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.
How the Flame Tongue plays
It can be any kind of sword. Speak its command word as a bonus action and the blade bursts into flame: while it burns, every hit deals an extra 2d6 fire damage, and it sheds bright light for 40 feet and dim light for 40 more. The flames stay until you speak the word again, drop the sword or sheathe it.
Seven extra damage per hit is a lot, more than a +3 weapon adds, and it applies to every attack. For a fighter with three or four attacks a turn, a Flame Tongue is one of the best weapons in the game. It’s rare and requires attunement.
Who should wield it
Fighters, paladins and rangers with Extra Attack get the most from it, since the extra damage comes with every hit.
Anyone fighting trolls. Fire damage stops a troll’s regeneration.
Carry a backup against fire-immune foes like devils, red dragons and fire elementals. The sword is still magical, so it still hurts them with its normal damage.
Common questions
Is a Flame Tongue a +1 weapon?
No. It has no bonus to attack or damage rolls. It’s still a magic weapon, though, so it overcomes resistance to nonmagical attacks.
Does the fire damage double on a critical hit?
Yes. On a critical hit you roll all the attack’s damage dice twice, including the 2d6 fire.
Does lighting the Flame Tongue take an action?
A bonus action to speak the command word. Plan to light it before combat or on your first turn.
What kind of sword can be a Flame Tongue?
Any sword: longsword, shortsword, greatsword, rapier, scimitar and so on. The DM chooses when placing it.
Does it set things on fire?
The item doesn’t say so. It deals fire damage and sheds bright light for 40 feet; whether it ignites things is up to the DM.
Does a Flame Tongue work underwater?
The rules don’t cover it. Most DMs say the flames don’t survive underwater.
Legendary: +3, extra radiant damage against fiends and undead, and a protective aura for paladins.
Flame Tongue in the 2024 rules
The 2024 Dungeon Master’s Guide revised the magic items, and the SRD 5.2 carries the new text. What changed:
Same rarity and attunement; the text is reworded for the 2024 rules glossary.
Type
Weapon (Any Melee Weapon)
Rarity
Rare
Attunement
Required
While holding this magic weapon, you can take a Bonus Action and use a command word to cause flames to engulf the damage-dealing part of the weapon. These flames shed Bright Light in a 40-foot radius and Dim Light for an additional 40 feet. While the weapon is ablaze, it deals an extra 2d6 Fire damage on a hit. The flames last until you take a Bonus Action to issue the command again or until you drop, stow, or sheathe the weapon.
