I know there are similar Magus questions on SE, but I don't believe any address my specific question.
Say I have a level 5+ Bladebound Magus. Bladebound Magus gains the the Black Blade ability at level 3:
At 3rd level, the bladebound magus’ gains a powerful sentient weapon called a black blade, whose weapon type is chosen by the magus (see sidebar). A magus with this class feature cannot take the familiar magus arcana, and cannot have a familiar of any kind, even from another class. Instead of the normal arcane pool amount, the bladebound magus’s arcane pool has a number of points equal to 1/3 his level (minimum 1) plus his Intelligence bonus. This ability changes the Arcane Pool class feature and replaces the magus arcana gained at 3rd level.
In the base Magus class, the following description is given for the Arcane Pool ability:
At 1st level, the magus gains a reservoir of mystical arcane energy
that he can draw upon to fuel his powers and enhance his weapon. This
arcane pool has a number of points equal to 1/2 his magus level
(minimum 1) + his Intelligence modifier. The pool refreshes once per
day when the magus prepares his spells.At 1st level, a magus can expend 1 point from his arcane pool as a
swift action to grant any weapon 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. These
bonuses can be added to the weapon, stacking with existing weapon
enhancement to a maximum of +5. Multiple uses of this ability do not
stack with themselves.At 5th level, these bonuses can be used to add any of the following
weapon properties: dancing, flaming, flaming burst, frost, icy burst,
keen, shock, shocking burst, speed, or vorpal.Adding these properties consumes an amount of bonus equal to the
property’s base price modifier. These properties are added to any the
weapon already has, but duplicates do not stack. If the weapon is not
magical, at least a +1 enhancement bonus must be added before any
other properties can be added. These bonuses and properties are
decided when the arcane pool point is spent and cannot be changed
until the next time the magus uses this ability. These bonuses do not
function if the weapon is wielded by anyone other than the magus.
Emphasis my own. The crux of my question lays within the final sentence of the Black Blade ability, where it states that the ability changes the Arcane Pool class feature. My question is, does the Black Blade ability replace the enhancement features of Arcane Pool, or does a Bladebound Magus still have access to the weapon enhancement features?
For example: At level 5, my enhancement bonus on my black blade would be +2. Would I then be able to spend 1 arcane pool point as per the base Arcane Pool ability in order to apply an additional +2 bonus to my black blade, for a total of +4 enhancement?
Best Answer
Black blade changes only what it says it changes, namely how you calculate the size of your arcane pool. It doesn’t change anything it doesn’t say it changes, and therefore yes, a bladebound magus can still use the enhancement feature of the arcane pool.
As a bit of circumstantial evidence, consider this FAQ entry, which says,
(emphasis mine)
The term “abilities” here is a little awkward—that isn’t really the term for anything you add to a weapon. Those are usually termed “enhancements” or “special properties,” as, for example, in the previous sentence. And you might be forgiven for thinking it refers to properties, and not enhancements, since those are more “ability”-like. But ultimately the magus’s ability to add properties via arcane pool hinges on the ability to add enhancements—you spend that enhancement on the properties you want. So this should also cover enhancement bonuses to the weapon.