A ranged weapon is any weapon that can engage targets beyond hand-to-hand distance, i.e. at distances greater than the physical reach of the weapon itself. It is sometimes also called projectile weapon or missile weapon because it typically works by launching projectiles, though technically a directed-energy weapon (which does not involve projectiles) is also a ranged weapon. In contrast, a weapon intended to be used in hand-to-hand combat is called a melee weapon.
Ranged weapons give the attacker an advantage in combat, since the target is often getting hit from beyond immediate visual range, and therefore has less time to react and more difficulty defending and hitting back effectively.[1] It also puts distance between the attacker and the opponent, which is a safer combat option since the close physical contact during melee combat often puts the attacker within the immediate striking range of enemy counterattack, and thus at an equal risk of getting hurt or killed.
The line between ranged and melee weapons is not entirely definite; for instance, spears, axes, knives and daggers can be used for both throwing and striking, depending on purpose and situation; and a ranged weapon can also be used as a melee weapon in close encounters, such as a rifle being used for melee with its buttstock and a fixed bayonet, handguns can be used as an improvised hammer and even an arrow can be used for stabbing in desperate situations.
May 31, 2015 Let me ask you this; if what you say is true, then non-spell ranged-touch attacks would ALSO not be subject to the -4 penalty for firing into melee. Therefore, I could throw a net at an opponent engaged with a friendly and not suffer any penalties! Nets are Ranged Touch attack weapons! This would apply to acid flasks, tanglefoot bags, etc. Jun 17, 2015 ARK: Survival Evolved. No ranged dmg is boosted by your melee stat. MrPuppy94 Jun 17, 2015 @ 4:30pm. Melle damage only applies to non ranged weapons and if your talking about the melle attack with a bow it was recently nerfed to the ground since folks were abusing the torpor effect from the bow blunt attack and it should lose a 1/4. Dec 05, 2017 Yes there is a fourth one wich is weopon dmg. So u have spell/weopon dmg and range/melee as counterparts and its like the pre poster said the range/melee bonus/malus is related to your relative distance to the target.
Oct 21, 2017 @JeremyECrawford Hi Jeremy, The Barbarians +2 damage when raging, does it apply to weapons such as the Dwarven Thrower when thrown? — John Miller (@Johnwma29) September 8, 2017 The damage bonus granted by Rage applies to melee attacks, not ranged attacks. Melee Damage is a measure of how much damage you deal when attacking with your fists or any tool or weapon. Higher damage allows you to kill creatures and other players as well as harvest resources in fewer hits. It can also increase the amount of materials harvested from a spawned resource, and improve the chances of receiving any rare. Attack power (AP) is a physical damage attribute derived from strength and/or agility and character level, that serves to increase your base weapon damage by an amount relative to this statistic. There are two forms of attack power: Melee attack power, and Ranged attack power. These can be found on your character sheet in the Melee and Ranged sections, and each form only affects the related.
Early ranged weapons often included specifically designed hand-thrown weapons such as javelins, slings and darts, as well as more complex elastic weapons such as slingshots and bows; and siege engines like stone throwers, catapults, ballistas and trebuchets. These ranged weapons were extremely effective in combat, especially when used en masse, as they gave the wielder opportunity to launch multiple rounds of attack before an enemy armed with melee weapons or shorter-ranged missile weapons could even get close enough to pose a threat.
After the invention of gunpowder and the development of firearms, gun-type pneumatic ranged weapons became the dominant weapon of choice in armed conflicts, even in close combat. In modern warfare, ranged weaponry is also used both tactically and strategically in the form of long-range artilleries, rockets and guided missiles. Maximum effective range of a weapon is the greatest distance from which the weapon can be fired while still consistently inflicting casualties or damage.

Most modern projectile weapons fall into the broader category of either direct fire or indirect fire, with the former often being regarded as guns and the latter as artilleries. While some are small and light enough to be operated by individuals (i.e. small arms and grenade launchers), most require a team to aim, move or fire.
| Wikimedia Commons has media related to Projectile weapons. |
| Look up ranged weapon in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. |
(Wayback Machine copy)
@JeremyECrawford Hi Jeremy, The Barbarians +2 damage when raging, does it apply to weapons such as the Dwarven Thrower when thrown?

— John Miller (@Johnwma29) September 8, 2017
The damage bonus granted by Rage applies to melee attacks, not ranged attacks. #DnDhttps://t.co/MDgzBrLAaP
— Jeremy Crawford (@JeremyECrawford) September 13, 2017
You ever thrown something… ever thrown something while angry? I’d argue for thrown weapons dealing a +2.. oh wait I’m a DM XD My tweet reiterates what the Rage feature says. If you'd like it to work differently, house rule away!
— Jeremy Crawford (@JeremyECrawford) September 13, 2017