Can one put the divine bond onto a holy sword spell?


Rules Questions


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Holy Sword

Holy Sword:

School evocation [good]; Level paladin 4

Casting Time 1 standard action

Components V, S

Range touch

Target melee weapon touched

Duration 1 round/level

Saving Throw none; Spell Resistance no

This spell allows you to channel holy power into your sword, or any other melee weapon you choose. The weapon acts as a +5 holy weapon (+5 enhancement bonus on attack and damage rolls, extra 2d6 damage against evil opponents). It also emits a magic circle against evil effect (as the spell). If the magic circle ends, the sword creates a new one on your turn as a free action. The spell is automatically canceled 1 round after the weapon leaves your hand. You cannot have more than one holy sword at a time.

If this spell is cast on a magic weapon, the powers of the spell supersede any that the weapon normally has, rendering the normal enhancement bonus and powers of the weapon inoperative for the duration of the spell. This spell is not cumulative with bless weapon or any other spell that might modify the weapon in any way. This spell does not work on artifacts. A masterwork weapon's bonus to attack does not stack with an enhancement bonus to attack.


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On first look it seems otherwise, but there doesn´t seem to be a real exclusion clause. have a look. it is a paladin-only spell, 4th grade. yet, it doesn´t exclude devine bond specifically, only spells.
what if one takes a sword, casts Holy Sword on it for becomming +5 and now using Devine Bond on it.

Divine Bond:
The first type of bond allows the paladin to enhance her weapon as a standard action by calling upon the aid of a celestial spirit for 1 minute per paladin level. When called, the spirit causes the weapon to shed light as a torch. At 5th level, this spirit grants the weapon a +1 enhancement bonus. For every three levels beyond 5th, the weapon gains another +1 enhancement bonus, to a maximum of +6 at 20th level. These bonuses can be added to the weapon, stacking with existing weapon bonuses to a maximum of +5, or they can be used to add any of the following weapon properties: axiomatic, brilliant energy, defending, disruption, flaming, flaming burst, holy, keen, merciful, and speed. Adding these properties consumes an amount of bonus equal to the property's cost. These bonuses are added to any properties the weapon already has, but duplicate abilities do not stack. If the weapon is not magical, at least a +1 enhancement bonus must be added before any other properties can be added.

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Do you see my point?
The text on Holy Sword even tells that masterwork don't stack, or spells, why not mentioning Divine Bond though it is of such obvious relevance for Paladins? IMO that´s hard to comprehend anyway.


It only works if you spell divine correctly. :P

In seriousness, I think holy sword takes precedence. It does not allow any other bonuses to affect it. It even says the weapon cannot be modified in any way.

Grand Lodge

kortzen wrote:
This spell is not cumulative with bless weapon or any other spell that might modify the weapon in any way.

Divine Bond is spell-like. The intent seems clear enough to me.


Umbral Reaver wrote:
It only works if you spell divine correctly. :P

:) oops. sorry, in germany it´s almost four in the morning right now ;)

At least i could buy a weapon+5 and than put Divine Bond on it right? or does it stop at +5?

Grand Lodge

kortzen wrote:
Umbral Reaver wrote:
It only works if you spell divine correctly. :P

:) oops. sorry, in germany it´s almost four in the morning right now ;)

At least i could buy a weapon+5 and than put Divine Bond on it right? or does it stop at +5?
Quote:
These bonuses can be added to the weapon, stacking with existing weapon bonuses to a maximum of +5

You could buy a +5 weapon and use Divine Bond to add extra properties to it.


Hm.. are there any other abilities that stack up in such a way like Divine Bond allows? abilities or spells that upgrade an already enhanced objekt/subject in a similar manner? just curious.

Grand Lodge

kortzen wrote:
Hm.. are there any other abilities that stack up in such a way like Divine Bond allows? abilities or spells that upgrade an already enhanced objekt/subject in a similar manner? just curious.

The magus's arcane pool might do what you want.

You could look at various different ways to get more bonuses to your attack (as opposed to your weapon).

Grand Lodge

Pathfinder PF Special Edition, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber
kortzen wrote:

Holy Sword ** spoiler omitted **

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On first look it seems otherwise, but there doesn´t seem to be a real exclusion clause. have a look. it is a paladin-only spell, 4th grade. yet, it doesn´t exclude devine bond specifically, only spells.
what if one takes a sword, casts Holy Sword on it for becomming +5 and now using Devine Bond on it.
** spoiler omitted **...

You either use Holy Sword or the Divine Bond on the weapon...not both. That's based on the spell text.

The Holy Sword spell is obviously intended for those Paladin's whose Divine Bond is the mount.


Think the important part of the spell text is this:

"This spell is not cumulative with bless weapon or any other spell that might modify the weapon in any way."

Divine Bond is a spell-like ability, and shouldn't be cumulative with Holy Weapon.

As a compromise, I might be inclined to allowed divine bond to enhance the holy sword, but if it was the case, then the divine bond ends when the spell ends. It might be useful in some cases, but the requirement of spending two turn getting the weapon going, and a duration in rounds, will make the choice rather on the weak side.


HaraldKlak wrote:
As a compromise, I might be inclined to allowed divine bond to enhance the holy sword, but if it was the case, then the divine bond ends when the spell ends. It might be useful in some cases, but the requirement of spending two turn getting the weapon going, and a duration in rounds, will make the choice rather on the weak side.

Decent ruling. good point that it takes two rounds to activate.


I'd agree that Holy Sword would take precedence over a divine bond weapon. Any divine bond abilities would be suppressed for the duration of the Holy Sword spell.

You can of course cast Holy Sword on a weapon that isn't divine bond-ed to get full effect. For instance, if the divine bonded weapon is sundered or somehow removed from the paladin, HS could make his backup weapon more effective.

I think the most powerful use of Holy Sword would be for a two weapon fighting style paladin, such as a paladin using Shield Bash. Divine Bond the main weapon, then Holy Sword the shield. (And in seeing how shields are both armor and weapons, and that the armor and weapon aspects of a shield are treated and enchanted separately, this would have no effect on any magical armor properties of the shield.) Combine all this with Smite Evil and you have one sick evil killing machine.

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