This is the second iteration for the magic weapon that I designed for the Barbarian of the group for which I am DMing: the first version can be found [here][1]. For reference, I report the motivation behind this new item creation: > *The reason why I created this weapon is because she desired to have a good ranged weapon in case she can not reach immediately, i.e. in the first round of combat, the heat of the battle (and sometimes it happened). She uses two handaxes in melee combat and tried to use javelins for ranged attacks, but we felt that this kind of weapon does not fit with the character.* The Barbarian is going to reach level 10 in the next sessions. The new description is the following one. > *Handaxe of the storm* > > Weapon (handaxe), uncommon > > The blade of this axe is finely decorated with images of storms and lightning. > >When making a ranged weapon attack, you can spend one or two charges to hurl a copy of the axe, made by crackling light, whilst the weapon remains in your hand. > > When one charge is spent, on a hit it deals 11 (3d6) lighting damage to the target. > > When two charges are spent, dozens of axes appears around the original copy in a cone of 15 ft. The point of origin of the cone must be within 15 ft of the target and it must lie on the line linking you and the target. Each creature in that cone must make a DC 13 Dexterity saving throw, taking 14 (4d6) lightning damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one. On a hit, the target of the attack takes 11 (3d6) lighting damage > > When used as a melee weapon, the axe counts as a magical weapon for overcoming resistance to non magical damage. Its range is 40/80 ft. > >The axe has 3 charges, which are renewed each day at dawn. Following the suggestions from the answers to my previous question, the [javelin of lightning][2] was the baseline for damage and DC, but I modified AoE and damage to the target. - If used on a single target, I reduced the damage from 4d6 to 3d6 because with 3 charges this can be done 3 times per day, instead once as for the javelin. Moreover, in this way the damage output is only slightly larger than the expected damage of a normal attack (1d6+7, under rage). - The range has increased to 40/80 ft. - She throws a copy of the handaxe, instead of the weapon itself: this is meant to be a replacement of the classical returning property (like Mjöllnir's), I designed in this way to add some flavor and cinematic. - The weapon counts as magical, even if it does not have any +1 to attack roll or damage. - I removed the attunement requirement. Down below I list some doubts that I still have. - Maybe the description of the point of origin of the cone is quite convoluted: but I wanted to emphasize that the point of origin must be in a particular position and that it cannot be chosen anywhere. - I allowed that the damage of the AoE affects also the original target of the ranged attack. Indeed, even against a single target, the Barbarian can still use this feature using 2 charges. If all the charges are spent against a single target (2 for the AoE and 1 for the other attack), assuming that she hits all the times, a grand total of 10d6 (or 8d6, if the ST is successful) force damage is dealt, against 9d6 using 3 separate charges: from a damage point of view I do not see so much differences, I think it leaves some strategy to the player, but maybe I am missing something here. - I doubled the range, but I wonder if it sufficient. - With 3 charges, she can use the AoE once per day: this was deliberate, because I do not want her to replace the role of the spellcasters with AoE spells (which already are difficult to put in place, since the melee fighters are always close to enemies). - for a soon-to-be 10 level barbarian, maybe the damage is too low: should it be a +1 weapon? Maybe there are some other issues that I fail to see. [1]: https://rpg.stackexchange.com/q/197607/63061 [2]: https://www.dndbeyond.com/magic-items/4667-javelin-of-lightning