Ultimately, it's because the effect of magical ammunition can be stacked with the effects of a magic weapon that uses that ammunition. Got a +2 arrow and a +3 longbow? You've now got a +5 to an attack roll/damage roll made with that weapon/ammo combo. Got an arrow of dragon slaying and a dragon wing bow? You've now got a bow that does additional damage against dragons and does damage of a type other than piercing.
Magic ammunition is a nice 1-off use (or “1-shot” if you prefer 😂) magic item like potions or scrolls. It’s a way for the DM to give the players something useful and meaningful without having to worry about long-term affects down the line. Give the party a +2 Longbow to use against a kid-tier BBE and they have it forever. That might be fine or it might unbalance things later when they also have bracers of archery and multiclass or take a feat to pick up the Archery Fighting Style and/or Sharpshooter. But give them a handful of +2 arrows and you don’t have that same problem. Kinda like the difference between giving them a belt of giant strength Vs. a potion of giant strength. Make sense?
As the title states, I do not find a use for magical ammunition. Is there one I'm not seeing? Or am I just an idiot?
"Anyone can smith at the cosmic anvil, yet only I can forge a weapon as good as thee."
My Homebrew Please click it, they have my family.
Ultimately, it's because the effect of magical ammunition can be stacked with the effects of a magic weapon that uses that ammunition. Got a +2 arrow and a +3 longbow? You've now got a +5 to an attack roll/damage roll made with that weapon/ammo combo. Got an arrow of dragon slaying and a dragon wing bow? You've now got a bow that does additional damage against dragons and does damage of a type other than piercing.
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It does? That's quite interesting. I did not know that. Thank you!
"Anyone can smith at the cosmic anvil, yet only I can forge a weapon as good as thee."
My Homebrew Please click it, they have my family.
Magic ammunition is a nice 1-off use (or “1-shot” if you prefer 😂) magic item like potions or scrolls. It’s a way for the DM to give the players something useful and meaningful without having to worry about long-term affects down the line. Give the party a +2 Longbow to use against a kid-tier BBE and they have it forever. That might be fine or it might unbalance things later when they also have bracers of archery and multiclass or take a feat to pick up the Archery Fighting Style and/or Sharpshooter. But give them a handful of +2 arrows and you don’t have that same problem. Kinda like the difference between giving them a belt of giant strength Vs. a potion of giant strength. Make sense?
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