Phantom Blade

[Heidrek]

I've always thought this spell was crap. A 5th level spell that gives you a temporary +3 Longsword that hurts undead? Wow. By the time I'm casting 5th level spells I should already have access to +3 weapons and there are better spells to cast on the first round than this.

But now I'm wondering about this. Most of the other magical blades like Moonblade, Flameblade and Iceblade use melee touch attacks that ignore armour and shield bonuses making them more likely to hit, but don't allow you to get the benefit of your Strength bonus. Phantom Blade doesn't say this.

If it has the 'brilliant energy' ability but allows you strength bonuses it would actually be a really good weapon. Particularly for Bards. Does anyone know if you get a str bonus from this weapon, or if it ignores armour? If it's only one or the other it's still crap, but if it's both? Then it gets useful.

[dark_raven]

i don't see anything in my sorces that says if it has "briliant energy" like propoties. sence i don't see that, i'm assuming that it uses the strangth modifiers. and if that is the case, the only thing that i'd use it for if i was you would be fighting agenst undead (till you get the black blade of disaster)

[winter sorrow]

Agree - phantom blade sucks. I think dark raven is right on this. The only point of this is if I don't have a +3 weapon spare to go around or if I can't afford to buy one for my bard. It can be ok if you are lacking a +3 weapon, but that's about it.