Weapon (any sword), very rare (requires attunement)
When you hit with an attack using this magic sword, the target takes an extra 1d6 cold damage. In addition, while you hold the sword, you have resistance to fire damage.
In freezing temperatures, the blade sheds bright light in a 10-foot radius and dim light for an additional 10 feet.
When you draw this weapon, you can extinguish all non-magical flames within 30 feet of you. This property can be used no more than once per hour.
Applicable Weapons:
Name | Type | Damage | Properties |
---|---|---|---|
Greatsword | Martial Melee | 2d6 slashing | Heavy, two-handed |
Longsword | Martial Melee | 1d8 slashing | Versatile (1d10) |
Rapier | Martial Melee | 1d8 piercing | Finesse |
Scimitar | Martial Melee | 1d6 slashing | Finesse, light |
Shortsword | Martial Melee | 1d6 piercing | Finesse, light |
Notes: Damage: Cold, Resistance: Fire, Damage, Combat, Versatile
It does? I thought you could dual-wield anything as long as you can hold it in one hand.
Like a longsword.
Well, there is the "Dual Wielder" feat which allows you to use non-light weapons.
So I think it's safe to assume it's only light weapons without the feat.
Of course if your DM is letting you get away without the feat, that's fine too.
But ya still might want to use the feat due to the bonus to AC it gives.
What an awful sword. Very rare with no benefit to hit and variable damage.
Seems kind of underpowered for a very rare magic item. The Flame-Tongue sword deals more damage, and it is a RARE magic item.
Fire damage is one of the most common damage types and the Frost brand gives you resistance to it which is huge considering that there's whole uncommon armour sets that give just ghat effect.
So this should be a rare item, considering it has a similar effect to an uncommon magic item, plus an additional effect (1d6 extra cold damage). The flame tongue sword deals more damage. Though it doesn't give any resistances, it has a +1 bonus to attack and damage rolls, similar to a [Tooltip Not Found]. Frost Brand doesn't give that bonus. In general, both the Flame Tongue and Frost Brand swords have the properties of two uncommon magic items. Cold damage is just as much resisted as fire damage, most likely even more.
Please note that the flame tongue does not grant a +1 to attack and damage rolls, and more creatures have resistance/immunity to fire than cold (fire: 40im, 37res. Cold: 20im, 46 res. These are the numbers for the MM).
I'm playing a kensei monk with this exact situation. Two shortswords, one frost brand, the other flame tongue. His name is Valshoon, the One Man Army. So. Much. Fun.
I was thinking of creative ways to use this type of weapon because if cold damage can flash freeze a significant part of a water elemental it can do some interesting stuff. Like pouring water on a cold damage sword to make it deal bludgeoning damage. Or if you need extra light you stick the frostbrand weapon in water, the water starts freezing because of the cold damage, and then you weapon starts glowing.
None of that really justifies the rarity. It's weaker than a flametongue, it has a torch-like ability that can replicated by multiple other means with far more frequent applications, and the ability to extinguish non-magical flame...come on, let's not pretend that's actually worthy of note. That's far too niche to consider useful even if a DM leans into the idea of bringing it up more the fire resistance is nice but that's also easily replicated. This isn't a good magic item
Why not extend this to bows?
Since they took away the actual enchantments from frostbrands and flametonges they are both substantially weaker than they used to be
literally.
I find it funny that this does less damage than the flametongue even though it's more resisted and a higher tier of rarity.
I am currently dming a game, have this and the flame tongue sword, and if they combine them they get the propeties from both at the same time. Im calling them Dusk and Dawn shortswords, and combining them makes the twilight longsword. I am exited for my players to figure out that they connect.
To dual wield without the feat both weapons need to have the light property. If you have the feat then any one handed weapon can be wielded
Agreed…