Light blades reward accuracy as much as force. Pinpoint attacks, lunges, and agile defenses are the strong points of these weapons. About half of the weapons have a +3 bonus to attack rolls if proficient, while the other half has a +2 proficiency bonus.
The weapons in the former category are the Accurate Dagger, Dagger, Double Sword, Incendiary Dagger, Katar, Lancing Dagger, Rapier, Resonating Dagger, Short Sword, and Shuriken.
The weapons in the latter category are the Kukri, Kusari-Gama, Parrying Dagger, Sickle, Talenta Boomerang, and Xen'drik Boomerang.
Other items and features that can be used as light blades:
- Claw Fighter (gnoll feat)
- Feral Armor (uncommon, Hide armor)
Weapons[]
| Name | Damage | Handedness | Properties | Proficiency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate Dagger | 1d4 | One-handed | Off-hand, light thrown (5/10), accurate, implement (sorcerer) | Superior |
| Dagger | 1d4 | One-handed | Off-hand, light thrown (5/10) | Simple |
| Double Sword | 1d6 | Double | Primary end: defensive, off-hand
Secondary end: off-hand |
Superior |
| Incendiary Dagger | 1d4 | One-handed | Off-hand, light thrown (5/10), energized (fire), unerring | Superior |
| Katar | 1d6 | One-handed | Off-hand, high crit | Superior |
| Kukri | 1d6 | One-handed | Off-hand, brutal 1 | Superior |
| Kusari-Gama | Primary end: 1d10
Secondary end: 1d6 |
Double | Primary end: flail, defensive, reach
Secondary end: light blade, off-hand |
Superior |
| Lancing Dagger | 1d4 | One-handed | Off-hand, light thrown (5/10), energized (lightning), empowered crit | Superior |
| Parrying Dagger | 1d4 | One-handed | Off-hand, defensive | Superior |
| Rapier | 1d8 | One-handed | - | Superior (PHB) |
| Resonating Dagger | 1d4 | One-handed | Off-hand, light thrown (5/10), energized (thunder), forceful | Superior |
| Short Sword | 1d6 | One-handed | Off-hand | Military |
| Shuriken | 1d4 | One-handed | Light thrown (6/12) | Superior |
| Sickle | 1d6 | One-handed | Off-hand | Simple |
| Talenta Boomerang | 1d4 | One-handed | Light thrown (10/20) | Superior |
| Xen'drik Boomerang | 1d6 | One-handed | Light thrown (6/12) | Superior |
Feats[]
| Feat | requirement | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Blade Initiate | Int 13, not a Swordmage, not already multiclassed (except for Bards with Multiclass Versatility) | Swordmage multiclass feat; proficiency with Arcana and light blades and heavy blades as implements; once per day while wielding a light blade or heavy blade, can take a minor action to benefit from Swordmage Warding until the end of the encounter |
| Blade Opportunist[PH:194] | Str 13, Dex 13 | +2 to opportunity attack rolls with heavy or light blade. |
| Deft Blade | 11th level, any martial class | When you make a basic attack using a light blade, you can target AC or Reflex.[MP2:142] |
| Drow Fighting Style | Drow, Dex 15 | When wielding Light Blade + Hand Crossbow then Hand Crossbow attacks do not provoke opportunity attacks. |
| Dusk Elf Weapon Training | Dusk Elf Stealth | Proficiency with simple and military light blades, gain a +2/+3/+4 per tier feat bonus to damage rolls with these weapons |
| Fey Blades | Eladrin, Fighter, Tempest Technique | When wielding two light blades, two heavy blades, or a heavy blade and a light blade, gain a +1 bonus to damage rolls |
| Heart of the Blade | Con 13, Int 13, not a Swordmage, not already multiclassed (except for Bards with Multiclass Versatility) | Swordmage multiclass feat; proficiency with either Athletics and Endurance, and light blades and heavy blades as implements; gain the Swordbond class feature |
| Light Blade Expertise | - | +1 feat bonus to weapon attack rolls with a light blade. +1 bonus to the damage rolls of weapon attacks with a light blade against a creature granting combat advantage to you. Both of these bonuses increase to +2 at 11th level and +3 at 21st level. |
| Light Blade Mastery | Str 17, Dex 21, level 21+ | When you make a melee weapon attack with a light blade, you can score a critical hit on a natural roll of 19 or 20.[PH:207] |
| Light Blade Precision | Dex 13, Small or Medium size, level 11+ | You gain a +2 bonus to damage rolls with light blades against Large or larger targets.[PH:204] |
| Light Blade Strike | Power Strike | If attacking, you can sacrifice a use of Power Strike to make a melee basic attack vs. Reflex instead of AC; inflict an extra +2/4/6 damage (per tier) on hit |
| Nimble Blade | Dex 15 | When you attack with a light blade and you have combat advantage, you gain a +1 bonus to attack rolls.[PH:199] |
| Red Cloak Student | Fighter or Rogue, proficiency with Longsword, Rapier, or Short Sword | Red Cloak style feat; +2 feat bonus to Acrobatics checks; when using the Fighter exploit Footwork lure or Rogue exploit Riposte strike with a Longsword, Rapier, or Short Sword on an enemy granting Combat advantage to you, gain +1 to AC and Reflex until the start of your next turn |
| Rogue Weapon Mastery | Rogue, Rogue Weapon Talent feature | When you wield a Dagger or Shuriken, the weapon gains the high crit property |
| Sneaky Opportunity | Level 11+, Rogue | Opportunity attacks with light blades deal an extra +1d6/+2d6 per tier damage |
| Surprising Charge | Fighter or Rogue, Dex 17 | With making a charge attack against an enemy granting combat advantage to you with a light blade or spear, deal 1 [W] extra damage on hit |
| Swift Blade Style | Two-Weapon Fighting, martial class | If you are wielding two light blades, using Dual strike and hit with both attacks, gain a +2 feat attack and damage bonus to opportunity attacks;
If you are wielding two light blades, using Twin Strike and hit with both attacks, deal extra Dex modifier damage to one of the targets |
| Vistani Knife Fighting | Vistani Heritage | If you miss the target of your Evil Eye with a melee or close range attack made with a light blade, you can use an immediate reaction to shift 1 square or move your speed |
| War Wizard's Expertise | - | +1/+2/+3 feat attack bonus to arcane powers and melee basic attacks made with light blades and heavy blades; when using an arcane power with a light blade or a heavy blade, attack rolls against allies take a -5 penalty |