Shadow Blade 5e
Shadow Blade 5e is a spell common gish option. You weave together threads of shadow to create a sword of Solidified gloom in your hand. It counts as a straightforward melee weapon with which you’re proficient. Should you drop the weapon or toss it, it dissipates at the end of the turn. Thereafter, while the spell persists, you may use a bonus activity to cause the blade to reappear on your hand.
Once you cast this spell, employing a 3rd- or 4th-level spell slot, the damage increases to 3d8. When you cast it with a 5th- or 6th-level spell slot, the damage increases to 4d8. It is when you cast it with a spell slot of 7th level or greater, the damage increases to 5d8.
Can Shadow Blade utilize Green Flame blade 5e or Booming Blade?
Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide (SCAG) published two cantrips.
- Green-Flame Blade
- Booming Blade
Wizards of the Coast released SCAG in conjunction with Since this was early in the development of 5th Edition, under a year after the publication of the core books, the design group has had lots of time to ruminate on tweaks to deliver these spells based on other design elements of 5th Edition. The “blade trips” are updated in the new center principles supplement, Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything (TCE). Together with that, Wizards has published updated errata for SCAG articles, including full rewrites of their blade cantrips. There has been a lot of speculation about how these changes interact with additional gish apparel options and whether they alter how the spells work.
The range has been changed from “5 ft” to “Self (5-foot radius)”. The Wording was altered from “within this action to cast this spell. You must make a melee attack using a weapon against one creature within the spell’s range” into “one brandish the weapon used in the spell of casting and earn a melee attack with it contrary to a single creature within 5 feet of you.” The material element of the spells now needs a melee weapon worth a minimum of one silver piece. The player now has the choice of making Green-Flame Blade’s fire jump to another goal (it is no longer mandatory).
Where does it work?
Where does it work? | Green Flame Blade 5e | Booming Blade 5e |
Twinned Spell Metamagic | Can’t be twinned | Can’t be twinned |
Warcaster 5e feat | Yes | Yes |
Spell Sniper 5e | No | No |
Pact of the Blade 5e | Yes | Yes |
Shadow Blade 5e | No | No |
Soulknife’s Psychic Blades
Unless the Soulknife’s Psychic Blades are shifted from their Unearthed Arcana version to reference the weapons table (as Pact of the Blade does), the fact that they don’t have a value (like Shadow Blade) will prevent them from utilizing blade cantrips using their basic Psychic Blades feature.
Does Shadow Blade 5e dnd spells add a modifier?
The shadow blade charm creates a weapon; along the spell doesn’t Tell you to ignore the overall rule on earning weapon strikes (PH, 195). You consequently add the proper ability modifier.
Can you give 5e Shadow Blade to an Ally?
Yes, you can. It is the equivalent of casting a buff spell out on the Character in question because it requires your focus. It could be a pretty impressive enthusiast at higher amounts, particularly in a fighter’s hands that gets 4 attacks a turn + activity surge. I cast it as a seventh level spell for 5d8 damage per hit. So, a fighter hitting every assault and activity surging could basically fall 40d8 damage in a single turn.
Shadow Blade, magic weapon, or magic charm for resistances?
The creature’s magic immunity is an incredible market feature that did not come up quite often. You aim their Armor Class, not a saving throw. Therefore Magic Resistance (simple reference: Pseudodragon) doesn’t interfere. Some monsters have immunity or resistance to bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing with non-magical firearms. The shadow blade does psychic harm rather than the slashing of other short swords. You don’t need to worry about weapon resistances and immunities. Just make sure that your DM knows it is psychic harm, not slashing /piercing /bludgeoning damage. Almost nothing has resistance or resistance to psychic harm.
Do you add Dex to Shadow blade 5e?
Flame blade specifically is a spell strike, so it uses your spellcasting stat. 5e Shadow blade has to utilize Dex or Str unless you have some attribute (hex warrior) that allows you to touch a weapon and make it use another stat. Shadow blade has to utilize Dex or Str if you don’t have some feature (hex warrior) that lets you touch a weapon and also make it use some other stat.
Sorcerers, Warlocks, and Wizards receive the charm for a part of their Class spell lists. Bards may pick it up as among their Magical Secrets. Arcane Trickster Rogues and Eldritch Knight Fighters will get it in the Wizard spell record.
What are the uses of Shadow Blade 5e?
Shadow blade is relatively straight forward. You will make a sword that you can use for attacks. It’s a helpful spell, especially for anyone with dark vision. However, we Can look into specific classes too.
Warlock
Shadow Blade is an interesting spell in regards to warlocks. Shadow blade is a focused spell, so it competes with hex or shadow should you’ve Devil’s Sight. They could throw the shadow spell for you. Darkness would provide you edge anyway, so that makes a part of the darkness blade somewhat pointless. Plus, shadow blade can not really be used with the Pact of this Blade or the Hexblade’s Hex Warrior feature. Shadow blade could be utilized on your off-hand if you would like to dual-wield, however not one of the Blade Pact invocations utilize it. It will make for a fun melee option for non-Pact of the Blade warlocks. Combining it with a cantrip, such as a green flame blade, makes it a little more viable. However, suppose you have access to eldritch blast, the Agonizing Blast invocation, and hex. You will usually have better damage-dealing alternatives.
Eldritch Knight Fighters
The spell is very nice for Eldritch Knights. You won’t get the charm until degree 8–it is an illusion spell. Therefore You have to bring it to a level when you’re able to pick a spell from any college. You also don’t want a top Intelligence modifier to utilize the charm, Which can be a huge plus for you. When you do receive the spell, you can make a blade that does more Plus. You can set it with a shield for additional AC. Suppose you reach the 13th level and get 3rd level spell slots. You can get those excess damage dice that can really add up as a fighter, especially When you utilize your Action Surge.
The disadvantage is it would be best if you focused on the charm. That means you run the jeopardy of losing it if you take too much damage. Additionally, it competes with spells such as haste and anything else you may want to focus on. Suppose you can find a Flame Tongue 5e or a different magic weapon with Lots of damaged foliage. You may wish to use that instead. This frees up your charm slots to cast haste for more attacks and Another bonus to shield. If your campaign doesn’t have many magical items, a shadow blade can Still be a beneficial choice.
Arcane Trickster Rogue
Shadow blade 5e is fine on Arcane Tricksters. It does some extra Harm, but you don’t get many additional attacks. So it is not as good as on an Eldritch Knight. Your harm output relies a lot more on your Sneak Attack. If you Need benefit for Sneak Attack and are in dim light or shadow, shadow blade might help. Advantage with mage hand, but it is trickier to set up. It will help if you cast it as an action.
It’s a bonus activity to maneuver the Hand. It is a separate bonus action to acquire the advantage of using it. 5e Shadow blade is easier and does not use your bonus action every turn. Pair it with the green flame blade or booming blade to add some fire Or thunder damage to the darkness blade’s intellectual damage in addition to your own Sneak Attack.
Sorcerer
Along with a charm made for Melee is not normally their matter. But, sorcerers have some interesting interactions with this spell. And if you really want to go to melee, it has some pretty strong choices. If You’ve Got the sorcery things to burn off, you can throw shadow blade, Then apply your actions to cast the booming blade cantrip twice with your Twinned Spell metamagic (Twinned Spell does not work with the green flame blade. You can Begin your turn by Quickening another Flourishing blade for three relatively powerful melee attacks on later turns.
If you’re in dim light or darkness, particularly if you are an Elf with Elven Accuracy 5e, it can be an effective strategy. Utilizing your Twinned Spell and Quickened Spell metamagics, you can Cast up to 3 blade cantrips in turn, and it is nothing to sneeze at. By 17th level, all your three strikes with shadow blade and Booming blade deals 5d8 psychic and 3d8 thunder damage to the target, and an extra 4d8 thunder damage if they move.
The Further thunder damage from the booming blade doesn’t stack on One goal. However, it can be used to lock down multiple opponents by threatening them with booming damage. Add in the Mobile effort, and you’ll be able to lock them down and keep running with impunity. On the other hand, by the 17th level, you can throw a meteor swarm. Level 9 spells, for example, will give you a lot of alternatives. Shadow blade 5e + booming Blade might not be your best trick for every situation. Still, if you want to get into melee, it is pretty effective. Just don’t fight anything resistant to thunder.
Disadvantages
You will want a good attack modifier, even if you can reliably get it. It means conducting a sorcerer with Adequate Dexterity or Strength, Which implies that much more of a need for great stats or Ability Score Improvement. That combo is meant to be used against multiple opponents. You Have to have a second goal if you would like to utilize Twinned Spell, and if another one is not in range, you are out of luck. Suppose you want to conserve them. You may stick to just twinning 5e Booming blade because it’s half the price of your Quickened Spell metamagic.
That attracts your number of strikes with a booming blade down to 2. If You’re able somehow to get ahold of some set of Illusionist’s Bracers, You will not have to spend sorcery points on Quickened Spell. It is good. The bracers innately allow you to cast a cantrip as a bonus action. That means you may now Twin your bonus action booming blade for a total of 4 strikes with the cantrip. If you can find a set of those bracers (out of Guildmasters’ Guide Into Ravnica) and come up with a way to protect your sorcerer from your enemies’ attacks, you can be an utter beast on the battlefield as long as you’re fighting more than 1 opponent.
Wizards and Bards
Shadow blade includes some use here, mainly for the Bladesinger wizard, considering that all three of those subclasses get Extra Attack. The Shadow blade 5e is a little more useful. Other kinds of 5e bards and wizards can still make use of the spell If they’re forced into melee, but it’s not quite as good. Dexterity, so you don’t have to fret about buffing another skill score. Swords bards in dnd tend to want to focus on melee strikes to use their flourishes. Since they get those cries effectively for free at greater Levels, shadow blade is a fantastic way to significantly buff their damage.
It competes with high-tech spells, but it’s a strategy that Lets them attack to get a decent chunk of damage and utilize their incentive action to give out Bardic Inspiration or to throw other bonus actions spells like healing term.
Casting a spell
You have the option of popping a green flame blade for extra damage On top of the shadow blade, then attacking with a shadow blade for a bonus action. You Would Need to spend 2 Magical Keys to learn shadow blade 5e and green fire blade, which is a bit pricey. That helps make the shadow blade a bit more attractive at higher levels. But you’ll still only get two attacks, and these attacks have to Compete with the very long list of powerful spells the magician has access to. Any bard who desires a shadow blade needs to multiclass or use one of Their Magical Keys for this. That may be a big ask when the match has fireball or counterspell 5e.
Transformation
Tenser’s transformation does about the same amount of damage (a Bonus 2d12 force on top of your weapon damage expires vs. a level 4d8 psychic when projecting shadow blade at 6th level). A lack of mild to provide an advantage. It also provides Extra Attack into wizards who don’t have it, a few rescuing throw proficiencies, and a good chunk of temporary hit points. It comes at the price of not cast spells while Concentrating on Tenser’s transformation. But it’s still a fun spell for wizards who need to go into melee. In addition to so many other great high tech spells, it is hard for Shadow blade 5e to maintain.
Summary
Shadow Blade 5e | Attributes |
Spell List | Warlock, Wizard, Sorcerer |
Source: | Xanathar’s Guide to Everything |
Page | 164 |
Level | 2 |
School | Illusion |
Casting Time | One Bonus action |
Range | Self |
Component | S, V |
Duration | Concentration, up to 1 minute |
Subclass | Eldritch Knight Fighter, Arcane Trickster Rogue |
Attack/Save | None |
Damage/Effect | Psychic |
Shadow Blade 5e
Shadow Blade 5e is a spell common gish option. You weave together threads of shadow to create a sword of Solidified gloom in your hand. It counts as a straightforward melee weapon with which you’re proficient. Should you drop the weapon or toss it, it dissipates at the end of the turn. Thereafter, while the spell persists, you may use a bonus activity to cause the blade to reappear on your hand.
Once you cast this spell, employing a 3rd- or 4th-level spell slot, the damage increases to 3d8. When you cast it with a 5th- or 6th-level spell slot, the damage increases to 4d8. It is when you cast it with a spell slot of 7th level or greater, the damage increases to 5d8.
Can Shadow Blade utilize Green Flame blade 5e or Booming Blade?
Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide (SCAG) published two cantrips.
- Green-Flame Blade
- Booming Blade
Wizards of the Coast released SCAG in conjunction with Since this was early in the development of 5th Edition, under a year after the publication of the core books, the design group has had lots of time to ruminate on tweaks to deliver these spells based on other design elements of 5th Edition. The “blade trips” are updated in the new center principles supplement, Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything (TCE). Together with that, Wizards has published updated errata for SCAG articles, including full rewrites of their blade cantrips. There has been a lot of speculation about how these changes interact with additional gish apparel options and whether they alter how the spells work.
The range has been changed from “5 ft” to “Self (5-foot radius)”. The Wording was altered from “within this action to cast this spell. You must make a melee attack using a weapon against one creature within the spell’s range” into “one brandish the weapon used in the spell of casting and earn a melee attack with it contrary to a single creature within 5 feet of you.” The material element of the spells now needs a melee weapon worth a minimum of one silver piece. The player now has the choice of making Green-Flame Blade’s fire jump to another goal (it is no longer mandatory).
Where does it work?
Where does it work? | Green Flame Blade 5e | Booming Blade 5e |
Twinned Spell Metamagic | Can’t be twinned | Can’t be twinned |
Warcaster 5e feat | Yes | Yes |
Spell Sniper 5e | No | No |
Pact of the Blade 5e | Yes | Yes |
Shadow Blade 5e | No | No |
Soulknife’s Psychic Blades
Unless the Soulknife’s Psychic Blades are shifted from their Unearthed Arcana version to reference the weapons table (as Pact of the Blade does), the fact that they don’t have a value (like Shadow Blade) will prevent them from utilizing blade cantrips using their basic Psychic Blades feature.
Does Shadow Blade 5e dnd spells add a modifier?
The shadow blade charm creates a weapon; along the spell doesn’t Tell you to ignore the overall rule on earning weapon strikes (PH, 195). You consequently add the proper ability modifier.
Can you give 5e Shadow Blade to an Ally?
Yes, you can. It is the equivalent of casting a buff spell out on the Character in question because it requires your focus. It could be a pretty impressive enthusiast at higher amounts, particularly in a fighter’s hands that gets 4 attacks a turn + activity surge. I cast it as a seventh level spell for 5d8 damage per hit. So, a fighter hitting every assault and activity surging could basically fall 40d8 damage in a single turn.
Shadow Blade, magic weapon, or magic charm for resistances?
The creature’s magic immunity is an incredible market feature that did not come up quite often. You aim their Armor Class, not a saving throw. Therefore Magic Resistance (simple reference: Pseudodragon) doesn’t interfere. Some monsters have immunity or resistance to bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing with non-magical firearms. The shadow blade does psychic harm rather than the slashing of other short swords. You don’t need to worry about weapon resistances and immunities. Just make sure that your DM knows it is psychic harm, not slashing /piercing /bludgeoning damage. Almost nothing has resistance or resistance to psychic harm.
Do you add Dex to Shadow blade 5e?
Flame blade specifically is a spell strike, so it uses your spellcasting stat. 5e Shadow blade has to utilize Dex or Str unless you have some attribute (hex warrior) that allows you to touch a weapon and make it use another stat. Shadow blade has to utilize Dex or Str if you don’t have some feature (hex warrior) that lets you touch a weapon and also make it use some other stat.
Sorcerers, Warlocks, and Wizards receive the charm for a part of their Class spell lists. Bards may pick it up as among their Magical Secrets. Arcane Trickster Rogues and Eldritch Knight Fighters will get it in the Wizard spell record.
What are the uses of Shadow Blade 5e?
Shadow blade is relatively straight forward. You will make a sword that you can use for attacks. It’s a helpful spell, especially for anyone with dark vision. However, we Can look into specific classes too.
Warlock
Shadow Blade is an interesting spell in regards to warlocks. Shadow blade is a focused spell, so it competes with hex or shadow should you’ve Devil’s Sight. They could throw the shadow spell for you. Darkness would provide you edge anyway, so that makes a part of the darkness blade somewhat pointless. Plus, shadow blade can not really be used with the Pact of this Blade or the Hexblade’s Hex Warrior feature. Shadow blade could be utilized on your off-hand if you would like to dual-wield, however not one of the Blade Pact invocations utilize it. It will make for a fun melee option for non-Pact of the Blade warlocks. Combining it with a cantrip, such as a green flame blade, makes it a little more viable. However, suppose you have access to eldritch blast, the Agonizing Blast invocation, and hex. You will usually have better damage-dealing alternatives.
Eldritch Knight Fighters
The spell is very nice for Eldritch Knights. You won’t get the charm until degree 8–it is an illusion spell. Therefore You have to bring it to a level when you’re able to pick a spell from any college. You also don’t want a top Intelligence modifier to utilize the charm, Which can be a huge plus for you. When you do receive the spell, you can make a blade that does more Plus. You can set it with a shield for additional AC. Suppose you reach the 13th level and get 3rd level spell slots. You can get those excess damage dice that can really add up as a fighter, especially When you utilize your Action Surge.
The disadvantage is it would be best if you focused on the charm. That means you run the jeopardy of losing it if you take too much damage. Additionally, it competes with spells such as haste and anything else you may want to focus on. Suppose you can find a Flame Tongue 5e or a different magic weapon with Lots of damaged foliage. You may wish to use that instead. This frees up your charm slots to cast haste for more attacks and Another bonus to shield. If your campaign doesn’t have many magical items, a shadow blade can Still be a beneficial choice.
Arcane Trickster Rogue
Shadow blade 5e is fine on Arcane Tricksters. It does some extra Harm, but you don’t get many additional attacks. So it is not as good as on an Eldritch Knight. Your harm output relies a lot more on your Sneak Attack. If you Need benefit for Sneak Attack and are in dim light or shadow, shadow blade might help. Advantage with mage hand, but it is trickier to set up. It will help if you cast it as an action.
It’s a bonus activity to maneuver the Hand. It is a separate bonus action to acquire the advantage of using it. 5e Shadow blade is easier and does not use your bonus action every turn. Pair it with the green flame blade or booming blade to add some fire Or thunder damage to the darkness blade’s intellectual damage in addition to your own Sneak Attack.
Sorcerer
Along with a charm made for Melee is not normally their matter. But, sorcerers have some interesting interactions with this spell. And if you really want to go to melee, it has some pretty strong choices. If You’ve Got the sorcery things to burn off, you can throw shadow blade, Then apply your actions to cast the booming blade cantrip twice with your Twinned Spell metamagic (Twinned Spell does not work with the green flame blade. You can Begin your turn by Quickening another Flourishing blade for three relatively powerful melee attacks on later turns.
If you’re in dim light or darkness, particularly if you are an Elf with Elven Accuracy 5e, it can be an effective strategy. Utilizing your Twinned Spell and Quickened Spell metamagics, you can Cast up to 3 blade cantrips in turn, and it is nothing to sneeze at. By 17th level, all your three strikes with shadow blade and Booming blade deals 5d8 psychic and 3d8 thunder damage to the target, and an extra 4d8 thunder damage if they move.
The Further thunder damage from the booming blade doesn’t stack on One goal. However, it can be used to lock down multiple opponents by threatening them with booming damage. Add in the Mobile effort, and you’ll be able to lock them down and keep running with impunity. On the other hand, by the 17th level, you can throw a meteor swarm. Level 9 spells, for example, will give you a lot of alternatives. Shadow blade 5e + booming Blade might not be your best trick for every situation. Still, if you want to get into melee, it is pretty effective. Just don’t fight anything resistant to thunder.
Disadvantages
You will want a good attack modifier, even if you can reliably get it. It means conducting a sorcerer with Adequate Dexterity or Strength, Which implies that much more of a need for great stats or Ability Score Improvement. That combo is meant to be used against multiple opponents. You Have to have a second goal if you would like to utilize Twinned Spell, and if another one is not in range, you are out of luck. Suppose you want to conserve them. You may stick to just twinning 5e Booming blade because it’s half the price of your Quickened Spell metamagic.
That attracts your number of strikes with a booming blade down to 2. If You’re able somehow to get ahold of some set of Illusionist’s Bracers, You will not have to spend sorcery points on Quickened Spell. It is good. The bracers innately allow you to cast a cantrip as a bonus action. That means you may now Twin your bonus action booming blade for a total of 4 strikes with the cantrip. If you can find a set of those bracers (out of Guildmasters’ Guide Into Ravnica) and come up with a way to protect your sorcerer from your enemies’ attacks, you can be an utter beast on the battlefield as long as you’re fighting more than 1 opponent.
Wizards and Bards
Shadow blade includes some use here, mainly for the Bladesinger wizard, considering that all three of those subclasses get Extra Attack. The Shadow blade 5e is a little more useful. Other kinds of 5e bards and wizards can still make use of the spell If they’re forced into melee, but it’s not quite as good. Dexterity, so you don’t have to fret about buffing another skill score. Swords bards in dnd tend to want to focus on melee strikes to use their flourishes. Since they get those cries effectively for free at greater Levels, shadow blade is a fantastic way to significantly buff their damage.
It competes with high-tech spells, but it’s a strategy that Lets them attack to get a decent chunk of damage and utilize their incentive action to give out Bardic Inspiration or to throw other bonus actions spells like healing term.
Casting a spell
You have the option of popping a green flame blade for extra damage On top of the shadow blade, then attacking with a shadow blade for a bonus action. You Would Need to spend 2 Magical Keys to learn shadow blade 5e and green fire blade, which is a bit pricey. That helps make the shadow blade a bit more attractive at higher levels. But you’ll still only get two attacks, and these attacks have to Compete with the very long list of powerful spells the magician has access to. Any bard who desires a shadow blade needs to multiclass or use one of Their Magical Keys for this. That may be a big ask when the match has fireball or counterspell 5e.
Transformation
Tenser’s transformation does about the same amount of damage (a Bonus 2d12 force on top of your weapon damage expires vs. a level 4d8 psychic when projecting shadow blade at 6th level). A lack of mild to provide an advantage. It also provides Extra Attack into wizards who don’t have it, a few rescuing throw proficiencies, and a good chunk of temporary hit points. It comes at the price of not cast spells while Concentrating on Tenser’s transformation. But it’s still a fun spell for wizards who need to go into melee. In addition to so many other great high tech spells, it is hard for Shadow blade 5e to maintain.
Summary
Shadow Blade 5e | Attributes |
Spell List | Warlock, Wizard, Sorcerer |
Source: | Xanathar’s Guide to Everything |
Page | 164 |
Level | 2 |
School | Illusion |
Casting Time | One Bonus action |
Range | Self |
Component | S, V |
Duration | Concentration, up to 1 minute |
Subclass | Eldritch Knight Fighter, Arcane Trickster Rogue |
Attack/Save | None |
Damage/Effect | Psychic |