This is a public service announcement for the moon-touched sword.

I think a moon-touched sword would be a fun addition to the crypt below Tresendar Manor, with one of the skeletons in its sarcophagus clutching a gleaming, well-crafted longsword – seemingly untouched by time.

At first, a common magic weapon might seem like a lame prize to a player since, through decades of Dungeons & Dragons, folks often expect numeric bonuses to attack and damage as standard properties of any magic weapon.

Awarding a player a common magic weapon might look something like this:

DM: Where the swords in the other two sarcophagi contained the rusted remnants of longswords, the skeleton in this sarcophagus clutches a well-crafted, gleaming longsword. It’s blade glows with a faint ghost light.

Player: SCORE! Magic sword! What does it do?!?!

DM: Your casting of Identify reveals the sword casts bright light in a radius of 15 feet, and dim light 15 feet beyond that.

Player: …(murderous glare)

DM: It also bypasses resistance and immunity to bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage from non magical weapons that some monsters have.

Player: AWLROIT!!!

That last part is crucial, and really should be in the description for a common magic weapon like a moon-touched sword (it’s not). I had to go hunting for that information, finding it in the Sage Advice Compendium (under the Magic Items heading). This hidden bit of info can be the difference between a disappointed player and a player who wants to go fight something like a wight just because they can deal full damage with each cut.

Think about a barrow blade from Lord of the Rings. To me, the barrow blade epitomizes what a common magic item like a moon-touched sword should be: a well-crafted weapon untouched by the ages. It does not improve the wielder’s chances to strike or damage common foes, but it becomes somewhat of a hero’s blade against imposing foes resistant or immune to damage from ordinary weapons.

If you’re a Nazgul who hasn’t worried about a blade since the Second Age of Middle-Earth because of your immunity to bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage from non magical weapons, a moon-touched sword suddenly becomes a very big deal.

Especially when a halfling unexpectedly slices through your patella tendon, bypassing that immunity long enough for some horse girl (who also bypasses your non magical immunity) to march up to you screaming something like “I am no man, bro!” a moment before she sticks her sword through your face.

Anyway, common magic items can be super cool. Don’t sleep on them. As a DM, find a way for them to be useful and fun in your game!

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