Page 141 - Dungeon Master's Guide

Dwarves might make items usable only by dwarf-sized SPELLS
and dwarf-shaped characters. S ome magic items allow the user to cast a spell from
When a nonhumanoid tries to wear an item, use your the item. The spell is cast at the lowest possible spell
discretion as to whether the item functions as intended. level, doesn't expend any of the user's spell slots, and
A ring placed on a tentacle might work, but a yuan-ti requires no components, unless the item's description
with a snakelike tail instead of legs can't wear boots. says otherwise. The spell uses its normal casting time,
range, and duration, and the user of the item must
MU LTIPLE ITEMS OF THE SAME KIND
concentrate if the spell requires concentration. Many
Use common sense to determine whether more than
items, such as potions, bypass the casting of a spell
one of a given kind of magic item can be worn. A and confer the spell's effects, with their usual duration.
character can't normally wear more than one pair of
Certain items make exceptions to these rules, changing
footwear, one pair of gloves or gauntlets, one pair of
the casting time, duration, or other parts of a spell.
bracers, one suit of armor, one item of head wear, and
A magic item, such as certain staffs, may require
one cloak. You can make exceptions; a character might
you to use your own spellcasting ability when you
be able to wear a circlet under a helmet, for example, or
cast a spell from the item. If you have more than one
be able to layer two cloaks.
spellcasting ability, you choose which one to use with
the item. If you don't have a spellcasting ability-perhaps
PAIRED I T EMS
you're a rogue with the Use Magic Device feature- your
Items that come in pairs- such as boots, bracers, spellcasting ability modifier is +0 for the item, and your
gauntlets, and gloves-impart their benefits only if both proficiency bonus does apply.
items of the pair are worn. For example, a character
wearing a boot of striding and springing on one foot and CHARGES
a boot of elvenkind on the other foot gains no benefit Some magic items have charges that must be expended
from either item. to activate their properties. The number of charges an
item has remaining is revealed when an identify spell
AC TIVAT I NG AN I TEM
is cast on it, as well as when a creature attunes to it.
Activating some magic items requires a user to do Additionally, when an item regains charges, the creature
omething special, such as holding the item and uttering attuned to it learns how many charges it regained.
a command word. The description of each item category
or individual item details how an item is activated. MAGIC I T EM R ESILI ENCE
Certain items use one or more of the following rules for Most magic items are objects of extraordinary
their activation. artisanship. Thanks to a combination of careful crafting
If an item requires an action to activate, that action and magical reinforcement, a magic item is at least as
isn't a function of the Use an Item action, so a feature durable as a nonmagical item of its kind. Most magic
such as the rogue's Fast Hands can't be used to items, other than potions and scrolls, have resistance
activate the item. to all damage. Artifacts are practically indestructible,
requiring extraordinary measures to destroy.
C OMMAND WORD
A command word is a word or phrase that must be
SPECIAL FEATURES
poken for an item to work. A magic item that requires
a command word can't be activated in an area where You can add distinctiveness to a magic item by thinking
ound is prevented, as in the area of the silence spell. about its backstory. Who made the item? Is anything
unusual about its construction? Why was it made, and
C ONSUMABLES how was it originally used? What minor magical quirks
Some items are used up when they are activated. A set it apart from other items of its kind? Answering
potion or an elixir must be swallowed, or an oil applied these questions can help turn a generic magic item,
to the body. The writing vanishes from a scroll when it is such as a +llongsword, into a more flavorful discovery.
read. Once used, a consumable item loses its magic. 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
MAGIC ITEM FORMULAS
items than for others. Some magic items are made
A magic item formula explains how to make a particular
magic item. Such a formula can be an excellent reward if you only by certain kinds of creatures, for instance; a cloak
allow player characters to craft magic items, as explained in of elvenkind is made by elves, rather than dwarves. If
chapter 6, "Between Adventures." you roll something that doesn't make sense, roll again,
You can award a formula in place of a magic item. Usually choose a more appropriate entry, or use the rolled detail
written in a book or on a scroll, a formula is one step rarer as inspiration to make up your own.
than the item it allows a character to create. For example,
the formula for a common magic item is uncommon. No
VARIANT: WANDS THAT DoN'T RECHARGE
formulas exist for legendary items.
If the creation of magic items is commonplace in your A typical wand has expendable charges. If you'd like wands to
campaign, a formula can have a rarity that matches the be a limited resource, you can make some of them incapable
rarity of the item it allows a character to create. Formulas for of regaining charges. Consider increasing the base number of
common and uncommon items might even be for sale, each charges in such a wand, to a maximum of25 charges. These
with a cost double that of its magic item. charges are never regained once they're expended.

CHAPTER 7 I TREASURE