Creatures need a specific feature or ability that allows them to activate a Weapon Mastery. The Masteries don't automatically happen when anyone wields the weapon
If your cleric used the shortbow, they wouldn't get Vex on a hit either
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Active characters:
Carric Aquissar, elven wannabe artist in his deconstructionist period (Archfey warlock) Lan Kidogo, mapach archaeologist and treasure hunter (Knowledge cleric) Mardan Ferres, elven private investigator obsessed with that one unsolved murder (Assassin rogue) Xhekhetiel, halfling survivor of a Betrayer Gods cult (Runechild sorcerer/fighter)
Monsters have proficiency with their equipment, but no Weapon Mastery unless noted otherwise.
Ask your DM if the Skeleton during it's life had Shortbow Mastery and can use the Vex property again may be? :)
I just wanted to add that there is no harm in asking the DM but don't be surprised when they say no. RAW, most monster stat blocks don't include weapon masteries so the creatures don't gain the benefits. That includes warrior class NPCs like the warrior veteran which has proficiency with great swords and heavy crossbows but no mastery benefits. However, a DM can always choose to allow specific NPCs to use weapon masteries if they wish.
In addition, skeletons typically only have rudimentary thinking abilities. These creatures might be quite unlikely to retain the knowledge and training needed to display mastery of a weapon - which, depending on the DM, is why they might choose to say the skeleton won't have access to weapon masteries.
"They have rudimentary faculties and greater agility than zombies and similar shambling corpses. While they aren’t capable of creating plans of their own, they avoid obvious barriers and self-destructive situations."
"Zombies are unthinking, reanimated corpses"
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I'm a cleric and I animate a skeleton with a shortbow, does that skeleton inflict vex when it lands an attack?
I don't think so. Monsters have the options listed in their stat blocks, and if a Weapon Mastery isn't mentioned, I'd say they don't have it.
I remember a similar question here: 2024 Weapon Masteries - Ranger/Paladin vs Fighter
EDIT: or Monsters and Weapon Mastery
Creatures need a specific feature or ability that allows them to activate a Weapon Mastery. The Masteries don't automatically happen when anyone wields the weapon
If your cleric used the shortbow, they wouldn't get Vex on a hit either
Active characters:
Carric Aquissar, elven wannabe artist in his deconstructionist period (Archfey warlock)
Lan Kidogo, mapach archaeologist and treasure hunter (Knowledge cleric)
Mardan Ferres, elven private investigator obsessed with that one unsolved murder (Assassin rogue)
Xhekhetiel, halfling survivor of a Betrayer Gods cult (Runechild sorcerer/fighter)
Monsters have proficiency with their equipment, but no Weapon Mastery unless noted otherwise.
Ask your DM if the Skeleton during it's life had Shortbow Mastery and can use the Vex property again may be? :)
I just wanted to add that there is no harm in asking the DM but don't be surprised when they say no. RAW, most monster stat blocks don't include weapon masteries so the creatures don't gain the benefits. That includes warrior class NPCs like the warrior veteran which has proficiency with great swords and heavy crossbows but no mastery benefits. However, a DM can always choose to allow specific NPCs to use weapon masteries if they wish.
In addition, skeletons typically only have rudimentary thinking abilities. These creatures might be quite unlikely to retain the knowledge and training needed to display mastery of a weapon - which, depending on the DM, is why they might choose to say the skeleton won't have access to weapon masteries.
"They have rudimentary faculties and greater agility than zombies and similar shambling corpses. While they aren’t capable of creating plans of their own, they avoid obvious barriers and self-destructive situations."
"Zombies are unthinking, reanimated corpses"