28 items
About this mod
New equipment type! Equippable magic aura that can be used for melee attacks and makes it appear as if there is charged magic in the hand, for better role-playing. Includes 4 variants: Spellblade, Striker, Mage, and Protector.
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One of my characters is a spellblade, and it made sense to me, from a role-playing perspective, that a spellblade would keep their main hand free for casting spells. When I realized that BG3 does not natively allow for a weapon to only be equipped in your off hand, while keeping your main hand free, I set out to make that a reality. Over time, it evolved into this mod, which is sort of becoming a whole new equipment type.
This adds "weapons", called Manaflares, to the game that can be equipped in your main and/or off hand. The Manaflares appear as though your character has an aura of charged magic around the equipped hand, which you can melee attack with. There is one for each elemental damage type, each with its own idle and attack VFX.
There are four different Manaflare variants, each have a Manaflare associated with an elemental damage type, and each with a unique aspect that is carefully designed with specific classes, playstyles, and balance in mind:
Spellblade
Info
The damage is intended to be low relative to the primary weapon, with the idea being that melee attacking with this Manaflare is a tertiary choice after a primary weapon attack and spell, such as if all the character's spell slots are empty during a long battle. Still, to incentivize using this variation over the others for a spellblade character, it has a flat piercing damage added onto its magic damage. To balance this, you must have a weapon equipped in the opposite hand to melee attack with a Spellblade's Manaflare.
Bonuses
Arcane Rend (custom passive): Similar to Baneful Strike, with the difference being it triggers on a melee weapon attack rather than any
weapon.
Damage
Base -- 1d4 elemental + spellcasting ability modifier (modifier bonus is main hand only), 1 piercing
Levels 4-10 -- base +1d4, 2 piercing
Levels 11-16 -- base +2d4, 3 piercing
Levels 17+ -- base +3d4, 4 piercing
Striker
Info
This variant is designed with magic-enhanced brawlers in mind, such as Four Elements monks or Eldritch Knight fighters. All scaling and bonuses to unarmed attack damage affect this variant, and bonuses and effects that trigger with Unarmed Strike should still activate. As such, dual-wielding these with an unarmed build results in huge damage output. The Arcane Strike and Arcane Flurry of Strikes attacks are intended to emulate a 1-2-3 combination punch.
Bonuses
Arcane Strike (main hand only): A custom variation of Unarmed Strike that is a bonus action and does the normal unarmed damage as
well as the same magic damage as the main weapon attack. Also charges your Arcane Ki by 1.
Arcane Flurry of Strikes: When two Strikers are equipped, a custom variation of Flurry of Blows is unlocked, which deals both the elemental and unarmed damage. Costs 1 Arcane Ki to use.
Damage
Base -- 1d4 elemental + spellcasting ability modifier (modifier bonus is main hand only), unarmed damage (bludgeoning)
Levels 4-10 -- base +1d4
Levels 11-16 -- base +2d4
Levels 17+ -- base +3d4
NOTE: The game really does not like weapons dealing unarmed damage. To make this possible, I had to add the unarmed damage via a passive. While attacks with this variation do deal unarmed damage, the weapon status window does not include this damage in its calculations. However, you can see accurate damage numbers in the Arcane Strike attack, which is also explained in the in-game passive description. Further, the game doesn't like Unarmed Strike also dealing magic damage, so you may notice an odd UI artifact where it calculates the unarmed damage as "0d20+[your unarmed damage]. Just ignore the 0d20, the game is still accurately calculating the total unarmed damage.
Mage
Info
Designed for the pure spellcaster, who typically prefers ranged combat. This helps the character maintain distance from enemies and also helps avoid opportunity attacks when trying to move away from enemies. To balance this, its damage is lower than the others, since melee attacking (typically not what mages do) with it should only be used to keep distance or as a last resort, such as when all spell slots are depleted during a long battle.
Bonuses
Arcane Displacement (custom passive): Knocks large or smaller enemies back up to 4 meters on a successful melee attack.
Damage
Base -- 1d4 elemental + spellcasting ability modifier
Levels 4-10 -- base +1d4
Levels 11-16 -- base +2d4
Levels 17+ -- base +3d4
Protector
Info
This variant is the defensive version and is classified as a shield, boosting armor class and raising resistances. All bonuses that apply to shields will also apply to these.
Bonuses
Arcane Vigilance (custom passive): Allows you to use the Shield Bash reaction when a nearby enemy attacks you or an ally. The hit explosion VFX trigger on successful bashes.
Defense
AC +1, Resistance to the same damage type as the Manaflare
Uniques
These Manaflares are special, unique versions of the above variation types. They're designed around specific bosses or characters, and are only obtainable in immersive ways. This mod also makes each character wield their Manaflare during battle. The current Uniques and what they do are listed in the spoiler (hidden because boss names are listed).
Makes certain equipment and bonuses function as intended with Manaflares using a method that does not affect the base game bonuses, thus avoiding conflicts with other mods. Will be updated as more are identified.
Currently includes:
Duellist's Prerogative and its associated bonuses
Duelling (fighting style)
Duelling Gloves (Gloves of the Duellist)
Toggle on the passive that is granted to all magic-oriented classes and subclasses to spawn the Manaflare Vessel container into your inventory. This passive is implemented via level progression lists, which now merge between all mods, making this an immersive method that is fully compatible with all other mods.
Note: The passive may not appear on your hotbar when installing the mod on existing playthroughs. If this is the case, find it in your spell list and drag it into your Custom hotbar.
The Manaflare Vessel is also in the Tutorial Chest for players that only use class mods and pure martial characters and don't have any base game magic-oriented classes or subclasses in their party.
None!
Install at any point without worry. There are no issues doing this mid-playthrough. The only consideration is that the bosses that use unique Manaflares in battle won't have them, but they will still be rewarded.
To uninstall:
Compatible with everything except mods that edit the vanilla VFX used by the Manaflares. They will change the appearance, and may cause issues. Manaflare also edits the Equipment lists of the Unique Manaflare characters. If you use a mod that also edits these lists, there will be a conflict.
CREDITS
This mod would've taken significantly longer to develop if it weren't for these incredible people who took time to help in various ways:
Extra special thanks - The legends that helped me over big road blocks
TornamiRider - Helping me keep the stats balanced and true to DnD
JuuM - weapon VFX demystifying and providing the breakthrough I needed to add them
Chip Chocolate, Legendary Muffin - weapon code demystifying
pontifex - weapon code demystifying
NEZIM - hiding sheathed weapons and Blender demystifying
primal_fire - icon art recolor help and demistifying Photoshop
Nathyiel and Rando - Helping troubleshoot Toolkit issues and likely saving me days of my life
PixellBytes - Creating the initial reward handler script for the unique Manaflares and demystifying Osiris scripting
Special thanks - The heroes that took time to help and provide ideas
GreenNinja757 The AnimationGuy™ - icon art recolor help
Shivero - icon art recolor help
JuuM - hiding sheathed weapons
arules - Blender demystifying
VelvetSanity - hiding sheathed weapons
Koala - hiding sheathed weapons
Jon The LoveKing - Building the Omen Outpost Discord server to provide another source of help and community
The mod author community on the Larian Discord Server
The mod author community on the Omen Outpost Discord Server
pavlogarmata for creating the excellent All Effects And Boost In One. Modify Any Weapon mod, which enabled me to decypher how to apply base-game VFX to weapons.
A big source of inspiration for this was the Spellblade variant of TumblingLemmings Better Dual Wielding mod, which gives a free off-hand attack after casting a spell. I highly suggest it as a companion to this!
CHECK OUT MY OTHER MODS!
Shadow Monk - Shadow Strike Lvl 9 and (ki) Shadow of Moil Lvl 11
Artificer - 12 Levels Option
Intro
One of my characters is a spellblade, and it made sense to me, from a role-playing perspective, that a spellblade would keep their main hand free for casting spells. When I realized that BG3 does not natively allow for a weapon to only be equipped in your off hand, while keeping your main hand free, I set out to make that a reality. Over time, it evolved into this mod, which is sort of becoming a whole new equipment type.
Description
This adds "weapons", called Manaflares, to the game that can be equipped in your main and/or off hand. The Manaflares appear as though your character has an aura of charged magic around the equipped hand, which you can melee attack with. There is one for each elemental damage type, each with its own idle and attack VFX.
Variants
There are four different Manaflare variants, each have a Manaflare associated with an elemental damage type, and each with a unique aspect that is carefully designed with specific classes, playstyles, and balance in mind:
Spellblade
Info
The damage is intended to be low relative to the primary weapon, with the idea being that melee attacking with this Manaflare is a tertiary choice after a primary weapon attack and spell, such as if all the character's spell slots are empty during a long battle. Still, to incentivize using this variation over the others for a spellblade character, it has a flat piercing damage added onto its magic damage. To balance this, you must have a weapon equipped in the opposite hand to melee attack with a Spellblade's Manaflare.
Bonuses
Arcane Rend (custom passive): Similar to Baneful Strike, with the difference being it triggers on a melee weapon attack rather than any
weapon.
Damage
Base -- 1d4 elemental + spellcasting ability modifier (modifier bonus is main hand only), 1 piercing
Levels 4-10 -- base +1d4, 2 piercing
Levels 11-16 -- base +2d4, 3 piercing
Levels 17+ -- base +3d4, 4 piercing
Striker
Info
This variant is designed with magic-enhanced brawlers in mind, such as Four Elements monks or Eldritch Knight fighters. All scaling and bonuses to unarmed attack damage affect this variant, and bonuses and effects that trigger with Unarmed Strike should still activate. As such, dual-wielding these with an unarmed build results in huge damage output. The Arcane Strike and Arcane Flurry of Strikes attacks are intended to emulate a 1-2-3 combination punch.
Bonuses
Arcane Strike (main hand only): A custom variation of Unarmed Strike that is a bonus action and does the normal unarmed damage as
well as the same magic damage as the main weapon attack. Also charges your Arcane Ki by 1.
Arcane Flurry of Strikes: When two Strikers are equipped, a custom variation of Flurry of Blows is unlocked, which deals both the elemental and unarmed damage. Costs 1 Arcane Ki to use.
Damage
Base -- 1d4 elemental + spellcasting ability modifier (modifier bonus is main hand only), unarmed damage (bludgeoning)
Levels 4-10 -- base +1d4
Levels 11-16 -- base +2d4
Levels 17+ -- base +3d4
NOTE: The game really does not like weapons dealing unarmed damage. To make this possible, I had to add the unarmed damage via a passive. While attacks with this variation do deal unarmed damage, the weapon status window does not include this damage in its calculations. However, you can see accurate damage numbers in the Arcane Strike attack, which is also explained in the in-game passive description. Further, the game doesn't like Unarmed Strike also dealing magic damage, so you may notice an odd UI artifact where it calculates the unarmed damage as "0d20+[your unarmed damage]. Just ignore the 0d20, the game is still accurately calculating the total unarmed damage.
Mage
Info
Designed for the pure spellcaster, who typically prefers ranged combat. This helps the character maintain distance from enemies and also helps avoid opportunity attacks when trying to move away from enemies. To balance this, its damage is lower than the others, since melee attacking (typically not what mages do) with it should only be used to keep distance or as a last resort, such as when all spell slots are depleted during a long battle.
Bonuses
Arcane Displacement (custom passive): Knocks large or smaller enemies back up to 4 meters on a successful melee attack.
Damage
Base -- 1d4 elemental + spellcasting ability modifier
Levels 4-10 -- base +1d4
Levels 11-16 -- base +2d4
Levels 17+ -- base +3d4
Protector
Info
This variant is the defensive version and is classified as a shield, boosting armor class and raising resistances. All bonuses that apply to shields will also apply to these.
Bonuses
Arcane Vigilance (custom passive): Allows you to use the Shield Bash reaction when a nearby enemy attacks you or an ally. The hit explosion VFX trigger on successful bashes.
Defense
AC +1, Resistance to the same damage type as the Manaflare
Uniques
These Manaflares are special, unique versions of the above variation types. They're designed around specific bosses or characters, and are only obtainable in immersive ways. This mod also makes each character wield their Manaflare during battle. The current Uniques and what they do are listed in the spoiler (hidden because boss names are listed).
Spoiler:
Kagha's Venomous Manaflare
Info
Designed to be extremely synergistic with poison. Pairs well with the Broodmother's Revenge amulet, which Kagha wears.
Variation: Spellblade
Damage
Uses the Spellblade damage scale
UUID
1649dfd2-ac21-4594-bda4-647a9560d687
Bonuses
Visceral Toxin: Custom passive that makes all your attacks that deal poison damage ignore poison resistance, mitigating what is possibly the biggest reason that kept poison builds from being viable.
Poisonous Synergy
Envenom
Serpent Siphon: Custom passive that heals for 1d4 when successfully attacking a poisoned enemy with the Manaflare.
Nere's Oppressive Manaflare
Info
Designed around enchantment and illusion spells. Also unlocks access to Nere's special spells that players normally cannot use.
Variation: Mage
Damage
Uses the Mage damage scale, but with 1d6s
UUID
dbef0150-d39d-44e6-81ce-69e76879d8f2
Bonuses
Arcane Displacement: The custom Mage Manaflare passive described in the Mage section.
Unlocks Shield of Screams and Wicked Coercion for players to use (main hand only)
Ascendant Psionomancy: Custom passive similar to Heightened Necromancy, but for Enchantment and Illusion spells
Focused Enchantment: Custom passive similar to Focused Conjuration, but for Enchantment spells
Minthara's Domineering Manaflare
Info
Designed to be a Minthara's personality reflected in magic. It revolves around buffing allies' attacks and rewards the character wielding the Manaflare when buffed characters "follow orders" by enabling the wielder to then debuff enemies, creating fun and synergistic combat strategies.
Variation: Spellblade
Damage:
Uses the Spellblade damage scale, but with 1d6s
UUID
403741af-e111-4cfe-bb1c-a8f27e8844bf
Bonuses
Arcane Rend: The custom Spellblade Manaflare passive described in the Spellblade section.
Unlocks Soul Branding for players to use
Absolute Authority (custom passive): Allies that strike killing blows when empowered by your Soul Branding grant you an extra bonus action on your next turn.
Cruel Commander's Strike (custom spell): Similar to Commander's Strike, but it only costs 1 bonus action point and does not apply the additional damage to the attack (cruelty is less motivating than inspiration, after all).
Cruel Dominion (custom passive): When an ally lands a killing blow with a Cruel Commander's Strike, the target of your next spell suffers Disadvantage on its Saving Throws and the target of your next weapon attack is Frightened.
Eliette's Mistweaving Manaflare
Info
Themed around Phase Spiders and the Ethereal Plane, and thus movement and evasiveness. It makes the wielder hyper mobile while doing the opposite to enemies and temporarily removing them from the fight.
Variation: Striker
Damage
Uses the Striker damage scale, but with 1d6s
Its damage has no type, meaning some damage will always be inflicted when attacking, no matter the target or resistances.
UUID
e35c4dd3-6b2d-44c8-b154-44766e537375
Bonuses
Arcane Strike and Arcane Flurry of Strikes: The custom Striker Manaflare attacks described in the Striker section.
Ectoplasmic Escape: If the wielder would be downed or killed, they instead retreat to the Ethereal Plane with 1 health where they're immune to all interaction for 1 turn. They return to battle with the Blurred condition.
Ether Flash: Teleport to an enemy or group of enemies and possibly warp them into the Ethereal Plane, removing them from the fight for 1 turn. They return with the Enwebbed condition for 1 turn.
Inversion Web: Throw the Mistweaver at an enemy, swapping places with them and Enwebbing them for 2 turns. Very effective for trapping an enemy near your party or combining with Misty Step to keep an enemy far away from your party.
Misty Step
Show
Kagha's Venomous Manaflare
Info
Designed to be extremely synergistic with poison. Pairs well with the Broodmother's Revenge amulet, which Kagha wears.
Variation: Spellblade
Damage
Uses the Spellblade damage scale
UUID
1649dfd2-ac21-4594-bda4-647a9560d687
Bonuses
Visceral Toxin: Custom passive that makes all your attacks that deal poison damage ignore poison resistance, mitigating what is possibly the biggest reason that kept poison builds from being viable.
Poisonous Synergy
Envenom
Serpent Siphon: Custom passive that heals for 1d4 when successfully attacking a poisoned enemy with the Manaflare.
Nere's Oppressive Manaflare
Info
Designed around enchantment and illusion spells. Also unlocks access to Nere's special spells that players normally cannot use.
Variation: Mage
Damage
Uses the Mage damage scale, but with 1d6s
UUID
dbef0150-d39d-44e6-81ce-69e76879d8f2
Bonuses
Arcane Displacement: The custom Mage Manaflare passive described in the Mage section.
Unlocks Shield of Screams and Wicked Coercion for players to use (main hand only)
Ascendant Psionomancy: Custom passive similar to Heightened Necromancy, but for Enchantment and Illusion spells
Focused Enchantment: Custom passive similar to Focused Conjuration, but for Enchantment spells
Minthara's Domineering Manaflare
Info
Designed to be a Minthara's personality reflected in magic. It revolves around buffing allies' attacks and rewards the character wielding the Manaflare when buffed characters "follow orders" by enabling the wielder to then debuff enemies, creating fun and synergistic combat strategies.
Variation: Spellblade
Damage:
Uses the Spellblade damage scale, but with 1d6s
UUID
403741af-e111-4cfe-bb1c-a8f27e8844bf
Bonuses
Arcane Rend: The custom Spellblade Manaflare passive described in the Spellblade section.
Unlocks Soul Branding for players to use
Absolute Authority (custom passive): Allies that strike killing blows when empowered by your Soul Branding grant you an extra bonus action on your next turn.
Cruel Commander's Strike (custom spell): Similar to Commander's Strike, but it only costs 1 bonus action point and does not apply the additional damage to the attack (cruelty is less motivating than inspiration, after all).
Cruel Dominion (custom passive): When an ally lands a killing blow with a Cruel Commander's Strike, the target of your next spell suffers Disadvantage on its Saving Throws and the target of your next weapon attack is Frightened.
Eliette's Mistweaving Manaflare
Info
Themed around Phase Spiders and the Ethereal Plane, and thus movement and evasiveness. It makes the wielder hyper mobile while doing the opposite to enemies and temporarily removing them from the fight.
Variation: Striker
Damage
Uses the Striker damage scale, but with 1d6s
Its damage has no type, meaning some damage will always be inflicted when attacking, no matter the target or resistances.
UUID
e35c4dd3-6b2d-44c8-b154-44766e537375
Bonuses
Arcane Strike and Arcane Flurry of Strikes: The custom Striker Manaflare attacks described in the Striker section.
Ectoplasmic Escape: If the wielder would be downed or killed, they instead retreat to the Ethereal Plane with 1 health where they're immune to all interaction for 1 turn. They return to battle with the Blurred condition.
Ether Flash: Teleport to an enemy or group of enemies and possibly warp them into the Ethereal Plane, removing them from the fight for 1 turn. They return with the Enwebbed condition for 1 turn.
Inversion Web: Throw the Mistweaver at an enemy, swapping places with them and Enwebbing them for 2 turns. Very effective for trapping an enemy near your party or combining with Misty Step to keep an enemy far away from your party.
Misty Step
Integrated Features and Bonuses
Makes certain equipment and bonuses function as intended with Manaflares using a method that does not affect the base game bonuses, thus avoiding conflicts with other mods. Will be updated as more are identified.
Currently includes:
Duellist's Prerogative and its associated bonuses
Duelling (fighting style)
Duelling Gloves (Gloves of the Duellist)
LOCATION
Toggle on the passive that is granted to all magic-oriented classes and subclasses to spawn the Manaflare Vessel container into your inventory. This passive is implemented via level progression lists, which now merge between all mods, making this an immersive method that is fully compatible with all other mods.
Note: The passive may not appear on your hotbar when installing the mod on existing playthroughs. If this is the case, find it in your spell list and drag it into your Custom hotbar.
The Manaflare Vessel is also in the Tutorial Chest for players that only use class mods and pure martial characters and don't have any base game magic-oriented classes or subclasses in their party.
REQUIREMENTS
None!
INSTALLATION
Install at any point without worry. There are no issues doing this mid-playthrough. The only consideration is that the bosses that use unique Manaflares in battle won't have them, but they will still be rewarded.
To uninstall:
- Use the Mod Uninstaller by Volitio.
- Once Manaflare is removed with the Mod Uninstaller, save and close the game.
- Remove Manaflare from your load order.
- Start and save the game.
COMPATIBILITY
Compatible with everything except mods that edit the vanilla VFX used by the Manaflares. They will change the appearance, and may cause issues. Manaflare also edits the Equipment lists of the Unique Manaflare characters. If you use a mod that also edits these lists, there will be a conflict.
CREDITS
This mod would've taken significantly longer to develop if it weren't for these incredible people who took time to help in various ways:
Extra special thanks - The legends that helped me over big road blocks
TornamiRider - Helping me keep the stats balanced and true to DnD
JuuM - weapon VFX demystifying and providing the breakthrough I needed to add them
Chip Chocolate, Legendary Muffin - weapon code demystifying
pontifex - weapon code demystifying
NEZIM - hiding sheathed weapons and Blender demystifying
primal_fire - icon art recolor help and demistifying Photoshop
Nathyiel and Rando - Helping troubleshoot Toolkit issues and likely saving me days of my life
PixellBytes - Creating the initial reward handler script for the unique Manaflares and demystifying Osiris scripting
Special thanks - The heroes that took time to help and provide ideas
GreenNinja757 The AnimationGuy™ - icon art recolor help
Shivero - icon art recolor help
JuuM - hiding sheathed weapons
arules - Blender demystifying
VelvetSanity - hiding sheathed weapons
Koala - hiding sheathed weapons
Jon The LoveKing - Building the Omen Outpost Discord server to provide another source of help and community
The mod author community on the Larian Discord Server
The mod author community on the Omen Outpost Discord Server
pavlogarmata for creating the excellent All Effects And Boost In One. Modify Any Weapon mod, which enabled me to decypher how to apply base-game VFX to weapons.
A big source of inspiration for this was the Spellblade variant of TumblingLemmings Better Dual Wielding mod, which gives a free off-hand attack after casting a spell. I highly suggest it as a companion to this!
CHECK OUT MY OTHER MODS!
Shadow Monk - Shadow Strike Lvl 9 and (ki) Shadow of Moil Lvl 11
Artificer - 12 Levels Option