Can a leshay employ Power Attack with its leshay weapons?

Question

The leShay (originally Epic Level Handbook 202-3) was overhauled during the 3.5 revision, but its supernatural ability leshay weapons remained unchanged:

Each leShay carries two personal melee weapons that he or she manifests from his or her own life essence. The weapon can change form as he or she shifts from class to class, typically appearing as a bastard sword (one in each hand). When not in combat, the weapons simply do not exist, but leShay can “draw” their weapons from nowhere as a free action. LeShay weapons are considered light weapons for a leShay, regardless of their size.

The printed and SRD leShay has the feat Power Attack, but can the leShay actually employ the feat Power Attack with its leShay weapons or must the leShay employ an actual 1-handed or 2-handed melee weapon if it wants to benefit from the feat Power Attack? That is, because the leShay weapons are considered light weapons for a leShay, should the weapons also be considered light weapons for the leShay's Power Attack feat?

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"Who cares?" I'm considering a leShay as an archvillain for an upcoming campaign. The creature's weaknesses are many—for instance, no energy resistance, no freedom of movement or evasion, no immunity to dazing or stun, no immunity to death effects or energy drain, no extra actions, no movement abilities beyond walking and greater teleport at will—, but these weaknesses can be mitigated by picking for it better feats and with magic items that are part of its CR 20 +8 major items hoard, but I don't know if the leShay needs a melee weapon beyond its 2 built-in +10 brilliant energy bastard swords so that it can deal more than 1d10+15 points of damage per attack. I mean, it probably does anyway in case it encounters an undead or whatever, but still. Keep in mind that despite their 3.5 revision, some epic monsters remain a bit jumbled.

Also, addressesing the meaning of as he or she shifts from class to class would be greatly appreciated but isn't required. It's probably just an editorial oversight, a leftover from a previous draft.

Answer 1

No

Technically yes, but not in a useful way. Light weapons do not gain the benefits from Power Attack, although you can still attempt a Power Attack with a light weapon and receive the penalty if that is something you are interested in for whatever reason.

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This is purely speculation, but I believe they gave the sample leShay Power Attack so that it could meet the prerequisites for Cleave.

Answer 2

Yes.

As the weapons "count" as light weapons, even when they are not actually light weapons, therefore they can be used for power attack; if they are summoned as a weapon that is otherwise compatible with Power Attack.

This is the same as a Dervish counting a scimitar as a light weapon. In either case, this ability doesn't affect the weapon, but rather the character handling the weapon.

As another example, if the LeShay was able to find a way to use the bastard sword in such a fashion that met both the requirements of Power Attack and Weapon Finesse, then the LeShay would benefit from both effects simultaneously.

The ability is additive in nature: it adds options, it does not subtract or prevent previously existing options.

Comparing to an ability which does change the weight category of an item, if we look at mithral special materials entry in the DMG, it uses the language "...are one category lighter than normal..." rather than "counts as". I believe this lends credence to the idea that where "counts as" language is used, it does not change the actual weight category, but only allows the character a special exception when convenient.

Comparing to the powerful build trait, it is sadly noted that this language is more precise and doesn't use the phrase "counts as". Instead, it directly states that the character is treated as one size category larger when it would be advantageous. Had this language matched exactly, then it would have clinched the argument for certain. Despite this, the similarities are worth examining, and lead this one to believe that "counts as" should be treated in the same way as powerful build, and not as mithral.

As many other feats or class features break rules previously established in the general rules text by making special exceptions, so too is this ability a special exception that does not limit other uses, allowing odd combinations that would otherwise not be possible.