I was letting the thread simmer a bit before jumping back in. A lot of the explanations are simply "increased rarity doesn't mean increased power". To that, I point to the +1 weapons, +1 armors, +1 shields, belts of giant strength, potions of healing, and countless other similar items that increase in power along with their increase in rarity.

Another reason that has not been mentioned yet is that Flame tongue deals fire, which IIRC, is the most widely resisted element in the MM. frost is a much less resisted element, so that +1d6 is going to be resisted a lot less often than the 2d6 of the flame tongue.

This one, though, made me want to address it directly. If the fire damage is resisted, it will then be, in effect, +1d6, or equal to the frost brand. So it's better than the frost brand against things that don't resist fire, equal to things that resist fire, and stronger against things that resist both fire and cold.

Now, the fact that it is one attunement slot for 2 effects is a big one. It seems the "Ring of Resistance" is a rare item by itself, which pushes it up; to that point, I concede.

Interestingly, I went and crunched the numbers on the benefits of a +1 weapon over a weapon that gives bonus damage dice. I found that a +2 weapon is equivalent to +1d6 damage; this was tested with a Great Sword and no GWFing style.

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