Editing Guide:Early Silver Sword


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Legendary githyanki warrior [[Kith'rak Voss]] is equipped with the {{RarityItem|Silver Sword of the Astral Plane}} when initially encountered at the [[Mountain Pass]] in [[Act One]]. Though he is programmed to fly away instantly when engaged in combat and cannot be damaged by any means, it is still possible for enterprising players to '''steal his prized silver sword''', obtaining one of the strongest weapons in the game (and arguably the strongest for any [[gith]] character) before even finishing the first act.

This guide will assume the party has a minimum level of 5.

== The Challenge == 
The primary obstacle to stealing the silver sword is [[Kith'rak Voss]], or more specifically his [[Saving Throw]]s and [[Armour Class]]. These are the relevant bonuses that we will need to overcome, in one method or another:
* {{Saving Throw|STR}} +8 on Balanced, +9 on Tactician
* {{Saving Throw|WIS}} +6 with {{Advantage}}
* {{Saving Throw|CON}} +7
* {{Armour Class}} 17

We will also need to avoid the cutscene to begin conversation with his patrol, requiring us to keep ourselves well-hidden or at a minimum distance.

== Methods ==
[[File:Sword Snipe Placement.PNG|thumb|300px|A lightly-obscured platform, from where these methods can be executed.]]
=== Spells ===
We can overcome Voss's impressive bonuses by raising our [[Spell Save DC]] and, in a more limited fashion, lowering his saving throws. Though casting [[Bane]] or another save-reducing effect directly upon him would normally trigger combat, we can achieve the latter effect by getting him within range of an [[Invisible]] character bearing the {{SAI|Phalar Aluve: Shriek}} aura. Notably, this only reduces his Wisdom save, making it only useful for one spell here.

One character will be able to maximize their Spell Save DC within Act One using the following items:
* {{RarityItem|Melf's First Staff}}
* {{RarityItem|The Protecty Sparkswall}}
* {{RarityItem|The Shadespell Circlet}}

With a party level of five, assuming we are using a Level 5 character with a spellcasting ability score of 18, with these items equipped, our Spell Save DC will be 18. We can go further to get an ability score of 20 with an [[ASI]] and [[Auntie Ethel's Hair]], increasing our Spell Save DC to 19.

To fully maximize our flat DC, we can grind to Level 6, after which {{RarityItem|Elixir of Battlemage's Power}} begins to show up in select [[trader]] inventories. Consuming this will set our Spell Save DC to a hard maximum of 22. However, unless specified, the following methods will assume we will be encountering the patrol at Level 5 to shave off grinding hours.

==== Command: Drop ====
This seems the least tantalizing option at first blush, owing to Voss's innate advantage on Wisdom saves. We can cancel out this advantage by using a multiclassed Sorcerer 4/Paladin 1 and using {{SAI|Metamagic: Heightened Spell}}. Combined with the Phalar Aluve debuff, we pit our '''19 DC''' against his '''1d20 + 6 - 1d4''' to save, or '''72.5% success'''.

==== Heat Metal ====
Voss does not get advantage when his Constitution saves are targeted. However, being able to cast {{SAI|Heat Metal}} with Heightened Spell requires at least Level 6 for a Sorcerer 3/(Bard or Druid) 3 split (additionally sacrificing a feat, so no ASI bonus). This requires more significantly more grinding in order to gain that juicy Disadvantage, otherwise with a Bard or Druid Level 4+ it's a flat '''19 DC''' against his '''1d20 + 7''' to save, or '''55% success''' without disadvantage, or '''75%''' with a heightened spell and 18 DC.

=== Attacks ===

==== Disarming Attack (Ranged) ====
{{SAI|Disarming Attack (Ranged)}} has to clear two obstacles: first it must hit Voss, then he must fail a Strength save. Hitting him can easily get up to 99% with [[Hide|hiding]] or being [[Invisible]] on a character with 20 Dexterity. Unfortunately, there is no way to additionally boost the [[Battle Master|battle manouevre DC]] beyond the raw bonuses from proficiency and ability scores, making this a straightforward '''16 DC''' against '''1d20 + 8/9''', or '''35% (30% Tactician)''' without factoring in the potential to critically miss the initial attack.

==== Honeyed Paws ====
Congratulations, you have now reached by far the best option to get an early Silver Sword. Sorry for burying the lede.

A level five [[Beastmaster]] can summon an [[Ursa Major]] companion that knows the ability {{SAI|Honeyed Paws}}. This ability results in an automatic disarm if the Attack Roll hits and, though it requires melee range, summoned creatures can entering kissing distance without initiating the cutscene. Unlike all the other options, this requires no saving throw, making Voss's armour class the only layer of defense. With the bear's raw stats, completely unbuffed, this is already a '''45% success chance.'''

There are relatively more, and more powerful, ways to boost the bear's Attack Roll, compared to boosting our own Spell Save DC. To truly get the most bang for the buck, the player can:
* Turn the bear invisible for {{Advantage}}
* {{SAI|Bless}} the bear for +1d4
* Throw an {{RarityItem|Elixir of Heroism}} on the ground and have the bear consume it for another +1d4
* Trail the bear with an invisible character using {{SAI|Phalar Aluve: Sing}} for a third +1d4
* Prebuff the bear with [[Bardic Inspiration]] for an additional 1d6, if needed
* If taking the grind to Level 6, a totally unnecessary but flexworthy +10 bonus from a [[War Domain]] Cleric's {{SAI|War God's Blessing}}

Even casting aside that last one, the odds to steal the sword with a buffed bear skyrocket to '''98%.''' Even so, critical misses exist and sometimes the sword will despawn when dropped seemingly at random.

However, not even these corner cases can stop us. The [[Divination School|Divination]] [[Wizard]] passive feature {{SAI|Portent}} allows you to change an attack roll from your party from a fail to a success. This allows you to guarantee a hit with honeyed paws, fully eliminating the risk of a critical miss. A base bear with no buffs require a die of 15 to hit, but buffing it will lower the required number all the way down to 2 if you have 98% hit chance. You can take a full or [[partial rest|partial]] [[long rest]] to replace your portent dice if you do not have one of a high enough number.

== Consequences ==
Once the sword is dropped, the party will still have a fight on its hands with the remainder of the githyanki patrol, so make sure their builds haven't been too narrowly skewed towards boosting the odds. Once they emerge victorious, they can pick the sword up off the ground and throw it on [[Lae'zel]] for outrageous boosts that are typically gated behind many, many more ability checks, boss battles, and many hours of raw gameplay (and also some specific narrative paths).
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