Exploding Shurikens (low level artefacts) have several blades (often a large number) of varying designs attached to an artefact core. The blades themselves are disposable. A variant houses dart-like projectiles. When the weapon is thrown it travels to the target and then explodes, sending the blades flying in all directions, in an arc or against a single target as the thrower intends. Some exploding shurikens have dozens of blades and are highly lethal. This weapon makes up for the lack of lethality of the individual projectiles by their sheer number. In addition to being able to launch many blades at once a thrower can hurl three shurikens simultaneously, making them highly dangerous.
After throwing the core is still intact and can be retrieved and reloaded. Some assassins and other unconventional troops mount them on long ropes made of magical materials so they can be recovered quickly without having to change position. A few enterprising fighters have even turned them into unwieldy but surprisingly effective close combat weapons by using them like flails while the blades remain attached.
