The Vault: Arcanovore Crossbow

Legend has it that the arcanovore crossbow was crafted by a powerful mage who sought to create a weapon that could consume the magic of other enchanted weapons. With each new source of power, the crossbow grew stronger and more deadly.

Over time, the weapon passed from owner to owner, eventually becoming lost to history, it’s power slowly diminishing over the ages. A few have sought the crossbow’s power over the years but to no avail. It’s a dangerous weapon to wield, to be sure, but one cannot deny its allure.

Arcanovore Crossbow

Weapon (light crossbow), Varies (requires attunement)

When you touch this magical crossbow you can feel an intense hunger for arcane energy emanating from within.  It is typically found in its common form.

As part of a short or long rest, you can feed a magical weapon to this crossbow. The weapon is destroyed in the process and, if the weapon was of higher rarity than the crossbow, the crossbow’s rarity is increased by one step. As the arcanovore crossbow increases in rarity, it unlocks additional features. You can use any of the special bolts from the crossbow’s current rarity or lower:

• Common
  • Trace Bolt: When you hit a creature with this weapon, you can use a bonus action to make the creature emit dim light in a 5-foot-radius for the next minute, or until you use this shot again.
• Uncommon
  • You have a +1 bonus to attack and damage rolls made with this magic weapon.
  • Harpoon Bolt:  When you hit a creature with this weapon, you can use a bonus action to pull the creature up to 10 feet closer to yourself.
• Rare
  • The loading property is removed from this weapon.
  • Static Bolt: When you hit a creature with this weapon, you can use a bonus action to deal 2d4 lightning damage to the creature.
• Very Rare
  • You have a +2 bonus to attack and damage rolls made with this magic weapon.
  • Explosive Bolt: When you hit a creature with this weapon, you can use a bonus action to deal 1d6 fire damage to each other creature within 10 feet of it.
• Legendary
  • You have a +3 bonus to attack and damage rolls made with this magic weapon.
  • Arcane Bolt: When you miss a creature with this weapon, you can use a bonus action to cast magic missile.