Flying Sword
Small Construct · · CR 1/4
- Construct
- Small
- Tier 1
CR 1/4 small construct, unaligned — that's Flying Sword. Sourced from Monster Manual (5e 2014).
Stat Block
- Challenge Rating
- 1/4
- Type
- Construct
- Size
- Small
- Alignment
- —
- Speed
- —
- Habitats
- —
- Sources
- Monster Manual (5e 2014)
Ecology
Flying swords are not living creatures and have no ecology. They exist where wizards, witches, or animating clerics have enchanted them, typically as guardians for vaults, tombs, or libraries. They neither eat, sleep, nor reproduce. They do not rust if their animating magic is intact, and a properly enchanted flying sword can stand sentry for centuries without decay, even in damp or salty environments hostile to mundane steel.
Behaviour
The flying sword behaves according to the simple instructions woven into its animation. Most are programmed to attack anything entering a designated area without speaking the proper password. They cannot be reasoned with or surprised, and they do not feel pain or fear. When destroyed, they fall inert; the blade may be reused for a new animation if the metal is undamaged and ritually cleansed.
Origin
The animate object spell or specialized enchantment rituals create flying swords. The specific blade chosen affects the animation's quality: master-forged swords accept the magic more readily and hold the enchantment longer. Some flying swords are named relics whose original wielders died with such fierce attachment that the spirit lingers in the steel, requiring no further enchantment to animate when threatened.
Related Monsters
Frequently Asked Questions about Flying Sword
- What is the challenge rating of Flying Sword?
- Flying Sword has a challenge rating of 1/4. It fits a tier-1 party (levels 1-4).
- What type of creature is Flying Sword?
- Flying Sword is classified as a construct in D&D 5e, small size.