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Green-flame blade, also spelled greenflame blade, is an arcane spell which wreaths the caster's weapon in deadly green fire. It is a low-level spell favored by spellcasters who fight with weapons.

Effect[]

The caster attacks a nearby opponent with a weapon, which is wreathed in green flame. The fire can leap to another enemy adjacent to them.[1]

The spell is cast by artificers, sorcerers, warlocks, and wizards.[2]

History[]

Recent history[]

The spell has been associated with House of Flowers, an organization of followers of the elven god Corellon, whose drow-hunting paladins and swordmages learn a technique known as the Rose King's Balm.[3]

The eladrin adventuring guide Zestren uses this technique.[4]

It is popular in Faerûn, where it is used by War Wizards of Cormyr, bladesingers, and warlocks of the Pact of the Blade.[1]

Publication history[]

D&D 4th edition[]

This spell first appeared in the Forgotten Realms Player's Guide (2008), p.27, under the spelling Greenflame Blade. It is a 1st-level swordmage at-will attack power, dealing fire damage to a target and all a smaller amount of fire damage to adjacent enemies.

At the Acquisitions Incorporated D&D game held at PAX Prime 2013, Chris Perkins started a tradition of the audience shouting "green flame", a reference to the movie Big Trouble in Little China.[5]

D&D 5th edition[]

Under the spelling "Green-Flame Blade", this spell appeared in the Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide (2015), p.142.

It was reprinted in Tasha's Cauldron of Everything (2020), p.107. Minor changes were made to the spell: it no longer requires a verbal component, and only works on a melee weapon worth at least 1 sp. All melee weapons in the Player's Handbook (5e) (2014), p.149, are worth at least 1 sp.

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide (2015), p.142.
  2. Tasha's Cauldron of Everything (2020), p.105.
  3. Channel Divinity: Corellon, Dragon #386 (Apr 2010), p.65.
  4. The Slaver's Stone, Dungeon #181 (Aug 2010), p.50.
  5. Acquisitions Incorporated - PAX Prime 2013 D&D Game (2013). YouTube, 15m 26s.