Shadow Blade 5e: Damage, Advantage, and Weapon Rules

Shadow Blade is the weapon spell I like when darkness can become an offensive advantage. It creates a finesse blade that deals heavy psychic damage, works with several weapon features, and rewards a caster who can keep concentration while fighting up close.

Shadow Blade 5e — Quick Spell Reference

How Shadow Blade Works

The sword counts as a simple melee weapon with which the caster is proficient. It deals 2d8 psychic damage on a hit and has the finesse, light, and thrown properties, with a normal range of 20 feet and a long range of 60 feet.

Finesse lets the caster use Strength or Dexterity for attack and damage rolls. The spell does not automatically use the caster’s spellcasting ability.

The blade is a weapon rather than a spell attack. The caster makes melee or ranged weapon attacks with it, adds the chosen Strength or Dexterity modifier, and can use it for multiple attacks when a feature such as Extra Attack permits.

When attacking a target in dim light or darkness, the caster has advantage on the attack roll. The lighting around the target matters; the caster does not gain this advantage merely by standing in darkness.

Throwing and Recalling the Blade

If the caster drops or throws the blade, it dissipates at the end of the turn. While the spell continues, the caster can use a bonus action to make the sword reappear in their hand.

Throwing it uses a normal range of 20 feet and a long range of 60 feet. Attacks beyond 20 feet have disadvantage under the normal ranged-weapon rules, which can cancel advantage from attacking a target in dim light or darkness.

Sneak Attack and Two-Weapon Fighting

Shadow Blade can qualify for a rogue’s Sneak Attack because it has the finesse property, provided every other Sneak Attack requirement is met. Psychic damage replaces the weapon’s normal damage; Sneak Attack adds its damage normally.

Its light property also makes it eligible for 2014 two-weapon fighting when the other weapon and the attack sequence satisfy those rules. The bonus-action attack competes with casting or recalling Shadow Blade, and the ability modifier is not added to that bonus attack’s damage unless a feature allows it.

The blade can work with features that require a weapon attack, but not automatically with features that require a particular weapon type, a ranged weapon, or a spell attack.

Concentration and Upcasting

Shadow Blade requires concentration for up to 1 minute. When concentration ends, the weapon disappears.

Taking damage in melee can threaten concentration, so defensive features and careful positioning are important. The spell also occupies one hand while the blade is present.

Its damage progression is:

Slot level	Damage on a hit
2nd	2d8 psychic
3rd–4th	3d8 psychic
5th–6th	4d8 psychic
7th or higher	5d8 psychic

The spell does not gain 1d8 at every slot level.

Does Shadow Blade Work with Booming Blade?

The current 2014-compatible wording of Booming Blade requires a melee weapon worth at least 1 sp as its material component. Shadow Blade has no listed monetary value, so it does not satisfy that requirement under a strict reading.

Earlier printings of Booming Blade did not use that priced component, which is why older discussions often allow the combination. A DM can choose to permit it, but that is a ruling rather than the clearest result of the revised cantrip text.

FAQ

Which ability modifies the attack?

Strength or Dexterity, chosen through the finesse property—not automatically the caster’s spellcasting ability.

Does the blade grant advantage in darkness?

It grants advantage when the target is in dim light or darkness.

Can it work with Sneak Attack?

Yes, because it has finesse, provided all other Sneak Attack requirements are met.

Can the caster recall a thrown blade?

Yes. After it dissipates at the end of the turn, a bonus action makes it reappear while the spell remains active.

Does Shadow Blade have an official 2024 revision?

No. Shadow Blade remains a legacy Xanathar’s Guide spell rather than a revised 2024 Player’s Handbook spell.