View source for Magic items (5E)

{{toc}}
==Properties==
===Rarity===
:See also [[Downtime#Buying_a_magic_item|Downtime: Buying a magic item]]
{| class="d20 zebra right c2l"
!Rarity!!Char. Level!!class=pr0|Value (gp)† <sup>(''DMG'')</sup>!!class=pr0|Asking Price† <sup>(''XGE'')</sup>!!(fixed)
|-
|Common||class=in1|≥ 1st||50–100
||{{abbr|(1d6+1)×10|20 – 70 (45) gp}}
||{{abbr|2d6×10|20 – 120 (70) gp{{br}}[1d6+1 is too low]}}
|-
|Uncommon||class=in1|≥ 1st||100–500
||{{abbr|1d6×100|100 – 600 (350) gp}}
||{{abbr|2d6×100|200 – 1,200 (700) gp{{br}}[fits the progression]}}
|-
|Rare||class=in1|≥ 5th||500–5,000
||{{abbr|2d10×1,000|2,000 – 20,000 (11k) gp}}
||{{abbr|2d6×1,000|2,000 – 12,000 (7k) gp{{br}}[2d10 goes much too high]}}
|-
|Very rare||class=in1|≥ 11th||5,000–50,000
||{{abbr|(1d4+1)×10,000|20,000 – 50,000 (35k) gp}}
||{{abbr|1d6×10,000|10,000 – 60,000 (35k) gp{{br}}[1d4+1 starts too high]}}
|-
|Legendary||class=in1|≥ 17th||&gt; 50,000
||{{abbr|2d6×25,000|50,000 – 300,000 (175k) gp}}
||{{abbr|2d6×25,000|50,000 – 300,000 (175k) gp}}
|}
†&#8202;Value&#8202;/&#8202;Asking Price is halved for consumable items like potions or scrolls.

===Identifying a magic item===
{{hatnote|''DMG'', pp.136}}
Some magic items are indistinguishable from their nonmagical counterparts, whereas other magic items display their magical nature conspicuously. Whatever a magic item’s appearance, handling the item is enough to give a character a sense that something is extraordinary about it. Discovering a magic item’s properties isn’t automatic, however.

The identify spell is the fastest way to reveal an item’s properties. Alternatively, a character can focus on one magic item during a short rest, while being in physica l contact with the item. At the end of the rest, the character learns the item’s properties, as well as how to use them. Potions are an exception; a little taste is enough to tell the taster what the potion does.

Sometimes a magic item carries a clue to its properties. The command word to activate a ring mighr be etched in tiny letters inside it, or a feathered design might suggest that it’s a ring of feather falling.

Wearing or experimenting with an item can also offer hints about its properties. For example, if a character puts on a ring of jumping, you could say, "Your steps fee strangely springy." Perhaps the character then jumps up and down to see what happens. You then say the character jumps unexpectedly high.

====Variant: more difficult identification====
If you prefer magic items to have a greater mystique, consider removing the ability to identify the properties of a magic item during a short rest, and require the identify spell, experimentation, or both to reveal what a magic item does.

===Attunement===
{{hatnote|''DMG'', pp.136, 138 & 184–185}}
Some magic items require a creature to form a bond with them before their magical properties can be used. This bond is called attunement, and certain items have a prerequisite for it. If the prerequisite is a class, a creature must be a member of that class to attune to the item. (If the class is a spellcasting class, a monster qualifies if that monster has spell slots and uses that class’s spell list.) <ins title="DMG Errata 1.0 (and 3rd printing)">If the prerequisite is to be a spellcaster, a creature qualifies if it can cast at least one spell using its traits or features, not using a magic item or the like.</ins>

Without becoming attuned to an item that requires attunement, a creature gains only its nonmagical benefits, unless its description states otherwise. For example, a magic shield that requires attunement provides the benefits of a normal shield to a creature not attuned to it, but none of its magical properties.

Attuning to an item requires a creature to spend a short rest focused on only that item while being in physical contact with it (this can’t be the same short rest used to learn the item’s properties). This focus can take the form of weapon practice (for a weapon), meditation (for a wondrous item), or some other appropriate activity. If the short rest is interrupted, the attunement attempt fails. Otherwise, at the end of the short rest, the creature gains an intuitive understanding of how to activate any magical properties of the item, including any necessary command words.

An item can be attuned to only one creature at a time, and a creature can be attuned to no more than three magic items at a time. Any attempt to attune to a fourth item fails; the creature must end its attunement to an item first. Additionally, a creature can’t attune to more than one copy of an item. For example, a creature can’t attune to more than one ring of protection at a time.

A creature’s attunement to an item ends if the creature no longer satisfies the prerequisites for attunement, if the item has been more than 100 feet away for at least 24 hours, if the creature dies, or if another creature attunes to the item. A creature can also voluntarily end attunement by spending another short rest focused on the item, unless the item is cursed.

====Variants====
Change the number of attuned items limit; from three to the character’s Proficiency bonus.

In older editions, one could not make use of more than one magic item in each of the “slots” listed below:
{{statblock|
;Head: circlet, crown, hat, headband, helmet, phylactery
;Face: glasses, goggles, lens, mask, spectacles, third eye
;Throat: amulet, badge, brooch, collar, medal, medallion, necklace, pendant, periapt, scarab, scarf, torc
;Shoulders: cape, cloak, mantle, shawl
;Body: armor, robe, 
;Torso: shirt, tunic, vest, vestments
;Arms: armband, bracers, bracelet
;Hands: gloves, gauntlets, 
;Waist: belt, girdle, sash, 
;Feet: boots, sandles, shoes, slippers
}}

===Cursed items===
{{hatnote|''DMG'', pp.138–139}}
Some magic items bear curses that bedevil their users, sometimes long after a user has stopped using an item. A magic item’s description specifies whether the item is cursed. Most methods of identifying items, including the {{d5e|spell|identify}} spell, fail to reveal such a curse, although lore might hint at it. A curse should be a surprise to the item’s user when the curse’s effects are revealed.

Attunement to a cursed item can’t be ended voluntarily unless the curse is broken first, such as with the {{d5e|spell|remove curse}} spell.

===Wearing and wielding items===
{{hatnote|''DMG'', pp.140–141}}
Using a magic item’s properties might mean wearing or wielding it. A magic item meant to be worn must be donned in the intended fashion: boots go on the feet, gloves on the hands, hats and helmets on the head, and rings on the finger. Magic armor must be donned, a shield strapped to the arm, a cloak fastened about the shoulders. A weapon must be held in hand.

In most cases, a magic item that’s meant to be worn can fit a creature regardless of size or build. Many magic garments are made to be easily adjustable, or the: magically adjust themselves to the wearer.

Rare exceptions exist. If the story suggests a good reason for an item to fit only creatures of a certain size or shape, you can rule that it doesn’t adjust. For example, armor made by the drow might fit elves only. Dwarves might make items usable only by dwarf-sized and dwarf-shaped characters.

When a nonhumanoid tries to wear an item, use your discretion as to whether the item functions as intended. A ring placed on a tentacle might work, but a yuan-ti with a snakelike tail instead of legs can’t wear boots.

====Multiple items of the same kind====
Use common sense to determine whether more than one of a given kind of magic item can be worn. A character can’t normally wear more than one pair of footwear, one pair of gloves or gauntlets, one pair of bracers, one suit of armor, one item of head wear, and one cloak. You can make exceptions; a character might be able to wear a circlet under a helmet, for example, or be able to layer two cloaks.

====Paired items====
Items that come in pairs- such as boots, bracers, gauntlets, and gloves-impart their benefits only if both items of the pair are worn. For example, a character wearing a boot of striding and springing on one foot and a boot of elvenkind on the other foot gains no benefit from either item.

===Activating an item===
{{hatnote|''DMG'', pp.141}}
Activating some magic items requires a user to do omething special, such as holding the item and uttering a command word. The description of each item category or individual item details how an item is activated. Certain items use one or more of the following rules for their activation.

If an item requires an action to activate, that action isn’t a function of the Use an Item action, so a feature such as the rogue’s Fast Hands can’t be used to activate the item.

====Command word====
A command word is a word or phrase that must be spoken for an item to work. A magic item that requires a command word can’t be activated in an area where sound is prevented, as in the area of the silence spell.

====Consumables====
Some items are used up when they are activated. A potion or an elixir must be swallowed, or an oil applied to the body. The writing vanishes from a scroll when it is read. Once used, a consumable item loses its magic.

====Spells====
Some magic items allow the user to cast a spell from the item. The spell is cast at the <ins title="DMG Errata 2.0 (and 10th printing)">lowest possible spell and caster level</ins>, doesn’t expend any of the user’s spell slots, and requires no components, unless the item’s description says otherwise. The spell uses its normal casting time, range, and duration, and the user of the item must concentrate if the spell requires concentration. Many items, such as potions, bypass the casting of a spell and confer the spell’s effects, with their usual duration. Certain items make exceptions to these rules, changing the casting time, duration, or other parts of a spell.

A magic item, such as certain staffs, may require you to use your own spellcasting ability when you cast a spell from the item. If you have more than one spellcasting ability, you choose which one to use with the item. If you don’t have a spellcasting ability—perhaps you’re a rogue with the Use Magic Device feature—your spellcasting ability modifier is +0 for the item, and your proficiency bonus does apply.

====Charges====
Some magic items have charges that must be expended to activate their properties. The number of charges an item has remaining is revealed when an identify spell is cast on it, as well as when a creature attunes to it. Additionally, when an item regains charges, the creature attuned to it learns how many charges it regained.

===Magic item resilience===
{{hatnote|''DMG'', pp.141}}
Most magic items are objects of extraordinary artisanship. Thanks to a combination of careful crafting and magical reinforcement, a magic item is at least as durable as a nonmagical item of its kind. Most magic items, other than potions and scrolls, have resistance to all damage. Artifacts are practically indestructible, requiring extraordinary measures to destroy.

===Special features===
{{hatnote|''DMG'', pp.141–143}}
You can add distinctiveness to a magic item by thinking about its backstory. Who made the item? Is anything unusual about its construction? Why was it made, and how was it originally used? What minor magical quirks set it apart from other items of its kind? Answering these questions can help turn a generic magic item, such as a ''+1 longsword'', into a more flavorful discovery.

The tables that follow can help you come up with answers. Roll on as many of these tables as you like. Some of the table entries make more sense for certain items than for others. Some magic items are made only by certain kinds of creatures, for instance; a ''cloak of elvenkind'' is made by elves, rather than dwarves. If you roll something that doesn’t make sense, roll again, choose a more appropriate entry, or use the rolled detail as inspiration to make up your own.

{| class="d20 zebra c1c"
|+ Who Created It or Was Intended to Use It?
|-
!d20!!Creator or Intended User
|-
|class=in1|1||'''Aberration.''' The item was created by aberrations in ancient times, possibly for the use of favored humanoid thralls. When seen from the corner of the eye, the item seems to be moving.
|-
|2–4||'''Human.''' The item was created during the heyday of a fallen human kingdom, or it is tied to a human of legend. It might hold writing in a forgotten tongue or symbols whose significance is lost to the ages.
|-
|class=in1|5||'''Celestial.''' The weapon is half the normal weight and inscribed with feathered wings, suns, and other symbols of good. Fiends find the item’s presence repulsive.
|-
|class=in1|6||'''Dragon.''' This item is made from scales and talons shed by a dragon. Perhaps it incorporates precious metals and gems from the dragon’s hoard. It grows slightly warm when within 120 feet of a dragon.
|-
|class=in1|7||'''Drow.''' The item is half the normal weight. It is black and inscribed with spiders and webs in honor of Lolth. It might function poorly, or disintegrate, if exposed to sunlight for 1 minute or more.
|-
|8–9||'''Dwarf.''' The item is durable and has Dwarven runes worked into its design. It might be associated with a clan that would like to see it returned to their ancestral halls.
|-
|10||'''Elemental Air.''' The item is half the normal weight and feels hollow. If it’s made of fabric, it is diaphanous.
|-
|11||'''Elemental Earth.''' This item might be crafted from stone. Any cloth or leather elements are studded with finely polished rock.
|-
|12||'''Elemental Fire.''' This item is warm to the touch, and any metal parts are crafted from black iron. Sigils of flames cover its surface. Shades of red and orange are the prominent colors.
|-
|13||'''Elemental Water.''' Lustrous fish scales replace leather or cloth on this item, and metal portions are instead crafted from seashells and worked coral as hard as any metal.
|-
|class="nw p0"|14–15||'''Elf.''' The item is half the normal weight. It is adorned with symbols of nature: leaves, vines, stars, and the like.
|-
|16||'''Fey.''' The item is exquisitely crafted from the finest materials and glows with a pale radiance in moonlight, shedding dim light in a 5-foot radius. Any metal in the item is silver or mithral, rather than iron or steel.
|-
|17||'''Fiend.''' The item is made of black iron or horn inscribed with runes, and any cloth or leather components are crafted from the hide of fiends. It is warm to the touch and features leering faces or vile runes engraved on its surface. Celestials find the item’s presence repulsive.
|-
|18||'''Giant.''' The item is larger than normal and was crafted by giants for use by their smaller allies.
|-
|19||'''Gnome.''' The item is crafted to appear ordinary, and it might look worn. It could also incorporate gears and mechanical components, even if these aren’t essential to the item’s function.
|-
|20||'''Undead.''' The item incorporates imagery of death, such as bones and skulls, and it might be crafted from parts of corpses. It feels cold to the touch.
|}
{| class="d20 zebra c1c"
|+ What Is a Detail from Its History?
|-
!d8!!History
|-
|1||'''Arcane.''' This item was created for an ancient order of spellcasters and bears the order’s symbol.
|-
|2||'''Bane.''' This item was created by the foes of a particular culture or kind of creature. If the culture or creatures are still around, they might recognize the item and single out the bearer as an enemy.
|-
|3||'''Heroic.''' A great hero once wielded this item. Anyone who’s familiar with the item’s history expects great deeds from the new owner.
|-
|4||'''Ornament.''' The item was created to honor a special occasion. Inset gemstones, gold or platinum inlays, and gold or silver filigree adorn its surface.
|-
|5||'''Prophecy.''' The item features in a prophecy: its bearer is destined to play a key role in future events. Someone else who wants to play that role might try to steal the item, or someone who wants to prevent the prophecy from being fulfilled might try to kill the item’s bearer.
|-
|6||'''Religious.''' This item was used in religious ceremonies dedicated to a particular deity. It has holy symbols worked into it. The god’s followers might try to persuade its owner to donate it to a temple, steal the item for themselves, or celebrate its use by a cleric or paladin of the same deity.
|-
|7||'''Sinister.''' This item is linked to a deed of great evil such as a massacre or an assassination. It might have a name or be closely associated with a villain who used it. Anyone familiar with the item’s history is likely to treat it and its owner with suspicion.
|-
|8||'''Symbol of Power.''' This item was once used as part of royal regalia or as a badge of high office. Its former owner or that person’s descendants might desire it, or someone might mistakenly assume its new owner is the item’s legitimate inheritor.
|}
{| class="d20 zebra c1c"
|+ What Minor Property Does It Have?
|-
!d20!!Minor Property
|-
|class=in1|1||'''Beacon.''' The bearer can use a bonus action to cause the item to shed bright light in a 10-foot radius and dim light for an additional10 feet, or to extinguish the light.
|-
|class=in1|2||'''Compass.''' The wielder can use an action to learn which way is north.
|-
|class=in1|3||'''Conscientious.''' When the bearer of this item contemplates or undertakes a malevolent act, the item enhances pangs of conscience.
|-
|class=in1|4||'''Delver.''' While underground, the bearer of this item always knows the item’s depth below the surface and the direction to the nearest staircase, ramp, or other path leading upward.
|-
|class=in1|5||'''Gleaming.''' This item never gets dirty.
|-
|class=in1|6||'''Guardian.''' The item whispers warnings to its bearer, granting a +2 bonus to initiative if the bearer isn’t incapacitated.
|-
|class=in1|7||'''Harmonious.''' Attuning to this item takes only 1 minute.
|-
|class=in1|8||'''Hidden Message.''' A message is hidden somewhere on the item. It might be visible only at a certain time of the year, under the light of one phase of the moon, or in a specific location.
|-
|class=in1|9||'''Key.''' The item is used to unlock a container, chamber, vault, or other entryway.
|-
|10||'''Language.''' The bearer can speak and understand a language of the DM’s choice while the item is on the bearer’s person.
|-
|11||'''Sentinel.''' Choose a kind of creature that is an enemy of the item’s creator. This item glows faintly when such creatures are within 120 feet of it.
|-
|12||'''Song Craft.''' Whenever this item is struck or is used to strike a foe, its bearer hears a fragment of an ancient song.
|-
|13||'''Strange Material.''' The item was created from a material that is bizarre given its purpose. Its durability is unaffected.
|-
|14||'''Temperate.''' The bearer suffers no harm in temperatures as cold as &minus;20 degrees Fahrenheit or as warm as 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
|-
|15||'''Unbreakable.''' The item can’t be broken. Special means must be used to destroy it.
|-
|16||'''War Leader.''' The bearer can use an action to cause his or her voice to carry clearly for up to 300 feet until the end of the bearer’s next turn.
|-
|17||'''Waterborne.''' This item floats on water and other liquids. Its bearer has advantage on Strength (Athletics) checks to swim.
|-
|18||'''Wicked.''' When the bearer is presented with an opportunity to act in a selfish or malevolent way, the item heightens the bearer’s urge to do so.
|-
|19||'''Illusion.''' The item is imbued with illusion magic, allowing its bearer to alter the item’s appearance in minor ways. Such alterations don’t change how the item is worn, carried, or wielded, and they have no effect on its other magical properties. For example, the wearer could make a red robe appear blue, or make a gold ring look like it’s made of ivory. The item reverts to its true appearance when no one is carrying or wearing it.
|-
|20||Roll twice, rerolling any additional 20s.
|}
{| class="d20 zebra c1c"
|+ What Quirk Does It Have?
|-
!d12!!Quirk
|-
|class=in1|1||'''Blissful.''' While in possession of the item, the bearer feels fortunate and optimistic about what the future holds. Butterflies and other harmless creatures might frolic in the item’s presence.
|-
|class=in1|2||'''Confident.''' The item helps its bearer feel self-assured.
|-
|class=in1|3||'''Covetous.''' The item’s bearer becomes obsessed with material wealth.
|-
|class=in1|4||'''Frail.''' The item crumbles, frays, chips, or cracks slightly when wielded, worn, or activated. This quirk has no effect on its properties, but if the item has seen much use, it looks decrepit.
|-
|class=in1|5||'''Hungry.''' This item’s magical properties function only if fresh blood from a humanoid has been applied to it within the past 24 hours. It needs only a drop to activate.
|-
|class=in1|6||'''Loud.''' The item makes a loud noise—such as a clang, a shout, or a resonating gong—when used.
|-
|class=in1|7||'''Metamorphic.''' The item periodically and randomly alters its appearance in slight ways. The bearer has no control over these minor alterations, which have no effect on the item’s use.
|-
|class=in1|8||'''Muttering.''' The item grumbles and mutters. A creature who listens carefully to the item might learn something useful.
|-
|class=in1|9||'''Painful.''' The bearer experiences a harmless flash of pain when using the item.
|-
|10||'''Possessive.''' The item demands attunement when first wielded or worn, and it doesn’t allow its bearer to attune to other items. (Other items already attuned to the bearer remain so until their attunement ends.)
|-
|11||'''Repulsive.''' The bearer feels a sense of distaste when in contact with the item, and continues to sense discomfort while bearing it.
|-
|12||'''Slothful.''' The bearer of this item feels slothful and lethargic. While attuned to the item, the bearer requires 10 hours to finish a long rest.
|}

==Creating a magic item==
{{hatnote|''Dungeon Master’s Guide'', pp.184–185}}

===Modifying an item===
The easiest way to design a new item is to tweak an existing one. Such as, changing a sword into a flail, a ring into a wand, a cloak into a circlet, or the type of damage dealt—without altering the item’s other properties. For example, a ''potion of climbing'' can easily become a ''potion of stealth''.

You can also modify an item by fusing it with properties from another item. For example, you could
combine the effects of two existing helms into a single helmet. This makes the item more powerful (and probably should increases its rarity), but it won’t break your game.

<ins>Removing an attunement requirement should be done with care, and increases the item’s rarity.</ins>

Finally, remember the tools that are provided for modifying Treasure.{{ref|DMG|141–143}} Giving an item an interesting minor property, a quirk, or sentience can alter its flavor significantly.

===Creating a new item===
If modifying an item doesn’t quite do the trick, you can create one from scratch. A magic item should either let a character do something they couldn’t do before, or improve their ability to do something they can do already. For example, the ''ring of jumping'' lets its wearer jump greater distances, thus augmenting what a character can already do. A ''ring of the ram'', however, gives a character the ability to deal force damage.

The simpler your approach. the easier it is for a character to use the item in play. Giving the item charges is fine, especially if it has several different abilities, but simply deciding that an item is always active or can be used a fixed number of times per day is easier to manage.

====Power level====
{| class="d20 zebra aside center"
!Rarity
!Max<br>Spell Level !!Max<br>Bonus
|-
|Common  ||1st ||—
|-
|Uncommon ||3rd ||+l
|-
|Rare      ||6th ||+2
|-
|Very rare ||8th ||+3
|-
|Legendary ||9th ||+4
|}
The item’s power level should be related to rarity.
{{statblock|
;Max Spell Level: The highest-level spell effect the item should confer, in the form of a once-per-day or similarly limited property. For example, a common item might confer the benefit of a 1st-level spell once per day (or just once, if it’s consumable). A rare, very rare, or legendary item might allow its possessor to cast a lower-level spell more frequently.
;Max Bonus: For static bonuses to AC, attack rolls, saving throws, or ability checks.
}}

====Add attunement====
{{hatnote|''DMG'', pp.136, 138 & 184–185}}
* If party members passing an item around to gain its benefits would be disruptive, the item should require attunement.
* If an item grants a bonus also granted by other items, attunement will limit collecting too many of the items just to stack bonuses.
* Note that all of the example sentient items and artifacts require attunement.

{{Magic Potions 5E}}
{{Magic Scrolls 5E}}
{{Magic Rings 5E}}
{{Magic Rods Staves Wands 5E}}
{{Magic Weapons 5E}}
{{Magic Armor 5E}}
{{Magic Sets 5E}}
{{Magic Wondrous items 5E}}

==External links==
* Long, Michael (2015-11-02) [https://www.tribality.com/2015/11/02/dd-5e-magic-item-guide/ “D&D 5E – Magic Item Guide”] ''Tribality''

[[Category:D&D magic items]]
[[Category:5E magic items]]