Mordenkainen's Sword
2024 Rules
- Level & School
- 7th-level evocation
- Casting Time
- Action
- Range
- 90 feet
- Components
- V, S, M (a miniature sword worth 250+ GP)
- Duration
- Concentration, up to 1 minute
- Classes
- Bard, Wizard
You create a spectral sword that hovers within range. It lasts for the duration.
When the sword appears, you make a melee spell attack against a target within 5 feet of the sword. On a hit, the target takes Force damage equal to 4d12 plus your spellcasting ability modifier.
On your later turns, you can take a Bonus Action to move the sword up to 30 feet to a spot you can see and repeat the attack against the same target or a different one.
2014 Rules
- Level & School
- 7th-level evocation
- Casting Time
- Action
- Range
- 60 feet
- Components
- V, S, M (a miniature platinum sword with a grip and pommel of copper and zinc, worth 250 gp)
- Duration
- Concentration, 1 minute
- Classes
- Bard, Wizard
You create a sword-shaped plane of force that hovers within range. It lasts for the duration.
When the sword appears, you make a melee spell attack against a target of your choice within 5 feet of the sword. On a hit, the target takes 3d10 force damage. Until the spell ends, you can use a bonus action on each of your turns to move the sword up to 20 feet to a spot you can see and repeat this attack against the same target or a different one.
Mordenkainen's Sword 5.5e 2024 vs. 5e 2014 edition differences
Mordenkainen's Sword popularity
How popular is Mordenkainen's Sword? It is a seldom seen spell in the game, but is often chosen over other options when available. This spell could be a valuable addition for spellbooks.
- Top 50% picked level 7 Bard spell
- Top 50% of all level 7 spells
- Bottom 50% picked level 7 Wizard spell
- Bottom 25% of all 5e spells
Spells similar to Mordenkainen's Sword
Spiritual Weapon 2nd-level evocation
It creates a spectral weapon that makes a recurring attack you direct each round and deals force damage, matching the same summoned-weapon archetype.
Flaming Sphere 2nd-level conjuration
You conjure a mobile damaging object that you move with a bonus action to hit enemies repeatedly over multiple rounds, like maneuvering a sword.
Bigby's Hand 5th-level evocation
This spell summons a magical construct at range that persists for a minute and can be moved to push or strike targets, sharing the long-duration, tactical-placement feel.
Witch Bolt 1st-level evocation
Although ranged and single-target, it creates a sustained link that deals repeated damage each round while you concentrate, echoing the persistent, ongoing-damage design.
Animate Objects 5th-level transmutation
It animates physical items to make attacks for you over a short duration, using summoned pieces of the battlefield to dish out damage on a repeating basis.