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Dancing Sword

Dancing Sword
  • Category: Weapon (Greatsword, Longsword, Rapier, Scimitar, or Shortsword)
  • Rarity: Very Rare (Requires Attunement)

You can take a Bonus Action to toss this magic weapon into the air. When you do so, the weapon begins to hover, flies up to 30 feet, and attacks one creature of your choice within 5 feet of itself. The weapon uses your attack roll and adds your ability modifier to damage rolls.

While the weapon hovers, you can take a Bonus Action to cause it to fly up to 30 feet to another spot within 30 feet of you. As part of the same Bonus Action, you can cause the weapon to attack one creature within 5 feet of the weapon.

After the hovering weapon attacks for the fourth time, it flies back to you and tries to return to your hand. If you have no hand free, the weapon falls to the ground in your space. If the weapon has no unobstructed path to you, it moves as close to you as it can and then falls to the ground. It also ceases to hover if you grasp it or are more than 30 feet away from it.

Tactical Applications​

Combat Strategy: Provides autonomous combat capability with tactical positioning. Most effective for controlling multiple enemies or attacking while maintaining distance or using other equipment.

Class Synergies:

  • Spellcasters: Exceptional for maintaining weapon attacks while casting spells
  • Two-Weapon Fighters: Perfect for characters who can benefit from additional attack positioning
  • Support Classes: Excellent for characters who need combat capability while performing other actions

Build Considerations: Most valuable for characters who can benefit from having their weapon operate independently while they focus on other combat actions.

Acquisition Methods​

Crafting Requirements: Requires animated object magic, advanced enchantment expertise, and aerial combat understanding. Typically costs 40,000-60,000 gp.

Common Sources:

  • Rewards from battles against floating cities or aerial combat specialists
  • Inheritance from battle mages or air elemental specialists
  • Commission from enchanters specializing in autonomous combat magic
  • Discovery in ancient sky fortresses or floating magical academies

Alternative Acquisition: Some military air forces and aerial combat units possess these weapons for specialized three-dimensional combat scenarios.

Value & Trade​

Estimated Value: 50,000-75,000 gp, with higher demand from spellcasters needing combat capability while maintaining spell focus.

Trade Considerations: Highly valued by characters who benefit from action economy improvements and tactical flexibility.

Character Integration​

Roleplay Elements: Suggests experience with aerial combat, magical automation understanding, or tactical innovation thinking.

Character Concepts:

  • Sky knight or aerial combatant with specialized three-dimensional fighting experience
  • Battle mage who developed techniques for combining spellcasting with weapon combat
  • Tactical innovator who seeks creative solutions to action economy limitations
  • Character with responsibilities requiring multitasking in combat situations

Adventure Hooks​

The Aerial Battle: Combat scenarios involving flying enemies or three-dimensional battlefields where autonomous weapons provide tactical advantages.

The Multitasking Mission: Adventures requiring characters to perform multiple complex actions simultaneously.

The Animated Rebellion: Scenarios involving animated objects where understanding autonomous weapon control becomes relevant.

The Tactical Innovation: Situations where creative combat solutions and unconventional weapon use determine success.

Variants & Customization​

Greater Dancing Weapon (Legendary): Provides longer duration, enhanced movement, or additional combat capabilities.

Elemental Dancing Blade (Very Rare): Enhanced with elemental damage or flight patterns matching elemental themes.

Tactical Formation Sword (Very Rare): Multiple dancing weapons that coordinate attacks or defensive patterns.

Specialized Variants:

  • Aerial Combat Blade: Optimized for three-dimensional movement and flying enemy engagement
  • Spellsword's Companion: Enhanced coordination with spellcasting and magical combat
  • Guardian's Flying Weapon: Defensive positioning and protective capabilities while autonomous

Lore & History​

Origins: Created by innovative battle mages who needed to maintain weapon combat while focusing on complex spellcasting.

Historical Significance: Several famous aerial battles and complex tactical scenarios succeeded due to autonomous weapon capabilities.

Cultural Impact: In magical military communities, these weapons represent advanced tactical thinking and action economy mastery.

Animation Magic: The swords reflect sophisticated understanding of autonomous magical animation and remote weapon control.

Balancing Notes​

Introduction Timing: Can be introduced at higher levels (11-16) when action economy becomes crucial and tactical complexity increases.

Campaign Impact: Provides significant tactical flexibility without overwhelming individual encounter balance.

Positioning Strategy: The autonomous movement encourages strategic thinking about battlefield positioning and tactical coordination.

Encounter Design​

Recommended Challenges:

  • Combat scenarios with multiple enemies where positioning and action economy matter
  • Aerial or three-dimensional battles that benefit from autonomous weapon capabilities
  • Complex encounters requiring multitasking between combat and other objectives
  • Tactical scenarios where creative weapon positioning provides strategic advantages

Tactical Adjustments: Enemies may target the dancing weapon directly or use area effects that challenge autonomous positioning.

Autonomous Equipment: Other magic items that provide independent action or autonomous capabilities.

Action Economy Enhancement:

  • Items that improve multitasking or provide additional combat actions
  • Equipment that enhances tactical flexibility and battlefield positioning
  • Tools that work synergistically with complex combat coordination

Complementary Equipment: Items that benefit from or enhance the tactical advantages of autonomous weapon operation and improved action economy.

Roleplay Opportunities​

Tactical Innovation: Characters develop understanding of battlefield coordination and creative combat solutions.

Magical Automation: The dancing weapon provides insights into magical animation and autonomous magical systems.

Combat Mastery: Players experience advanced tactical concepts involving action economy and three-dimensional combat thinking.