Magic Item Creation

Creating custom magic items allows Game Masters to reward players with unique treasures tailored to their characters and campaigns. This section provides guidelines for designing balanced and interesting magical items.

Magic Item Rarity

Items are classified by rarity, which affects their power level and availability:

Common

• Power Level: Minor conveniences
• Examples: Potion of Healing, +1 ammunition (single use)
• Attunement: Usually not required
• Value: 50-100 gp

Uncommon

• Power Level: Useful abilities, minor combat bonuses
• Examples: +1 weapons/armor, Bag of Holding, Boots of Striding and Springing
• Attunement: Sometimes required
• Value: 101-500 gp

Rare

• Power Level: Significant abilities, moderate combat bonuses
• Examples: +2 weapons/armor, Ring of Spell Storing, Cloak of Displacement
• Attunement: Often required
• Value: 501-5,000 gp

Very Rare

• Power Level: Powerful abilities, major combat bonuses
• Examples: +3 weapons/armor, Belt of Giant Strength, Manual of Golems
• Attunement: Usually required
• Value: 5,001-50,000 gp

Legendary

• Power Level: Exceptional abilities, campaign-defining items
• Examples: Holy Avenger, Vorpal Sword, Staff of the Magi
• Attunement: Almost always required
• Value: 50,001+ gp

Artifact

• Power Level: World-shaking power with significant drawbacks
• Examples: Book of Vile Darkness, Eye of Vecna, Sphere of Annihilation
• Attunement: Always required
• Value: Priceless, cannot be purchased

Item Properties

Enhancement Bonuses

Weapons and armor can grant bonuses to attack/damage or AC:

• +1: Uncommon
• +2: Rare
• +3: Very Rare

Damage Types

Weapons can deal special damage:

• Energy: Fire, cold, lightning, acid, thunder
• Alignment: Good, evil, lawful, chaotic
• Material: Silvered, adamantine

Special Abilities

Charges

Items with limited uses:

• Regaining Charges: Typically 1d6+4 at dawn
• Destruction Risk: If last charge used, roll d20 (1 = destroyed)

Activated Effects

• Command Word: Speak a word to activate
• Continuous: Always active when worn/wielded
• Conditional: Activates under specific circumstances

Spellcasting

Items that cast spells:

• Specify spell level and save DC
• Define uses per day or charges required
• Include concentration requirements if applicable

Sentience

Intelligent items with personality:

• Alignment: The item's moral perspective
• Communication: Telepathy, speech, empathy
• Senses: Hearing, darkvision range
• Purpose: The item's goal or mission
• Conflict: What happens if wielder opposes the item's will

Curses

Negative aspects of magic items:

• Compulsion: Must be worn/wielded
• Penalty: Negative effect on wielder
• Betrayal: Turns against user at specific times
• Transformation: Gradually changes the user

Design Process

Step 1: Concept

Define what the item does and why it exists:

• What problem does it solve?
• What makes it interesting or unique?
• How does it fit the campaign world?

Step 2: Mechanical Effect

Specify game mechanics:

• Numerical bonuses or penalties
• Spell effects or spell-like abilities
• Special actions or reactions
• Passive benefits

Step 3: Balance

Ensure the item is appropriately powerful:

• Compare to existing items of similar rarity
• Consider impact on combat and exploration
• Account for class synergies
• Factor in activation costs (charges, attunement, etc.)

Step 4: Flavor

Add narrative details:

• Physical description and appearance
• History or origin story
• Distinctive features or quirks
• Sensory details (sounds, glows, temperature)

Example Templates

+X Weapon/Armor Template

Rarity: Varies by bonus Attunement: Not required Effect: +X bonus to attack and damage rolls (weapon) or AC (armor)

Spell-Storing Item Template

Rarity: Rare Attunement: Required Charges: 10 charges, regain 1d6+4 at dawn Effect: Can store spells of up to 5th level, releasing them later

Resistance Item Template

Rarity: Uncommon (single type) to Rare (multiple types) Attunement: Required Effect: Resistance to specified damage type(s)

Ability Score Boost Template

Rarity: Varies by bonus Attunement: Required

• +2: Very Rare
• +4: Legendary
• Set to 19-29: Varies (higher = rarer)

Balancing Guidelines

Combat Items

Avoid items that:

• Grant more than +3 to attacks, damage, or AC
• Deal excessive damage (more than fireball at-will)
• Provide unlimited action economy (free actions every turn)

Utility Items

Consider frequency and impact:

• At-Will: Should be minor conveniences
• Charges: Moderate power, limited uses
• Once per Day: Can be quite powerful

Scaling Items

Items that grow with characters:

• Grant additional abilities at higher levels
• Unlock new powers through quests
• Require investment to reveal full potential

Creating Artifacts

Artifacts require special consideration:

Benefits

Artifacts should provide:

• Multiple powerful abilities
• Significant combat bonuses
• Unique effects unavailable elsewhere
• World-altering potential

Drawbacks

Artifacts must include:

• Dangerous side effects
• Corrupting influence
• Attention from powerful enemies
• Potential for destruction

Properties

• Random Properties: Roll on artifact tables for additional effects
• Sentience: Most artifacts have wills of their own
• Indestructible: Can only be destroyed by specific means

Magic Item Tables

Create custom tables for random magic items:

• Table A: Common and uncommon items
• Table B: Uncommon and rare items
• Table C: Rare and very rare items
• Table D: Very rare and legendary items

Roll percentile dice to determine which item is found from the appropriate table.

Presentation

When players find magic items:

• Describe the item's appearance before revealing powers
• Require Identify spell or investigation to learn properties
• Reveal abilities gradually through use
• Build anticipation with legendary items