blindsight 60 ft. (blind beyond this radius), passive Perception 7
Languages
—
Traits
Antimagic Susceptibility. The sword is incapacitated while in the area of an antimagic field. If targeted by dispel magic, the sword must succeed on a Constitution saving throw against the caster's spell save DC or fall unconscious for 1 minute.
False Appearance. While the sword remains motionless and isn't flying, it is indistinguishable from a normal sword.
Actions
Longsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d8 + 1) slashing damage.
How many flying swords for a fight?
A flying sword is worth 50 XP. Using the 2024 encounter budgets (SRD 5.2), this is how many flying swords fit each difficulty for a party of four characters of the same level. A dash means even one would be over the budget.
Party level
Low
Moderate
High
1st
4
6
8
2nd
8
12
12+
3rd
12
12+
12+
Budgets add up every monster’s XP, so you can swap some for other creatures of the same total. Try other party sizes and mixes in the encounter calculator.
How the flying sword compares at CR 1/4
Against the 31 other challenge 1/4 monsters in the SRD 5.1, the flying sword has more hit points than 17 of them, which makes it tougher than most at its CR. See every CR 1/4 monster.
Statistic
Flying Sword
CR 1/4 average
Armor Class
17
11.6
Hit points
17
15
Best attack bonus
+3
+4
2024 stat block: Animated Flying Sword
The 2024 Monster Manual revised the flying sword, and the SRD 5.2 carries the new stat block. What changed:
It’s called the Animated Flying Sword in the 2024 rules.
Hit points: 17 → 14.
Speed: 0 ft., fly 50 ft. (hover) → 5 ft., fly 50 ft. (hover).
New in its stat block: Slash.
Gone from it: Antimagic Susceptibility, False Appearance and Longsword.
