What Counts as a Ship in D&D 5e
In Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition, a ship is any vessel large enough to carry multiple characters, significant cargo, or a crew. Ships range from simple river barges to ocean‑going war galleons, and they are treated using rules in the Dungeon Master’s Guide and optional naval combat rules in Volo’s Guide to Monsters and Mordenkainen’s Tome of Foes. A ship is defined by size, hull type, speed, maneuverability, hit points, and the crew needed to operate it. This guide covers the most common ship categories you can use at the table, how they work in travel and combat, and how to choose or adapt them for your campaign.
Ship Size Categories and Examples
Ships in 5e are broadly grouped by size, which determines capacity, hit points, and the scale of crew and gear they can carry. Smaller craft are fast and maneuverable but fragile; larger vessels are resilient and roomy but slower and more expensive. Below are the canonical size bands and typical examples you can use or reskin for your setting.
Tiny and Small Craft
Tiny and small open boats and canoes are useful for river crossings, coastal scouting, or short lake voyages. They usually carry 1–2 passengers or a small crew, have low hit points, and little to no cargo space. These boats are inexpensive to build or charter and are often paddled or poled rather than sailed. In combat they are fragile but can be difficult to hit at very small sizes.
Medium Ships
Medium ships, such as coastal sloops and modest merchant cogs, are the workhorses of regional trade and short‑range naval travel. They can hold several passengers, modest cargo, and a small crew, and they typically mount a few simple weapons or fixtures for defense. These vessels are common in ports and are the most practical choice for campaigns focused on regional politics, mercantile intrigue, or adventuring along a coastline.
Large Ships
Large ships, including warships, galleons, and sturdy merchant men‑of‑war, are built for long voyages, heavy cargo, and combat. They carry substantial crews, ample stores, and multiple decks for passengers or fighting platforms. These ships are slower to turn, expensive to outfit, and often required for intercontinental travel or operations far from safe harbors. In naval engagements they can serve as mobile strongholds for boarding actions and ranged combat.
Official Ship Data at a Glance
The tables below summarize representative ship types based on the Dungeon Master’s Guide and related official sources. Actual values in your campaign should be adjusted to match tone, technology level, and local rules.
Cost, Speed, and Hit Points Comparison
| Ship | Size | Typical Cost (gp) | Sailing Speed (mph) | Hit Points | Typical Crew |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sailing Boat (Open) | Tiny | 50–150 | 3–6 (rowing or sailing) | 5–10 | 1–2 |
| Cog / Coastal Sloop | Small | 100–500 | 4–8 | 20–50 | 5–10 |
| Galley | Medium | 500–2,500 | 3–6 (rowing + sail) | 80–150 | 50–200 |
| Galleon | Large | 5,000–50,000 | 3–5 | 200–500 | 50–500 |
How Ships Move and Navigate
Ship speed in 5e is usually expressed in miles per hour (mph) while overland travel is measured in miles per day. A ship’s speed depends on its size, hull design, and whether it is wind‑powered or rowed. Expected daily travel distances vary with weather, crew experience, and route safety. Use the following baseline expectations and adjust for adverse conditions, magical assistance, or reckless sailing.
Travel Pace and Daily Range
- Coastal/Low seas (calm): A typical large ship might cover 50–100 miles per day under favorable winds.
- Open ocean (steady winds): Expect 100–200+ miles per day for fast, specialized vessels with experienced helmsmen.
- Adverse weather, currents, or combat: Halve or reduce daily distance significantly; storms can halt progress entirely or force damage checks.
Crew, Provisions, and Life at Sea
Operating a ship requires trained hands and steady supplies. Small craft might need a handful of sailors; warships or long‑range merchants require dozens or even hundreds of crew. Consider roles such as captain, helmsman, deckhand, cook, and lookout. Provisions include food, fresh water, torches, line, and spare parts. A general guideline is 1 gallon of water and 1 pound of food per person per day, stored in durable, waterproof containers.
Ship Combat and Tactical Play
Naval combat in 5e can be run using abstract ship statistics or detailed miniatures and grids. Many groups prefer the simplified approach from the Dungeon Master’s Guide: ships have Armor Class, hit points, speed, and a number of weapon attacks or damage instances per round. Range categories are typically within (boarding), near (light projectiles), and beyond (heavy siege). Critical factors include maneuverability, crew actions, and environmental effects like wind and tide. Spells and supernatural abilities can dramatically alter engagements, so decide how much magic is appropriate for your table.
Customizing and Building Your Own Ships
You are not locked to published stat blocks. For a distinctive campaign, reskin existing ships or design your own using these steps:
- Choose a size, then set hit points proportional to typical values for that size.
- Pick a base speed and adjust for hull type (deep‑keel, shallow draft, hull shape).
- Assign AC based on structure, armor plating, and defensive features.
- Add weapon emplacements or special mounts (ballistae, rams, grapeshot) and estimate damage.
- Determine crew requirements, cargo capacity, and purchase price, scaling cost with complexity and durability.
You can also add upgrades such as reinforced hulls, figureheads with magical properties, or integrated arcane engines. Work with your table to keep choices meaningful but balanced, especially when ships face enemy vessels or supernatural threats.
Integrating Ships Into Your Campaign
Ships can be personal property, municipal assets, or instruments of state power. Consider how ownership affects downtime, downtime activities, and risk. A player-owned vessel can serve as a mobile base, a source of income (privateering, trade contracts), or a stage for dramatic set pieces. For DMs, ships make excellent plot devices—smuggling routes, naval blockades, and maritime mysteries can drive entire arcs. Tie ship goals to character goals: a smuggler seeking new markets, a naval officer chasing a pirate warlord, or an explorer crossing an unknown sea.
Conclusion and Next Steps
Ships in D&D 5e are versatile tools for exploration, conflict, and storytelling. By understanding size, cost, speed, crew, and combat options, you can confidently introduce nautical travel into your game. Start small, iterate with your table, and scale complexity to match your campaign’s tone. Use this guide as a baseline, then customize ships to fit your world, your lore, and your players’ ambitions. Fair winds and following seas.
FAQ
Reader questions
Can my character pilot a ship alone?
Yes, but it’s difficult and risky. A single character can pilot a small craft, but large ships usually need a helmsman, someone to manage sails, and crew to handle rigging and combat stations. In dangerous waters or combat, a solo operator is at a serious disadvantage.
Do the official ship rules include grappling and ramming?
Yes. The Dungeon Master’s Guide and many third‑party supplements include options for ramming (colliding with another ship) and grappling (towing or latching onto another vessel). These actions use Strength checks or contested Athletics/Acrobatics checks and often involve hull checks and potential damage.
How do I handle long sea voyages without tedium?
Use travel checks for navigation, morale checks for crew unrest, and random events tables for weather, creatures, and opportunities. Keep agency with players by offering meaningful choices—change course, send scouts, chase rumors, or fortify the ship—so the journey advances story and character goals, not just clocks.
Are there magic ships or constructs in 5e?
Yes. Magic vessels range from simple charms that improve speed and maneuverability to entirely sentient ships. Dragon ships, elemental hulls, and vessels animated by spells like Leomund’s Tiny Hut or Fabricate provide interesting options for high‑magic campaigns. Treat their powers carefully to preserve tension and resources.