Vorpal weapon

Vorpal weapon

(Magic item)

Rare

Magical

Aura (1E)

1E: Necromancy and transmutation (strong)

Caster Level (1E)

18

Item Level (2E)

Rune 17

Type

Weapon special ability

Slot (1E)

Weapon

Usage (2E)

Etched onto a slashing melee weapon

Source: Classic Treasures Revisited, pg(s). 52–57 (1E)
GM Core, pg(s). 239 (2E)

Legacy 2E: Vorpal weapon property runes also had the

Evocation

trait in Core Rulebook 585.

Ⅰ

Ⅱ

A vorpal weapon is a magic slashing melee weapon imbued with the power to cleave a target's head from its shoulders when the wielder scores a particularly accurate hit, causing instant death. Creatures with no discernible heads and most mindless undead are unaffected by this, however.

It is said that vorpal weapons were originally created as a means of killing jabberwocks; in any event, the beasts have a healthy fear of such weapons. The quality can be conferred upon a slashing weapon as an expensive rune.

The vorpal quality is among the most difficult and time-consuming weapon enhancements to create. Such items are resultingly rare, and anyone who owns one should be treated with caution.

On Golarion

Attitudes toward vorpal weapons vary. Elves claim to find them inelegant, while the random nature of the beheadings is often of interest to gnomes. There have never been any reports of goblins wielding vorpal dogslicers, but that is presumably due to a lack of magical talent rather than any moral scruples on the part of the goblins.

The Aldori swordlords do not allow their use in duels, and the Eagle Knights of Andoran use them only as a last resort. However, worshippers of Sarenrae praise them as the most merciful of weapons; indeed the most legendary of the Qadiran dervishes are said to use fiery, razor-sharp scimitars with the vorpal quality.

In the Lands of the Linnorm Kings, those who slay a linnorm demonstrate their worthiness to rule. Sometimes, this feat is achieved with the aid of a vorpal weapon. A few of the Ulfen are starting to regard this use of vorpal weapons as cheating.

Priests of Urgathoa use vorpal scythes in a ritual known as the Reaping. Followers of Gorum view vorpal greatswords as holy relics and often seek to recover those in the possession of heretics.

Known vorpal weapons

See also: Category:Vorpal weapons

• Crunmir the Wurm-Eater
• Executioner's Hand
• Frostkiss Whip
• Jorngarl's Harm