Mordenkainen’s Sword (Arcane Sword) 5e spell

7th-level evocation (concentration) · called Arcane Sword in the SRD 5.1 · 2024 version below

Casting time: 1 action
Range: 60 feet
Components: V, S, M (A miniature platinum sword with a grip and pommel of copper and zinc, worth 250 gp)
Duration: Concentration, Up to 1 minute
School: Evocation
Level: 7
Attack: Melee spell attack
Damage type: Force

You create a sword-shaped plane of force that hovers within range. It lasts for the duration.

When the sword appears, you make a melee spell attack against a target of your choice within 5 feet of the sword. On a hit, the target takes 3d10 force damage. Until the spell ends, you can use a bonus action on each of your turns to move the sword up to 20 feet to a spot you can see and repeat this attack against the same target or a different one.

Classes that can cast Arcane Sword

Class	First available	Spellcasting ability
Bard spells	13th character level	Charisma
Wizard spells	13th character level	Intelligence

Arcane Sword in the 2024 rules

The 2024 Player’s Handbook revised many spells, and the SRD 5.2 carries the new text. What changed from the 2014 version above:

Range: 60 feet → 90 feet.
Dice in the main effect: 3d10 → 4d12.

Casting time: Action
Range: 90 feet
Components: V, S, M ((a miniature sword worth 250+ GP)
Duration: Concentration, up to 1 minute
School: Evocation
Level: 7
Classes: Bard, Wizard
Tags: concentration

You create a spectral sword that hovers within range. It lasts for the duration.

When the sword appears, you make a melee spell attack against a target within 5 feet of the sword. On a hit, the target takes Force damage equal to 4d12 plus your spellcasting ability modifier.

On your later turns, you can take a Bonus Action to move the sword up to 30 feet to a spot you can see and repeat the attack against the same target or a different one.

2024 version from the SRD 5.2. Most tables settle on one edition, so check which one yours uses.

Other 7th-level evocation spells

Other force spells

Disintegrate 6th level

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