Arcane Warriors were elven elite guardsmen serving as bodyguards or champions for ancient elven nobles. The formal name of their techniques is Dirth'ena Enasalin, knowledge that led to victory. Wizards who eschewed physical confrontation called it Ghilan'him Banal'vhen, the path that leads astray.

Arcane Weapon Mastery

Wizards who follow this path gain proficiency in both simple and martial melee weapons, allowing them to wield blades, staves, and other implements with finesse.

Arcane Bond

At 2nd level, you forge a mystical bond with your chosen weapon, infusing it with arcane energy. Choose a one-handed melee weapon (such as a longsword or rapier) as your Arcane Bond. While wielding this weapon, you gain the following benefits:

• Arcane Blade: Your weapon becomes a conduit for your spells. When you cast a wizard spell that requires an attack roll, you can use your weapon’s attack bonus instead of your spellcasting ability modifier.
• Spellstrike: As a bonus action, you can channel arcane energy through your weapon by expending a spell slot. Make a melee attack with your Arcane Bond weapon. If the attack hits, the target takes normal weapon damage plus additional damage equal to the twice spell’s level. You can use this feature a number of times equal to your Intelligence modifier (minimum of 1), and you regain expended uses after a long rest.

Arcane Resilience

Starting at 6th level, your connection to magic enhances your physical form:

• Mage Armor Mastery: You can cast Mage Armor without expending a spell slot. Additionally, when you cast Mage Armor, your AC increases by 1 for the duration.
• Spellward: You gain advantage on saving throws against spells and magical effects. Furthermore, when you succeed on a saving throw against a spell, you can use your reaction to make a weapon or ranged spell attack against the caster.

Arcane Blade Mastery

Upon reaching 10th level, your mastery over the Arcane Blade deepens:

• Arcane Parry: When you use your Arcane Bond weapon to make an opportunity attack, you can add your Intelligence modifier to the attack roll and damage.
• Spellblade Surge: As an action, you can expend a spell slot to empower your next melee attack with magical energy. If the attack hits, it deals additional force damage equal to twice the spell slot’s level and you regain the expended spell slot.

Arcane Ascendance

At 14th level, you achieve true synergy between magic and steel:

• Arcane Fusion: When you cast a spell, you can choose to enhance your Arcane Bond weapon. Until the end of your next turn, your weapon deals an additional 1d6 force damage on successful hits.
• Arcane Aegis: As a reaction when you take damage, you can expend a spell slot to create a shimmering barrier around you. The barrier absorbs damage equal to the spell slot’s level + your Intelligence modifier.