Dungeons & Dragons Fifth Edition is filled with magical treasures and items players can obtain in their travels. Gold and gems make for fine loot, but magic items provide another form of advancement besides leveling up. The best D&D 5e magic items are ranked at Legendary or Artifact tier, representing game-changing rewards.

Legendary weapons are often in the possession of specific individuals that appear in campaign modules. They are usually some of the most difficult to acquire equipment in the game. By the time a player gets their hands on a legendary weapon, the end of the campaign will probably be within sight, and the players will definitely need those excellent legendary weapons to slay mighty boss monsters like ancient dragons, cunning liches, and demon lords.

Updated on April 13th, 2024 by Louis Kemner: This list of the best legendary items has been updated with more information. All D&D players want the coolest, strongest magic weapons to slay their foes and show off their power, so this guide is a fine resource for the ultimate tools to slay D&D's endgame boss battles.

20 Defender Can Adjust Its Stats to Boost AC as Needed

Dungeon Master's Guide pg. 164

The Defender is perhaps one of the most straightforward legendary weapons in D&D 5e. Nonetheless, it is still an excellent item. It functions as a +3 sword, giving a sizable bonus to attack and damage rolls. The sword's wielder can turn its attack buff into a defensive one each turn by moving any amount of the +3 to AC instead of attack and damage rolls.

• Extremely versatile
• Fantastic on both offense and defense

Other legendary magic items in D&D 5e have more fantastical or explosive magical effects than the Defender. However, there is never a situation where it isn't practical. A player can choose to go on the offensive or defensive and never lock themselves into one play style. A Defender can hit as hard as the best magical swords or improve defense as much as a magic shield. Overall, it's D&D's martial classes who will want the Defender, such as paladins, fighters, and perhaps barbarians.

19 Rod Of Lordly Might Can Become Any Weapon the Wielder Needs in Battle

Dungeon Master's Guide pg. 196

The Rod of Lordly Might doesn't offer many features beyond any other legendary magical weapon in D&D 5e. However, what it does offer is versatility. It's a rod with six buttons along its side. These buttons each transform the Rod of Lordly Might into something else or give it a new ability.

• Six different forms
• Provides out-of-combat utility as well as combat bonuses
• Additional features make attacks even more lethal

A Rod of Lordly Might can be wielded as a Flame Tongue sword, a +3 axe, or a +3 spear. This lets a D&D 5e player character adjust it to best fit their circumstances. It can also act as a climbing pole, a battering ram, or a compass. Additionally, it offers once-per-day abilities to paralyze a creature, drain its life, or terrify foes in an area.

18 Blackrazor Devours the Souls of its Victims

Dungeon Master's Guide pg. 216

Famously included in the depths of White Plume Mountain, Blackrazor is one of the oldest legendary weapons D&D has to offer. This magic greatsword can consume the soul of any creature it kills, preventing them from being revived by anything but a Wish spell.

• Permanently kills any enemy
• Keeps its wielder alive longer

Blackrazor's wielder gains temporary hit points equal to the target's maximum hit points. This astounding ability can keep the wielder alive through almost anything, with or without a healer like a Life Domain cleric to keep them going in a tough fight. Players should watch out, though, because Blackrazor's sentience can prove problematic for characters wielding it. Still, whatever its downsides, Blackrazor is one of D&D 5e's best legendary magic weapons.

17 Ascendant Dragon's Wrath Weapon Dishes Out Lots of Additional Elemental Damage

Fizban's Treasury of Dragons pg. 25

Dragon's Wrath Weapons are a unique type of legendary magic weapon in D&D 5e found in Fizban's Treasury of Dragons. They are items that have been aged in a dragon's hoard, gaining power the longer they spend. An Ascendant Dragon's Wrath Weapon has spent centuries soaking in power, and it shows in its statblock.

• +3 to attack and damage rolls
• Additional elemental damage on attacks and natural 20s
• Immense area-of-effect attack

An Ascendant Dragon's Wrath weapon is a +3 weapon that deals 3d6 additional damage with every hit. This is already likely to double many characters' damage output. On top of that, it deals additional damage on a natural 20 and a vast area-of-effect attack that deals 12d6 damage on a failed Dexterity saving throw. Granted, many monsters have decent to great DEX saving throws, but even so, this additional effect is formidable, and few D&D characters would turn down the chance to deal damage of that caliber.

16 Gurt's Greataxe is the Ultimate Barbarian Weapon

Storm King's Thunder pg. 234

Gurt's Greataxe is a weapon that once belonged to a frost giant lord. It's an enormous axe that weighs 325 pounds. On a hit, Gurt's Greataxe deals 3d12 (plus an extra 2d12 if the target is human) slashing damage. This outstrips almost any other legendary weapon for damage in D&D 5e.

• Deals massive damage
• Enables the wielder to make a magic attack at range

Additionally, Gurt's Greataxe can cast a cold-themed variant of the Heat Metal spell once per day. Gurt's Greataxe's size makes it problematic to use, imposing disadvantage on wielders smaller than giants. However, it's devastating if a player can find a way to overcome this obstacle. This is easily one of the best magic items for a barbarian character, especially if the party's barbarian wants to do more than simple slashing damage every turn.

15 Dragonlance

Fizban's Treasury of Dragons pg. 23

A Dragonlance is a titular legendary D&D weapon from the setting of the same name. It's a magic weapon built to fight dragons. No matter what kind of foe it is used against, a Dragonlance confers a +3 bonus to attacks and damage rolls. However, when used against a dragon, it deals an extra 3d6 force damage, which is necessary for a player to chew their way through an adult or ancient dragon's massive hit point pool.

• Boosts the power of a friendly dragon while hitting an enemy even harder
• Useful against non-dragon enemies as well

Since the Dragonlance setting features wars between good and evil dragons, it also allows an allied dragon to take an attack as a reaction. As a result, this weapon becomes even better for any character who has managed to get a dragon, or a draconic creature, to fight alongside them as an ally.

14 Greater Silver Sword Makes CHA, INT, and WIS Saving Throws Easy

Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes pg. 86

Only a creature with psionic abilities can attune to a Greater Silver Sword. However, the benefits it provides the wielder are extraordinary. As long as a creature is attuned to this legendary magic sword in D&D 5e, they gain an advantage on all Wisdom, Intelligence, and Charisma saving throws. This is a significant boon to their survivability and combat prowess.

• Improves overall durability significantly
• Can instantly defeat enemies in the Astral Plane

As if that weren't enough, a Greater Silver Sword provides its wielder with resistance to psychic damage and immunity to being charmed, making it a relevant item when facing psionic foes like mind flayers and elder brains. Its final benefit is more situational. A Greater Silver Sword can cut the cord between a person's astral self and their body. If players can engineer a fight on the Astral Plane, a Greater Silver Sword can inflict instant death.

13 Fane-Eater Deals Lots of Extra Damge in the Hands of an Evil Cleric or Paladin

Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus pg. 223

Fane-Eater is a legendary D&D 5e battleaxe weapon that an evil cleric or paladin has to attune to, such as an Oathbreaker paladin character. For the most part, it is little more powerful than a +3 weapon. However, it has one additional ability on top of that hefty attack bonus.

• Deals bonus damage on Natural 20s
• Provides a +3 to hit and damage
• Provides steady healing for a paladin or cleric

Whenever a creature rolls a natural 20 on a strike with Fane-Eater, it deals bonus damage on top of the critical hit. Fane-Eater deals an additional 2d8 damage and heals its wielder for the same amount. This benefit will add up significantly over multiple combats. This is especially true for Oath of Vengeance paladins and others with an easy way of gaining advantage on attacks.

12 Staff Of The Magi Comes With a Whopping 50 Charges

Dungeon Master's Guide pg. 203

Though not technically classified as a weapon, the Staff of the Magi is the ultimate D&D 5e legendary item for any sorcerer, warlock, or wizard. It can be used in melee as a magic quarterstaff, but it really shines when used as an arcane focus. The Staff of the Magi confers a +2 bonus to spell attack rolls, and its 50 charges can be used to funnel a wide variety of powerful spells, including Conjure Elemental, Passwall, Flaming Sphere, Ice Storm, and Plane Shift.

• Tons of free spells, saving on spell slots
• Improved efficacy with all spells

The Staff of the Magi can also cast several utility spells, like Arcane Lock and Detect Magic, at no cost. It even gives an impressive last-ditch Retributive Strike option. A creature can break the staff over its knee to create a massive blast that deals lethal damage based on how many charges were left and potentially teleport to a random plane of existence.

11 Bookmark is a Memorable Utility Weapon For Rogues and Bards

Tomb of Annihilation pg. 206

Bookmark is a magical dagger that belongs to the character Artus Cimber in Tomb of Annihilation. While it only deals mediocre damage as a magic weapon, it has an overwhelming amount of non-damaging applications, and that's the kind of thing that characters like rogue and bards look for. The most memorable magic items don't just kill enemies faster -- they feel like a Swiss army knife.

• Tons of utility effects
• Access to a powerful spell, even for non-spellcasters

Besides functioning as a compass, Bookmark can shed light, cast the spell Compulsion on spiders, or allow its wielder to cast the spell Dimension Door. As Dimension Door is one of D&D 5e's most useful teleportation spells in the game, being able to access it as a non-caster is extremely powerful. That's essenetial if the party lacks a caster who knows that spell, or if the caster is managing their spell slots and can't easily spare a slot for such spells.

10 Whelm Only Allows Dwarf Characters to Wield It

Dungeon Master's Guide pg. 218

Whelm was forced long ago by dwarves and now rests deep within White Plume Mountain. It is a warhammer that can only be attuned to by a dwarf, which is one of the strictest requirements for attuning a magic item, but at least it's flavorful. Whelm can be used as a throwing weapon and allows the wielder to make a special shockwave attack. It lets the wielder cast the Detect Evil and Good and Locate Object spells.

• Can be used in melee or at range
• Access to a bevy of great utility spells

Whelm, like its legendary D&D 5e counterparts Wave and Blackrazor, is a sentient weapon with its own agenda. Unlike many sentient magic items, however, Whelm is not evil. It can prove problematic for an adventurer, but it's less likely to attempt to corrupt them than many of D&D 5e's other best magic weapons.

9 Holy Avenger is Devastating Against Fiends and Undead Foes

Dungeon Master's Guide pg. 174

The Holy Avenger is a legendary magic weapon in D&D 5e that only paladins can attune to. Luckily, this weapon fits the traditional paladin role in D&D. It proves a +3 bonus to all attack and damage rolls and deals an extra 2d10 radiant damage when attacking fiends or undead. That bonus may be situational, but it's still worth the trouble of finding the Holy Avenger. And in campaigns like Descent Into Avernus and Curse of Strahd, undead and/or fiends are everywhere.

• Incredibly reliable damage output, especially against fiends and undead
• Improves the wielder's durability

Additionally, this sword helps a paladin better serve as a party's protector. The Holy Avenger allows any ally within ten feet of the wielder to roll with advantage on saving throws against spells. This aura increases to 30 feet if used by a paladin of 17th level or higher, effectively turning the wielder into a walking anti-magic shield. A Holy Avenger makes a D&D 5e paladin better at everything they want to do.

8 Hazirawn Is a Sinister Weapon That Brutalizes Its Targets

Hoard of the Dragon Queen pg. 94

A legendary greatsword, the Hazirawn can deal substantial necrotic damage even when not attuned. It functions as a +1 sword that deals an extra 1d6 necrotic damage at all times. That increases to 2d6 when a creature does attune, alongside a host of other benefits.

• Huge damage output potential
• Powerful divination magic

A character attuned to Hazirawn can spend its charges to cast Detect Magic, Detect Evil and Good, and Detect Thoughts. In addition, creatures struck with the sword can't regain hit points. It's not common for enemies to regain hit points, but it's still a fun bonus for Hazirawn. Also, Hazirawn is a sentient and evil item, meaning there are some roleplaying complications to attuning to it, but it is so powerful it might be worth it.

7 The Rakdos Riteknife is Ravnica's Most Wicked Dagger

Guildmaster's Guide to Ravnica pg. 180

The Rakdos Riteknife is a magical weapon in possession of the Rakdos Cult that appears in Guildmaster's Guide to Ravnica. Though this dagger only has a +1 to attack and damage rolls, it captures the souls of any creatures it kills and can store up to five souls at a time. Attacks with the knife deal an additional 1d4 necrotic damage for each soul, allowing it to inflict up to 6d4 damage with every strike.

• Heals the wielder while dealing extra damage
• Potential to insta-kill any target

As if this damage output wasn't vicious enough, souls can be siphoned by the wielder to heal for 1d10. Finally, anyone who has saved up a full complement of five souls can attempt to annihilate a creature completely. The Rakdos Riteknife will need some reskinning for non-Ravnica settings, but it is a game-changing D&D 5e legendary magic item for anyone morally dubious enough to use it.

6 Flail Of Tiamat Deals Massive Damage in Tiamat's Elements

Fizban's Treasury of Dragons pg. 23

The Flail of Tiamat is a +3 legendary weapon in D&D 5e with a very straightforward bonus. Every attack with it deals an additional 5d4 damage from a variety of weapon types. This is more damage than almost any other weapon in the game, dealt on every strike with no resource cost.

• Impressive damage increase on every hit
• Provides a huge area-of-effect attack with a variety of damage types

The Flail of Tiamat is best for fighters with their four attacks per turn. However, it's a significant increase in damage for any martial character. It also gives a devastating area-of-effect elemental attack once per day. The Flail of Tiamat doesn't have much utility or versatility. It just makes a character a much better combatant if they aren't looking for any special utility in their magic items. For players who simply want to hit harder in combat, the Flail of Tiamat is tough to beat.

5 Blackstaff Hits Hard and Denies Spellcasting to Its Targets

Waterdeep: Dragon Heist pg. 190

Blackstaff is another magical staff, rather than a legendary magic weapon in D&D 5e. Nonetheless, it provides significant attacking bonuses and features that can only be used weapon attacks. Other than its impressive spellcasting boosts and unique magical properties, the Blackstaff can reward melee attacks.

• All the attack power and spellcasting of a Staff of Power
• Ability to drain creatures' spell slots with a physical attack

The Blackstaff provides a +2 to melee attack and damage rolls. Players can also expend charges to deal 1d6 extra damage on a hit. Furthermore, the wielder can drain a creature's magic when they hit them with the Blackstaff, wasting their biggest spell slot. The only catch is that the wielder has to be the Blackstaff heir, an incredibly prestigious position in the D&D 5e Forgotten Realms setting.

4 Wave Works Best In or Near the Ocean

Dungeon Master's Guide pg. 218

Wave is the third of three legendary magic items found in the classic White Plume Mountain D&D dungeon, Wave is a trident that must be attuned to a creature who worships a god of the sea. Wave lacks any special functions of its own. Instead, it has the properties of a Trident of Fish Command and a Weapon of Warning, allowing the user to command aquatic monsters and never be surprised.

• Several powerful abilities for a single attunement slot
• Allows a character to thrive in aquatic environments

Wave also confers the benefits of a Cap of Water Breathing and can be used to create force constructs like a Cube of Force. Like its counterpart legendary D&D 5e magic weapons, Wave is a sentient item that will make demands of its user, potentially introducing some fun roleplaying opportunities. Thematically, a sea elf or triton would want this weapon, or even a water genasi.

3 Vorpal Sword Cuts to the Chase and Decapitates Its Victims

Dungeon Master's Guide pg. 209

A Vorpal Sword is one of the most iconic legendary magic items in D&D. It's also one of the strongest. It offers a +3 bonus to attack and damage rolls, but those are its most basic effects. When a vorpal sword scores a critical hit, it instantly severs the target's head, most likely killing it regardless of hit points. Very few weapons or attacks have such a lethal effect, with the demonic weapon of a molydeus being one of the few notable examples.

• One in twenty chance to instantly kill almost any target
• Reliable attack and damage bonus to every attack
• Best used with a Champion fighter

If the DM decides the creature is too big to be decapitated, a Vorpal Sword still deals an astounding extra 6d8 slashing damage on a critical hit, ensuring the Vorpal Sword's deadly effects are not totally wasted on such a target. In particular, the Vorpal Sword is great for a Champion fighter character, since they can deal critical hits with a 19 as well as a 20, doubling their odds of decapitatign a foe with this unforgiving weapon.

2 Moonblade Is an Ever-Changing Weapon For Elf Wielders

Dungeon Master's Guide pg. 217

Only elves and half-elves can attune to Moonblades, making it one of the more restrictive items for attunement. If the party does have a character with elf blood, they have the potential to be some of the most impressive legendary weapons in the game. Passed down from generation to generation, a Moonblade gains more abilities based on how many previous owners it had.

• Huge variety of possible effects
• Can grow and change with a character

These abilities can range from providing additional damage to storing spells for later use. A Moonblade can even take on the properties of other legendary weapons with enough time. Every Moonblade in D&D 5e is different, but they all provide a vast array of benefits, any one of which would make for a worthwhile sword.

1 Luck Blade Bestows Incredible Fortune on Its Wielder

Dungeon Master's Guide pg. 179

A Luck Blade is the most reliably useful legendary weapon in D&D 5e. It allows the user to reroll an attack roll, ability check, or saving throw once per day, and players who enjoy the Luck feat know how incredibly useful an effect like that can be. However, it has a much more powerful ability. It has three charges, each of which can be used to cast the spell Wish once.

• Access to the most powerful spell in D&D
• Reliable rerolls for any occasion

These charges never regenerate. However, Wish is the pinnacle of spellcasting in D&D 5e. At its weakest, it lets a character cast any other spell in the game. However, it also allows for far more fantastical and world-changing effects. One use of Wish can solve almost any problem. Three casts make an item beyond value.