Losing a blackblade, enhancing a bonded blade


Rules Questions


Two questions in this one. First, if a Magus loses his blackblade (not has it destroyed, but simply loses it, ie it gets stolen or thrown down a bottomless chasm) how is it replaced? The Unbreakable entry specifies destruction but is otherwise identical to the Wizard's Bonded Item rules for the replacement; is it safe to assume that it applies?
Secondly, lets say a I have a Blade Bound/Soul Forger Magus who chooses his Black Blade as his bonded weapon. The FAQ states that Craft Magic Arms and Armor cant be used to enchant a blackblade, but can the character use his arcane bond to add enhancements to it?

Dark Archive

1. At 9th level, he can summon his blade, if it is within one mile of the magus. If the blade is outside that radius, you may be looking at a side quest to find it. The rules are silent on the matter.
I think I would reunite the magus with the blade when he next gains a level; the blade found its magus once, it can find him again.

2. As I see it, it is still a black blade, so it cannot be further enchanted.

EDIT: Grrr... Why can I not see typos before I submit the post?


Dragon Knight wrote:

Two questions in this one. First, if a Magus loses his blackblade (not has it destroyed, but simply loses it, ie it gets stolen or thrown down a bottomless chasm) how is it replaced? The Unbreakable entry specifies destruction but is otherwise identical to the Wizard's Bonded Item rules for the replacement; is it safe to assume that it applies?

Secondly, lets say a I have a Blade Bound/Soul Forger Magus who chooses his Black Blade as his bonded weapon. The FAQ states that Craft Magic Arms and Armor cant be used to enchant a blackblade, but can the character use his arcane bond to add enhancements to it?

This has been asked quite often and the answer, as the official position was made clear, is that you cannot enchant a blackblade, including using class features that mimic that crafting feat. However a replacement is a different more difficult story. Being unique intelligent items of unknown origin that are treated as familiars tends to complicate that. So one might rule that replacing it would be impossible, or one might rule that the weapon simply turns up again amongst the blade-bound's possessions. There are no rules for it as far as I know. However black blades are not simply weapons in which the character invests his own power. They are their own 'person'for lack of a better word. and should be treated not unlike npc's when thinking of replacing them.


The Black blade is a class feature. As such, it should be expected that with a reasonable cost in time/money/etc. it will be replaced/retrieved if something untoward happens to it. The replacement cost if broken is a pretty good guideline for how much effort it should take, not nothing, but not excessive either.

Typically, I would expect that a black blade that was irretrievable would be replaced (or alternately the replacement ritual would 'call' the blade back to the magus) within a game session at most.

In most cases, I would personally have the black blade be the 'same' as far as its own identity/personality goals etc. Even if the physical blade is different, the 'spirit' of the blade could just be in a new weapon.

Grand Lodge

Pathfinder PF Special Edition, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

Elric tried tossing Stormbringer into the sea at least twice.

On the second try it came back on it's own.


Its an odd concept, is this the character's choice? It doesnt seem right to remove a defining class ability with no possible way of replacing it. I would house rule the bonded item to become the blackblade, same as it was before as far as abilities go but it would be a chance for the player to change the type of one handed slashing or piecing weapon if they really wanted.

I'd also say you couldnt double dip to increase the enchantment bonus. Its easy enough for a Magus to do with pool points anyways. If you really wanted get a Bane Baldric to up its enchantment a few times a day.


Given that blackblades are intelligent weapons, I could see a blackblade asserting their will over some mook or random NPC, and then take steps to be reunited with its owner. Even if the sword's ego score is relatively low, everyone fails a saving throw on a natural 1, and the sword will no doubt continue to try until success is achieved.


Azoriel wrote:
Given that blackblades are intelligent weapons, I could see a blackblade asserting their will over some mook or random NPC, and then take steps to be reunited with its owner. Even if the sword's ego score is relatively low, everyone fails a saving throw on a natural 1, and the sword will no doubt continue to try until success is achieved.

I wholly agree that the sword would take steps to re-unite with the Magus. Considering the way it just appears at level 3 that would indicate it has some motive power that it doesnt normally share with the character. Eventually it would dominiate a mind sure, but i dont think a natural 1 on a save is an automatic failure, i think that only applies to attack rolls.

Grand Lodge

Pathfinder PF Special Edition, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber
Torbyne wrote:
Azoriel wrote:
Given that blackblades are intelligent weapons, I could see a blackblade asserting their will over some mook or random NPC, and then take steps to be reunited with its owner. Even if the sword's ego score is relatively low, everyone fails a saving throw on a natural 1, and the sword will no doubt continue to try until success is achieved.
I wholly agree that the sword would take steps to re-unite with the Magus. Considering the way it just appears at level 3 that would indicate it has some motive power that it doesnt normally share with the character. Eventually it would dominiate a mind sure, but i dont think a natural 1 on a save is an automatic failure, i think that only applies to attack rolls.

Natural 1 on a save has been an auto-fail since 3.0. One of the hallmarks of being a demigod was the elimination of that rule.


LazarX wrote:
Torbyne wrote:
Azoriel wrote:
Given that blackblades are intelligent weapons, I could see a blackblade asserting their will over some mook or random NPC, and then take steps to be reunited with its owner. Even if the sword's ego score is relatively low, everyone fails a saving throw on a natural 1, and the sword will no doubt continue to try until success is achieved.
I wholly agree that the sword would take steps to re-unite with the Magus. Considering the way it just appears at level 3 that would indicate it has some motive power that it doesnt normally share with the character. Eventually it would dominiate a mind sure, but i dont think a natural 1 on a save is an automatic failure, i think that only applies to attack rolls.
Natural 1 on a save has been an auto-fail since 3.0. One of the hallmarks of being a demigod was the elimination of that rule.

Why so it is, learnt something new :)

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