Threat range

Each weapon has a threat range for critical hits. Any hit while rolling the d20 within the threat range results in a critical threat (see the critical hit page for more details).

All weapons create a critical threat on a roll of 20, but some have a larger threat range, extending down to 19-20 or even 18-20.

Ways to increase threat range

 * The Keen (slashing/piercing) or Impact (bludgeoning) weapon prefixes double the weapon's base threat range. A Kukri (base threat range 18-20) with Keen, for example, will have a threat range of 15-20. This does not stack with Improved Critical.
 * The Improved Critical feat doubles the base threat range for any equipped weapon in a specific category (slashing/piercing/bludgeoning/ranged/thrown). This does not stack with Keen.
 * The Fighter Kensei Mastery III enhancement will add 1 to the threat range of a single specific weapon type, such as Kukri. This stacks with Improved Critical / Keen, but is applied second. With Improved Critical: Slashing and Kensei Kukri Mastery III, for example, an equipped Kukri will have a threat range of 14-20.
 * The Paladin Exalted Smite II enhancement will add 1 to the threat range of your weapon while active. Exalted Smite IV will add 2 while active. This stacks with Improved Critical / Keen, but is applied second.
 * The Sniper Shot ability granted by the Ranger Deepwood Sniper I enhancement makes a ranged attack with +1 to the threat range. This stacks with Improved Critical / Keen, but is applied second.
 * Monks that choose Master of Stone or Grandmaster of Stone stances gain +1 to their threat range when fighting unarmed, effectively now receiving Improved Critical threat range doubling to 19-20 while in the stance. Mountain stance III/IV threat ranges do not stack with Improved Critical, but do stack when combined with Fists of Iron used for the Earth-Earth-Earth finisher for a x5 threat range, unarmed, on a roll of 19 or 20.

Weapon damage comparison
Note that, calculation here does not include additional damage from strength modifier, weapon enhancement bonus, bursting weapon effects and such, thus giving false impression x2 multiplier weapons are better than reality.

i.e:
 * a strength 10 (+0) fighter with vanilla weapons, no improved crit
 * Bastard Sword: 5.5 base expected, 11 on crit &rarr; 6.1 avg
 * Khopesh: 4.5 base expected, 13.5 on crit &rarr; 5.4 avg
 * a strength 30 (+10) fighter with +5 weapons, no improved crit
 * Bastard Sword: 20.5 base expected, 41 on crit &rarr; 22.55 avg
 * Khopesh: 19.5 base expected, 58.5 on crit &rarr; 23.4 avg