This item appears to be a longsword hilt. While grasping the hilt, you can use a bonus action to cause a blade of pure radiance to spring into existence, or make the blade disappear. While the blade exists, this magic longsword has the finesse property. If you are proficient with shortswords or longswords, you are proficient with the sun blade.
You gain a +2 bonus to attack and damage rolls made with this weapon, which deals radiant damage instead of slashing damage. When you hit an undead with it, that target takes an extra 1d8 radiant damage.
The sword's luminous blade emits bright light in a 15-foot radius and dim light for an additional 15 feet. The light is sunlight. While the blade persists, you can use an action to expand or reduce its radius of bright and dim light by 5 feet each, to a maximum of 30 feet each or a minimum of 10 feet each.
How the Sun Blade plays
It looks like a sword hilt. As a bonus action, a blade of pure radiance springs from it, or vanishes again. While the blade exists, it’s a +2 longsword with the finesse property that deals radiant damage instead of slashing, and an undead it hits takes an extra 1d8 radiant.
The blade sheds bright light for 15 feet and dim light for 15 more, and that light is sunlight. As an action you can widen or narrow both by 5 feet, between 10 and 30 feet each. You’re proficient with it if you’re proficient with shortswords or longswords. It’s rare and requires attunement.
Who should wield it
Rogues. Finesse means Sneak Attack works with it, and rogues are proficient with longswords.
Dexterity fighters, rangers and paladins who want a longsword’s d8 without Strength.
Vampire hunters. The light is real sunlight, which vampires can’t stand, and radiant damage shuts off their regeneration.
Common questions
Is the Sun Blade a finesse weapon?
Yes. While the blade exists it’s a longsword with the finesse property, so you can use Dexterity for its attack and damage rolls.
Who is proficient with the Sun Blade?
Anyone proficient with shortswords or longswords. That covers every class with martial weapons, plus bards, monks and rogues.
Does the Sun Blade’s light hurt vampires?
Yes. It’s sunlight, and a vampire takes 20 radiant damage when it starts its turn in sunlight and has disadvantage on attack rolls and ability checks while in it. Its radiant damage also stops the vampire’s regeneration.
Does it deal radiant damage to everything?
Yes. Every hit deals radiant instead of slashing, which very few creatures resist. Undead take an extra 1d8 radiant on top.
Can I hide with a Sun Blade?
Only with the blade off. A 15-foot glow of sunlight gives you away, but the blade appears or vanishes as a bonus action.
How much is a Sun Blade worth?
It’s rare. The Dungeon Master’s Guide puts rare items at 501 to 5,000 gp, and the builder’s Standard Conversion prices them at 5,000 gp.
Very rare: +1d6 cold on every hit and fire resistance.
Sun Blade 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 (Longsword)
Rarity
Rare
Attunement
Required
This item appears to be a sword hilt.
Blade of Radiance. While grasping the hilt, you can take a Bonus Action to cause a blade of pure radiance to spring into existence or make the blade disappear. While the blade exists, this magic weapon functions as a Longsword with the Finesse property. If you are proficient with Longswords or Shortswords, you are proficient with the Sun Blade.
You gain a +2 bonus to attack rolls and damage rolls made with this weapon, which deals Radiant damage instead of Slashing damage. When you hit an Undead with it, that target takes an extra 1d8 Radiant damage.
Sunlight. The sword's luminous blade emits Bright Light in a 15-foot radius and Dim Light for an additional 15 feet. The light is sunlight. While the blade persists, you can take a Magic action to expand or reduce its radius of Bright Light and Dim Light by 5 feet each, to a maximum of 30 feet each or a minimum of 10 feet each.
