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Gormak #896190 12/09/23 12:47 PM
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I use the sword on my halfling bard - it is the ideal weapon for a bard with the song attacks and the buffing of charisma skills.


"We are all stories in the end. Just make it a good one."

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Gormak #900447 20/09/23 05:49 PM
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People seem to be missing the point about what makes this weapon special. I mean, some posts are recent, but appear not in the know.

Phalar Aluve is a Longsword +1 that comes with a baked-in "Singing Sword" ability (Singing or Shrieking) you can use on every short rest.
That alone would be decent for a weapon you'd get around level 3-4 fairly easily. People make endgame builds around the "Singing Sword" power, even.

But Phalar Aluve is a long sword that also happens to be a Finesse weapon. Meaning, you can use Dexterity rather than Strength as your primary stat modifier to use this weapon.
That makes it a great weapon for a Sword Bard, a Dex-based fighter, an elven rogue that happens to have longsword proficiency (though it's not a light weapon, so, you won't be able to dual wield), etc...

The only other longsword I remember that is also a finesse weapon is Larethian's Wrath, which you have to buy from a Githyanki merchant in the Mountain Pass - so you're unlikely to gain access to it before levels 5-6 and its not necessarily better (though it's themed after the elven deity Corellon Larethian so it might appeal to those elven characters more).
It comes baked in with a whirlwind-attack-like weapon power.

Last edited by Zoberraz; 20/09/23 05:51 PM.
Gormak #900459 20/09/23 06:17 PM
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I love the finesse aspect of Phalar Aluve.

I feel like that makes it go well with the description of it being a drow blade. It always bothered me in early access when I couldn't have a drow wield it without resorting to strength. (in early access, drow still had plus two to dex with no bonus to strength. so a drow fighter naturally tended to be dex based.)

Gormak #900484 20/09/23 07:10 PM
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Originally Posted by Zoberraz
But Phalar Aluve is a long sword that also happens to be a Finesse weapon. Meaning, you can use Dexterity rather than Strength as your primary stat modifier to use this weapon.
That makes it a great weapon for a Sword Bard, a Dex-based fighter, an elven rogue that happens to have longsword proficiency (though it's not a light weapon, so, you won't be able to dual wield), etc...

This! It's also worth mentioning that You can use Sneak Attack only with Finnese weapon which means most rogues will have to use smaller daggers or shortswords, but(!) with Phalar Aluve You can bypass this and also the light weapon requirement for dual wielding with the right build.
My favourite party consisted of two multiclassing rogues(my Tav and Astarion), Karlach(full barb) and Shadowheart(her original cleric domain) or Halsin(full druid) on occasions. From the moment I've got my eyes on this drow sword it's final destination were Astarion's hands. He would have him for all the rest of the game I played even thought I almost never used its singing ability. But thanks to this sword(plus second longsword) and half on half multiclassing Assasin rogue with Battle Master fighter and Two-weapon fighting style, adding also Dual Wielder feat my Astarion often could do sneak attack from hiding, then starting initiative he would do another like five attacks including sneak attack and then next from hiding came my rogue Tav... Thanks to that only +1 longsword any rogue could be a real monster in combat!

Althought I admit that since the sword had a cool cinematic intro, we could get something more from it, like we could meet some Eilistraee cleric or something later who after a nice talk could recognise it and on example give it another small boost. That would've been a nice addition to the story I think.

Last edited by Saruna; 20/09/23 07:21 PM.
Gormak #900509 20/09/23 08:50 PM
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As someone who commented in this thread when it was first created, back in early access it was just a +1 longsword, none of those singing abilities. I am very happy with how the sword has turned out in full release and have had no issue taking it to endgame with my drow paladin. Also I'll admit that I never even really noticed that all longswords weren't finesse weapons. I assumed that was just a thing true of all of them.

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