Does the sun blade produce magical light? It does not say anything in the description about magical light but it does say it is daylight. I am not sure if this is correct and have seen multiple rulings across the web, what is the RAW for this and can the description be updated?
Any light from a magical source such as a spell or magic item is “magical light” for the purposes of interactions with magical darkness.
PS- This is neither a Bug to report nor a Support issue. There is an entire Rules & Game Mechanics forum for questions such as this. Just an FYI for next time.
Does the sun blade produce magical light? It does not say anything in the description about magical light but it does say it is daylight. I am not sure if this is correct and have seen multiple rulings across the web, what is the RAW for this and can the description be updated?
The description you have read is RAW - that is all there is.
"SUN BLADE Weapon (longsword), rare (requires attunement) This item appears to be a longsword hilt. While grasping the hilt, 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.
You gain a +2 bonus to attack and damage rolls made with this weapon, which deals radiant damage instead of slashing damage. When you hit an undead with it, that target takes an extra 1d8 radiant damage. The sword's luminous blade emits bright light in a 15-foot radius and dim light for an additional 15 feet. The light is sunlight. While the blade persists, you can use an action to expand or reduce its radius of bright and dim light by 5 feet each, to a maximum of 30 feet each or a minimum of 10 feet each."
This is the text from the DMG and that is all there is. If you want anything else you need to look at the rules. In addition, the description specifically states it is "sunlight" not "daylight". This is important because there are some creatures and undead for whom sunlight is a problem but daylight is not.
Finally, there is no explicit definition of what exactly is magical vs non-magical light. Most DMs will rule that the light produced by a spell or from a magic item is magical light (following the guidance in the Sage Advice compendium regarding whether something is magical or not). Other DMs might not rule the same way for their games, especially if they are more physics oriented and wonder how you can tell the difference between a magical and non-magical photon :) ... but this is D&D and not the real world.
The only place I know of where it matters is in the context of the Darkness spell where it says "A creature with darkvision can't see through this darkness, and nonmagical light can't illuminate it."
The bottom line is that most DMs consider light from magical sources to be magical light (eg Sunblade) in the context of the Darkness spell but, as always, the specific rule for a specific game is up to that specific DM.
@Jami_Gayle_ What about light coming from a magical item? Sun blade, flame tongue, etc. Would you consider those effects capable of lighting the darkness?
@JeremyECrawford The sun blade is magic item. It produces light. It is not a spell of 2nd level or lower. It can, therefore, illuminate the area of a darkness spell. #DnD
Does the sun blade produce magical light? It does not say anything in the description about magical light but it does say it is daylight. I am not sure if this is correct and have seen multiple rulings across the web, what is the RAW for this and can the description be updated?
It is a magic item that makes light. Why does it matter if it’s “magical light?”
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Dm was arguing that it is not in the description so it is not magical light, so am looking for something to describe it better.
Any light from a magical source such as a spell or magic item is “magical light” for the purposes of interactions with magical darkness.
PS- This is neither a Bug to report nor a Support issue. There is an entire Rules & Game Mechanics forum for questions such as this. Just an FYI for next time.
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
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Content Troubleshooting
The description you have read is RAW - that is all there is.
"SUN BLADE
Weapon (longsword), rare (requires attunement)
This item appears to be a longsword hilt. While grasping the hilt, 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.
You gain a +2 bonus to attack and damage rolls made with this weapon, which deals radiant damage instead of slashing damage. When you hit an undead with it, that target takes an extra 1d8 radiant damage. The sword's luminous blade emits bright light in a 15-foot radius and dim light for an additional 15 feet. The light is sunlight. While the blade persists, you can use an action to expand or reduce its radius of bright and dim light by 5 feet each, to a maximum of 30 feet each or a minimum of 10 feet each."
This is the text from the DMG and that is all there is. If you want anything else you need to look at the rules. In addition, the description specifically states it is "sunlight" not "daylight". This is important because there are some creatures and undead for whom sunlight is a problem but daylight is not.
Finally, there is no explicit definition of what exactly is magical vs non-magical light. Most DMs will rule that the light produced by a spell or from a magic item is magical light (following the guidance in the Sage Advice compendium regarding whether something is magical or not). Other DMs might not rule the same way for their games, especially if they are more physics oriented and wonder how you can tell the difference between a magical and non-magical photon :) ... but this is D&D and not the real world.
The only place I know of where it matters is in the context of the Darkness spell where it says "A creature with darkvision can't see through this darkness, and nonmagical light can't illuminate it."
The bottom line is that most DMs consider light from magical sources to be magical light (eg Sunblade) in the context of the Darkness spell but, as always, the specific rule for a specific game is up to that specific DM.
Magic items produce magical light, which can illuminate Darkness spell.
If it matters to you, the Dev did answer this question on twitter; https://www.sageadvice.eu/does-light-from-a-magic-weapons-count-as-magical-that-can-illuminate-a-darkness-spell/
Ty everyone, appreciate it.