D&D 5E How would glowing weapons interact with the darkness spell?

[Sword of Spirit]

Some weapons have built in light shedding capabilities in their descriptions, and there is a minor magic item property that causes a weapon to shed some light.

What do you think should happen when this weapon's light comes in contact with the darkness spell?

 

[MNblockhead]

Depends on how powerful the weapon is. Generally, I would say that unless it is legendary (or maybe very rare), it should no longer shed any light.

"If any of this spell's area overlaps with an area of light created by a spell of 2nd level or lower, the spell that created the light is dispelled."

 

[Paul Farquhar]

It stops shedding any light.

The DM might rule than an artefact is powerful enough to dispel the darkness, but there is nothing in the rules for this.

 

[Li Shenron]

Interesting question...

Leaving aside magic items which replicate a particular light-generating spell (where it should be clear by its level how it interacts with Darnkess), I don't think there is a written rule, so the obvious answer is "the DM decides what happens".

Perhaps I would differentiate between magic items the main the purpose of which is to illuminate or generally improve vision and detection (making them beat Darkness) such as a Lantern of Revealing, and magic items where their light-shedding is a minor or secondary effect (making Darkness beat them) such as a Flame Tongue. In the latter case, Darkness would only suppress the light effect of the magic items, not its other properties, i.e. the flaming sword would still deal fire damage even if you can't see the fire.

 

[Lanefan]

To follow on from @Li Shenron :

For something that's shedding light purely as a side effect of something else it does e.g. the fire from a flame-tongue, the Darkness prevails.

For something that's shedding light as part of its function (e.g. what Sting does when Goblins are near) there's a few ways this could go almost on a case-by-case basis:
--- it could be trumped by the Darkness and shed no light
--- it could shed only a very dim light, maybe not even good enough to see by (kind of like a glowstick) but be visible from within a few feet in the Darkness
--- it could dispel the Darkness entirely

For something where light is a primary function e.g. a sunblade, the Darkness doesn't have a chance.

 

[R_J_K75]

It stops shedding any light.

Without looking anything that was my first thought that darkness cancels out all light.

 

[R_J_K75]

Some weapons have built in light shedding capabilities in their descriptions, and there is a minor magic item property that causes a weapon to shed some light.

In edition before and maybe even including 3E, didn't all or most magical weapons, or at least maybe bladed weapons shed 5' of light? Its been so long and so many editions by now its hard to remember what edition things were and whether they were house ruled or not.

 

[Li Shenron]

--- it could shed only a very dim light, maybe not even good enough to see by (kind of like a glowstick) but be visible from within a few feet in the Darkness

I like the idea of adding this intermediate/compromise case to the possibilities. Maybe a light so dim that only the wielder can see it, and it illuminates only the item itself but not the surroundings ("range 0").