Shadow Blade

Level 2 Illusion spell available to Sorcerers, Warlocks, and Wizards. Conjures a blade of solid shadow into your main hand: 2d8 Psychic damage, lasts until a Long Rest, no Concentration. For any caster who fancies actually swinging something, this is the spell.

Spell description: Creates a Shadow Blade in the caster’s main hand which deals Psychic damage.

Spell properties

• Range: Self
• Duration: Long Rest
• Damage: 2d8 Psychic
• Cost: Bonus Action + Spell Slot
• Recharge: Per action

Spell upcasting

Damage increases to 3d8 Psychic with a Level 3 or 4 spell slot, and to 4d8 Psychic with a Level 5 or 6 spell slot.

How to obtain Shadow Blade

• Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard at Class level 3

Source items: Shadow Blade Ring, Scroll of Shadow Blade

SHADOW BLADE

Level 2 Illusion Spell

Creates a Shadow Blade in the caster’s main hand which deals Psychic damage.

Range: Self Duration: Long Rest

Bonus Action Level 2 Spell Slot

WEAPON: SHADOW BLADE

Duration: Until Long Rest

A finesse weapon of solid shadow dealing 2d8 Psychic damage. Attacks have Advantage in dim light or darkness. Damage rises to 3d8 at Level 3 or 4 slots and 4d8 at Level 5 or 6.

When to cast Shadow Blade

2d8 beats a greatsword, and almost nothing in the game resists Psychic, so a Wizard holding a Shadow Blade hits harder in melee than most Fighters do at the same level. Bonus Action to summon, no Concentration, and it persists until you rest. There is essentially no downside.

The build it exists for is the Eldritch Knight or Arcane Trickster who wants to cast and swing in the same turn. Conjure the blade once in the morning, then spend the rest of the day making Extra Attacks with it while your spell slots go on control.

Upcasting is unusually efficient because the duration does not change. A Level 5 Shadow Blade is 4d8 a swing, all day, for one slot. If you have spare high-level slots at the start of a long day, this is one of the best places to put them.

The catch is that it swings on a normal weapon Attack Roll, not your spellcasting modifier. A caster with no Dexterity to speak of will conjure a magnificent blade and then miss with it repeatedly. Build for it, or leave it alone.