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Arcane Sword

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Arcane Sword
  • Level: 7
  • School: Evocation
  • Class: Bard, Wizard
  • Casting Time: Action
  • Range: 90 feet
  • Components: V, S, M (a miniature sword worth 250+ GP)
  • Duration: Concentration, up to 1 minute

You create a spectral sword that hovers within range. It lasts for the duration.

When the sword appears, you make a melee spell attack against a target within 5 feet of the sword. On a hit, the target takes Force damage equal to 4d12 plus your spellcasting ability modifier.

On your later turns, you can take a Bonus Action to move the sword up to 30 feet to a spot you can see and repeat the attack against the same target or a different one.

Tactical Usage​

When to Choose Arcane Sword:

  • Excellent for high-damage single-target attacks from safe distance
  • Strong choice against enemies with high AC due to spell attack bonus
  • Valuable for maintaining pressure while staying out of melee range
  • Essential for dealing Force damage which is rarely resisted

Positioning Strategy:

  • 90-foot initial range allows safe positioning
  • 30-foot movement per turn provides excellent battlefield mobility
  • Attack from sword's position, not your location
  • Can threaten multiple enemies by repositioning each turn

Target Selection:

  • Prioritize high-value targets like spellcasters or commanders
  • Focus on enemies that are difficult for allies to reach
  • Consider switching targets to spread pressure across multiple enemies
  • Use against enemies with damage resistance (Force is rarely resisted)

Spell Combinations​

Damage Enhancement:

  • Hex: Add damage to each sword attack
  • Hunter's Mark: Additional damage if multiclassed
  • Bless: Improve spell attack bonus
  • Faerie Fire: Advantage on spell attacks

Battlefield Control:

  • Hold Person/Monster: Guarantee hits against paralyzed targets
  • Web: Restrain enemies for easier targeting
  • Wall Spells: Control enemy movement for better sword positioning
  • Forcecage: Trap enemies with sword for guaranteed hits

Material Component Details​

Miniature Sword Worth 250+ GP:

  • Craftsmanship: High-quality materials enhance magical resonance
  • Availability: Requires skilled jeweler or magical artificer
  • Variations: Different sword types may influence appearance
  • Investment: Significant but reusable material component

Roleplay Opportunities:

  • Describe the transformation from miniature to spectral weapon
  • Reference the sword's connection to martial prowess
  • Use component quality to influence spell's visual appearance
  • Emphasize the marriage of material wealth and magical power

Creator Notes​

Adjudication Guidance:

  • Sword uses melee spell attack but attacks from its position
  • 30-foot movement allows repositioning before attacking each turn
  • Force damage bypasses most resistances and immunities
  • Concentration can be maintained even when taking damage

Encounter Design Considerations:

  • Provides significant sustained damage for spellcasters
  • NPCs can use this to threaten party from unexpected angles
  • Creates dynamic combat with mobile threat positioning
  • High damage output appropriate for 7th-level slot investment

Balancing Notes:

  • 7th-level slot cost limits frequency of use
  • Concentration requirement prevents stacking with other effects
  • High damage (average 32.5 + modifier) justified by slot level
  • 1-minute duration covers most combat encounters

Environmental Interactions​

Physical Properties:

  • Sword is incorporeal and cannot be physically blocked
  • Can attack through bars, gaps, or similar obstacles
  • Unaffected by environmental hazards or terrain
  • Provides no physical presence beyond its attacks

Tactical Positioning:

  • Can attack around corners if sword can be positioned appropriately
  • Ignores cover that doesn't block line of sight
  • Can threaten enemies in difficult terrain safely
  • Useful for attacking enemies on different elevation levels

Visual Presence:

  • Spectral sword is clearly visible to all creatures
  • May intimidate enemies or reveal caster's position
  • Can serve as distraction or psychological warfare tool
  • Appearance may vary based on caster's magical tradition

Common Rulings & Clarifications​

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q: Can the sword be targeted or attacked? A: No, it's a magical effect, not a creature or object.

Q: Does the sword provoke opportunity attacks? A: No, it's not a creature moving through threatened spaces.

Q: Can I move the sword and attack on the same turn? A: Yes, the bonus action allows both movement and attack.

Q: What happens if I lose line of sight to the sword? A: The sword disappears if you can't see where it is.

Alternative Applications​

Non-Combat Uses:

  • Intimidation: Demonstrate magical power during negotiations
  • Performance: Spectacular magical displays for entertainment
  • Ceremonial: Magical sword for important rituals or events
  • Training: Practice spell combat techniques safely

Creative Problem-Solving:

  • Threaten enemies from unexpected angles
  • Create diversions while party members act elsewhere
  • Test enemy defenses or magical protections
  • Provide psychological pressure during interrogations

Summoned Weapon Magic:

  • Spiritual Weapon: Lower-level summoned weapon alternative
  • Flame Blade: Personal magical weapon
  • Shadow Blade: Finesse magical weapon
  • Arcane Hand: Versatile magical appendage

High-Damage Alternatives:

  • Disintegrate: Single-target destruction
  • Chain Lightning: Multi-target electrical damage
  • Finger of Death: Necrotic damage with additional effects
  • Plane Shift: Instant removal alternative

7th-Level Alternatives:

  • Force Cage: Ultimate battlefield control
  • Teleport: Strategic positioning magic
  • Plane Shift: Planar travel or banishment
  • Prismatic Spray: Multi-effect area attack

Scaling Analysis​

Level Progression:

  • Available at Level 13: High-level option for experienced characters
  • Campaign Climax: Appropriate for major confrontations
  • Resource Management: Significant spell slot investment

Damage Analysis:

  • Base Damage: 4d12 + modifier (average 32.5 + 4-5 = ~37 damage)
  • Attack Reliability: Uses spell attack bonus, typically high accuracy
  • Damage Type: Force damage rarely resisted or immune

Long-Term Viability:

  • Remains relevant through highest levels of play
  • Significant damage output justifies 7th-level slot
  • Unique tactical applications maintain value
  • Essential option for high-level spellcaster damage

Narrative Flavor​

Extended Description: As you hold the exquisite miniature sword aloft, its precious metals and gems catch the light with supernatural brilliance. Speaking the words of creation, you feel the tiny weapon's essence expand and transform, becoming a magnificent spectral blade that materializes exactly where you will it. The sword hovers with deadly grace, its translucent form crackling with barely contained magical energy, awaiting your mental commands to strike down your enemies with the precision and lethality of a master swordsman.

Sensory Details:

  • Visual: Brilliant spectral sword of crackling magical energy
  • Auditory: Whisper of displaced air as the blade moves
  • Magical: Connection between caster and distant weapon
  • Emotional: Sense of wielding supernatural martial prowess

Cultural Context: The Arcane Sword represents the pinnacle of battle magic, combining the wizard's intellectual mastery with the warrior's destructive potential. Many magical traditions view this spell as the ultimate expression of controlled violence, allowing scholarly spellcasters to wield legendary martial prowess without sacrificing their academic nature.