Sword Wraith
When a glory-obsessed warrior dies in battle without earning the honor it desperately sought, its valor—hungry spirit might haunt the battlefield as a sword wraith.
Brooding Spirits
The most likely spots for encountering sword wraiths are scenes of ancient ambushes, battlefields where soldiers were felled by magic with no chance to fight back, and sites where enemies were hemmed in and slaughtered without quarter.
Honor Above All
Sword wraiths fly into a rage if anyone questions their valor. Conversely, they are easily appeased by praise. Little pleases them more than hearing a ballad performed in their honor. Towns located near ancient battlefields hold annual festivals of remembrance to keep sword wraiths there placated.
Undead Nature
A sword wraith doesn't require air, food, drink, or sleep.
Sword Wraith Warrior
Sword wraith warriors are most often found on ancient battlefields where soldiers were hemmed in and slaughtered without quarter.
Sword Wraith Commander
Sword wraith commanders haunt battlefields, attacking anyone who questions their valor but looking kindly on those who sing their praises.
Statblocks
Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes (5e)
Sword Wraith Commander CR: 8
STR
18 +4
DEX
14 +2
CON
18 +4
INT
11 +0
WIS
12 +1
CHA
14 +2
Turning Defiance. The sword wraith and any other sword wraiths within 30 feet of it have advantage on saving throws against effects that turn undead.
Actions
Multiattack. The sword wraith makes two weapon attacks.
Longsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 8 (1d8 + 4) slashing damage, or 9 (1d10 + 4) slashing damage if used with two hands.
Longbow. Ranged Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, range 150/600 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d8 + 2) piercing damage.
Call to Honor (1/Day). To use this action, the sword wraith must have taken damage during the current combat. If the sword wraith can use this action, it gives itself advantage on attack rolls until the end of its next turn, and 1d4 + 1 sword wraith warriors appear in unoccupied spaces within 30 feet of it. The warriors last until they drop to 0 hit points, and they take their turns immediately after the commander's turn on the same initiative count.
Bonus Actions
Martial Fury. The commander makes one Longsword or Longbow attack, which deals an extra 9 (2d8) necrotic damage on a hit, and attack rolls against it have advantage until the start of its next turn.
Suggested Environments
Grassland, Swamp
Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes (5e)
Sword Wraith Warrior CR: 3
STR
18 +4
DEX
12 +1
CON
17 +3
INT
6 -2
WIS
9 -1
CHA
10 +0
Actions
Battleaxe. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 8 (1d8 + 4) slashing damage, or 9 (1d10 + 4) slashing damage if used with two hands.
Longsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 8 (1d8 + 4) slashing damage, or 9 (1d10 + 4) slashing damage if used with two hands.
Longbow. Ranged Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, range 150/600 ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d8 + 1) piercing damage.
Bonus Actions
Martial Fury. The warrior makes one Battleaxe, Longsword, or Longbow attack, and attack rolls against it have advantage until the start of its next turn.
Suggested Environments
Grassland, Swamp
Dread Domains
Almost all of the Domains of Dread are haunted to some degree by ghosts & similar spirits of the dead. Some of particular note are:
Mordent. No one stays dead in Mordent & most return as ghosts to haunt the living. Lord Godefroy uses his fellow haunts as his lieutenants & pawns in his schemes to escape his torment.
Dark Powers
- The Bloodied Pair (6). Sword wraiths are reminders of the horror of war, especially battles in which no quarter is given.
- The Final Breath (13). Phantoms are the vestiges of deceased soldiers, holding on to honor or orders long past their relevance.
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