Does the Magi Ebon Blade do extra damage?

Hi DevM,

If you have feats or class abilities that interact with heavy weapons, then there would be an advantage to creating an ebon blade with those features (for example to access a fighting school that uses a heavy blade). I’ts arguably that you could create a glaive which would have reach…or perhaps another bladed weapon with other qualities. But as written, as I understand it, there is no other damage benefit from choosing one form over another. (OTOH your ebon sword as short sword (or dagger) still does 1d8 so its an advantage there.)

For most casters I don’t think there will be a big advantage to creating ebon greatswords.

As an aside I would note that the Magi archetype is not all that subtle. Your black weapons and armor are a Big neon sign to Ymandrakes in the area that you are an arcane caster. Doubly so when your kit appear out of nowhere. Elorii (and val’Sungha) in Entaris & the League of Princes may not care – Ymandragore’s influence there is limited. But it’s a different story in the First City and “the Known World.”

FYI

But, it makes meander why even have Arcane classes if they are going to be so hard to play?

Raw, unadulterated power. Arcane casters can be the nastiest thing around (at least until Strain and the Wasting Disease or Harvesting catches up).

Arcane casters can create their own Advanced spells (something Divine casters can’t) and have access to some of the most devastating combat spells available.