Adding non-weapon abilities to a black blade


Rules Questions


1 person marked this as FAQ candidate.

It appears that the FAQ made it clear that one cannot use Craft Magic Arms and Armor to increase a black blade's enhancement bonus or add weapon properties?

FAQ:
Magus, Black Blade: Can I use Craft Magic Arms and Armor to increase my blade's enhancement bonus?

No, nor can you use that feat to add other properties (such as flaming) to the black blade. You can use your arcane pool to temporarily add abilities to your black blade.

—Pathfinder Design Team, 07/19/13

Since the FAQ is very specific about what cannot be upgraded on the black blade. It seems to leave some wiggle room for other means of upgrading the black blade. What about adding non-weapon abilities to the black blade? For example, could I enhance my black blade to have Telepathy? Extending the range of the black blade's senses to 120 feet? Giving it the ability to cast a 3rd level spell 3/day, etc.? All of this is under the Intelligent Items rules/guidelines. What's the general consensus, if any? I'm inclined to believe that there are no rules against it and it can be done.

Dark Archive

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its a class feature.

it only ever gets whats on the chart. no changes, no alterations, no loopholes, no backdoor shenanigans


Name Violation wrote:

its a class feature.

it only ever gets whats on the chart. no changes, no alterations, no loopholes, no backdoor shenanigans

It's a class feature that also happens to be an intelligent magic item. I don't see this as a "loophole" or "backdoor shenanigan".

Liberty's Edge

Name is right, you cannot upgrade your Black Blade. Period. The FAQ is worded the way it is worded because that was the question that was asked.

Grand Lodge

Pathfinder PF Special Edition, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber
D'arandriel wrote:
Name Violation wrote:

its a class feature.

it only ever gets whats on the chart. no changes, no alterations, no loopholes, no backdoor shenanigans

It's a class feature that also happens to be an intelligent magic item. I don't see this as a "loophole" or "backdoor shenanigan".

The blackblade is not your standard masterwork weapon, so it is not a valid target for STANDARD enchantment procedures.

For a home game your GM might work out some special enchantments for singular items like a black blade.

For PFS, you're out of luck.


You are unable to use the feat to add properties to the weapon. Giving it additional abilities would be adding 'properties' to the weapon. Your answer is still 'No.'

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