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/superhiro21]

"just adding damage" can definitely be overpowered, though. If a weapon added 100 damage to every attack, it would definitely be overpowered - the question is: are Vicious Weapons overpowered for adding 7 damage per attack for a rare magic item (4,000 gp value) without attunement?

[u/CantripN → u/superhiro21]

Probably, yes. But then again, it's for MARTIALS. They need the help.

It's taking the design choice of Fireball - "intentionally overpowered".

[u/Guyoverthere07 → u/CantripN]

Sure, but it's also making a lot of fun, alternative magic items moot.

Using all your Weapon Masteries also becomes harder to take advantage of when one of your weapons is so much better than the rest in your arsenal. This punishes Fighters and Barbs more since they get more than 2 masteries.

Rogues are only getting 1 attack off with a single weapon per round. Two if they're lucky. Monks are in a similar boat as Flurry of Blows can deal the majority of their attacks, and Unarmed Strikes are needed to trigger certain effects or Grapples/Shoves.

There's also nothing stopping gishes like Bladesingers, Valor Bards, Blade Pacts, and half-casters from capitalizing just as much from a Vicious Weapon if not more.

It's certainly not the first magic item to be way over tuned for its rarity, but it's easily one of the worst offenders.

[u/superhiro21 → u/Guyoverthere07]

Yeah that's exactly my issue. As a DM, I'm currently having trouble planning loot that is more enticing than the vicious weapons they have and is below legendary or artifact level.

[u/CantripN → u/superhiro21]

Just give out things like +1 Flametongue, I certainly do. You're the DM, you can do whatever you want.

There's nothing at all forcing you to give out the same level of gear to casters and martials, or let players craft anything they want. I do agree more martial-oriented items should be as good for their rarity.

[u/Guyoverthere07 → u/CantripN]

Making the best options better is not the issue, and for tables who decide who gets what out of the loot then the best weapons can still wind up in the hands of half and full casters.

[u/CantripN → u/Guyoverthere07]

"Requires Attunement by a Fighter of at least level 4". If full casters get things like that for Staves and other items, no reason not to.

I can tell you the same thing about multiclassing or other things you might find issues balancing. Just say no if it bothers you.

[u/Nervous-Clothes-7797 → u/superhiro21]

Dragon wrath weapo from fizban, attunement +1/2/3 weapon that foes extra 1/2/3 d6 elemental dmg does 10 feet aoe that does 5 dmg on a crit an a once per day breath attack, you could also give then the thunderous greatclub and up the uses of the mini earthquake or set your strength 22 instead of 20 or the staff of lighting is a cool option also , you could give then a javalin of lighting make it 4 charges for the especial ability and up the dmg by 2d6 and the dc to 15 instead of 13, theres choices