Mageblade

Some magi choose a slightly different path of study, eschewing the heavier weapons and armor of their brethren in favor of honing their skill with smaller blades, mastering the art of blending magic with the speed and versatility of the dagger or similar light blades. Such is the path of the mageblade.

Class Skills

A mageblade gains Bluff, Escape Artist, Sleight of Hand, and Stealth as class skills, in addition to the normal magus class skills.

This ability modifies the magus’ class skills.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency

Mageblades are proficient with all simple weapons and martial weapons in the light blades weapon category. Mageblades are proficient with light armor but do not gain proficiency with medium and heavy, or with shields as they level.

This modifies the magus’ normal weapon and armor proficiencies.

Arcane Pool (Su)

At 1st level, a mageblade can expend 1 point from his arcane pool as a swift action to grant any light blade he is holding a +1 enhancement bonus for 1 minute. For every four levels beyond 1st, the weapon gains another +1 enhancement bonus, to a maximum of +5 at 17th level. Multiple uses of this ability do not stack with themselves. At 7th level, the mageblade can spend an additional point from his arcane pool to split his enhancement bonus between two light blades that he wields simultaneously. A mageblade’s choices of weapon special abilities to apply with their arcane pool at 5th level include returning, wounding, and dancing but not shocking, shocking burst, or vorpal.

This ability modifies the magus’s arcane pool.

Bladecaster (Ex)

At 1st level, a mageblade learns to cast spells and wield his weapons at the same time, as well as use either weapon. This functions much like two-weapon fighting, but the off-hand weapon can be either a second light blade, or a spell that is being cast. A mageblade can cast a spell with somatic and material components even when holding a light blade in each hand. If wielding anything other than a light blade, he must have at least one hand free to cast a spell with somatic or material components. As a full-round action, he can make a melee attack with a light blade in each hand at a –2 penalty, or make a melee attack with one weapon and also cast any spell from the magus spell list with a casting time of 1 standard action (any attack roll made as part of this spell also takes this penalty). If choosing to cast a spell, he may also opt to cast this spell defensively. He can decide to take an additional penalty on his attack rolls, up to his Intelligence bonus, and add the same amount as a circumstance bonus on his concentration check. If the check fails, the spell is wasted, but the attacks still take the penalty.

This ability replaces spell combat and counts as having the Two-Weapon Fighting feat for the purpose of qualifying for any feat that lists it as a prerequisite, but only when applying to light blades.

Spellstrike (Su)

At 2nd level, whenever a magus casts a spell with a range of “touch” from the magus spell list, he can deliver the spell through any light blade he is wielding as part of a melee attack.

This ability alters the magus’ spellstrike ability.

Sneak Attack (Ex)

Beginning at 3rd level, when using a light blade, a mageblade deals an extra 1d6 points of damage when flanking an opponent or at any time when the target would be denied its Dexterity bonus, as the rogue class ability. This extra damage applies to ranged attacks only if the target is within 30 feet. It increases to 2d6 points at 9th level and 3d6 points at 15th level. If the mageblade gains a sneak attack bonus from another source (such as levels of rogue), the bonuses on damage stack.

This ability replaces the magus arcana gained at 3rd, 9th and 15th level.

Talented Magus

At 5th, 11th, and 17th level, a mageblade may select a rogue talent for which he qualifies instead of the bonus feat normally attained at that level.

This ability modifies or replaces the magus bonus feats.

Dual Spellstrike (Ex)

At 7th level, a mageblade gains the unique ability to hold the charge for one touch spell for each light blade that he wields. He must designate which blade holds each touch spell at the time the spell is cast. If either of these blades leaves the mageblade’s hands, the spell held in that blade immediately discharges harmlessly. Art of MAgic – Melee and Magic 9

Ranged Spellstrike (Ex)

At 10th level, a mageblade can deliver touch spells at range. The mageblade can deliver a touch spell with a thrown light blade just as if he were making a melee attack. If the blade hits, the touch spell is discharged against the creature or object struck. If the blade misses its intended target, the spell is considered expended. If the blade has been enchanted or enhanced with the returning special ability, the spell charge is retained as with a missed melee attack.

This ability replaces fighter training.

Arcane Assault (Ex)

At 13th level, a mageblade is so adept at both spellcasting and blade fighting that he can blend them in a flurry of attacks. When making a full attack with light blades, the mageblade can spend one point from his arcane pool to quicken a single spell. This has no effect on the effective level of the spell. The Metablade

There are certain magi whose mastery of the sword and combat magic provide them with the ability to enhance their spellcasting in a variety of ways when using their weapon.

Metamagic Focus (Ex)

At 3rd level, the metablade forms a special connection with their chosen weapon, developing a bond with her primary melee weapon as per the wizard’s arcane bonded object; except that it can’t be used to cast a spell once per day. When using their bonded weapon, the metablade gains access to a small pool of metamagic feats that can be used spontaneously, a limited number of times per day. When wielding any other weapon, the metablade loses access to these metamagic feats unless they have been gained naturally.

Metamagic Strike (Ex)

When using their bonded weapon to deliver a spellstrike, the metablade may expend 1 point from her arcane pool as a swift action, to enhance the spell with a single metamagic feat as it is cast. This does not change the spell slot of the altered spell.

The metablade can modify a spellstrike with a metamagic feat selected from the list of those available to her, according to her level.

• 3rd—Enlarge Spell, Extend Spell, Heighten Spell, Silent Spell, Still Spell
• 6th—Ectoplasmic Spell, Elemental Spell, Focused Spell, Reach Spell
• 9th—Disruptive Spell, Intensified Spell, Piercing Spell, Lingering Spell
• 12th—Burning Spell, Concussive Spell, Empower Spell, Persistent Spell, Sickening Spell
• 15th—Thanatopic Spell, Threnodic Spell, Thundering Spell
• 18th—Dazing Spell, Echoing Spell, Maximize Spell, Widen Spell

This ability replaces the magus arcana gained at 3rd, 6th, 9th, 12th, 15th, and 18th levels.