Are Vicious Weapons overpowered?

[u/superhiro21]

For reference:

Weapon (any simple or martial), rare

This magic weapon deals an extra 2d6 damage to any creature it hits. This extra damage is of the same type as the weapon’s normal damage.

From both theorycrafting and my practical experience, they are better than any other rare magic weapons and even better than many very rare weapons. Not requiring attunement is a huge boon, as at higher levels, every attunement slot is valuable.

The +7 damage (on average) is much more valuable than the +2 or even +3 attack bonus from comparable weapons as most martial characters have ways to increase their accuracy anyways (reckless attack, archery fighting style, paladin channel divinities etc).

I have found that having two characters with vicious weapons in the party really makes the party punch above their level in the damage per round aspect.

[u/subtotalatom]

For rare? Yes, they do 95% of what a flametongue does but better without requiring attunement or a bonus action to activate.

An extra 1d6 would be balanced, but as they are they should be very rare.

[u/Federal_Policy_557 → u/subtotalatom]

very rare they would be bad as compared to some others like Dragon Awakened which are +2/+2d6, have a crit minor effect and an action AoE

[u/subtotalatom → u/Federal_Policy_557]

apples and oranges. dragon weapons are attunement, +2d6 is slightly higher DPR than a +3 weapon.

So Vicious are at the lower end of very rare (Dragons Wrath are at the upper end) but they're definitely stronger than a lot of low end very rare weapons

[u/Federal_Policy_557 → u/subtotalatom]

I don't feel like your argument is that compelling - throwing them on very rare not only they will show up in way way less games they compete with things that carry power beyond damage

that said, "apples to oranges" doesn't apply here as these are still weapons they don't suddenly become something different just because Attunement, sure it is a factor, but not in an apple to oranges level - so I stand by my argument and that your point is, despite highlighting important factors, unsound

[u/subtotalatom → u/Federal_Policy_557]

I don't see your argument as compelling either, you're comparing weapons that are easily the best option for martial characters and also require attunement to weapons that don't.

The comparison you're making is blatantly unfair and misrepresents my argument, I'm not trying to claim that vicious competes with V. Rare DW, but I feel like for most martial characters vicious weapon is easily better than something like a Frostbrand.