As the name implies, this weapon is essentially a [[SRD:Dagger|dagger]], except that its tip curves inwards to form a small spiral shape. This makes it completely useless for stabbing, and the unconventional shape also makes it rather vulnerable to [[SRD:Sunder|sundering]] and [[SRD:Disarm|disarming]]; the wielder of a spiral dagger takes a −2 penalty to attack rolls to oppose sunder and disarm attempts. A spiral dagger is also very poorly-suited for being thrown; it is strictly a melee weapon. However, the spiral tip makes the dagger extra-useful at grabbing and rending flesh. It does damage akin to a dagger that's two size categories larger than it actually is, is exceptionally powerful in terms of scoring critical hits, and it can be used to make [[SRD:Grapple|grapple]] attempts. An attempt to start a grapple with a spiral dagger is not a [[SRD:Touch Attack|touch attack]], but gains a +4 bonus to the attack roll; if this attack hits, and the wielder of the spiral dagger succeeds on a grapple check, the spiral dagger embeds itself in the victim's flesh, holding fast and beginning the grapple. Successful grapple checks with a spiral dagger deal damage equivalent to a regular attack. A spiral dagger being used to grapple is embedded in the victim's flesh until it is pulled out (which, if this is intentionally done by the wielder, does damage equal to a regular attack, including the wielder's Strength bonus (or whatever modified Strength modifier is used instead; typically ½ the Strength bonus for the spiral dagger being a light weapon) and ends the grapple). A grapple using a spiral dagger always ends when it is pulled out, even if the wielder is still holding the dagger at the time. The wielder can make a grapple check to wiggle the spiral dagger around in the victim's flesh and carve up their insides, which is treated like an attack with the spiral dagger except that it automatically hits (make an attack roll anyways to determine whether or not it's a critical hit). Of course, while a spiral dagger is being used to grapple a creature, it can't be used to attack other creatures ([[Body As Hammer (3.5e Feat)|at least not conventionally]]… though mere proficiency is not sufficient skill to perform [http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/GrievousHarmWithABody Grievous Harm With A Body]). However, if the wielder of a spiral dagger fails on a grapple check by 5 or more, their opponent can [[SRD:Disarm|disarm]] them as an immediate reaction (taken as a free action out of turn), without provoking an [[SRD:Attack of Opportunity|attack of opportunity]]. If the spiral dagger's victim escapes the grapple by beating the wielder by 4 or less, or they beat the wielder by 5 or more and fail to disarm them, they simply yank themselves off the spiral dagger, taking the spiral dagger's damage plus any modifiers of the spiral dagger itself, such as enchantment bonuses and magical properties.