Do monsters need to switch weapons

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Do monsters, like bandits, have to switch their weapon before they can attack with it, like PCs do or is it included in the action?

I am asking as a new DM and I am not entirely sure how to run monsters that have actions that are named after weapons and are weapon attacks, like the bandit stat block has. If he attacks with the crossbow and then with the scimitar, are there any rules saying he has to use his item interaction (if he has any) to stow it or switch it or something?

Best Answer

NPC monsters switch weapons as PCs do

The Monster Manual on page 10 says:

ACTIONS When a monster takes its action, it can choose from the options in the Actions section of its stat block or use one of the actions available to all creatures, (...), as described in the Player's Handbook.

MELEE AND RANGED ATTACKS (...) These can be spell attacks or weapon attacks, where the "weapon" might be a manufactured item or a natural weapon, such as a claw or tail spike. For more information on different kinds of attacks, see the Player's Handbook.

This indicates that in general, the use of actions and weapons by monsters follows the normal rules that apply to PCs in the player's heandbook. In addition, the section introducing NPCs has the following to say

Armor and Weapon Swaps. You can upgrade or downgrade an NPC's armor, or add or switch weapons.

It is clear that the weapons are not a special extention of the creature. NPCs are humanoids carrying and wielding weapons just like the PCs, which can be exchanged for other weapons. Doing so is a free action for dropping a weapon, or can be a object interaction for drawing a weapon, just as it would be for PCs.

If a bandit wants to swap their light crossbow for their scimitar, they could keep it in their off-hand, while drawing the scimitar as an object interaction, and then attack with the scimitar as their main action.

Note that natural weapons like a bite or claw do not need to be equipped like that, and are available without any kind of action needed to exchange them, although you might need to drop a weapon you are holding to use your claws.

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