The threat range for a weapon indicates the likelihood of scoring a critical hit with that weapon. For most weapons, this range is 20, but some weapons have threat ranges of 19-20 or 18-20. All attack rolls that fall into the threat range before adding the attack bonus threaten a critical hit if the attack is successful. Such a threat is resolved by a threat roll, which is similar to an attack roll, but without automatic failure and success on natural rolls of 1 and 20, respectively.
A weapon's threat range can be increased through the keen item property and the improved critical and ki critical feats.
| Kukri, rapier, scimitar |
Crossbows,* dagger, heavy flail, swords |
All others | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unmodified threat range | 18–20 | 19–20 | 20 |
| With either keen or improved critical | 15–20 | 17–20 | 19–20 |
| With both keen and improved critical | 12–20 | 15–20 | 18–20 |
| With ki critical | 16–20 | 17–20 | 18–20 |
| With ki critical and either keen or improved critical |
13–20 | 15–20 | 17–20 |
| With all three | 10–20 | 13–20 | 16–20 |
Notes[]
- Crossbows are ranged weapons, so cannot benefit ki critical.