[RPG] Does the Vanguard Weapon property only trigger when used to make the attack

dnd-4emagic-itemsweapons

This question is in response to my answer for Do Properties of magic weapons stack when using Two-Weapon Fighting? which I deleted because of contention. In short I suggested that weapons, such as the Vanguard Weapon, only require that they be equipped to trigger vs. other types of magical weapons, Sunblade etc.) which require the attack be made with the weapon because they specifically state so.

I've searched through the online compendium and the printed rules compendium and could find no definitive answer ruling against having a vanguard weapon in the off hand and making an attack with another weapon in the primary hand and still benefiting from the vanguard weapon's property. Another user posted a bit from the Adventurer's Vault (I do not own) saying that this was wrong. Anecdotal evidence (every table I've ever played at and the WOTC optimization boards) supports my viewpoint, but as I would like to find a RAW answer or failing that a RAI answer supported by RAW analysis. I believe there are only 3 magical weapon enchantments that (including vanguard weapon) that fit this, but I would also like to know the impact if custom/homebrew items were introduced that worked along the same lines.

Best Answer

The specific rules cite you mention is this one from the Adventurer's vault.

Many weapons have properties that provide a constant benefit. To gain the benefit of a weapon’s property, you must be wielding the weapon. Unless specified otherwise, a property affects only the weapon to which it’s attached. For example, a +2 cunning dagger, which bestows a –2 penalty to an enemy’s saving throws against your weapon powers, affects only powers that are delivered using that weapon. You couldn’t hold the weapon in your off-hand and gain the benefit of the property on powers delivered using a main weapon. (AV 56, Emphasis mine)

This is a funny little sentence stuck into the introduction to magic items in the Adventurer's Vault. The problem though is that it conflicts in two major ways with the rest of the 4e canon.

  • It's not supported with a repetition in either major rules text (PHB/RC). From the magit item properties page in the RC:

    Unless otherwise noted, a magic item's property remains active for a creature only while it wears the item...or wields the item. (RC 280)

  • It seems like the inverse is supported by actual weapon texts. If you read the weapon entries in the very text that has the limitation, only 4 weapons have a property that affects attacks but does not specify that it only applies to this weapon. The ones that don't: Subtle Weapon, Thundergod Weapon, Vanguard Weapon, Lucklender. Interestingly enough, errata has changed Subtle to specify that it's only "this weapon"* and the other 3 were left untouched.

This all comes down to what the word wield means in this context. I think you can find rules support for both holding and using for an attack. However, it seems like there are enough instances where it simply means holding it, that I would rule that the AV text is no longer valid. However, it's written, and that's sufficient for a RAW ruling that the magic item property only affects the weapon that is used for the attack.

This is something you'd have to take to your DM. You could make a compelling RAI argument that the items I listed above are clear exceptions simply for their lack of specifiers, the lack of support, and the fact that one of the 4 was errata'd and the rest were left alone.

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