Swordtember 2025 Day 04 Scale

Measure Once, Cut Twice
Melee Weapon (Martial, Chokutō), Artifact, Requires Attunement

Damage - 1d8 Slashing (or 1d4, or 1d6, or 1d10, or 1d12)
Properties - Finesse
Mastery - Vex

“A sword designed by a legendary wandering carpenter, whose motto “Measure once, Cut Twice” became infamous amongst his peers and anyone who heard the story for its seemingly bad advice when doing anything with a blade.

Despite his challenges with advice, he was an incredibly skilled craftsman, enchanting his blade to change the dimensions of things even if they were cut to the wrong size. Legend goes that no one is 100% sure if he did this intentionally or if the universe aligned in just such a way that this joke was funnier if his builds were always perfect despite his words.”

The Measure of a Man - When you hit a creature with a successful attack, you may cast the Enlarge/Reduce spell ( Spell Save DC 16. No Concentration required) on the creature, choosing either option. Each time you cast the spell, the size of your sword changes in the inverse. When you choose Enlarge, the sword shrinks by 1 step. When you choose Reduce, the sword grows by one step. Consult the table below for the sword’s forms. 

Size Damage Properties

Dagger 1d4 Piercing Finesse, Light, Thrown

Shortsword 1d6 Slashing Finesse, Light

Longsword 1d8 Slashing Finesse, Versatile

Greatsword 2d6 Slashing Finesse

Greatersword 2d10 Slashing Finesse, Reach

Iaijutsu Extension - When the weapon is at its minimum length (1d4 damage), as an Action, you end all currently active Enlarge effects, causing the blade to grow and extend swiftly. All creatures in a 30ft. Line in front of you must make a DC16 Dexterity saving throw. Failure: 5d8 Piercing damage. Success: Half Damage. After using this ability, the sword returns to its normal size and damage.

Tràkata Trickery. When the weapon is at its maximum length (1d12 damage) and an opponent makes a Melee Attack against you, you may use your Reaction to catch their weapon on your blade and end all currently active Reduce effects, causing the blade to shrink down to its normal size and throw your opponent off balance, forcing the attack to miss.