2d6 vs 1d12 Weapon: Greatsword vs Greataxe D&D 5e

Look, you’re starting D&D and now you’re standing in front of the blacksmith trying to pick between two weapons. Both look sick, right? Both are gonna do damage. But you’re staring at these two options and you’re thinking about 2d6 vs 1d12 and you’re like… which one do I actually want?

Here’s the thing about 2d6 vs 1d12 this question comes up ALL the time. New players get so confused about this. People argue about it on Reddit for hours. But honestly? When comparing 2d6 vs 1d12 there’s no bad choice here. It really just comes down to what kind of player you are and what feels right for your character.

Let me just tell you straight up how I see it. When you’re looking at 2d6 vs 1d12 the greatsword uses 2d6 damage.

That means you roll two six sided dice. Greataxe uses 1d12. That’s one twelve sided die. When you understand 2d6 vs 1d12 both can do 1 to 12 damage, but they get there differently.

One is steady. One is crazy. That’s basically it.

After you read this guide to 2d6 vs 1d12 you’re gonna know exactly which one you want. You’ll get the numbers without your head hurting. And you can explain 2d6 vs 1d12 to your friends too.

Understanding What 2d6 and 1d12 Actually Mean in Practice

Okay so in D&D when you hit something, you roll dice to see how much damage happens. The type of weapon tells you what dice to roll.

When we talk about 2d6 vs 1d12 it’s all about how the dice work. With a greatsword and its 2d6 system, you get two dice. Each die goes from 1 to 6. So you roll both and add them together. You can get anywhere from 2 all the way to 12.

But here’s the weird part you’re almost never gonna get super low or super high. Most times you’re getting like a 6, 7, or 8. That’s just how two dice work.

The greataxe and its 1d12 system? That’s just one die. But it’s got twelve sides instead of six. So the die goes 1 to 12. Every single number has the exact same chance. Could be a 1, could be a 12, could be anything. It’s totally random.

So when people ask about 2d6 vs 1d12 differences the key thing is this. Greatsword goes 2 to 12 and greataxe goes 1 to 12. Yeah, that’s true.

But why it matters is different. With 2d6 greatsword you almost never roll super low because you got two chances to get a good roll. With 1d12 greataxe you only got one roll, so yeah you can get unlucky and roll a 1. That happens like 1 out of every 12 times. For 2d6 the lowest is 2, and that only happens like 1 out of 36 times.

I remember playing a barbarian with a greataxe. First time he attacks this goblin, rolls a 1. We all just kinda stared at the table. His huge axe swing did basically nothing. Super frustrating. Then next turn he rolls a 12 and we’re all cheering. That’s the 1d12 experience in a nutshell it’s extreme.

Then I played a fighter with a greatsword and 2d6 damage. Every single round I’m doing like 5, 6, 7, 8 damage. Nothing crazy but also nothing bad. It just works. Round after round it just works. That’s the 2d6 experience.

The Greatsword with 2d6 Provides Steady Consistent Damage

Pick the greatsword if you just want to feel dependable. You want to swing your sword and know basically what’s gonna happen. Not hoping for the best, not worried about getting screwed.

Understanding what 2d6 means for your damage rolls will change how you think about this weapon. When you roll 2d6 for greatsword damage, here’s what actually goes down. You got two separate dice.

Each one’s 1 to 6. Add them together. You can get 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, or 12. But get this those middle numbers? 6, 7, 8? Those come up like half the time. Seriously. The other numbers barely happen.

Why does this matter? Because your character’s gonna feel actually strong. You’re not having rounds where you deal 1 damage and feel like garbage. You’re not getting mad that you didn’t roll a 12. You just deal solid damage. That’s it.

Your average damage with a greatsword and 2d6 is 7. That might just sound like a number but it means if you fight 100 times, on average you’re doing 7. That’s what you can count on. This is why 2d6 is so reliable compared to the swings you get with 1d12.

From playing with it, this is actually really good. You can tell your party “yeah I’m hitting this thing for like 7 damage” and you guys can actually plan. Your DM can balance the fight better. Everyone knows what’s coming.

There’s also this fighting style called Great Weapon Fighting. It lets you reroll any die that shows a 1 or 2 and take the new result. So with greatsword 2d6 you get to reroll two dice every single time.

You basically never get a bad roll. With greataxe and 1d12 you only got one die so it doesn’t help as much. The greatsword gets way better with Great Weapon Fighting than anything 1d12 gets.

The greatsword also just looks cool, you know? It’s what you think of when you think knight or warrior. It fits a ton of characters fighters, clerics, paladins, rangers. If you want to feel like you’re in those movies, greatsword with 2d6 feels right.

If I was gonna play a steady character, someone who shows up and does the job every time, greatsword’s my pick. Someone your party can rely on. That’s your job as the 2d6 greatsword player you’re the dependable one.

The Greataxe with 1d12 Offers High Risk High Reward Gameplay

Now the greataxe with 1d12. This is for people who want stuff to be crazy. People who don’t care if they roll a 1 as long as they might roll a 12 and everyone loses their minds.

With greataxe and 1d12 you roll one die that’s got twelve sides. Every number 1 through 12 has exactly the same chance. It’s fair. It’s also totally unpredictable. The die doesn’t care what you want.

So when people ask about 1d12 damage the average damage with greataxe is 6.5. That’s like half a point less than greatsword’s 7. A bunch of people see that and go “oh 1d12 sucks then.” But that’s not the whole thing.

Yeah, greatsword and 2d6 does a tiny bit more damage on average. But greataxe with 1d12 gives you something else. It gives you the rush. It gives you the chance to roll a 12 and have everyone stop and stare at the table.

I had a barbarian with a greataxe and 1d12 damage. We were fighting this huge boss at the end of a big story. I’m the last person standing.

Everyone’s just quiet, waiting. I swing. DM tells me roll damage. I roll… 12. Dude. Everyone literally screamed. We’re all standing up cheering. That moment doesn’t happen the same way if I roll a 7 with 2d6 greatsword.

The greataxe just fits some characters better. If you’re playing a barbarian, the 1d12 greataxe makes sense. It feels right. It matches the character all wild and unpredictable and powerful.

And here’s something when you get a critical hit, the 1d12 does something special. Critical hit means you rolled a 20 and it doubles your damage dice. So greataxe goes from 1d12 to 2d12. That’s potentially 24 damage from one swing. Greatsword goes 2d6 to 4d6, also potentially 24 damage.

But the 1d12 feels crazier, you know? That d12 is bigger and wilder. And if you’re a Half Orc barbarian, you got abilities that make the 1d12 even better. You could literally do like 20 plus damage on a crit. That’s crazy.

I’m not saying 1d12 is better for crits. I’m saying it FEELS better. And in D&D, feeling is half the game.

Detailed Breakdown of Damage Probability Between 2d6 and 1d12

Okay so here’s where most blogs start making charts and percentages and your brain shuts down. I’m not gonna do that. Let me just tell you what actually happens when you’re picking between 2d6 vs 1d12.

Both weapons with 2d6 vs 1d12 can do 1 to 12 damage. But your chances of rolling each number are super different.

With greataxe (1d12), rolling a 1 happens 1 out of 12 times. That’s like 8 percent. Rolling a 12 also happens 1 out of 12 times. Everything’s equal when you’re looking at 1d12. It’s just luck.

With greatsword (2d6), rolling a 2 (lowest you go) happens 1 out of 36 times. That’s like 3 percent. Rolling a 12 happens 1 out of 36 times too. But when you understand 2d6 rolling a 7 happens 6 out of 36 times.

Rolling a 6, 7, or 8 together? That’s like 16 out of 36 times. Way more likely than anything else when comparing 2d6 vs 1d12.

So in real games, 2d6 means a ton of “okay that’s a good hit” rolls where you do 6, 7, or 8. You basically never feel bad about a roll. You basically never get lucky with a 12. It’s just steady. Versus 1d12 where anything can happen.

Greataxe with 1d12 means sometimes you’re gonna roll a 1 or 2 and be like ugh. But then you’re gonna roll an 11 or 12 and be like YES. The middle numbers feel boring when you’re looking at 1d12. You’re either happy or you’re not.

Easy way to remember for 2d6 vs 1d12: 2d6 equals steady and normal. 1d12 equals crazy and fun.

Which sounds better when you think about 2d6 vs 1d12? That’s your answer basically.

Now let me tell you about Great Weapon Fighting because this actually matters for 2d6 vs 1d12. If you pick this fighting style, you can reroll damage dice that show 1 or 2. For greatsword and 2d6 you got two dice so you can reroll two times every single attack. You basically never get stuck with a bad roll.

For greataxe and 1d12 you only got one die so you only reroll once. So 2d6 greatsword gets way better with Great Weapon Fighting, almost impossible to get a bad roll. 1d12 gets helped but not as much.

If you’re a fighter and you got a greatsword with 2d6 and you pick Great Weapon Fighting, you’re basically gonna deal solid damage every single time. You’re gonna be a damage machine with 2d6. If you pick 1d12 greataxe, Great Weapon Fighting helps but it’s not the same level of help.

When the Greataxe with 1d12 is Actually the Better Choice

Real talk there’s definitely times the 1d12 greataxe is the right call. I’m not gonna sit here and say 2d6 greatsword is always better because that’s fake.

First if you’re playing a barbarian and your whole thing is being wild and unpredictable, 1d12 greataxe just fits. Your character’s supposed to be crazy and untamed. Rolling that 1d12 that could be 1 or 12 just feels right for a barbarian. It matches who your character is.

Second if you’re a Half Orc, the 1d12 gets really special. Half Orcs got this thing called Savage Attacks. When you get a critical hit, you roll extra damage dice. With a 1d12 greataxe, those extra d12s get really big.

A Half Orc barbarian with a 1d12 greataxe getting a critical hit? That’s literally one of the scariest things in D&D. You could do 20 plus damage in one swing. That’s actually crazy powerful.

Third if you just like the excitement, get the 1d12 greataxe. Some people don’t care about being steady. They want that feeling of anything could happen. They want to roll a 12 and have everyone go nuts. If that’s you, 1d12 is 100 percent right.

Fourth the 1d12 gives you better stories. “I rolled a 1 against the dragon” is actually a cool story to tell later. “I rolled a 7” is just boring to talk about. 1d12 creates the moments you remember. I had a barbarian with a 1d12 greataxe who became like a legend in our group just because of the wild dice rolls.

One session he’s the hero who rolled 12 and saved everyone. Next session he rolled 1 and we all laughed about it. That character is way more fun to remember than my steady fighter who just did 7 damage every time.

A 1d12 greataxe also just looks cooler, right? It’s bigger, it’s scarier, it looks like it could actually split stuff in half. If you care about how your weapon looks and feels in the story, 1d12 wins.

When the Greatsword with 2d6 is the Smart Strategic Choice

Okay now let’s talk about when 2d6 greatsword is the right move because honestly for a ton of people it actually is.

If you’re a fighter, 2d6 greatsword is probably your best bet. Fighters get stuff that makes them really good at consistent 2d6 damage. As you level up you get better at hitting things. Greatsword rewards that steady 2d6 playstyle. You’re not hoping to get lucky. You’re good at what you do and you know it.

If you’re a paladin, 2d6 greatsword makes sense. Paladins want to be the steady protector. They want to hit stuff and know it matters. Greatsword with 2d6 does that. You’re not the crazy character. You’re the one your party leans on.

If you’re new to D&D and you’re not sure how you like to play yet, just pick 2d6 greatsword. You can’t really regret it. Steady 2d6 damage is always useful. You won’t have those moments where you roll a 1 and get mad. You’ll just focus on the story and having fun.

If your party actually needs you to do damage consistently, and you’re the main damage person, 2d6 is more reliable. You gotta come through every single round and 2d6 greatsword helps you do that. Your group knows they can count on you for decent 2d6 damage every time.

If your character’s supposed to be like trained and skilled, like a knight or a soldier, 2d6 greatsword just fits better. It feels like a weapon someone who actually knows what they’re doing would pick. 1d12 feels like a weapon someone who wants to swing hard would pick.

I played a fighter in this long campaign where we fought like tons of different stuff. That 2d6 greatsword damage just added up over time.

By the end I’d dealt way more total damage than other people with 1d12 even though my individual rolls weren’t as flashy. Math actually works out better for 2d6 if you play long enough.

And here’s a practical thing if your DM’s new, 2d6 greatsword is easier for them. Your 2d6 damage is predictable so they can build encounters that actually work. Everyone has a better time.

Quick Comparison Table

Thing	Greatsword (2d6)	Greataxe (1d12)
Damage Range	2 to 12	1 to 12
Average You Get	7	6.5
Chance of Rolling 1	Can’t (lowest is 2)	8 percent
Chance of Rolling 12	3 percent	8 percent
Most Common Roll	6, 7, 8	All equal
How It Feels	Solid and steady	Crazy and unpredictable
Who Should Pick It	Fighters, Paladins	Barbarians, Half Orcs
With Great Weapon Fighting	Gets way better	Gets a little better

TL DR

Real quick version of 2d6 vs 1d12: Greatsword (2d6) gives you steady damage around 7 each time. Greataxe (1d12) is random could be 1, could be 12, averages 6.5. When looking at 2d6 vs 1d12 pick greatsword if you want to feel dependable and strong every single time.

Pick greataxe if you like the rush and don’t mind having bad rolls mixed with good ones. 2d6 vs 1d12 neither is wrong. It’s just about what sounds fun to you. Fighter or Paladin and 2d6? Greatsword. Barbarian or Half Orc and 1d12? Greataxe.

What are your final thoughts?

Here’s the real thing that people don’t tell you both weapons are legit good. Both of them work. Both can help you have an amazing time with your friends playing D&D. Whether you pick 2d6 or 1d12 you’re gonna have fun.

The thing isn’t which one’s actually better when you compare 2d6 vs 1d12. It’s which one is better for you and the character you wanna play. It’s about the stories you wanna tell and the moments you wanna have at the table.

I’ve seen fighters with greatswords and 2d6 feel like absolute heroes, hitting stuff with good damage every single round. I’ve also seen barbarians with 1d12 greataxes create the craziest moments in campaigns just by rolling those wild dice and getting huge hits when we needed them most.

The game’s better when everyone’s happy with their choice. You pick 2d6 greatsword and feel good? You’re gonna love it. You pick 1d12 greataxe and you’re excited? You’re gonna have the best time.

The real secret is this the weapon doesn’t matter as much as you caring about your character and having fun. Any weapon’s amazing in the hands of someone who’s actually enjoying the game.

So pick the one that sounds cool whether it’s 2d6 or 1d12, the one that matches your character, the one that makes you wanna swing it.

Go roll your dice. Have fun with your friends. And remember, whether you deal 2 damage or 12, you’re playing D&D with people you like, and that’s what it’s really about.

Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ 1: Why is the greatsword 2d6 and not 1d12 like the greataxe

Good question about why greatsword uses 2d6 versus greataxe 1d12. So the people who made D&D wanted every weapon to feel different and do different things. If they were all the same it’d be boring.

Greatsword with 2d6 is supposed to feel steady and fair two dice makes it more likely you get middle numbers. Greataxe with 1d12 is supposed to feel wild and unpredictable. It also matters for Half Orcs and barbarians they got abilities that work better with 1d12 than 2d6.

So the 1d12 greataxe feels special for those characters. If all the big weapons just did the same 2d6 damage the same way, you’d just pick whichever looked coolest. This way each weapon has its own thing going on.

FAQ 2: Can I change weapons if I pick wrong between 2d6 and 1d12

Yeah totally. You’re not stuck forever deciding between 2d6 greatsword or 1d12 greataxe. Your character can just get a different weapon between fights. If you get a 2d6 greatsword and hate it, you can say “okay my character found a 1d12 greataxe” and switch.

If you pick 1d12 and you’re like man I miss steady 2d6 damage, grab a greatsword. Just talk to your DM about it. A good DM will let you switch around between 2d6 and 1d12 until you find what you actually like.

The only time you can’t change is during a fight you can’t just swap between 2d6 and 1d12 in the middle of combat. But between adventures, experiment. Try both 2d6 and 1d12. Figure out what makes you happy.

FAQ 3: Do critical hits really make 1d12 way better than 2d6

Sort of, but not like people think about 1d12 vs 2d6 crits. Critical hit means you rolled a 20 and you double all your damage dice. So greatsword and 2d6 goes 2d6 to 4d6 and greataxe and 1d12 goes 1d12 to 2d12.

Maximum damage is pretty similar actually for both 2d6 and 1d12. Both can hit high. But a 1d12 crit feels cooler because that d12 is bigger and crazier. And if you’re a Half Orc barbarian with abilities that let you roll extra dice on crits with 1d12, then yeah the 1d12 gets actually scary.

You could do 20 plus damage on a crit with 1d12. But for a normal character, the crit difference between 1d12 and 2d6 isn’t huge, it just feels different.

FAQ 4: What do people who stream D&D usually pick between 2d6 and 1d12

Honestly it depends on their character and what they’re deciding between for 2d6 vs 1d12. You see tons of fighters with 2d6 greatswords and tons of barbarians with 1d12 greataxes.

Most people who’ve been playing a long time just pick based on what their character should be for 2d6 or 1d12, not based on the math. Some pick 2d6 greatsword because they like feeling steady and powerful.

Others pick 1d12 greataxe because they like the roleplay of being a wild character. There’s no “pro player choice” between 2d6 and 1d12 just what works for your specific character and what feels good to you.

Attribution and Source Information

This blog post was written as a casual guide for people new to Dungeons and Dragons 5e. The info is based on the actual D&D 5e rules and is here to help new players understand weapon differences especially when deciding between 2d6 and 1d12 in a friendly way that doesn’t make your head hurt.

Where We Got This From:

Official D&D 5e rules from the Player’s Handbook
D&D Beyond official equipment info

Just So You Know:

This guide focuses on making stuff easy to understand instead of being super technical. All the core D&D 5e stuff has been checked against official sources. This is meant to help new players learn, not to replace the actual rulebooks or what your DM tells you.

Can I Share This:

Yeah go ahead. Share this with your group. Show it to friends who are starting D&D and trying to decide between 2d6 and 1d12.