebody steals a gold purse and starts running away;
3. You are spear fishing with your spear and a bear attacks you; and
4. You are honing the blade of your weapon as part of it's maintenance when you are attacked...; etc, etc, etc.

This list keeps going. The gist of it is that if you're using the weapon for something other than combat, it would be at the ready.

As for drawing the weapon during a reaction, this would be a solid no. Both points below can be found on PHB pg. 190.

Other Activity on Your Turn: The explicit wording with respect to the free item interaction is during your turn, specifically during your movement or action. The action economy in 5e is broken down into four distinct pieces: Movement, Action, Bonus Action and Reaction. The only two you have by default are Movement and Action, whereas Bonus Actions and Reactions are granted/triggered.

The really important part, which I will emphasize again for clarity, is that this is an activity that you can do on your turn.

Reactions: Described in the PHB as being a momentary disruption in response to a triggering event. While a reaction may occur on your turn, an opportunity attack occurs only on a creature's turn. So you would not be able to draw your weapon as part of the attack.

Answer 4

Since the other answers have addressed your primary concern of the state of a weapon at the beginning of an encounter (largely situational and will vary from table to table), I want to address mainly your last paragraph, because there is a misconception there that I don't see has been addressed by other answers.

Surprise
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If you're surprised, you can't move or take an action on your first turn of the combat, and you can't take a reaction until that turn ends.

If you are surprised, it doesn't matter if your weapon is drawn or not. You don't get to move or act and you don't get any reactions until after your first turn in the combat. Since you can only use your free interaction with an object to draw a weapon as part of movement or an action (see Other Activity On Your Turn, PHB 190), you can't draw your weapon during the first round when you are surprised.

This also means, unless you already have your weapon in your hand when combat starts, you won't be able to make opportunity attacks in a combat where you are surprised until after your second turn, when you are first able to draw a weapon.

Answer 5

I agree with the other answers, just one thing to add though:

Some weapons would naturally be "wielded" all the time. For example a long spear, halberd or staff is most often carried even when just walking around (unless it's stowed on your horse) so you could easily justify that being already in your hand when an attack happens.

Something like a sword or dagger that is usually kept sheathed (and in fact would get you funny looks from the guards if you were running around with them out) is a different matter.

Answer 6

Generally no, you don't have a weapon out automatically.

At least there is no rule about it.

For specific characters it might be different or depending on the situation. Does a player always describe his PC as walking around with his weapon drawn? For example a dwarf who rarely, if ever, puts his ancestral war-axe away and even cuddles with it in his sleep will, most likely, have it out when combat starts.