Best Infinity Engine Longblades
Longblades is the general moniker I have assigned to several groupings of Infinity Engine swords; namely, Long Swords, Katanas, Scimitars and Bastard Swords. Even long swords alone are the strongest grouping in Baldur's Gate 2 and one of the strongest groupings in Icewind Dale. By that I mean that they are well-itemized for newbies with no foreknowledge of itemization, and even interesting wields for veterans to consider (e.g, Blackrazor BG2).
There are three things of note.
- First, bastard swords come under great swords in IWD, but I will be treating them as longblades for the purposes of this series of posts.
- Second, you cannot backstab with bastard swords (though you can Sneak Attack with them in IWD2).
- Third, other than Dak'kon's Zerth Blade (which comes under the edged weapon grouping that includes daggers), there are no traditional longblades of any kind in Planescape: Torment.
List of Best Longblades
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• Usuno's Blade (SW1H67, scimitar/wakizashi/ninja-to, BG2: ToB): THAC0 +4, 1d8 +4 slashing, on-hit 10% 2d10 electrical (save for half).
The daughter of a high ranking official within the bureaucratic society of Kara-Tur, Usuno rejected her family's station and carved a legend for herself among the Yakuza of the underworld. The blade of this enchanted ninja-to crackles with electrical energy.
An early +4, elemental-based acquisition (first floor of Watcher's Keep).
• Long Sword of Confusion (ULSWD3B, long sword, IWD): THAC0 +2, 1d8 +2 slashing, on-hit 25% no-save Confusion.
(Generic description is generic.) These swords are usually referred to as doubled-edged swords, war swords, or military swords. In many cases, the long sword has a single-edged blade. There is no single version of the long sword; the design and length vary from culture to culture, and may vary within the same culture depending on the era. Among the most common characteristics of all long swords is their length, which ranges from 35 inches to 47 inches. In the latter case, the blade is known to take up 40 inches of the total length. Most long swords have a double-edged blade and a sharp point at the tip. Despite the tip, the long sword is designed for slashing, not thrusting.
Guaranteed early find in the first dungeon of Dragon's Eye. Trolls that drop while under the effects of Confusion can be erroneously slain with follow-up attacks without fire, acid or poison. That is actually very convenient but it's not why it's ranked at 6th: it's simply because confused enemies will run away or attack each other. Divide & Conquer is hugely helpful in IWD's many horde-based encounters.
• Sunblade: Daystar (SW1H31, long sword, BG2: SoA): THAC0 +2 (+4 vs. Evil), 1d8 +2 (+4 vs. Evil), double damage vs. Undead, Sunray 1/day: 3d6 damage (save vs. spells 10 round Blindness), +1d6 per caster level (saves vs. spells or be disrupted).
Whether created specifically for use in the service of Torm or appropriated at some point in the long history of the church, Paladins of the Loyal Fury have made good use of Daystar in their battles against evil undead. Through magic or blessing it is empowered with the Sunray, a force of pure life energy so potent that it slays both living and unliving.
Easy pick-up; you don't need to fight the Lich. It is not so much the disruption capability (which is only 1/day; IMoD and Azuredge can attempt disruption all day long...) as it is the early +4 enchantment vs. Evil, the +4 damage vs. Evil, and the double damage vs. Undead that cements this as the third best longblade in BG2.
• Angurvadal (SW1H60 [+4], [+5], SW1H61 long sword [craft], BG2: ToB):
◦ THAC0 +4, 1d8 +4 slashing, +1 fire, sets Strength to 22 for 60 secs.
Also known as the Stream of Anguish, this is the legendary burning blade of Frithiof.
◦ THAC0 +5, 1d8 +5 slashing, 1d4+1 fire, sets Strength to 22 on-equip, Imm: Level Drain.
The true power of Frithior's blazing sword has been unleashed by the Liquid Mercury.
You will have to descend to the fourth level of Watcher's Keep in order to procure Angurvadal. Then, you will have to procure the Liquid Mercury in Senda's Lair in order to have Cespenar upgrade it.
• Answerer (SW1H77, long sword, BG2: ToB): THAC0 +4, 1d8 +4 slashing, on-hit MR -15%, on-hit cumulative AC -2.
The last swing of a battle is more important than the first. Such is the philosophy embodied in this powerful weapon. Although the strange design of The Answerer makes it difficult to take the initiative in combat, with each hit it makes an opponent more vulnerable to subsequent attacks.
MR and AC drain is pretty meh.
• Equalizer (SW1H54, long sword [craft], BG2: SoA): +3 enchanment for purposes of to-hit, 1d8 slashing, THAC0 +0/Damage +0 vs. True Neutral, THAC0 +1/Damage +1 vs. Chaotic Neutral/Lawful Neutral, THAC0 +2/Damage +4 vs. Neutral Good/Neutral Evil, THAC0 +3/Damage +6 vs. other alignments, Imm: Charm & Confusion.
Such is the age of this sword that its true origin has been lost to time, but markings hint that it was possibly forged in the service of Helm. Also called the "Sword of Neutrality", it seems designed to seek and terminate extremes, to shift the universe closer to harmonious equilibrium. The further the behavior of a target from true balance, the more potent the damage they suffer.
The vs. alignment damage of an off-hand Equalizer is transferred to the on-hand. Thus, for example, an on-hand Purifier will inflict +11 vs. Chaotic Evil. Or an on-hand Foebane will inflict +12 vs. Undead. Nice.
• Hindo's Doom (SW1H70 [+3], SW1H71 [+4], katana [craft], BG2: ToB):
◦ THAC0 +3, 1d10 +3 slashing, Lesser Restoration 1/day.
Hindo was a samurai of great reknown, a staunch defender of his people against the evil undead that often ravaged his homelands.
◦ THAC0 +4, 1d10 +4 slashing, +10% MR, Imm: Death Magic, Greater Restoration 1/day.
Reunited with the hand of its original owner, Hindo's Doom is a katana worthy of the greatest of Samurai.
It's a joke to get this when you have been wielding Celestial Fury and Usuno's since Chapter 2...
• Namarra (SW1H36, long sword, BG2: SoA): THAC0 +2, 1d8 +4 slashing, Silence 15' radius 3/day.
Also known as Neversleep, this ancient blade is thought to have been present at some of the most influential conflicts in Faerun's history. Sightings have been noted as far north as Thay and as south as the jungles of Chult, though documentation is oddly lacking regarding the details. It is perhaps a result of the sword's ability to silence all sound within a large radius, removing the effectiveness of attacking mages but also preventing any discussion that might have followed.
From memory, Namarra is an early acquisition in the Crypt King's tomb of the Graveyard District. I like it for its +4 damage and Silence special ability.
• Purifier (SW1H64 [+4], SW1H65 [+5], bastard sword [craft], BG2: ToB):
◦ THAC0 +4, 2d4 +4 slashing (+4 vs. Chaotic Evil), +20% MR.
This single handed weapon is infused with the very essence of virtue, and is rumored to be the sanctified blade of the famous paladin Sir Wediyer. The weapon was lost when Sir Wediyer pursued a fleeing pit fiend through a planar rift. Neither the fiend nor Sir Wediyer ever returned.
◦ THAC0 +5, 2d4 +5 slashing (+5 vs. Chaotic Evil, +30% MR, Dispel Magic 1/day, Mass Cure 1/day.
With the Eye of Tyr set into its pommel, Purifier is perhaps the greatest single instrument of holy justice on the face of Faerun.
Pally only. If you wield Equalizer in the off-hand then you will inflict +11 vs. CE. Its +30% MR is pretty solid, too. Plus, you can wield a shield (unlike the two-handed Carsomyr; which, however, is better than Purifier, overall).
• Yamato (SW1H66, scimitar/wakizashi/ninja-to, BG2: ToB): THAC0 +4, 1d8 +4 piercing, AC +1.
The name of the mighty Wu Jen who fashioned this "companion sword" is long forgotten. However, the name Yamato, loosely translated, means "Guardian" or "Defender".
Late-game garbage, tbqh. I mean, are you srs?
• Conflagration (UBSWD4C, bastard sword, IWD): THAC0 +2, 2d4 +2 slashing, on-hit 10% 5HD Fireball.
Besides its superb craftsmanship, tiny runes of power can be seen etched all along the surface. It's obvious a lot of time and effort went into its creation and although not apparent at first, a slight blue glow can be seen emanating from the runes.
Random and difficult fish in Upper Dorn's Deep.
• Cancerous Bastard Sword (UBSWD5A, bastard sword, IWD 1.06): THAC0 +4, 2d4 +4 slashing, on-hit 15% cumulative Disease.
Besides its superb craftsmanship, tiny runes of power can be seen etched all along the surface. It's obvious a lot of time and effort went into its creation and although not apparent at first, a slight blue glow can be seen emanating from the runes.
Random and difficult late-game fish.
• Long Sword of Action +4 (ULSWD5A, long sword, IWD 1.06): THAC0 +4, 1d8 +4, +1 ApR, 25% slashing resistance.
Again, random and difficult late-game fish.
• Blade of Aihonen (JHOSWD2, long sword, IWD):
◦ Restored Blade of Aihonen: THAC0 +1 (+5 within a dragon's flight distance of Lac Dinneshere), 1d8 +1 slashing (+5 within a dragon's flight distance of Lac Dinneshere), +5 HPs within a dragon's flight distance of Lac Dinneshere, +25% resistance to cold and fire.
This once-shattered blade lay in the breast of Icasaracht, the last of the white dragon matriarchs that ruled the Spine of the World. It was wielded by Aihonen, a distant ancestor of Jhonen the fisherman in Easthaven - the sword has lain at the bottom of the lake for almost a century, waiting to be returned to one of its wielder's bloodline. How it has been restored to its original state is unknown, but whatever the reason, it looks like a powerful weapon that can help you free Easthaven from Brother Poquelin. The blade seems to draw its strength from Lac Dinneshere itself. As long as the wielder is within a dragon's flight distance of the lake, the blade is a fearsome weapon.
◦ Singing Blade of Aihonen: THAC0 +1 (+5 within a dragon's flight distance of Lac Dinneshere), 1d8 +1 slashing (+5 within a dragon's flight distance of Lac Dinneshere), +10 HPs within a dragon's flight distance of Lac Dinneshere, +30% resistance to cold and fire, Cure Critical Wounds 3/day, +3 Strength 1/day.
The dwarven smith Tiernon has "soothed" this blade -- apparently, he was the one who forged it in the first place. His skills have awoken some of the blade's original powers that had been drained when it was used to slay Icasaracht.
You will need to have given Jhonen the Shattered Blade of Aihonen in the Prologue in order to receive this in the Finale of IWD (along with a whopping 280,000 XP). Tiernon can then upgrade it to Singing Blade of Aihonen in the Heart of Winter add-on expansion. Nice.
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