Spellblade (Magus Archetype)
Fans of 3.5 will recognize the inspiration for this archetype, turning the basic magus into a spirit-blade wielding warrior. So without further ado, let’s explore the NOT!Soulknife.
The spellblade trains themselves much like any other magus would, but they also learn a secret technique that allows them to convert a portion of their magic into a small blade of raw force, adding a little more attack power to their combat style. There’s more to their mystic blades than a specially-flavored two-weapon fighting style.
The idea of forming a blade of personal energy is a really cool application of imagery that has appeared in fiction a couple of different times, most notably X-Men’s Psylocke, who could create a psychic blade to slice through foes like butter.
The mystic blade these magi create is made of force, and the accuracy and lethality of it are determined by the power of the spell sacrificed to create it. Additionally, the projected nature of the blade allows the spellblade to still cast with the blade hand, allowing them to either perform their spell combat or strike with both mundane weapon and athame. Finally, they can use their arcane pool to enchant it just like a normal weapon, and can apply the same arcane pool bonuses of their physical weapon to the blade at no extra cost.
The presence of their spell-created blades opens up a new set of magus arcana that these warriors can learn in addition to their ordinary options, including learning to use their arcane pool rather than spells to fuel their blades, Convert the blade into a barrier against a single attack, or even fire the blade as an empowered projectile.
Additionally, the archetype has a list of more contemporary arcana that are recommended, including delivering touch spells through lethal blows, increasing attack agility, and converting arcane energy into attacks and defenses.
Wanna make a two-weapon fighter magus that can still use spell combat when they need to? This archetype is for you. Build for a big arcane pool, and your spells with the same sort of expendability that clerics and druids have with their spontaneous spells, converting spells that have lost relevance in the situation into deadly blades.
Since the magical athame used by these magic could be seen as an extension of their spirit, the exact appearance of the blades can say a lot about them. Perhaps they are complex and ornate in design, or perhaps they resemble a particular style of dagger, or perhaps they merely resemble a short beam like a lightsaber?
Assassination in the kingdom of Dakkor! The king has been slain, apparently by a particularly powerful force projectile, which seems to paint the evoker college as the source of the culprit, but in truth, the attack was a thrown force athame, a signature attack of the Ghost Blade Order. Exposing the mystical assassins will take cunning, and investigation, especially since they are usually known for slaying undead threats.
The form may change, but the soul remains the same. This truth has allowed the investigator Jarel Ierenford to track the reincarnated murderer Kodas the Razor, whose spell-formed blade always takes the form of a translucent shard of glass. The hunt has gone on for some time, and tracking down the druid who keeps bringing the murderer back becomes just as important as stopping Kodas once and for all.
Often, clockfolk are built specifically for their particular calling. In Carver Beta-Blue’s case, he was built with spell-resonant crystals built into his hand, allowing him to channel arcane energy into them to project short cutting beams, slicing into foes. Carver was originally built as a wizard’s guardian, but after the mage died of lich dust poisoning, he has been left without purpose.
