I've recently found myself in the rabbit hole of creating homebrew items and thought to try my hand at some gear themed around thorns and vines. Mortal Briar is somewhat inspired by weapons like Dáinsleif, the Norse sword of legend that dealt mortal wounds that would not heal except as a spear, and wielded in the past by someone who hunted Fey with reckless abandon.
I had the idea that a wielder might be able to cleanse the curse through deed or quest, lifting the effect of dealing damage to its user every start of turn and restoring its ability to be disarmed/thrown -- instead returning to the owner's hand as a free(?)/(maybe?)bonus action. Additionally, it might gain the ability to impose Disadvantage on Fey when using it's Ensnaring Strike feature.
I'd love to hear some thoughts! Is it too strong for what it is, or too weak? Other magic items I should consider? Tweaks? Why is it a spear? Thanks!
Mortal Briars
Weapon (spear), very rare (requires attunement)
You have a +2 bonus to attack and damage rolls made with this magic weapon. This weapon has 3 charges and regains all expended charges daily at dawn.
Mortal Curse. This weapon is cursed, and becoming attuned to it extends the curse to you. As long as you remain cursed, you are unable to part with the weapon, keeping it within reach at all times.
Briarthorn Wreath. You can use a bonus action to speak this magic spear's command word, causing spectral violet thorns to wrap around the spearhead and haft. These thorns shed dim light in a 15-foot radius. The thorns last until you use a bonus action to speak the command word again or until you drop or stow the spear. While the spear is wreathed in thorns, you gain the following benefits:
Cursed Barbs. This weapon deals an extra 1d4 necrotic damage to any target it hits. Whenever you damage a creature with this weapon, it can’t regain Hit Points until the end of your next turn.
You can’t be disarmed of this weapon. This weapon loses it's Thrown property.
At the start of your turn, you must succeed on a DC 13 Constitution saving throw or take 1d4 damage as the spectral thorns dig into your flesh.
The ensorcelled steel of this weapon has a potent effect on the Fey. This weapon's features and effects ignore a Fey creature's Magical Resistance trait.
Choking Thorns. You can expend a charge to cast Ensnaring Strike. This spell's save DC is 15.
Proficiency with a Spear allows you to add your proficiency bonus to the attack roll for any attack you make with it.
This weapon has the following mastery property. To use this property, you must have a feature that lets you use it.
Sap. If you hit a creature with this weapon, that creature has Disadvantage on its next attack roll before the start of your next turn.
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I've recently found myself in the rabbit hole of creating homebrew items and thought to try my hand at some gear themed around thorns and vines. Mortal Briar is somewhat inspired by weapons like Dáinsleif, the Norse sword of legend that dealt mortal wounds that would not heal except as a spear, and wielded in the past by someone who hunted Fey with reckless abandon.
I had the idea that a wielder might be able to cleanse the curse through deed or quest, lifting the effect of dealing damage to its user every start of turn and restoring its ability to be disarmed/thrown -- instead returning to the owner's hand as a free(?)/(maybe?)bonus action. Additionally, it might gain the ability to impose Disadvantage on Fey when using it's Ensnaring Strike feature.
I'd love to hear some thoughts! Is it too strong for what it is, or too weak? Other magic items I should consider? Tweaks? Why is it a spear? Thanks!
You have a +2 bonus to attack and damage rolls made with this magic weapon. This weapon has 3 charges and regains all expended charges daily at dawn.
Mortal Curse. This weapon is cursed, and becoming attuned to it extends the curse to you. As long as you remain cursed, you are unable to part with the weapon, keeping it within reach at all times.
Briarthorn Wreath. You can use a bonus action to speak this magic spear's command word, causing spectral violet thorns to wrap around the spearhead and haft. These thorns shed dim light in a 15-foot radius. The thorns last until you use a bonus action to speak the command word again or until you drop or stow the spear. While the spear is wreathed in thorns, you gain the following benefits:
Cursed Barbs. This weapon deals an extra 1d4 necrotic damage to any target it hits. Whenever you damage a creature with this weapon, it can’t regain Hit Points until the end of your next turn.
You can’t be disarmed of this weapon. This weapon loses it's Thrown property.
At the start of your turn, you must succeed on a DC 13 Constitution saving throw or take 1d4 damage as the spectral thorns dig into your flesh.
The ensorcelled steel of this weapon has a potent effect on the Fey. This weapon's features and effects ignore a Fey creature's Magical Resistance trait.
Choking Thorns. You can expend a charge to cast Ensnaring Strike. This spell's save DC is 15.
Proficiency with a Spear allows you to add your proficiency bonus to the attack roll for any attack you make with it.
This weapon has the following mastery property. To use this property, you must have a feature that lets you use it.
Sap. If you hit a creature with this weapon, that creature has Disadvantage on its next attack roll before the start of your next turn.