Even the most iconic fantasy spellcasters need some help from their magical items. From the wizened master of the arcane to the wide-eyed and eager student of magic, wizards are the classic Dungeons & Dragons spellcasters. They, like all other classes, benefit hugely from magic items.
Even in D&D, wizards are the purest form of magic user, having access to more spells than any other class. However, they have to contend with the limitations of spellcasting. In particular, spell slots can be their downfall. Many of a wizard's best magic items help them circumvent magic's limits.
Updated on July 25, 2023, by Isaac Williams & James Lynch: Wizards are already one of D&D 5e's most powerful classes. However, the right magic items can make them a force to be reckoned with. This list has been updated to include even more of the best magic items wizards can use, even without access to magic weapons and armor.
15 Helm Of Comprehending Languages
Uncommon, Dungeon Master's Guide pg. 173
Wizards tend to be voracious readers. It comes with the territory since their core class abilities revolve around copying spells into spellbooks. As a D&D party travels, they may come across books and scrolls that need translating. This is where a Helm of Comprehending Languages comes into play. The item lets the wearer cast Comprehend Languages at will.
With this helmet, wizards can read whatever comes across their path. They can even converse with creatures they don't share a language with. A Helm of Comprehending Languages gives a wizard some significant utility and lets them track down even more spells to learn.
14 Elven Chain
Rare, Dungeon Master's Guide pg. 168
Wizards aren't proficient in any form of armor. They can use defensive spells to compensate, but this uses spell slots. Elven Chain is a unique type of chain shirt that anybody counts as proficient in, even if they lack proficiency in medium armor.
This lets a wizard wear it without compromising their spellcasting abilities. With the natural Armor Class of a chain shirt, alongside Elven Chain's +1 bonus, and Dexterity, a wizard can get to an Armor Class of 16 with Elven Chain. This is better than many wizards can get by using spell slots without spending resources.
13 Wands
Varies, Multiple Sourcebooks
D&D wizards can cast even more spells in a day than most other spellcasters, owing to Arcane Recovery. However, there will still be times when they'll run out of magical power. This is where wands come in. Wands store one or more spells the wielder can cast without expending spell slots.
Wands are often weaker than a wizard's natural spellcasting. Their spells and effects usually have a saving throw DC lower than the wizard's. However, this lets them prioritize. They can use wand spells during lesser encounters and save their own magic for much more lethal threats.
12 Hat of Wizardry
Wondrous Item (Common), Xanathar's Guide to Everything
Despite its relatively generic appearance and name, the Hat of Wizardry offers utility and benefits to the user in tight situations. It can be used as a spellcasting focus for any Wizard spells, freeing up both hands to make use of a quarterstaff or other weapons in the meantime.
Its other main benefit comes from its effect, which allows Wizards to attempt to cast cantrips they don't already know as long as they pass a DC10 Arcana check. This allows the class to make use of those spells that the player thought would never come in useful when the situation calls for it, offering more options to get out of an unexpected scrape.
11 Necklace Of Fireballs
Rare, Dungeon Master's Guide pg. 182
Fireball is a staple damage spell. It deals good damage, particularly early on. It also strikes a wide area. It targets a weak saving throw. These make it invaluable for dispatching hordes of enemies. The Necklace of Fireballs is a magic item perfect for anyone who loves the classic spell. It comes with four to nine beads containing an imprisoned Fireball.
Owners can hurl multiple beads to cast Fireball at an even higher level. A selection of magic bombs around their necks is the perfect tool for a combat-ready wizard. A Necklace of Fireballs lets a wizard inflict lethal damage without spending a single spell slot.
10 Barrier Tattoo
Varies, Tasha's Cauldron Of Everything pg. 122
A Barrier Tattoo is one of the most potent magic items in D&D 5e for protection. Once it's tattooed, it provides the wearer with constant protection. At its lowest rarity, it gives equal protection to studded leather armor. At Very Rare, it's similar to full-on plate mail.
However, Barrier Tattoos come with none of the downsides of armor. A wizard with a Barrier Tattoo doesn't need to worry about donning armor. They also don't need to worry about disadvantage on Stealth checks or interference with their spellcasting. They can get equal protection to a fighter with few drawbacks.
9 Wand Of The War Mage
Varies, Dungeon Master's Guide pg. 212
A Wand of the War Mage is a D&D magic wand. It doesn't give additional spells. Instead, it functions similarly to a +1 weapon for martial characters. The Wand of the War Mage increases a D&D wizard's spell attack rolls by an amount depending on its rarity, going up to +3.
In addition, the Wand of the War Mage lets spells with attack rolls ignore half cover. Only some magic makes use of attack rolls. However, many practical and reliable cantrips like Fire Bolt do. A wizard wielding a Wand of the War Mage can deal reliable and accurate damage without using spell slots. Some high-level spells like Plane Shift and Crown of Stars can also benefit.
8 Ring Of Spell Storing
Rare, Dungeon Master's Guide pg. 192
Spell slots are one of the most severe limitations for spellcasters. They present a hard limit of spells a character can cast per day. Wizards rely heavily on their spellcasting. When they run out of slots, they can feel useless. A Ring of Spell Storing lets wizards pre-cast up to five levels' worth of spells. They or another creature can then cast these spells at a later time.
Wizards can effectively use a Ring of Spell Storing to pay spells forward. They cast them into the ring when they have spell slots to spare and use them when running low. A wizard can be very tactical with the spells in a Ring of Spell Storing. For instance, they can cast situational spells like Feather Fall into it and then prepare something more reliable.
7 Spellbooks
Varies, Multiple Sourcebooks
All wizards have to use a spellbook to learn and prepare their spells. However, there are some unique spellbooks with special effects. The Planecaller's Codex, for instance, contains magic related to planar travel and boosting the power of summoned creatures. The Alchemical Compendium lets wizards use a host of transmutation spells and can alter the material of any item.
These spellbooks all function as spellcasting focuses for wizards, meaning the user can forgo a wand or staff. They also let the wizard expend charges to reprepare their spells, allowing on-the-go changes to adapt to any situation. Some have even more practical effects. The Tome of the Stilled Tongue lets a wizard cast any spell without expending a slot.
6 Tome Of Clear Thought
Very Rare, Dungeon Master's Guide pg. 208
Intelligence is far and away a wizard's most important ability score. It determines the effectiveness of their spells and how many they can prepare. The Tome of Clear thought helps a wizard push through the standard cap on ability scores and increase their Intelligence beyond human limits.
If a wizard manages to read a Tome of Clear Thought for 48 hours in six days, their Intelligence increases by two. Furthermore, the cap for their Intelligence rises by the same amount. Few other classes can make as good use of the Tome of Clear Thought as a wizard. It lets their devastating spells hit more reliably and affect more creatures.
5 Rod Of Absorption
Very Rare, Dungeon Master's Guide pg. 195
The Rod of Absorption is a powerful tool that lets its wielder absorb spells that target them and only them. The absorbed spell has no effect, and the Rod of Absorption gets charges equal to its level. This is already very useful, as it effectively gives wizards access to a free version of Counterspell.
However, the Rod of Absorption has another powerful feature. A character can convert the rod's charges back into spell slots for them to use. These two benefits make a wizard a much more effective spellcaster. However, the rod can only absorb fifty charges over its lifetime. A wizard must be careful with what they use it on, lest they waste it.
4 Spell Bottle
Legendary, Explorer's Guide To Wildemount pg. 269
The Spell Bottle combines the best properties of several magic items wizards want. It functions similarly to a Ring of Spell Storing in that it can have spells cast in it that a creature can later use. It doesn't have to be the wizard who uses the spell. For instance, they can put Haste into the bottle, and a fighter can cast and concentrate on it themselves.
However, an empty Spell Bottle is also invaluable. A creature holding it can use their reaction to counter a spell cast within 60ft of them. If they succeed, the spell has no effect and gets trapped in the bottle. Few magic items are as versatile for wizards as the Spell Bottle.
3 Arcane Grimoire
Varies, Tasha's Cauldron of Everything pg. 120
Arcane Grimoires grant wizards and only wizards a boost to their spell attack rolls and saving throw DCs. In addition, when a wizard uses Arcane Recovery, they can increase the number of spell slot levels they regain. This lets them use their most valuable abilities even more throughout an adventuring day.
Wizards live and die by their spells. An increase to their spell saving throw DCs makes them an all-around better spellcaster. The bonus increases with an Arcane Grimoire's rarity, up to +3 at Very Rare. A +3 bonus to every spell a wizard casts is enough to make most enemies tremble.
2 Robe Of The Archmagi
Legendary, Dungeon Master's Guide pg. 194
The Robe of the Archmagi is a powerful item of clothing. It provides the wizard with better armor than the Mage Armor spell, plus advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects. Even better, it boosts wizards in combat, increasing their spells' DCs and spell attack bonus by two.
A Robe of the Archmagi is the equivalent of legendary armor for a fighter. It makes a wizard harder to kill and much more effective in a fight. It doesn't give a wizard much in terms of additional flexibility. It just makes them very good at what they already do.
1 Staff Of The Magi
Legendary, Dungeon Master's Guide pg. 203
There are few items in D&D as powerful as a Staff of the Magi. It's the pinnacle of magic staves. At its most basic, the Staff of the Magi is a +2 weapon. However, its other benefits are much more interesting to wizards. It lets the wielder cast a vast array of reliable and practical spells. Some of these cost charges, but many others are free.
The Staff of the Magi can cast more spells than some classes can learn by the 20th level. It makes a wizard hugely more versatile and capable. It can also absorb magic to both protect the wizard and fuel itself. Lastly, the wizard can use its Retributive Strike to detonate the staff and cause a hugely damaging explosion. No magic item can compare.