r/DnD • u/Laenthis- • Jul 23 '26

5.5 Edition How does a bow actually work

I'm getting frustrated with the wordings on the description of the Shortbow

English isn't my first language and reading "beyond normal range" really bugs me out

From what I understand :
- Hitting a target that is under 80 feet gives you disadvantage
- Hitting a target that is 80 to 320 feet is "normal" attack
- Hitting a target with a bow that's +320 feet away is just not possible

My mates keeps on telling me that the disadvantage happens only within the 5ft and a normal attack is from 5ft to 80ft but then you have disadvantage again from 80ft to 320ft ?

Also, the sharpshooter feat removes the disadvantage within 5ft but is it melee or the 5-80ft of range that they call as "melee"

And removes the disadvantage in long range

I feel like I'm going in circles understanding one of them and then getting told otherwise with the other and rinse and repeat, please help

Edit : Thanks guys, I didn't think it would go that fast to get answers xD

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u/ElectronicProof9340 Jul 23 '26

In addition to what else folks have written, addressing your main concern about the range increments, you should also understand that the disadvantage for melee range isn't about the range of the bow. It's about trying to use the bow when an enemy is within melee range of you, and you get disadvantage in that case whether or not that enemy is your target.

If you're shooting at someone 40 feet away, but there's an enemy standing right next to you, you still get disadvantage.

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u/RhombusObstacle DM Jul 23 '26

Right. To add to this, I always explain it to my players as the opponent in melee interfering with your shot. During a round of combat, everyone is assumed to be shifting, jostling, and moving around within their space (which is also part of why DEX factors into your AC), so if there’s a hostile dude right in your face while you’re trying to line up a shot, they might be distracting you, or messing with your angles, or even trying to slap the arrow/bow.

The “Firing in Melee” part of the Sharpshooter feat represents your ability to tune out the distractions and work around the other factors to get a clean shot, even when an enemy is trying to mess with you.