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{{Spell
  | type = Incantations
  | name = Blade of Woe
  | school = Necromancy
  | desc = Evil
  | class1 = Swordmage
  | class1level = 3
  | time = 1 attack action
  | range = Melee Attack
  | dur = 1 round/2 levels
}}
''The Swordmage plunges a vicious kris of bloodstained steel into his enemy's heart, and his foe dies - but does not stay dead.''

With this Incantation, the Swordmage gains a ''+1 Vicious Dagger'', with which he makes a melee attack. If the target dies before the duration is exceeded, that foe is immediately animated as a Skeleton or Zombie, as with the ''Animate Dead'' spell, but only until the remaining duration runs out. This effect functions just fine on already-undead creatures; it simply ends the animating force, and replaces it with the Swordmage's own, guaranteeing control. It does not, however, work on unliving Constructs.

Loses the Evil descriptor if Undead are not inherently evil in the setting.