Monster: Wraithblade

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Wraithblade

A sword hovers in the air, outlined by a ghostly glow.

CR 4; XP 1,200
CE Medium Undead
Init +8; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +10

Defense
AC 17, touch 17, flat-footed 13 (+3 deflection, +4 Dex)
hp 45 (6d8+18)
Fort +5, Ref +6, Will +6
Defensive Abilities channel resistance +4, possessed object; DR 5/adamantine and magic; Immunities undead traits
Weakness susceptible to ghost touch weapons

Offense
Speed fly 30 ft. (perfect)
Melee +1 bastard sword +8 (1d10+4/19–20/×2 plus energy drain)
Special Attacks create spawn, critical energy drain (1 level, DC 16), empowered slash, lead the dance

Statistics
Str 16, Dex 18, Con —, Int 11, Wis 13, Cha 16
Base Atk +4; CMB +7; CMD 24
Feats Combat Reflexes, Flyby Attack, Improved Initiative
Skills Acrobatics +10, Fly +21, Knowledge (nobility) +6, Perception +10

Ecology
Environment ruins, urban
Organization solitary, pair
Treasure +1 bastard sword (cursed)

Special Abilities

Create Spawn (Su) When a humanoid wielding a magic sword is killed by negative energy levels bestowed by a wraithblade, the victim's weapon has to succeed a Will saving throw (DC 16). It becomes corrupted on a failed save gaining wraithblade weapon curse and its wielder rises 1d4 rounds later as an uncontrolled wraithblade.

Critical Energy Drain (Su) On a confirmed critical hit, a wraithblade bestows 1 negative energy level and gains 5 temporary hit points.

Empowered Slash (Su) A wraithblade can take a swift action to imbue its next strike with great power, dealing 2d6 of extra damage with its next attack.

Lead The Dance (Su) A wraithblade can take a swift action to redirect a dancing weapon or a dancing shield within its line of sight, commanding it to attack its owner or protect the wraithblade if the wraithblade wins an opposed Charisma check with the owner of the targeted item.

Possessed Object A wraithblade is an intangible undead spirit possessing a magical blade. Like an object, a wraithblade receives half the damage from energy attacks, and is treated as both an attended magical object and a creature. It is immune to extra damage from critical hits, sneak attacks, and similar effects. Reducing a wraithblade to 0 hit points destroys the spirit leaving the weapon behind. Each point of damage beyond 0 is dealt to the weapon, possibly destroying the weapon with excessive damage, except for damage that could not affect object, such as from positive energy or magic missile. Disintegrate and similar effects destroy the weapon if the wraithblade is reduced to 0 or less hit points. A wraithblade can be healed by mending, make whole and other effects that repair objects in addition to being healed by negative energy as an Undead.

Susceptible To Ghost Touch Weapons Weapon with a ghost touch magic property ignores wraithblade's damage resistance and immunity to extra damage from critical hits and sneak attacks.


Wraithblades are violent spirits bound to magic weapons, fighting and killing forever until destroyed. Even after their destruction they can continue to bring doom to others, for anyone killed while wielding a sword salvaged from a wraithblade will rise as a wraithblade soon enough. Wraithblades rarely remember their mortal lives, being fixated on combat, though they almost never fight each other unless magically controlled by another force.

Anyone viewing a wraithblade with a see invisible, true seeing, or similar ability, can perceive a faint ghostly outline of a fencer wielding the sword itself.

Some wraithblades can be bound to different weapons, with more powerful wraithblades wielding more powerful ones.


Wraithblade Weapon Curse Anyone wielding the cursed weapon does not drop it due to fear or unconsciousness, always fails Constitution checks made to stabilize, and rises as an uncontrolled  wraithblade 1d4 rounds after death.