Weapon (any sword), legendary (requires attunement by a paladin) · 2024 version below
Type
Weapon
Rarity
Legendary
Attunement
Required
Price (2014)
50,001+ gp (DMG value range)
Price (2024)
200,000 gp plus the base item
You gain a +3 bonus to attack and damage rolls made with this magic weapon. When you hit a fiend or an undead with it, that creature takes an extra 2d10 radiant damage.
While you hold the drawn sword, it creates an aura in a 10-foot radius around you. You and all creatures friendly to you in the aura have advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects. If you have 17 or more levels in the paladin class, the radius of the aura increases to 30 feet.
How the Holy Avenger plays
It’s a +3 sword that deals an extra 2d10 radiant damage when it hits a fiend or an undead. While you hold it drawn, you and every friendly creature within 10 feet have advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects. A paladin of 17th level or higher extends that aura to 30 feet.
It’s legendary and requires attunement by a paladin, and it’s built to sit on top of the class. With Aura of Protection adding your Charisma modifier to allies’ saves and the sword giving them advantage against magic, a party standing near the paladin is very hard to charm, hold or banish.
Who should wield it
Only a paladin can attune to it. A character with a single level of paladin qualifies.
Campaigns against demons, devils, vampires and liches. The 2d10 radiant (11 on average) comes on every hit, on top of Divine Smite.
Keep it drawn. The aura only works while you hold the sword out; sheathing it turns the aura off.
Common questions
Who can attune to a Holy Avenger?
Only a paladin. Any character with at least one level in the paladin class can attune to it.
Does the Holy Avenger’s aura stack with Aura of Protection?
Yes. The paladin’s aura adds a bonus to saving throws and the sword gives advantage on saves against spells and magical effects. They’re different benefits, so allies in both get both.
What does the Holy Avenger do against undead and fiends?
Each hit deals an extra 2d10 radiant damage, doubled on a critical hit like the rest of the weapon’s dice. Radiant damage also stops a vampire’s regeneration.
Is the aura always on?
Only while you hold the drawn sword. It has a 10-foot radius, or 30 feet once you have 17 paladin levels.
Did the 2024 rules change the Holy Avenger?
The bonuses are the same, but the 2024 version can be any simple or martial weapon instead of only a sword. Attunement is still limited to paladins.
How much is a Holy Avenger worth?
It’s legendary. The Dungeon Master’s Guide puts legendary items at 50,001 gp and up, and the builder’s Standard Conversion prices them at 200,000 gp.
Very rare: the same +3, without the radiant damage or the aura.
Holy Avenger 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 Simple or Martial)
Rarity
Legendary
Attunement
Required by a Paladin
You gain a +3 bonus to attack rolls and damage rolls made with this magic weapon. When you hit a Fiend or an Undead with it, that creature takes an extra 2d10 Radiant damage.
While you hold the drawn weapon, it creates a 10-foot Emanation originating from you. You and all creatures Friendly to you in the Emanation have Advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects. If you have 17 or more levels in the Paladin class, the size of the Emanation increases to 30 feet.
