Best Magic Item Categories In DND

Summary

• Spell Scrolls are consumable and duplicate spells, making them the weakest magic items in D&D.
• Potions offer buffs but are single-use consumables, providing temporary benefits.
• Wondrous Items are the best category, offering permanent varied effects and fun cosmetic upgrades.

When it comes to handing out magic items to your players in Dungeons & Dragons, there are many different types of rewards you can offer your table. Magic items come in many different shapes and sizes, and frankly, not all are as powerful or useful as the rest.

So, when it comes to deciding what rewards to give players, or what kind of magic item you’d like to craft as a player, you’ll want to think carefully about the types of magic items on offer in your D&D campaign. Here’s every magic item category available in Dungeons & Dragons, ranked.

Spell Scrolls come in two standard varieties in Dungeons & Dragons: your typical spell scroll, and a scroll that bears an incantation of some kind. Normal spell scrolls duplicate the effects of a spell in a spellcaster’s spell list, while other spells can sometimes produce unique effects.

For example, a Scroll of Protection works to help defend against certain types of creatures. However, even this effect is random, making it largely an ineffectual item. Plus, spell scrolls, while helpful, are consumable, making these magic items the weakest of the bunch.

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Potions

Similar to spell scrolls, potions are incredibly powerful if used correctly, but suffer from being consumable. With rare exceptions, almost every potion you’ll find in the 2024 Dungeon Master’s Guide is a consumable that can only be used once.

So, while items like Oils and Elixirs can prove immensely helpful depending on the effects, ultimately, having a permanent magic item is always going to be more helpful. But, potions do benefit from being more easily craftable than typical magic items.

7

Rods

Depending on the type of rod you come across, these magic items can prove immensely useful or highly context-specific. For example, a Rod of Alertness can cast spells like Detect Magic and See Invisibility, which provides great utility. However, you’re not necessarily going to need these spells in combat.

Similarly, a Rod of Resurrection, which is extremely powerful, has limited charges to use its effects. This can prove to be a bummer if you realize you don’t have enough charges to do what you want. Still, the effects of many rods are so powerful, that they’re worth it even for a limited time.

6

Staffs

Many staffs on offer in the 2024 Dungeon Master’s Guide have some of the most powerful magical effects you can use. For example, the Staff of the Magi has 50 charges, allowing you to cast a variety of different spells from it, and also absorb spells, which can replenish its charges.

However, as hinted at, the biggest problem with staffs is that almost all of them are dependent on charges, and therefore consumable. Don’t get too attached to the powerful effects these items bring. There are also, frankly, not that many staffs to choose from in the magic items section of the DM’s Guide.

5

Wands

As has become a recurring theme in this list, magic items that have limited uses are often weaker and less useful than permanent ones. However, wands offer a wide range of powerful magic effects, and also feature some powerful artifact items like the Wand of Orcus.

Some standard wands like the Wand of the War Mage can offer a simple bonus to spell attack rolls and boost to cover that, while perhaps not the most fun, are super solid options for spellcasters. Not only do these items increase attack power, but they can also make vulnerable casters less squishy.

4

Armor

Magic armor is a great way for non-spellcasting classes like fighters or rogues to get their hands on some arcane power. Spellguard Shields, for example, are incredibly useful, as they provide advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.

However, most of the time, magic armor does one thing and one thing only: boosts armor class. The 2024 Dungeon Master’s Guide is filled with cosmetic or defensive armor sets that simply provide a standard magic effect with a buff to armor class. Some are purely cosmetic, like the Smoldering Armor, which simply creates a smoke effect emanating from your character.

3

Weapons

Weapons are another wonderful way for non-spellcasting classes to get in on the action. If you’re playing a character that can’t cast spells but wants to find a way to access arcane magic, magic weapons are the way to do it. Powerful artifacts like the Sword of Kas also exist in this category, which can really turn the tables of combat.

The one downside to magic weapons is that many of them require attunement, and can’t really be used by a majority of classes that don’t have proficiency with martial weapons. Most magic weapons worth their salt are going to have to be wielded by a barbarian, paladin, or fighter to be useful.

2

Rings

Rings have a wide range of effects at their disposal, from being able to mimic the effects of spells to providing strong passive abilities. For example, the Ring of Jumping can allow players to cast Jump. As far as passive abilities go, the Ring of Mind Shielding can prevent you from having your mind read.

The best part about rings is that they’re very often permanent, although some especially powerful ones like the Ring of Three Wishes have charges. But overall, these items are highly versatile, easy to use, and can turn the tide of combat or roleplay in your favor.

1

Wondrous Items

Despite some weaker items to be found amongst their ranks, Wondrous Items are far and away the best category of magic item in Dungeons & Dragons. This is for two reasons. One, this category has the most varied range of effects, and two, most of these items are permanent.

Plus, frankly, Wondrous Items also include some of the coolest and most fun cosmetic upgrades you can find in the game. Wondrous Items include pieces like amulets, circlets, cloaks, and more that will grant your character powerful boosts to their magical prowess, and make them look good.