Every Dungeons & Dragons campaign is shaped by player choice. Perhaps the greatest appeal of the game is this sense of control players feel while playing. Solutions to problems within the campaign are limited only by a player’s creativity and resources at their disposal. As such, to be properly prepared for the rigors of adventure, players should keep an eye out for the magical items that populate the world of Dungeons & Dragons.
Riddled throughout the various caves, palaces, shops, and mountains of Dungeons & Dragon's best campaigns, the numerous and wonderous magic items that occupy worlds represent ways in which players may create new solutions to conventional problems. These items often have effects outside the limits of a player’s race and class, effectively increasing the options a player has for adventuring.
Categorized as common, uncommon, rare, very rare, and legendary, some of the most notorious D&D magic items and artifacts are the legendary ones that can have world-breaking consequences on the game. The infamous Deck of Many Things comes to mind as one such magical item. One wrong pull from the deck can mean the player’s soul becomes entrapped, their magic items disintegrate, or they summon an avatar of death. However, there are many common and uncommon magic items that don’t have as many dire consequences, yet they are still incredibly useful for any D&D party. Particularly, players should keep an eye out for low-level, minor magic items that provide extra utility in combat and roleplaying.
D&D Minor Magical Items for Combat
Low-level combat encounters in Dungeons & Dragons can be particularly dangerous for players as they lack access to a large pool of health and have few healing abilities. One untimely critical hit from an orc warrior can spell disaster for a party. Fortunately, many common and uncommon magical items grant players extra abilities in combat.
Weapons that grant an additional +1 or +2 to hit are not the flashiest, though they can certainly make the difference between a successful or failed encounter. D&D players may also seek better armor, such as the uncommon Adamantine Armor, which converts any critical hit against a player into a normal one. The Brooch of Shielding is another powerful early trinket, granting resistance to force damage and immunity from the Magic Missiles spell. Since many low-level casters have access to this spell, immunity is invaluable. Finally, the Cloak of Protection, an uncommon item that grants a +1 to AC and saving throws, should be a welcome addition to any adventurer’s wardrobe.
D&D Minor Magical Items for Roleplaying
For players looking to augment their roleplaying options, there are plenty of minor magical items. The Decanter of Endless Water is one uncommon item that provides a player with incredible utility. This item allows the user to speak one of three command words to produce various amounts of fresh or saltwater, either a gallon, five gallons, or thirty gallons that gush forward in a geyser. For any Dungeons & Dragons adventures where the players need access to potable water, this item is a must. Furthermore, the geyser can be used to make attacks, capable of moving objects weighing up to two hundred pounds and effectively functioning as a miniature battering ram.
The Deck of Illusions is another item players will find incredibly useful. The deck, which usually contains up to twenty cards, creates the illusion of one or more creatures when a card is pulled randomly. The creature can range from Dungeons & Dragons weak monsters like goblins or kobolds to more powerful enemies like beholders or red dragons. The potential for frightening or intimidating NPCs is nearly limitless with this deck, functioning as an ace up the sleeve in dire circumstances.
Players should be keen on spending gold on low-level magic items. While they may not hold the same power that late-game artifacts may possess, minor magical items are nonetheless important for the utility they provide in the early stages of a Dungeons & Dragons campaign, setting the players up for a successful adventure.