D&D 5E Can you transform a magical weapon when you summon it as a bonded pact weapon?

[steppedonad4]

I haven't been able to find any clarification on this anywhere even though I thought it would've been an obvious question already asked and answered somewhere. Specifically I'm looking for a discussion on whether you can or not, given the wording of the rules as it pertains to RAW, as there doesn't seem to be any official ruling on the matter.

Basically, you can choose the form of your pact weapon when you summon it. You can make a magical weapon into your pact weapon. This seems to indicate that you can choose it's form when it's summoned. So if I had a magical rapier, it would seem that I could make it my pact blade and summon it as a greatsword. Or a halberd, or any melee weapon.

The language used seems to strongly intimate that you are transforming the magical weapon when you bond with it and create it when you summon it.

 

[Mirtek]

Imho no. Once you bond a specific weapon you only summon this specific weapon.

Personally I also don't see a pact weapon as one specific weapon that is mutable but rather something that is created the moment you call it an ceases to exit when you let it go (or that there are some busy imps managing your patrons weapon store and sending you the weapon you currently want)

 

[rollingForInit]

I don't think that's what's intended. It would be fairly unbalanced. For instance, you'd suddenly be able to use a magical weapon intended to be a Greatsword as a rapier or shortsword, meaning that you could seriously boost your dual-wielding potential. Or if you're a rogue with a touch of Warlock, you'd be able to sneak attack with a much more powerful weapon than intended.

And given that a magic weapon is, well, magical, it seems strange if you could alter its properties at will. Doesn't really fit thematically, imo.

And the wording implies that you just store it away in an extradimensional space until it's needed again. It doesn't mention that the weapon can be altered in any way.

 

[AaronOfBarbaria]

I don't care what the official answer is because my answer is that you can't transform magic weapons - if for no other reason than because it would completely bypass all of the restricted types of magic weapons (i.e. "any sword").

 

[JackOfAllTirades]

No. The PHB is clear enough on this.

 

[Pensivetoast]

Your regular Pact weapon? Yes. "You can choose the form that this melee weapon takes each time you create it"
A bonded magical weapon? No. " You can then dismiss the weapon, shunting it into an extradimensional space, and it appears whenever you create your pact weapon thereafter.

 

[Gimul]

RAW: Could be a little clearer, the "transform into..." language obscures things a little; but I agree with PensiveToast's interpretation.

RAI: Aligns with the above RAW interpretation. #IMO

RAF: I would say it should be allowed; although, I would only transfer the magic properties. The base damage/weapon flags would change with the weapon form. I.E. the Keen Longsword would become a Keen Dagger, but would go from 1d8+x (versatile) to 1d4+x (light, finesse, thrown).

 

[Andor]

No. The PHB is clear enough on this.

No, it really isn't. The last time this thread came up I thought the answer was "No" but checked the PHB to get the language exactly right. And the section describing bonding a magic weapon does not say you summon it, it says you create it, which is the exact same verb used in the sentence which allows you to change it's form every time. They could have said summon, they did not.

So, while it is a grey area, the least bendy RAW interpretation I can see is that yes, you can change it's form. It is totally a GM call however. As Gimul says however if you changed it's form it should retain only the magic property, no changing a great sword into a 2d6 dagger.

 

[Saeviomagy]

Personally I would say that you can either
a) summon any non-magic weapon, changing it's form
b) summon your bonded weapon without any alteration

I would also add in
c) bond and summon more than one weapon

The class ability is the equivalent of "having a big bag" or "hiring a caddy" for other classes. It's not a big deal, and it's certainly not something I want to take away from a player just because they want to use a +1 sword sometimes and a +1 whip at other times.

 

[brehobit]

RAW, I'd say no. RAI, I'm unsure.

I'd allow it.