Summary
Magic items are a great way to flesh out your character build inDungeons & Dragons. If you’re a highly seasoned player, and you’ve seen it all in terms of character builds, adding magic items, armor, or potions to your kit might be the only way to shake things up. Plus, at the end of the day, magic items are just fun.
So, if you’re looking to fully optimize your build, and get the best equipment possible, you need to check out this list of the most powerful magic items around. Here are the best magic items for expert-level players in Dungeons & Dragons.
For this list, we haven’t included any magic items with the Artifact tag, as these are highly specific and might not be found in every campaign setting.
Key Feature
Gain Truesight
This Crystal Ball has two very simple effects, but both are incredibly powerful. These effects are well-suited for advanced players as well, who may know the benefits of these effects better than most players.
With this Crystal Ball, you can cast Scrying with a spell save DC of 17. When you do so, you also gain Truesight with a range of 120 feet centered on the spell’s sensor. This means that not only can you target enemies or allies with this spell, but you can also see if there’s anything deceptive about what you’re seeing. Plus, there’s no limit to how many times you can use this effect.
Can cast Gate and Plane Shift
This cube is about three inches long across and has a magical aura to it. Each side of the cube is connected toa different plane of existence, including the Material Plane.
At the start of each day, the cube has three charges and regains 1d3 charges daily at dawn (which you can roll on a d4, omitting 4). When you have this cube, you can take a magic action and expend one charge to either cast Gate or Plane Shift. This is great for parties that are used to a lot of interplanar travel and can save you from having to waste valuable spell slots on teleportation spells.
Increased Damage
This magical ammunition helps target creatures of a particular type, which either the DM can choose or roll randomly on a table. You can also talk to your DM about tailoring this ammunition to your campaign. For example, if you are playing a horror campaign and happen to fight a lot of undead creatures.
If a creature of the chosen type takes damage from the ammunition, the creature has to make a DC 17 Constitution saving throw. On a failure, they take an extra 6d10 force damage or half as much on a successful one. Sometimes, this ammunition can be the difference between life and death for an enemy.
Trap Enemies
This mirror hosts a variety of unique features and is perfect for anyhigh-level spellcaster’s bastion. When the mirror is hanging on a vertical surface, and a creature is within 30 feet of it, they must make a DC 15 Charisma saving throw or be trapped inside one of 12 extradimensional prison cells within the mirror.
Any creature you have trapped in the mirror can be communicated with by uttering the mirror’s command words and summoning the creature by name. you’re able to also choose to free creatures from the mirror at will, or simply communicate with them. This is a great trap for keeping your bastion safe.
Gain effects of Haste
Whenever you drink this potion, you gain the effect of the Haste spell for a full minute, without having to maintain concentration. Plus, you also don’t endure the wave of lethargy that most players typically go through when the effects of the Haste spell wear off.
This is great for expert players because any advanced D&D player knows how powerful the effects of Haste can be on a monk or rogue. This can be a game-changer during difficult combat encounters. Plus, not having to suffer the downsides of Haste is a real boon, and might make the idea of being Hasted seem more appealing overall.
Creates secure demiplane
When you have this rod in your possession, you can take a magic action to activate it, sending you and up to 199 different, willing creatures to a harmless demiplane. This demiplane can take on any cosmetic appearance you want. Inside the plane, there is enough food and water to sustain life, and inhabitants of the plane can roll one hit die for every hour they spend inside the plane.
you may spend up to 200 days inside this plane, keeping valuable NPCs safe, or hiding from enemies if necessary. The only downside to this item is that, once you’ve used the rod and ended the effect of the demiplane, you have to wait another ten days before you can use it again. So use this effect sparingly or in a pinch.
Yes, by a sorcerer, warlock, or wizard
Spell absorption
This staff is an incredibly powerful item that can be a real game-changer in the hands of a capable spellcaster. The staff has 50 charges. By using the charges, you can cast a variety of different spells (a table showing how many charges each spell costs is in the2024 DM’s Guide) and also absorb spells by taking a reaction.
When you do so, you spend your reaction and the spell’s effect is canceled, and you gain a number of charges equal to the spell’s level. However, if doing so would bring the number of charges above 50, the staff explodes, and you may travel to another plane inadvertently. Ultimately, this item is complex but highly rewarding for advanced spellcasting players.
Create magic fissures
This talisman is perfect for a chaotic or evil-aligned cleric or paladin but can be wielded by anyone. However, any creature holding the talisman who is not a fiend or undead takes 8d6 necrotic damage each time they hold the talisman, so you’ll want to use it sparingly.
The talisman has six charges. When you expend a charge, you can cause a flaming fissure to open underneath a given target, forcing them to make a DC 20 Dexterity saving throw. On a failure, they fall into the fissure and are instantly destroyed, leaving no remains. This item can end combat swiftly if used correctly. Just verify you have enough hit points left to touch it.
Instantly destroy enemies
A Sphere of Annihilation is a tricky magic item to use, but if you happen across one in combat, it can really turn the tables in your favor. This two-foot-diameter sphere cannot necessarily be possessed, but if you find one, you can try to control it by making a DC 25 Arcana check. If you’re successful, you can control the sphere until the start of your next turn.
When you do so, moving the sphere with a bonus action into another creature’s space causes them to make a DC 19 Dexterity saving throw or take 8d10 force damage. Anyone reduced to zero hit points in this manner is instantly destroyed. This powerful item is dangerous and can turn on the player using it though, so be wary.
Can cast Wish
This is one of the most commonly known items in Dungeons & Dragons, perhaps best known for being completely broken. When you have this ring, without needing to attune, you can expend one of its three charges to cast Wish from it, the most powerful spell in Dungeons & Dragons. Once you’ve used all of its charges, the ring becomes nonmagical.
Obviously, having access to Wish once is a game changer, but having access to it three times can completely turn a campaign on its head. DMs are not likely going to give you this item by chance, and its unlikely you’ll happen upon it. But, if you do, seize the opportunity.
