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Dungeons and Dragons recently released the Spelljammer setting for 5th Edition via the three-part sourcebook, Spelljammer: Adventures in Space. This is one of the first science-fiction-inspired resources in 5e, and fans are rightfully thrilled about its publication. The book has three parts: the "Astral Adventurer's Guide," "Boo's Astral Menagerie," and "Light of Xaryxis."
Throughout the book, fans discover many magic items and new spells that add to the incredible worldbuilding. From the ship-steering Spelljammer Helm to the life-saving Air Bubble spell, these magical products can be the difference between life or death when traversing Wildspace or the Astral sea.
11 Spelljammer Helms Allow Casters To Pilot Ships
Characters can sail across the Astral Sea and explore Wildspace's expanse using vessels called Spelljammers. Some resemble historical Galleons, while others have animal-like appearances (such as squids, spiders, and moths). Spelljamming Helms control all of them. A great worldbuilding tip for D&D is to mix and match genres. Spelljamming Helms function with magic but have a science-fiction aesthetic.
Spelljamming Helms are chairs created with a spell. From these seats, casters can captain their ships. There can only be one in use on a Spelljammer at a time, and duels are not out of the question but can have dire consequences. Losing these helms can doom players to drift about Wildspace aimlessly.
10 Air Bubble Helps Characters Survive Space's Vacuum
Spelljammers, creatures, and even some objects create air envelopes when in Wildspace. Unfortunately, this is a finite resource. For medium creatures, their air pockets are so small that if one does not immediately board a Spelljammer, space station, or other air-producing location, they will quickly suffocate.
That is where the Air Bubble spell comes in. This second-level conjuration spell creates a bowl of air around the target, allowing it to breathe for 24 hours. Casters can also create two more bubbles per additional level cast. When something goes wrong in Wildspace, it's important to find a way to keep breathing. Many catastrophes, from crashing ships to falling off vessels, are possible. One of the many harsh realities of being a D&D character is the constant danger, and being in space only worsens that threat.
9 Damselfly Ships Are Perfect For An Adventuring Party
Spelljammers are expensive, and parties are often small. So, the Damselfly Ship is the perfect compromise. At 20,000 gold pieces, the Damselfly is among the cheaper ships in Spelljammer and can hold a crew of up to nine.
Compared to other Spelljammers, the Damselfly Ship is faster and more agile, making it an ideal choice for maneuvering around asteroids and past creatures. Pilots often adorn these ships with flashy colors. They come equipped with a mangonel turret with Mangonel Stones as armor. While Damselflies aren't the strongest ships (at only a 19 Armor Class and 200 hit points), they're as sturdy as a smaller ship can be. There are many cool D&D monsters in Spelljammer, and the Damselfly ship is durable enough to take them on.
8 Wildspace Orreries Are Like Astrolabes
Navigating in the Astral Sea requires only thought to propel a character to their desired destination, but traversing Wildspace can be more difficult. Often, Wildspace is uncharted territory awash with monsters, pirates, and debris. As a result, parties will need navigation tools. The magic item, Wildspace Orrery, is the perfect object for the job.
Wildspace Orreries track the trajectories of celestial bodies such as suns, moons, planets, and comets. Furthermore, they display the orrery's location within those systems.
7 Talariths Are Important To The Reigar That Forge Them
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Spelljammer is one of the many D&D settings fans want to see on screen because of its playful mingling of science fiction and fantasy. One of the creatures that display this juxtaposition well is the Reigar, descended from octopi-like beings. Reigar make jewelry called Talariths, which are prized possessions.
Talariths allow the Reigar to deal an extra 1d6 force damage with each attack. Plus, Reigar can summon golems with it. Unfortunately, only the Reigar who created the Talarith can use it. So, players can't just steal them.
6 Fish Suits Help Non-Casters Breathe In Space
In the same camp as the Air Bubble spell lies the Fish Suit, a magic item made to keep travelers safe when launched into Wildspace's expanse. This suit allows players to breathe in an airless environment and protects the wearer from poisonous gasses. Furthermore, it makes their swimming and flying speeds the same as their walking speed.
The Fish Suit is a "wondrous" and "very rare" magic item, so coming across it in a campaign may prove tricky. Even those parties who do find one may all have to share. Wizards of the Coast didn't give Spelljammer fans the class options they hoped for, and many combat classes will want the Fish Suit to stay in the fray.
5 Living Ships Are Better For Air
Air is difficult to come by in Wildspace, and a Spelljammer's air envelope can be poisoned or become foul. Thus, the Living Ship is a draw for many Wildspace travelers (especially those such as nature-loving druids). The Living Ship houses a treant, which cleans the air and repairs the ship. Among the cool creatures fans expected in Spelljammer, space treants were not creatures fans expected.
The biggest issue with Living Ships is that one cannot switch the treant out for another, even if the treant dies from shock when the ship reaches zero hit points. Furthermore, Living Ships only have a 15 AC, which is dramatically less than that of the small, metal Damselfly (19 AC).
4 Star Moth Ships Are Visually Stunning
Star Moth Ships are among the most beautiful Spelljammers but are much more fragile. Since they're ceramic, their AC is only 13, though they have substantially more hit points (400) than the Damselfly (200) or Living Ship (250). In addition to mangonel, they also have ballista.
One of the Star Moth Ship's many draws is its ability to function in space, on water, or land on the ground, which few ships can do. They're the premier Astral Elven (one of D&D's new Spelljammer races) vessel, and the Astral Elves rarely gift them to others.
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2 Squid Ships Are A Spelljammer Classic
Few vessels are as iconic as the Squid Ship, one of the oldest Spelljammers. Like the Star Moth Ship, they are functional in water and air and can safely land on the ground. They have a balance of offensive and defensive capabilities (15 AC and 300 hit points). On top of a mangonel and ballista, they have a pointed front end that makes them optimal for ramming other ships.
These ships are both swift and powerful, thus making them popular with patrols and pirates. Furthermore, they can hold a slightly larger crew of 13 people. They only cost 5,000 more gold pieces than the Damselfly, too.
1 Create Spelljamming Helm Is A Critical Spell For The Setting
Spelljamming Helms are imperative to running a ship. Though they're magic items, it would be unlikely to find one in a shop. Instead, a Transmutation spell called Create Spelljamming Helm is what fabricates them. This fifth-level spell is available to wizards and artificers. It transforms a crystal rod into a Spelljamming Helm. Unfortunately, it also costs 5,000 gold pieces.
Spelljamming Helms are sometimes bought and sold but are usually sold for an exorbitant price and are not in the average store. Players must attune to it to use it, though they can transfer attunement via touch. Though it's not among the best D&D wizard spells, there are many benefits to packing Create Spelljamming Helm.