Let's say I'm a Pact of the Blade Warlock that's looking for a specific type of weapon to be my pact weapon (e.g. a hand crossbow), but a magic one never shows up in treasure. Can I get a Wizard to use the Magic Weapon spell to turn a regular, store-bought hand crossbow into a magic one, and then bond with it as my Pact Weapon only using the rules in the PHB (no Unearthed Arcana)?
Here is the Sage Advice saying that Warlocks can make ranged weapons their pact weapons.
The Magic Weapon spell description reads:
Casting time: 1 Bonus action
Range: Touch
Components: V, S
Duration: Concentration, up to 1 hour
You touch a nonmagical weapon. Until the spell ends that weapon
becomes a magic weapon with a +1 bonus to attack and damage rolls.At higher levels. When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 4th
level or higher, the bonus increases to +2. When you use a spell slot
of 6th or higher, the bonus increases to +3.
The Pact of the Blade bonding ritual description reads:
You can transform one Magic Weapon into your pact weapon by performing a Special ritual while you hold the weapon. You perform the ritual over the course of 1 hour, which can be done during a Short Rest. You can then dismiss the weapon, shunting it into an extradimensional space, and it appears whenever you create your pact weapon thereafter. You can’t affect an artifact or a sentient weapon in this way. The weapon ceases being your pact weapon if you die, if you perform the 1-hour ritual on a different weapon, or if you use a 1-hour ritual to break your bond to it. The weapon appears at your feet if it is in the extradimensional space when the bond breaks.
-
There is nothing that says the weapon ceases to be your pact weapon if it loses its magic
-
The Magic Weapon spell can make a weapon magic for long enough to complete the ritual
So, would I be able to use this method to have a store-bought weapon become my pact weapon?
Best Answer
Yes, but...
You could, however once the Magic Weapon spell ends that weapon will no longer have the plus one to attack and damage rolls that said spell gives. However it will still remain your pact weapon. The wording does not mention that the item's bond would break if the weapon became non magical. The only ways it can no longer be your pact weapon are stated within the question.