Magic bows in DND are a type of weapon that adventurers can use in combat. These bows are imbued with magical properties, which enhances their effectiveness in combat. Magic bows come in various forms and have different abilities. Some bows may grant the user the ability to shoot arrows that have elemental properties, such as fire or ice. These elemental arrows can cause additional damage to enemies, making them a powerful asset in battle. Other magic bows may have the ability to shoot multiple arrows at once, allowing the user to target multiple enemies simultaneously.
D&D 5e: Five Magic Bows (and a Magic Arrow) 9
As part of my intermittent series of magic items, this time I’m presenting five new magic bows, ranging (heh) from rare to artifact. Aethershred comes from the Dust to Dust campaign, while the stormbow, bone bow, and Baron Ystorin’s spine bow all come from the Wildlands South campaign. Whisper is a sort of convoluted cross-campaign reference – the person who played Whisper in DtD also played a Storm Archer in WLS. Anyway, on with the show.
Other magic bows may have the ability to shoot multiple arrows at once, allowing the user to target multiple enemies simultaneously. This can be particularly useful when facing a group of enemies or when dealing with enemies that have high armor or health. Some magic bows have the ability to shoot arrows that never miss their target.
Aethershred
Weapon (longbow), artifact (requires attunement)
This dreaded bow has erased its own history, concealing whatever malicious hands created it. It is, nonetheless, famed for the control that it exerts over its wielder, and its willingness to annihilate any bearer it finds unsuitable. It was recovered by one of the companions of the Paladin Queen, during the campaigns against the Nimori, but even Vyrakotha’s virtuous influence was not sufficient to protect Nuoli dai Oroya. When at last Aethershred subsumed her will entirely, she wreaked terrible slaughter and persisted through every dire incantation that was cast against her, until at last her body had been reduced to ashes for the third time.
The soul within Aethershred has not deigned to reveal its name to any save its wielders, and none have survived wielding it to share that name with scholars. The bow’s purpose is greatly famed and feared, however, among those who understand the nature of the Spirit Court. Until the coming of the Houses of the Nether, only Aethershred could slay one of the genius loci known as Falar. Yet that Falar, being dead and not devoured by Nether, could be known and replaced by the Auvet, so the land did not fall into Forgetting and wasteland. Only in later years was it seen as a prefiguring of Nether, and sought by Nether’s agents.
The soul within Aethershred has not the least care for the preservation of its wielder in the longer term. It seeks to cause as much destruction as possible, and spends its power only to compel the wielder and preserve their fighting ability. The guiding theory of its nature is that it was ill-made upon the Sacrificial Forge. Perhaps a soul that had long dwelt within the Forge entered it, instead of the one its maker meant to commit to it, and turned the bow’s purpose toward revenge against the Forge’s creators.
Magic Weapon. Aethershred is a magic weapon that grants a +3 bonus to attack and damage rolls made with it.
Random Properties. The bow has the following randomly-determined properties.
- 2 minor beneficial properties
- 1 major beneficial property (suggested additional options: when a creature attempts to disarm you of Aethershred, they roll a DC 20 Constitution saving throw. On a failure, they suffer 10d10 poison damage, or half on a success.)
- 2 minor detrimental properties
- 1 major detrimental property (suggested: when meeting any person for the first time, roll a DC 20 Charisma (Persuasion) check. On a failure, you immediately attack that creature with Aethershred, and continue until one or the other of you is dead, or you are more than 1 mile apart)
Sentient. While all eleven of the Lenga’Hiduis are sentient, not all of their personalities are as forceful or interested in controlling their wielders as Aethershred is.
- It has an Intelligence of 12, a Wisdom of 12, and a Charisma of 18.
- It communicates telepathically with its bearer or wielder.
- It has hearing and true seeing out to 120 feet, and can choose to share its true seeing with its wielder.
- Its alignment is chaotic evil.
- It craves the destruction and goads its user to fight arbitrarily.
- It demands that its wielder attack anyone it finds repugnant, which is almost every living thing. It will attempt to take control of its wielder to carry this out if necessary.
- Even when a wielder succeeds or fails a Charisma saving throw against it, Aethershred can attempt to charm and control them again in 1 minute. Its control ignores immunity to the charmed condition.
Arcane Projectiles. When you expend an arrow to attack with Aethershred, it deals an additional 1d8 force damage on a hit. You can make a ranged attack with Aethershred without expending ammunition, in which case it deals 1d8 + your Charisma modifier force damage on a hit.
To the Slaughter. Aethershred has 11 charges. When you hit with a ranged weapon attack using Aethershred, you can deal 1d10 additional poison damage for every charge expended. Alternately, when you hit with a ranged weapon attack using Aethershred, you can spend 5 charges to deal your normal weapon damage and also cast disintegrate on the target, ignoring the spell’s range. Aethershred regains its full complement of charges at midnight, and regains 1 charge whenever a target that you damaged in your current or most recent turn is reduced to 0 hit points.
Preserve the Archer. If Aethershred controls its wielder, it can restore 5d8 hit points to its wielder at the start of its wielder’s turn, resolved before the wielder rolls a death saving throw. If its wielder would be killed, it instead suffers a failed death saving throw that persists until it finishes a long rest, and regains hit points equal to half its normal maximum hit points. When the wielder has 3 failed death saves, they are dead and cannot be resurrected by any spell short of true resurrection.
Destroying Aethershred. The only sure way to destroy Aethershred is to sunder it upon the Sacrificial Forge. This requires a way to transport it to the Sacrificial Forge against the will of its bearer. The soul within Aethershred can manifest and wield Aethershred while in the presence of the Sacrificial Forge, and it attempts to kill those who would destroy it.
This can be incredibly useful for adventurers with low accuracy or when facing enemies that are difficult to hit. These bows can greatly increase the adventurer's chances of dealing damage and defeating enemies. Additionally, magic bows can have enchantments that provide additional bonuses or effects. For example, a magic bow may have the ability to slow down enemies with each shot, making it easier for the adventurer to avoid being attacked or to gain an advantage in battle. To utilize a magic bow, adventurers must typically have proficiency in the use of bows and arrows. This means that they have spent time practicing and perfecting their archery skills. Without this proficiency, adventurers may have difficulty using the magic bow effectively in combat. Overall, magic bows in DND are a powerful and versatile weapon choice for adventurers. They can provide unique abilities and enhancements that can greatly assist in defeating enemies and completing quests. Adventurers should carefully consider their playstyle and intended use before selecting a magic bow, as different bows offer different advantages and abilities..
Reviews for "Traversing Uncharted Territories: Using Magic Bows in Wilderness Adventures in DnD"
1. John - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with "Magic bows dnd". The gameplay felt repetitive and the graphics were outdated. The storyline was also underdeveloped and I struggled to feel invested in the game. Overall, it felt like a lackluster experience and I wouldn't recommend it to others.
2. Sarah - 1 star - "Magic bows dnd" did not live up to my expectations at all. The controls were clunky and unresponsive, making it frustrating to play. The game also lacked depth and variation, with limited options for character customization and repetitive quests. I found myself quickly losing interest and regretting my purchase.
3. Mike - 2 stars - Unfortunately, "Magic bows dnd" did not impress me. The combat system was dull and lacked strategy, with little variation in the types of bows and spells available. The world felt empty and lifeless, with minimal interaction with NPC characters. The game also had numerous technical issues and glitches, which further detracted from the overall experience. I was left feeling unsatisfied and wouldn't recommend it to other gamers.
4. Emily - 2 stars - I was really looking forward to playing "Magic bows dnd", but it fell short of my expectations. The game had potential, but it seemed rushed and unpolished. The story was confusing and poorly explained, making it difficult to follow and understand the motivations of the characters. The combat mechanics were also lacking, with little depth or strategy involved. Overall, it was a disappointing experience and I wouldn't recommend it to others.
5. David - 1 star - "Magic bows dnd" was a complete letdown for me. The game had repetitive and monotonous gameplay, with little variation in quests and activities. The graphics were outdated and the overall presentation was lackluster. The dialogue and voice acting were also subpar, with wooden performances that failed to engage me in the story. I was thoroughly unimpressed and will not be playing this game again.