There are a few things that Dungeons & Dragons players love more than a good magic item. These mysterious and powerful objects make great end-of-adventure rewards, especially when they complement a character's current abilities and aid them in their adventures. Thankfully, D&D is not at all short on treasure. There are hundreds of magic items that players can find, from weapons to tools to bizarre items that require creative solutions to make good use of.
Magic items in 5th Edition D&D are divided up into rarities. While uncommon items will be common at the lower levels and legendary items will fill out the final levels of a campaign, a lot of the mid-game will be served by rare magic items. These items are extremely strong, but are balanced in such a way that a party can make use of them for a long, long time.
10 Teleport Everywhere With An Atlas Of Endless Horizons
The Atlas of Endless Horizons is one of several magical books introduced in Tasha's Cauldron of Everything. Each of these has a different magical effect, but the Atlas of Endless Horizons is particularly powerful. It contains some of D&D's most powerful teleportation spells, including Arcane Gate, Dimension Door, and even Plane Shift. A wizard attuned to the Atlas can swap their spells out for those contained in the book, and can also use the book to teleport away when they are hit by an attack.
9 A Staff Of Swarming Insects Grants Several Bug-Themed Powers
All the main spellcasting classes in D&D can attune to a Staff of Swarming Insects, and it will serve them well with its many and varied effects. A staff of insects allows the user to cast the Giant Insect and Insect Plague spells, both of which are quite powerful in combat. Additionally, the Staff of Swarming Insects can conjure a cloud of insects to obscure the area around the caster, totally blocking line of sight. This is an extremely thematic item that is sure to become a character's signature weapon once they get their hands on it.
8 The Shield Of Missile Attraction's Curse Is Really A Boon
While technically a cursed item, the Shield of Missile Attraction has a powerful benefit for a small drawback. Once a character has attuned to this shield, they are forever afflicted by its main effect: any and all ranged attacks made against targets within 10 feet of them will target them instead.
However, while wearing the shield, the user has resistance to damage from all ranged weapon attacks. The drawback on the Shield of Missile Attraction is actually a positive for a character looking to protect their more vulnerable allies, so this magic item will be perfect for a fighter or paladin looking to serve as the party's tank.
7 Scorpion Armor Takes A Heavy Toll, But It's Worth It
Any D&D characters looking to don the Scorpion Armor, found in the Tomb of Annihilation, will have to pay a steep price. Anyone donning or doffing the armor must succeed on a Constitution saving throw or take a massive amount of poison damage, so much that it may prove lethal. However, if the character can manage to survive, they will be granted with a number of powerful effects. The armor grants a +5 bonus to initiative, doesn't impose disadvantage on Stealth checks, and doesn't impose disadvantage on saving throws to stave off extreme heat. Being able to have a full suit of plate armor with none of the drawbacks is well worth the risk posed by the Scorpion Armor.
6 A Ring Of Spell Storing Grants Extreme Flexibility
Spell slots are an important resource to manage at all levels of D&D, so finding ways to maximize their casting potential is essential for all magic-based characters. The Ring of Spell Storing allows characters to cast spells into it and save them for later, potentially using up unused slots at the end of an adventuring day and banking them for the next.
Additionally, the Ring of Spell Storing need not be attuned by a spellcaster. A wizard or cleric could imbue the ring with one of their most powerful spells, then hand it over to a fighter or rogue to use in a pinch.
5 Build And Preserve With The Lyre Of Building
Magic instruments occupy an interesting place in D&D, as they don't have as obvious a use as weapons, wands, or armour. However, this is exactly what lets extremely fun and creative items like the Lyre of Building come about. When attuned by a bard, this magical lyre lets the user cast the Mending cantrip. Additionally, they can play the instrument as a reaction to prevent structures or objects around them from taking damage, a niche but very powerful ability in the right context. Finally, it grants the user access to the spells Fabricate, Move Earth, passwall, and Summon Construct, none of which are usually accessible to a bard. Enhancing a character's utility and giving them some fun and unique abilities are exactly what a good magic item should do.
4 Daern's Instant Fortress Provides Instant Cover
Some of the most fun magic items in D&D allow adventurers to carry normally-permanent structures or items around in their pockets. This is just the case with Daern's Instant Fortress, a 1-inch cube that can be placed on the ground and transformed into a 30-foot tall tower complete with battlements, arrow slits, two floors, and a magically sealed door. Creautres in the tower's space when it appears must make a Dexterity saving throw or take a huge amount of bludgeoning damage, allowing Daern's Instant Fortress to function as a make-shift magical grenade as well as a shelter.
3 Beads Of Force Can Capture Enemies
These consumable items are often found in bundles of 2-8, and give a D&D party a very unique option in or out of combat. When thrown at a creature, the bead expands and deals force damage to anyone in a 10-foot radius if they failed a Dexterity Saving throw. Any creatures caught in the area are trapped inside the bubble for a full minute, essentially taking them out of the fight.
The sphere can be lifted, as it weighs just a single pound, potentially allowing characters to toss troublesome enemies off of cliffs or otherwise inconvenience them. Though these items can only be used once each, they are a powerful potential tool for any character's arsenal.
2 Ioun Stones Offer A Range Of Benefits
Ioun Stones are a classic D&D item, and 5th Edition has several powerful ones on offer. These magic stones orbit a character's head when attuned, granting them some kind of magical effect. The four rare Ioun Stones grant protection from being surprised, a bonus to AC, freedom from needing to eat or drink, and the ability to store spells for later use. These items are strong enough to be useful, but not so powerful that they can't be given to a party as early as level three or four, making them a great candidate for the first rare magic item in a D&D campaign.
1 The Elemental Control Items Provide Powerful Allies
5th Edition has four items that work in a very similar fashion, one for each elemental type. The Bowl of Commanding Water Elementals, Brazier of Commanding Fire Elementals, Censer of Commanding Air Elementals, and Stone of Controlling Earth Elementals each allow the user to conjure an elemental of the appropriate type, just as with the Conjure Elemental spell. These elementals are quite strong, potentially offering a party a very powerful ally in a dire situation. However, like with the spell, the character doing the summoning will need to concentrate on the elemental or risk losing control of it.