The ronin is a samurai who has left or lost their master. This magic katana taps into the ronin’s inner strength and independence.
Katana of the Ronin
Weapon (longsword), rare (requires attunement)
This magic sword’s blade was forged from the heart of a meteor by the legendary swordsmith Hazai Kenjiro. You gain a +1 bonus to attack and damage rolls made with this magic weapon.
Masterless Spirit. While attuned to the sword and holding it, you can’t be charmed or frightened. Moreover, each creature of your choice within 30 feet of you has advantage on saving throws it makes to avoid being charmed or frightened or to end those conditions on itself.
Ronin’s Wrath. When you make a successful attack against a creature with this weapon and that creature takes at least 5 HP damage, that creature must make a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw, unless it is immune to being frightened. On a failed save, the creature is frightened for 1 minute. The creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.
Proficiency with a longsword allows you to add your proficiency bonus to the attack roll for any attack you make with it.
A katana is not a longsword
Although Dungeons & Dragons 5e considers a katana to be basically the same as a longsword, there are many historical differences between the two types of swords.
A katana is a type of traditional Japanese sword that is characterized by its distinctive appearance and unique method of forging. In contrast, a longsword is a type of European sword that was commonly used during the medieval period.
One of the most notable differences between a katana and a longsword is the way they are designed. A katana has a single-edged curved blade, whereas a longsword has a double-edged straight blade. This difference in blade design means that the two swords are used in different ways.
Another important difference between the two swords is their size and weight. A katana is typically shorter and lighter than a longsword, which means that it is more agile and can be wielded more quickly. This makes the katana well-suited for close combat, whereas the longsword is better suited for delivering powerful blows from a longer range.
In terms of their history and cultural significance, katanas are an important part of Japanese culture and have been used by samurai warriors for centuries. In contrast, longswords were used by European knights and were an important part of European warfare during the medieval period.
Find this magic item in Tristan’s Trove of Magic Loot volume 1, available now at Dungeon Masters Guild.
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