Safe Update Instructions: 1) Respec your Spellsword into another class and save. 2) Delete old mod files and update to the latest mod files. 3) Load your save and respec back into Spellsword. If you have issues after following those steps, report a bug.

Last 3 Updates (full history always available in changelogs)

4.22.25

• Updated for Patch 8! You must RESPEC to get all the changes listed here. 
• Updated all optional add-on mods for Spellsword. Please download them if you are using them to make sure things work correctly.
• Weapon Bond's Enhanced Accuracy has now been made more flexible: The old version: If your spellcasting ability modifier is greater than your Strength or Dexterity modifier, you apply the difference between those modifiers as a bonus to your attack rolls, up to a maximum of 2. Now, in addition to that, if your Strength or Dexterity modifier is greater than your spellcasting modifier, you apply the difference between those modifiers as a bonus to your spell attack rolls, up to a maximum of 2. Finally, if your Strength or Dexterity ability modifier is equal to spellcasting ability modifier, both types of modifiers gain a +1 bonus to attack rolls. 
• New Vanguard-exclusive cantrip added: Stormcaller's Spear. This is a throw spell that allows you to deal lightning damage to a hit target (arcing electricity to a nearby target), or to deal thunder damage and possibly push back a single target 10 feet. 
• Blade Dash now uses only 1 eldritch point, making its casting potentially free when at full Arcane Fervor stacks. Blur duration reduced to 1 turn to compensate. 
• Spell lists updated: Sleet Storm added, along with Bursting Sinew, Larian's Toll the Dead, and Booming Blade. Shape Water added to Mystra's spells add-on mod. 
• Bonded weapons now retain their bonded status after being thrown during a turn. This is a Larian fix, but results in all features that require a bonded weapon now working correctly in that same turn after you throw. 
• Death Cleric's Reaper passive now works on Bone Chill and Toll the Dead when cast as Swfit Cantrips. 
• Cleaned up Osiris scripting related to Toll the Dead, since that was added by Larian. 
• Toll the Dead icon no longer missing on 5e Spells and Mystra's add-on mods. 
• Casting Shield now unlocks Ethereal Pirouette, as intended. 
• Hail of Thorns is no longer castable after casting a cantrip with Martial Magic feature. 
• Cantrip Combantant feat no longer spams the combat log. 
• Dex-focused players were previously getting STR penalties (if less than 10) to attack rolls. This has been fixed.
• Swift cantrip version of Firebolt no longer incorrectly states that its damage scales with level.
• Fixed incompatibility issue with Unofficial Bug Fixer mod that was breaking Repelling Blast.
  

3.12.25

• Fixed bug with Blink Dog getting resummoned twice in a row after level up.
  

3.11.25

• Fixed issue with Blink Dog losing its VFX after long resting.
• Blink Dog is now automatically resummoned with improved stats/abilities each time you level up in Spellsword.  It happens twice in quick succession for some reason, but it shouldn't cause any problems. Note that you'll have to resummon your dog manually once for this change to occur.
• A key Blink Dog behind-the-scenes status may have not been persisting after a long rest, which would have broken various things. Updated it to avoid this out of an abundance of caution.
  

MAJOR RELEASE V5.5 (12.19.24)

Vanguard has been renamed to Spellsword! Old name was great, but there's another cool gish-style class on mod.io called the Arcane Vanguard. I thought it best to switch names to avoid confusion.

Mod usage info changes:

• Main file no longer has any other mod requirements, though the old ones are still recommended. To get access to 5e Spells, please download the new 5e spells optional file.
• This class is now available on mod.io and the in-game mod browser: Spellsword Class for Baldur's Gate 3 - mod.io
• Added support for Mystra's Spells via an optional add-on file. Mystra's Spells is only available on mod.io.
• The Cantrip fix file has been deprecated and is no longer needed due to a new implementation of Arcane Strike.
• New version of Charisma variant added.
• All other old optional add-on files are not presently supported or needed.
  

Major upgrade and the first toolkit-compatible release.

• Over 100 new class icons added.
• Lots of presentation cleanup: text shortened where possible and made clearer. Tooltip links added. Key UI warnings added to let players know when certain abilities can't be used without meeting particular conditions. Off-hand abilities given new icons to help differentiate them. Some abilities combined with others to simpify presentation on level-up.
• Added Arcane Warrior fighting style, which allows users to attack with a one-handed weapon and cast cantrips with an empty off-hand. Introduces a new mechanic - Swift Cantrips and treats it as if it's a base 5e combat element.
• Added Cantrip Combatant feat, which enhances Arcane Warrior and also provides general utility for all classes that use cantrips.
• Arcane Strike weapon imbuing significantly reworked with new Osiris scripting that now fixes all past issues with cantrips dealing damage to player and not applying the intended effects. It's no longer a passive and is now simply a container spell that automatically populates with all the cantrips you can use with your bonded weapon.
• Volatile Sigil now works with all attack cantrips, not just single-target ones.
• In Your Face replaced with Calculated Coercion, which allows you to use INT for Intimidation checks. This is no longer STR-focused class, hence the change.
• Arcane Strike now works with the Infested spell, as does Hail of Thorns/Conjure Barrage/Conjure Volley
• Weapon Bond now grants the Thrown property automatically to all light weapons.
• Conjure Barrage can now be cast with your off-hand weapon.
• Elemental Blade previously didn't apply the damage you should get at level 20, but it now does.
• Added convenience feature: Throw Bonded Weapon. This makes it much quicker to select your bonded weapons.
• Close Cantrips now works with Channeled Throw and the new Swift Cantrips. Its damage does not scale beyond 1d6 for these.
• Blink Dog's gaping wounds attack now works as expected.
• Martial Magic has been rebuilt and now works more reliably.
• Overwhelming Arcane Strike now properly costs 3 eldrtich points instead of 1.
• Tavern Brawler is no longer broken by this mod.
• Plus LOTS of bug fixes.
  

THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR PLAYING, ENJOYING, AND SHARING YOUR SUGGESTIONS FOR THIS CLASS. IT IS NOW FINALLY COMPLETE.
I'll still make bug fixes and tweak things for balance, but there are otherwise no plans for big updates in the future. Hope you guys enjoy it.


Introduction

The spellsword class is meant to plug the hole in 5e's (and BG3's) base class lineup: the martial arcane half-caster. It is heavily inspired by the Eldritch Knight and many other wonderful gish-style class & subclass mods and community homebrew classes. This class takes several ideas from the Eldritch Knight and runs with them:

• Bonded weapons are more powerful and act as triggers for other class abilities.
• Teleportation/battlefield navigation is a key feature.
• Takes the essence of War Magic - being able to attack and cast cantrips in a turn - and makes it more flexible and powerful.
  

                                                            

It also taps into other elements popular in gish class fantasies:

• Imbuing your weapons with elemental damage.
• Empowering your weapons to deal extra damage and apply debilitating status effects.
  

It has two key features. One is Symbiotic Channeling: casting leveled spells and performing limited-use weapon actions (like Cleave, Rush Attack, etc) temporarily enhance your melee attacks and cantrips while also unlocking various magical bonus actions. The other is your repertoire of Eldrtich Inspirations, limited use abilities that consume eldritch points and produce dazzling effects. Some of these features include:

• Arcane Strike: imbue your bonded weapon with a cantrip, releasing its effects on melee or thrown attacks.
  

                                                                                  

• Eldritch Mark: with this ability, you mark a target with a magical sigil. Hitting a marked target releases an AOE blast of damaging magical energy, also causing your mark to jump to another enemy. Each time your mark travels, its potential damage increases. As a spellsword , your ability set well-equips you for this very mobile, hit-n-run style of play.
  

                                                            

The Elementalist subclass utilizes each of the five elements to empower their attacks and create deadly effects.



Some of these include:

• Elemental Smite: Perform smites that apply both damage and debilitating effects after you make a successful melee attack.
  

                                                            

• Elemental Aura: surround yourself with one of five elemental auras that damage and apply status effects on enemies, including states like Wet and Chilled for damage vulnerability.
  

                                                            

Blink-Bonded spellswords have an affinity for nature and have bonded with a blink dog, gaining one as a companion.



Together, you can do a number of things:

• Your blink dog has several teleport capabilities: blink to teleport and distract enemies if you attack them. Use a reaction to blink an ally away as they are about to get hit. Use a teleporting attack to disarm an enemy. Instantly swap positions with your spellsword buddy, and if you surround your enemy, potentially Overwhelm it and open it up for critical hits.
  

                                                           

• Your dog can trigger Eldritch Mark effects. Eventually, arcane strike effects you apply to yourself get applied to you dog, increasing its attack potential tremendously. Even later, all beneficial spells you cast on yourself are shared with it.
  

                                                              

• You get a small selection of ranger/druid spells for free, including the Ranger's Hail of Thorns, Conjure Barrage and Conjure Volley. They have been extensively modified so that Arcane Strike enhancements apply to them, meaning you can do small AOE, cone attack and huge AOE attacks that will set off cantrip magical explosions on EVERY hit target.
  

                                                              
Shadow Adepts spellswords are tied to the plane of shadow and thrive in darkness. Be the scary shadow-lurking Spellsword you've always wanted to be.

• Gain power when obscured from light. Melee weapon attacks gain free necrotic damage, as do spells that deal necrotic and psychic damage. Gain a bonus to AC & attack rolls. Trigger Eldritch Mark effects for the first time at range via spells or thrown weapon attacks that deal necrotic or psychic damage.
  

• Tear open rifts into the shadow plane, draining light and color from all nearby creatures and objects. Everyone save the caster is blinded within the rift. When casting leveled spells that deal necrotic or psychic damage, roll all damage die with Advantage.
  

                                                              

• Transform your body into one wreathed with shadows. Gain damage resistance and teleport from one obscured location to another. Gain power when casting leveled spells that deal necrotic damage or involve shadow or psychic-based effects, transforming that energy into an extra melee attack.
  

                                                              

                                                              

• At high levels, gain mastery over the shadows. Open up to three shadow rifts at once and exploit them to greater effect. Teleport between them at will. Double the damage bonuses you get from being obscured. And cast your necrotic, shadow and psychic-based spells from any distance, so long as you and your targets touch the plane of shadow.
  

                                                                                                                  
                                                    

               
                                                    

                  

• Enjoy a small selection of free spells tied to aspects of the Shadow Plane: Inflict Wounds, Shadow Blade, Summon Shadowspawn, Shadow of Moil, Negative Energy Flood. Shadow Blades count as a bonded weapon for you, allowing them to be thrown and enhanced with effects like Arcane Strike.         
  

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

For full class details, read this fancy class document here or check out the same details in this entry in the Articles section.

The core version of this class uses Intelligence as its spellcasting modifier. A Charisma-based version is also included as an optional core variant that fits with the "lore." 

Recommended Mods

• 5e Spells - Previously a hard requirement, this mod is now optional. Very useful due to the Spellsword's reliance upon cantrips.
• Mystra's Spells - a great spell pack similar to 5e Spells, but available only on Mod.io. Has console support.
• Norbyte's Baldur's Gate 3 Script Extender - 5e Spells requires this. My mod doesn't use script extender, but it's still best to install this to avoid any possible errors.
• ImprovedUI ReleaseReady - Great mod that allows you to see Spellsword's action resource icons.
• Unlock Level Curve - This mod includes full support for levels 13-20, so use this if you'd like to get Spellsword progression and features past lvl 12. 
• Expansion - Similar to Unlock Level Curve, from the author of 5e Spells. This is an alternate option to using ULC for access to levels 13-20. It also allows you to toggle on gaining extra feats per level for custom classes like Spellsword.
• Summon Initiative Fixer - Your Blink Dog will share initiative with the player with this mod. Allows for better teamplay.
  

Load Order:
Recommended load order, top to bottom:
1) Improved UI
2) 5e Spells or Mystra's Spells
3) Unlock Level Curve or Expansion
4) Spellsword
5) Spellsword 5e Spells or Spellsword Mystra's Spells
Spell Compatibility Mods
Note: New attack cantrips from other spell packs cannot be infused into your weapon via Arcane Strike. Only 5e Spells/Mystra's Spells and base game spells are supported.

• PF2e Spells Compatibility Patches - Use if you'd like to use PF2e Spells with this mod.
• Homebrew Spells Compatibility Patch(s) - Use this if you'd like to use Homebrew Spells with this mod.
• Little Spell List Patches - Makes Spellsword work with Frostbite Blade, Shadowheart Cantrip - Night Piercer, Shadow Burst cantrip, and Spellfire mods.
  

Other Optional Mods

• Free Action Dual Wielding - This is a very simple mod I made that changes the Dual Wielder feat or Two Weapon Fighting Style to additionally allow you to make your off-hand attack as a free action rather than a bonus action. This is useful for Spellsword players because the class has lots of bonus actions and currently two-weapon fighting is not optimal as a result. Also gives an off-hand throw action and an extra bonus action attack if you have Rogue's Fast Hands.
• Polearm Master Feat With Tridents - You may have noticed that Spellswords begin with Tridents. This is because they are the only martial weapons with the Thrown property, something very useful for your returning weapons. This mod makes it work with Polearm Master, which just makes sense to me.
• Weapon Skills While Dual Wield - Weapon skills are very important for Spellswords because they trigger one of your core features. This mod makes management of those weapon skills much smoother with this class, avoiding the need to juggle which one is in your main hand.
• Universal Feat Every X Level(s) - MCM - Awesome mod to dynamically set additional feats per level for all classes/subclasses, including modded ones. For all the cheaters out there. Note: I haven't tested this, but I've been told you need to use the old class name here, "Vanguard," for this mod to work with Spellsword.
  

Installation
I recommend using the Baldur's Gate 3 Mod Manager for installation.

Known Issues

• After loading a savegame with an existing shadow rift, the rift loses its ability to obscure the terrain it sits upon.
  

Feedback on bugs, class balance and class fantasy are all welcome.

Special Thanks:
Gycicada - for their super useful class template and excellent Magus class as reference.
DiZ91891 - their hard work on Expansion(Bladesinger)'s Extra Attack feature made it easy for me to create Martial Magic. Also, for the amazing 5e spells, which this class uses.
Kyvarin - for their work on Eldritch Knight Enhanced, which served as an early inspiration and amazing resource that let me get my feet wet in class modding.
KiderionLykon - for their incredibly useful Baldur's Gate 3 Class Icons Generator and Action Icons Generator and their code solution to various multiclassing spell slot challenges.
Djmr - plus the other folks that contribute to ImprovedUI for all their work in getting custom icons working in our mods.
xtekek - for invaluable feedback that help shape class balance and progression.
And to the many super-helpful folks on the BG3 Discord that helped share knowledge and problem solve, especially: lostsoul, Siael, Muffin, Vander Decken, Loz, LUST, Artemis, Khry, GabeCamomescro, Aristotale