Of course, if you’re a brave adventurer in Dungeons & Dragons then you’re likely going to want a sword as cool as you. But when there are just so many different weapons and magical swords to choose from, it might be hard to figure out just what would be the best sword to beg your Dungeon Master for at the end of some long dungeon or grand quest.
Related
Dungeons & Dragons: Every Martial Melee Weapon, Ranked
Here is every martial melee weapon in Dungeons & Dragons, ranked!
If you’re having trouble deciding what sword to use then don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Whether you’re a swordmaster trying to figure out what to get or a Dungeon Master finding a grand sword to reward your players, here are the absolutely best magical swords that will make you the best adventurer out there and slay whoever or whatever you come across.
Updated on November 6, 2024 by Jon Eakin: It’s set to be one of the biggest years ever for Dungeons & Dragons, with copies of the 2024 Player’s Handbook flying off the shelves. With seemingly more people playing the game than ever before, and swords being one of the most popular weapons, we’ve given this list a sharpening up to help you find some of the best blades available.
8
Blackrazor
Risk And Reward
|
Rarity |
Legendary |
|---|---|
|
Effect |
+3 bonus to attack and damage rolls. Enemies killed by the blade have their soul devoured. Damaging Undead instead heals them and damages you. |
Blackrazor is a sentient blade that can only be aligned to a creature that doesn’t have a Lawful alignment, and it comes with an impressive +3 to attack and damage rolls. It’s the perfect weapon for dealing with enemies you want gone forever, as it consumes their souls.
The problem is it has a number of downsides. It damages you if you attack Undead, not them, and it also turns on you if it hasn’t gotten to chow down on a soul in a few days. Still, if you can manage that, it’s an incredible weapon.
7
Snicker-Snack
Go Galumphing Back
|
Rarity |
Legendary |
|---|---|
|
Effect |
+3 bonus to attack and damage rolls. Charisma modifier can be used instead of Strength. On an attack roll of 20, the target has its head cut off. |
It’s always a suprise that Snicker-Snack isn’t discussed more when talking about D&D swords. It has a great bonus, can use either your Strength or Charisma modifier, is sentient, and has one of the best effects in the entire game.
If you roll a 20 on your attack roll, you cut off one of the targets heads. Provided it needs that head to live, it then dies no matter how much HP it has left. This doesn’t work on creatures immune to slashing, those with Legendary Actions, or those simply too big to cut the head off of. In that case, it does an additional 6d8 slashing on top of the critical hit you were landing anyway.
6
Sword Of Answering
Your Enemies Shouldn’t Have Asked
|
Rarity |
Legendary |
|---|---|
|
Effect |
+3 bonus to attack and damage rolls. You can use your reaction to make one melee attack against any creature in your reach that deals damage to you. Advantage on the attack roll, and any damage dealt with this special attack ignores any damage immunity or resistance the target has. |
The Sword Of Answering is a powerful weapon, allowing you to have a +3 bonus to attacks and damage. But the best part about the sword is a counter-offensive feature, which allows you to deal an attack on a creature within reach that damaged you before.
You may think this isn’t that great, but wait until you hear this. The sword is one of the few things that will ensure that this attack cannot be affected by a creature’s resistance or immunity.
5
Defender
The Best Defense Is A Good Offense
|
Rarity |
Legendary |
|---|---|
|
Effect |
+3 bonus to attack and damage rolls made with this magic weapon. The first time you attack with the sword on each of your turns, you can transfer some or all of the sword’s bonus to your Armor Class, instead of using the bonus on any attacks that turn. You must hold the sword to gain a bonus to AC from it. |
It may sound odd to have a sword and not a shield that’s called Defender, but trust us, this sword is sometimes even better than a shield. Though the sword is a great weapon, the biggest benefit is the fact that you can transfer any of its attack and damage bonus to your Armour Class.
Related
Dungeons & Dragons: 9 Halloween Themed Items To Treat Your Players With
The one time of year you can dress up in even sillier costumes.
This means that with the sword, shield, and some great armour you can easily boost your AC above 20 — all while costing some of the sword’s bonus.
4
Greater Silver Sword
Not Just Any Silver Sword
|
Rarity |
Legendary |
|---|---|
|
Effect |
+3 bonus to attack and damage rolls made with it. While you hold the sword, you have advantage on Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma saving throws, you are immune to being charmed, and you have resistance to psychic damage. |
A Greater Silver Sword will be incredibly useful as there are quite a few monsters in Dungeons & Dragons that have resistances or immunities. They can be overcome with a silvered weapon.
This means that the sword is already great for those pesky fights where the damage would likely be reduced with any other weapon, but this weapon also has great benefits.
3
Sword Of Sharpness
Not For The Dull
|
Rarity |
Very rare |
|---|---|
|
Effect |
When you attack a creature with this weapon and roll a 20 on the attack roll, that target takes an extra 4d6 slashing damage. Then roll another d20. If you roll a 20, you lop off one of the target’s limbs. In addition, you can speak the sword’s command word to cause the blade to shed bright light in a 10-foot radius and dim light for an additional 10 feet. |
Yes, this sword’s main thing seems to be that it’s sharp, but there’s a good reason its sharpness is the selling point here. The Sword Of Sharpness is one of the rare instances where it can seemingly double crit.
Related
Dungeons & Dragons: The 13 Damage Types, Ranked
There are many different damage types in Dungeons & Dragons, but which ones are the best? These are undeniably great.
Getting a critical hit is always great, but it’s better with this sword when you can do extra 4d6 damage and then if you crit again, you’re able to chop off a limb from your enemy.
2
Holy Avenger
Never Goes Out Of Style
|
Rarity |
Legendary |
|---|---|
|
Effect |
+3 bonus to attack and damage rolls made with this magic weapon. When you hit a fiend or an undead with it, that creature takes an extra 2d10 radiant damage. It creates an aura in a 10-foot radius around you. You and all creatures friendly to you in the aura have advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects. If you have 17 or more levels in the paladin class, the radius of the aura increases to 30 feet. |
A classic weapon is sometimes a classic because it’s just that good, and that’s exactly what the Holy Avenger is. It’s the ideal weapon if you’re making a Paladin character.
It’s a strong sword like any weapon with a +3 bonus to attack and damage, will slaughter any undead that comes your way and will help out your party against pesky saving throws for spell and magical effects.
1
Sun Blade
Fantasy Lightsaber
|
Rarity |
Rare |
|---|---|
|
Effect |
You can use a bonus action to cause a blade of pure radiance to spring into existence, or make the blade disappear. While the blade exists, this magic longsword has the finesse property. If you are proficient with shortswords or longswords, you are proficient with the sun blade. +2 bonus to attack and damage rolls made with this weapon, which deals radiant damage. When you hit an undead with it, that target takes an extra 1d8 radiant damage. |
Perhaps the closest thing you can get to a fantasy lightsaber, the Sun Blade is a hefty weapon that makes up for its lack of power in its accessibility. It automatically deals extra damage to undead, can shine light, and deals some radiant damage instead of slashing, which will actually aid you when it comes to overcoming creature’s resistances.
The sword will be incredible if you’re in a low-level campaign, which is often where most players will come across due to how rare it is to get to higher levels in campaigns regardless, meaning you’ll hopefully come across this sword.
Next
Dungeons & Dragons: Weapon Masteries That Work Well Together
Double up these weapon masteries for maximum impact in Dungeons & Dragons.