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Cuuko's Magic Emporium

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Adaptive Blade

Weapon (shortsword), legendary (requires attunement)

This sword appears ordinary in every way. In fact, it is a legendary magical weapon imbued with the ability to adapt itself to seek it's wielder's approval. It learns from its wielder's actions and choices, becoming more powerful and versatile over time.

The sword begins as a very plain, ordinary shortsword. As it grows, it's appearance slowly changes to suit it's holder. A paladin's Adaptive Blade might be intricate and golden, while a necromancer's could be a gnarly looking and made of bone.

The blade starts with one adaption point. Whenever you gain a level while attuned to the blade, it gains an additional point. During a long rest, you can spend any number of points to make an adaptation from the adaption table to the blade permanently. If a adaptation has a prerequisite listed, the blade must already the prerequisite to obtain the new adaptation. The new adaptation always replaces the prerequisite adaptation. Each adaptation can only be gained once, unless otherwise stated.

Once a creature has attuned to the blade, and the blade has at least one adaptation, the blade refuses to attune to other creatures. One month after the attuned creature dies, the blade loses all adaptations and reverts back to it's original form.

GM Note: GMs are encouraged to work with players to create custom adaptions beyond those provided.

Adaptions Table

Adaption Name Point Cost Prerequisite Description
+1 weapon 1 - You have a +1 bonus to attack and damage rolls made with this weapon.
+2 weapon 2 +1 weapon You have a +2 bonus to attack and damage rolls made with this weapon.
+3 weapon 3 +2 weapon You have a +3 bonus to attack and damage rolls made with this weapon.
(Changed Type) 1 - Change this weapon from it's current type to one of the following: battleaxe, dagger, glaive, greataxe, greatsword, halberd, handaxe, longsword, rapier, scimitar, shortsword, or sickle. It gains or loses properties as appropriate.
This adaptation can be made multiple times.
Defensive 2 - While wielding this weapon, you gain a +1 bonus to your AC.
Resolute 4 Defensive While wielding this weapon, you gain a +2 bonus to your AC.
Life Stealing 3 - When you roll a critical on an attack roll with this weapon, you gain temporary hit points equal to half the damage dealt by the weapon (rounded down).
Patulous 1 - Curse: You are unwilling to part with the weapon, keeping it within reach at all times. (This curse is lifted when this adaptation is replaced.)
Covetous 1 Patulous When a creature other than you willingly touches the weapon, they must make a Dexterity saving throw, DC 14, or take 2d6 force damage and be pushed back 10 feet.
Harmonic 4 Patulous While you are attuned to this weapon, you can attune to an extra magic item.
Lucky 2 Patulous Once per day, when you make an attack roll with this weapon, you can choose to roll an additional d20. You can choose after you roll the die, but before the outcome is determined. You choose which of the d20s is used.
Perforation 1 - This weapon ignores resistance to piercing and slashing damage.
Subtle 1 Perforation This weapon ignores resistance and immunity to piercing and slashing damage.
Forceful 3 Perforation This weapon ignores resistance to any kind of damage it can deal from a melee attack.
Sharp 2 - When making an attack roll with this weapon, 19 or 20 counts as a critical hit.
Keen 3 Sharp When making an attack roll with this weapon, 18, 19 or 20 counts as a critical hit.
Silvered 1 - This weapon has the silvered property.
Spell-Whispering 2 - The blade can store a level 1 spell, as with a Ring of Spell Storing.
Spell-Speaking 2 Spell-Whispering The blade can store 3 levels worth of spells, as with a Ring of Spell Storing.
Spell-Singing 2 Spell-Speaking The blade can store 5 levels worth of spells, as with a Ring of Spell Storing.
Unbreakable 1 - This weapon cannot be broken or destroyed.
Vicious 1 - When you roll a critical on an attack roll with this weapon, the target takes an extra 2d4 damage of the weapon’s type.
Savage 3 Vicious When you hit a creature with this weapon, it takes an extra 2d4 damage of the weapon’s type.
Fiery 1 Savage When you hit a creature with this weapon, it takes an extra 2d6 fire damage.
Cold 1 Savage When you hit a creature with this weapon, it takes an extra 2d6 cold damage.
Freezing 1 Cold When you hit a creature with this weapon, it takes an extra 2d6 cold damage and has its movement speed reduced by 10 feet until the end of your next turn.
Necrotic 1 Savage When you hit a creature with this weapon, it takes an extra 2d6 necrotic damage.
Thundering 2 Savage When you hit a creature with this weapon, it emits a loud thunderclap, audible up to 300 feet away, and the target takes an extra 3d6 thunder damage.

Creation Notes

Inspiration words: learns and approval. It's weapons week!

I uh, went a bit overboard on this one, and didn't really have time to give it to normal balance polishing. I may have to return to this one at the end. Finishing weapons week with a bang, though!

Meta Information

  • unidentified: Ordinary Shortsword

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