Firearms

These are the generalized rules for firearms in Adventurers League.

Pistols, Rifles, and Muskets Are Firearms

The DMG lists some other items as firearms too, but pistols, rifles, and muskets are the common ones you may see.

The History

Firearms In D&D is a Divisive Issue

Some people want to play with firearms. Some people don’t want firearms in AL.

Some reasons (that we can surmise) behind the AL admin’s decisions about firearms include:

Firearms can be very triggering for some people.
For historical and lore reasons, firearms are not readily present in the Forgotten Realms.
Some people simply don’t want firearms in their high fantasy D&D.

But Firearms Are In the 2024 Players Handbook

In any home game, your DM calls the shots on what is or is not allowed. In Adventurers League, the AL admins have that decision power.

The AL admins have “compromised” by allowing firearms in AL, but making it non-trivial to obtain firearms.

But Giffs Have Firearms Proficiency

When Wizards of the Coast are designing their sourcebooks and adventures, they don’t build the books for Adventurers League. So the AL admins must adapt to what the books do, as the AL admins see fit.

But <name some other trigger> Can Be Triggering To

For many, firearms are a too-real link to real world problems, from which they are trying to escape by playing D&D.

Please don’t point a finger and play “What About”. Let’s keep the topic on firearms.

The Rules

The ALPG 2026.4 (pg. 6) says:

Firearms

Mundane or magic firearms (e.g., muskets, pistols) awarded in encounter text (never stat block) may be kept, but not replicated, repaired, purchased, crafted, traded, or chosen as a weapon type. Mundane firearms may be sold or loaned. Proficiency with martial weapons includes PH firearms. Bullets and Smokepowder are required for firing. Bullets may be rewarded or purchased in an adventure or crafted by a character proficient in Smith’s Tools. Outside the adventure where gunpowder was acquired, it’s treated as Smokepowder and found or purchased for 50 GP in packets of 5 shots. Unless specified in the adventure, Smokepowder may not be used as an explosive device.

You Cannot Buy Firearms Ever

Even though some firearms are in the 2024 version of the Players Handbook and have a selling price, you cannot purchase them in Adventurers League. You cannot get a pistol or rifle as starting equipment.

Even Giffs that have proficiency in firearms cannot just get them.

You Cannot Craft Firearms

Similarly, firearms are restricted from being crafted.

You Cannot “Choose” a Firearm

When given the choice of weapon type when receiving a magical item, you cannot choose any kind of firearm.

Don’t try to play Giants of the Star Forge in order to choose a +2 Pistol. It’s not permitted.

Proficiency With Martial Weapons Allows PHB Firearms Only

If you have proficiency with martial weapons, you can use firearms from the PHB only, not the DMG.

Firearms Cannot Be “Looted” From Monsters

Some monsters in the Monster Manual carry firearms. These cannot be taken and kept.

From the ALDMG 2026.2 (page 3):

MUNDANE ITEMS

Players distribute and use non-story items obtained from the encounter’s treasure section or PH’s mundane items looted from a stat block (not firearms).

You Can Only Get Firearms From Playing an Adventure

As a player, the only way to obtain any kind of firearm is by finding one in an AL-legal adventure as a valid AL reward.

Many Spelljammer adventures contain firearms to find. So if you want a firearm, play some SJ-DC adventures.

Using Firearms Requires Ammunition and Smokepowder

Ammunition and smokepowder can both be purchased.

Bullets cost 3 GP for a bundle of 10. Bullets can be used only once. Normal (mundane) bullets don’t count towards your consumable limit. For magical bullets (+1, etc.), a bundle of 5 bullets (rounded up) count towards 1 consumable.

Smokepowder costs 50 GP for a packet of five shots. Smokepower counts towards your consumables limit. A bundle of 5 shots-worth of smokepowder (rounded up) counts as 1 consumable.

💡

Smokepower cannot be used as an explosive.

Do You Want the Rules Changed?

Do not come into #al-general trying to argue your case. The members there cannot do anything about it.
Post a polite message in #al-admin-questions requesting a change to the rules.
- Do not insult the AL admins, any opponents to your point-of-view, or the current rules.
- Do not play “What About”.
- Do not belittle the triggering factor.
- Include well-thought-out arguments. The following are not valid arguments:
  - You just want to play with a gun.
  - They’re in the PHB so they should be allowed.
  - Guns aren’t triggering.
  - Daggers, spiders, etc. etc. are triggering too and they’re not restricted.
  - People can reflavour crossbows as guns, so guns should be allowed.

The AL admins will see it and consider any well-thought-through arguments.