Flame Tongue (Rapier)

D&D 5e · 2014·Weapons·Rare·Requires attunement

Weapon damage

1d8 piercing

Base weapon damage before your ability modifier. Use the calculator to include hit chance and critical hits.

Damage calculator

Hit chance

55%

Expected damage / attack

4.35

Attack bonus

Average normal hit: 7.5 · Average critical hit: 12 · Critical chance: 5%.

Category: Martial weapon
Damage type: Piercing
Reach: 5 ft.
Magic attack bonus: +0
Weight: 2 lb
Attunement: Required
Rarity: Rare
Price: Not specified

Magic: Bonus Action: speak command word to ignite or extinguish.

Calculator assumptions & rules

One attack against a creature. Natural 1 misses; natural 20 hits and doubles damage dice, not flat modifiers. Expected damage includes misses and critical hits. Advantage uses the higher of two d20s; Disadvantage uses the lower. Magic bonuses shown on the item are counted once.

Uses only the weapon’s ordinary hit and the listed on-hit extra dice, when enabled. Class features, Sneak Attack, fighting styles, mastery effects, damage on a miss, special critical-hit effects, ongoing damage, resistance and immunity are excluded. Check the full rules below for additional effects.

Changing calculator inputs does not change the item’s rules or create a new page URL.

What Flame Tongue does

Strength or Dexterity can drive this martial weapon’s attack and damage rolls. Add your proficiency bonus to the attack roll only if you are proficient.
The base 1d8 weapon damage averages 4.5 before your ability modifier and extra effects. Hit chance matters too: compare expected damage per attack rather than the die alone.
The extra damage is conditional: While ablaze, on any target hit.; Weapon is ignited. Enable it only when that condition is met; otherwise compare the weapon’s ordinary hit.
This item uses one of your attunement slots. Compare its benefit with the other items you want to keep attuned.

You can use a bonus action to speak this magic sword's command word, causing flames to erupt from the blade. These flames shed bright light in a 40-foot radius and dim light for an additional 40 feet. While the sword is ablaze, it deals an extra 2d6 fire damage to any target it hits. The flames last until you use a bonus action to speak the command word again or until you drop or sheathe the sword. This is the Rapier variant.

Full item details & properties

Rules for this edition

Proficiency: A martial melee weapon; proficiency allows adding your Proficiency Bonus to its attack rolls.

Magic properties

Activation: Bonus Action: speak command word to ignite or extinguish.
Consumable: No
Extra damage: 2d6 fire. While ablaze, on any target hit.

Weapon details

Damage: 1d8 piercing
Weapon class: Martial Melee

Properties

Finesse

When making an attack with a finesse weapon, you use your choice of your Strength or Dexterity modifier for the attack and damage rolls. You must use the same modifier for both rolls.

Tags & related references

FirePiercingRare →Flaming WeaponMagicalMartial WeaponMelee WeaponRequires AttunementFinesse →Weapon →

Compare alternatives

Same edition, using your calculator inputs above. Special properties and character features can change the choice.

Flame Tongue (Rapier) · current4.35 expected damage / attack55% hit chance1d8 piercing · +0 magic attack · 5 ft. reach · Conditional extra damage; see rulesNot specified · 2 lb Sword of Life Stealing (Rapier)4.35 expected damage / attack55% hit chance1d8 piercing · +0 magic attack · 5 ft. reachNot specified · 2 lb

Same base weapon; compare its bonuses and rarity

Sword of Wounding (Rapier)4.35 expected damage / attack55% hit chance1d8 piercing · +0 magic attack · 5 ft. reachNot specified · 2 lb

Same base weapon; compare its bonuses and rarity

Flame Tongue (Shortsword)3.75 expected damage / attack55% hit chance1d6 piercing · +0 magic attack · 5 ft. reach · Conditional extra damage; see rulesNot specified · 2 lb

Both use Finesse; compare reach and damage

Flame Tongue (Greatsword)5.85 expected damage / attack55% hit chance2d6 slashing · +0 magic attack · 5 ft. reach · Conditional extra damage; see rulesNot specified · 6 lb

Same item type and rules edition

Ordinary attacks only. Matching extra-damage conditions follow your input; alternatives keep their default bonus allocation.

Flame Tongue FAQ

Does Flame Tongue require attunement?

Yes. You need to attune to this item to use the properties that require attunement.

Is the listed price a guaranteed purchase price?

The source does not specify a price for this entry. Ask your GM about availability and cost.