[RPG] Using a ranged weapon with the Ammunition property for a melee attack

attackdnd-5emelee-combatweapons

Under the section on Improvised Weapons, this rule shows up:

If a character uses a ranged weapon to make a melee attack, or throws a melee weapon that does not have the thrown property, it also deals 1d4 damage.

Does this allow for melee attacks with ranged weapons, rather than simply treating the ranged weapon as an object for the purposes of this line:

An improvised weapon includes any object you can wield in one or two hands.

If I attack with a ranged weapon that has the Ammunition property, can I use it as a ranged weapon (and keep its properties) or must it be an improvised weapon?

Best Answer

Improvised

In the Players Handbook, there are two main examples of standard weapons becoming improvised weapons.

[PHB, p. 147] If you use a weapon that has the ammunition property to make a melee attack, you treat the weapon as an improvised weapon (see "Improvised Weapons" later in the section). A sling must be loaded to deal any damage when used in this way.

and

[PHB, p. 148, in the section on Improvised Weapons] If a character uses a ranged weapon to make a melee attack, or throws a melee weapon that does not have the thrown property, it also deals 1d4 damage. An improvised thrown weapon has a normal range of 20 feet and a long range of 60 feet.

Thus, weapons that have the ammunition property used to make melee attacks, or weapons that are thrown which do not have the thrown property, count as Improvised Weapons. In each case, the weapons would follow all the rules for improvised weapons. (For example, you would not use your proficiency bonus to attack with them unless you have the Tavern Brawler Feat). Since "the DM assigns a damage type appropriate to the object" (PHB, p. 148) for an improvised weapon, the damage type would depend on your manner of attack.


Seeing the comments on your question, you may be referring to making a ranged attack against an enemy that is within 5 feet of you. If this is the case, see "Ranged Attacks in Close Combat" (PHB, p. 195).