D&D: Five Spells for Making a Magic Sword
Don’t let Fighters know, but magic is better at swords than swords are, and these five magic swords spells prove it.
In D&D, magic is a lot like alcohol; it’s the cause of and solution to all of life’s problems. Magic is excellent at conjuring demons. Then when they inevitably run amok, magic can banish them back to the infernal realms from which they hail. It can create a song, ice, and fire; and can even make an ending to the Song of Ice and Fire with a carefully worded Wish spell.
Magic is also, weirdly good at making swords. That are made out of magic. And typically used by mages with a magic stat like Charisma or Wisdom, so it doesn’t even always take physical skill to wield them in combat. It might not always be optimal, but if you want to be good at swords? Magic is, as ever in D&D, one of your best options. And these magic swords spells will help.
Sword Burst
Let’s start with a cantrip that makes you good with magic swords. And again, that’s swords that are made of magic, not real swords that are themselves magic.
Sword Burst, introduced in Tasha’s Cauldron, creates a burst of spectral blades that sweep around you, hitting any target within 5 feet of you if they fail a save, which can potentially let you hit more targets than your party’s Fighter can in a single turn.
Flame Blade
As the name suggests, Flame Blade is a magic sword made out of fire. You can wield it with your spellcasting stat, typically Wisdom or Charisma since it’s a Druid/Sorcerer spell, and it deals 3d6 points of fire damage on a hit.
Of course, it takes a whole action to attack with it, so eventually you might want to upgrade it a bit.
Shadow Blade
Okay, Shadow Blade is a weird one. Unlike all the other magic sword spells on this list, you have to actually use your body to wield it. It counts as a melee weapon you’re proficient with, and it has the finesse, light, and thrown weapon properties. So you can hit a target up to 60 feet away with it, dealing 2d8 psychic damage each time.
And if you attack a target in dim light or darkness, you have advantage on the roll. Which can be great for Arcane Trickster Rogues, who can pile on the sneak attack.
Spiritual Weapon
Of course, we’re here to talk about magic swords. And it is hard to be more of an iconic magic sword than one of the best second level spells of the game: Spiritual Weapon.
This spell lets you conjure a magical weapon of any shape (so you can make a sword or greatsword or whatever) that attacks as you direct it with a bonus action. It does 1d8 + your modifier in force damage with each hit, basically for free.
Blade of Disaster
Then there’s the ultimate magic sword, the Blade of Disaster. This spell creates a sword-shaped planar rift, allowing you to strike with the stuff of the cosmos themselves.
It works a lot like Spiritual Weapon, but each attack deals 4d12 damage, or 12d12 if you roll a critical hit, which you do on a natural 18 or higher. And you can make two attacks per bonus action, meaning you can potentially do 24d12 with a single amazing bonus action.
Swords are at their best when they’re magic, don’t you think?
