DARK MAGICof

FAERÛN

R P Davis

Magic Items for Villians

 Dark Magic of Faerûn
Credits
Designer: R P Davis Contents
Editor: Kass McGann Credits...................................................................2
Executive Producer: Fil Kearney About the Author................................................2
Producers: R P Davis’s Patreon Patrons
Introduction...........................................................3
Poisons......................................................................3
Art
Cover Image: Wren Hunter, Freehand Transmute Poison Descriptions.............................................3
Interior Art: Some artwork (c) 2020 Dean Spencer, used Armor & Shields.....................................................5
with permission. All rights reserved.; Publisher's Choice Special Abilities....................................................5
Quality Stock Art (c) Rick Hershey / Fat Goblin Games; Armor Descriptions.............................................6
A. Lee - Art Fantasies; Claudio Casini; Wizards of the Coast,
Weapons...................................................................8
Nathanaël Roux
Special Abilities....................................................8
Weapon Descriptions..........................................9
Miscellaneous Magic...........................................12
Bibliography Wondrous Items................................................12
The magic items in this book are converted from the Rings...................................................................17
following 3rd Edition titles: Rods.....................................................................19
Staffs....................................................................20
Book of Vile Darkness (2011)
Book of Vile Darkness (2002) Cursed Items..........................................................21
Champions of Ruin (2005) Cursed Item Descriptions.................................21
City of Splendors: Waterdeep (2005) Divine Boons .........................................................22
Lords of Darkness (2001) You Might Also Like........................................... 23
Serpent Kingdoms (2004)
Underdark (2003)

About the Author

R P Davis is a best-selling freelance writer, editor, and adventure
designer who’s been writing games since the 1980s. He’s a
Mithral-best-selling author on DMs Guild, and he’s written
for The One Ring Roleplaying Game, Pugmire, Scarred Lands, and
Odysseys & Overlords. You can find him on Facebook, Twitter, and
the Kabouter Games website. Help him keep making games (and
become a Producer!) by becoming his patron on Patreon!

DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, D&D, Wizards of the Coast, Forgotten Realms, Ravenloft,
Eberron, the dragon ampersand, Ravnica and all other Wizards of the Coast product
names, and their respective logos are trademarks of Wizards of the Coast in the USA and other
countries.
This work contains material that is copyright Wizards of the Coast and/or other authors. Such
material is used with permission under the Community Content Agreement for Dungeon
Masters Guild.
All other original material in this work is copyright 2020 by R P Davis & Kabouter Games
and published under the Community Content Agreement for Dungeon Masters Guild.

2
You know how I stayed alive this long? All these
years? Fear. The spectacle of fearsome acts. Somebody steals from
me, I cut off his hands. He offends me, I cut out his tongue. He rises
Poisons

W
hile not precisely magical, poisons
against me, I cut off his head, stick it on a pike, raise it high up so
are refined through alchemy, which is
all on the streets can see. That’s what preserves the order of things.
certainly adjacent to magic, practiced by
Fear.
wizards throughout the known universe.
—Bill the Butcher
Moreover, creatures dedicated to evil use
poisons as a matter of course. It is only
Introduction meet that they are discussed in detail.
Poisons vary wildly in how they’re used, the effects they

F
aerûn is soaked in magic. From the produce, and how they’re created. Below is an assortment
lowliest cantrip to the mightiest, world- of poisons to supplement those listed in the Dungeon
changing spell, magic threads its way Masters Guide.
through the lives of even the most Poisons Table
mundane denizen of the Forgotten Realms.
Item Type Price per dose (gp)
Magical objects range from simple trinkets,
like a pair of slippers that magically keep your feet warm, to Amasstarte Inhaled 750
unfathomable artifacts capable of bending if not shattering Battasss Inhaled 1,000
the very fabric of space and time. Blue Frog Paste Injury 500
In Faerûn, heroes quest for magic, either to keep it Cave Terror Ingested 200
themselves to aid them in their adventures or to seize it from
Duthlah’hass Inhaled 2,000
the hands of a nefarious villain. Other books in this series
detail items suitable for heroes. This book takes a different Ektharisss Inhaled 750
tack: It gives you an assortment of thoroughly evil items, Faele Inhaled 1,250
foul things that only the most despicable villain would find Hooloond Inhaled 1,500
attractive, meant for the discerning and calculating Dungeon Jalass Inhaled 1,000
Master to season a campaign with repulsive flavor.
Laeriss Inhaled 300
Villains employ the same magic items available to heroes.
Villains also use magic items that only appeal to wicked Ruusstantar Inhaled 750
people, those who dominate, horrify, or peel the skin off Sickstone Unguent Injury 1,500
other people while they're still alive. These items and Sleep Poison Injury 300
abilities, while not necessarily evil themselves, are ideally Sleep-Smoke Inhaled 50
suited to evil use.
Sssartisss Injury 400
If experience is anything to go by, players of all alignments
will be outfitting their characters with them within a few Stun Gas Inhaled 50
minutes of opening this book. Ts’ous Ingested 400
That's players for you. Ulathlasss Inhaled 1,500
As always, each item has been carefully updated to 5th Virile Madness Ingested 1,200
Edition from sourcebooks dating to previous editions.
Note: You'll no doubt notice that this book breaks with
the 5th Edition standard of listing an ability score with a skill Poison Descriptions
name when a check or bonus is indicated. This is deliberate. Each type of poison has its own debilitating effects.
I encourage DMs to think as laterally as their players when Amasstarte. Green smoke shot through with glittering
considering which ability applies to a particular check. silver flecks hallmarks this poison. A creature subjected
to this poison must make a DC 13 Constitution saving
throw. On a failure, for 1 minute the creature is poisoned
R P Davis and affected as though by a slow spell. A the start of each of
its turns, the creature repeat the saving throw, ending the
effects on itself on a success.
Battasss. This reddish smoke carries a rank smell of burned
milk. A creature subjected to this poison must succeed on
a DC 14 Constitution saving throw or be poisoned for 1
hour. If the saving throw fails by 5 or more, the creature is
also unconscious while poisoned in this way. The creature
wakes up if it takes damage or if another creature takes an
action to shake it awake.
Blue Frog Paste. The lizardfolk of Chult know that the
otherwise harmless bright blue frogs of the deep jungle
secrete a unique poison. Mixing it with other natural

3
 substances produces a highly toxic oil suitable for applying takes half as much damage and isn’t poisoned. In addition, an
to weapons. A creature subjected to this poison must make affected creature takes 3 (1d6) poison damage at the start of
a DC 16 Constitution saving throw, taking 26 (8d6) poison each of its turns. At the end of each of its turns, an affected
damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a creature can repeat the saving throw, ending the effects on
successful one. itself on a success.
Cave Terror. Distilled from certain fungi found only in Sickstone Unguent. A paste made from a variety of
the deepest caverns, cave terror is often used to lace food. ingredients, including some known only to duergar and
A creature subjected to this poison must make a DC 16 illithids, this powerful poison is often used by duergar
Constitution saving throw. On a failure, the creature is against surface dwellers. A creature subjected to this poison
affected as though by a confusion spell for 1d6 hours. must succeed on a DC 15 Constitution saving throw or
Duthlah’hass. The smoke produced by duthlah’hass is become poisoned for 4d6 hours. A creature poisoned in this
yellowish and stings the eyes and nostrils. A creature way is incapacitated.
subjected to this poison must make a DC 16 Constitution Sleep Poison. Chultan lizardfolk have developed a
saving throw. On a failure, the creature is affected as though technique for distilling the extract of several jungle plants
by a feeblemind spell for 1d6 hours. to produce a poison that renders enemies unconscious. A
Ektharisss. The smoke of this poison is a deep purple creature subjected to this poison must succeed on a DC
tinged with blue, and has a pronounced citrus aroma. A 14 Constitution saving throw or be poisoned for 1 hour.
creature subjected to this poison must succeed on a DC 16 If the saving throw fails by 5 or more, the creature is also
Constitution saving throw or again a level of exhaustion and unconscious while poisoned in this way. The creature wakes
be poisoned for 1 hour. up if it takes damage or if another creature takes an action to
Faele. Producing a dark blue smoke that smells like rotting shake it awake.
flesh, faele saps strength and stamina. A creature subjected
to this poison must succeed on a DC 16 Constitution saving
throw or have disadvantage on melee weapon attacks,
as well as Strength and Constitution checks and saving
throws, for 1 hour.
Hooloond. Hoolond generates a yellow smoke with tendrils
of red smoke. Altogether, it is a smoke that resembles
licking flames. The scent of hooloond smoke is often
described as the minty smell of fresh-cut jungle foliage. A
creature subjected to this poison must succeed on a DC
16 Constitution saving throw or take 12 (4d6) poison
damage, and must repeat the saving throw at the start
of each of its turns. On each successive failed save, the
character takes 6 (2d6) poison damage. After three
successful saves, the poison ends.
Jalasss. This poison produces white smoke shot
with rainbow-colored bands of pearly iridescence. It
smells like burning paint. A creature subjected to this
poison must succeed on a DC 16 Constitution saving
throw or be stunned for 1 minute. The creature can
repeat the saving throw at the start of each of its
turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.
Laeriss. Laeriss produces thin, wispy brown
smoke that smells like olive oil when it gets too
hot. A creature subjected to this poison must
make a DC 14 Constitution saving throw. On
a failure, a creature is poisoned for 1 hour, and
takes 2d6 poison and 2d6 acid damage. On a
success, a creature takes half as much damage
and isn’t poisoned.
Ruusstantar. The misty green smoke
produced by this poison is shot through with
ribbons of purple, and it smells like freshly
crushed grapes. A creature subjected to this
poison must make a DC 15 Constitution
saving throw. On a failure, a creature takes
10 (3d6) poison damage and is poisoned
for 1 minute. On a success, a creature

4
 Sleep-Smoke. Used primarily by agents of the Xanathar
Thieves’ Guild for kidnapping, sleep-smoke is a dark-gray,
smoky gas that rapidly dissipates when released into the air.
As an action, you can throw a packet to a point within 60
feet, creating a 20-foot-radius sphere of smoke. A creature in
the radius must make a DC 14 Constitution saving throw or
fall unconscious for 1 minute, the sleeper takes damage, or
someone uses an action to shake or slap the sleeper awake.
Sssartisss. A distillate of the venoms of several kinds
of venomous snakes, sssartisss has a bitter smell. A
creature subjected to this poison must succeed on a DC 13
Constitution saving throw, taking 15 (5d6) poison damage
on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.
Stun Gas. The svirfneblin brew this poison by boiling rare
Underdark mushrooms and distilling the fluid. It can be
stored as a liquid, but when the oil interacts with air, the
poison is released as a puff of gas. The deep gnomes create
special, glass-headed darts to hold it and throw them at
specific enemies or at the walls of caverns to disable large
groups. A creature subjected to this poison must succeed on a
DC 13 Constitution saving throw or be stunned until the end
of its next turn.
Ts’ous. This poison is a mixture of cobra venom and the
extracts of several poisonous plants. It smells like overripe
fruit, which makes it easy to disguise it in strongly flavored
food or drink. A creature subjected to this poison must make
a DC 12 Constitution saving throw. On a failed save, it
takes 12 (2d12) poison damage and is poisoned for 24 hours.
On a successful save, the creature takes half damage and
isn’t poisoned.
Ulathlasss. The dull, heavy, green smoke generated by this
poison sinks to the floor as it is produced, and has the aroma
of roasting meat. A creature subjected to this poison must
make a DC 18 Constitution saving throw. On a failed save, it
takes an amount of poison damage equal to half its hit point
maximum and is paralyzed for 1 hour.
Virile Madness. A mixture of powdered rare earths and
magical rocks boiled in various alchemical fluids, virile
madness is a dangerous, tempting poison. It enhances the
imbiber’s physical traits while degrading their mental powers
considerably. A creature subjected to this poison must
make a DC 18 Constitution saving throw. On a failed save,
its Strength and Constitution ability scores are increased
to 20, but its Intelligence and Wisdom ability scores are
reduced to 3.
Demonmight Ward Shield
Armor & Shields
V
illains are, just as much as heroes,
fond of keeping their precious bodily
fluids on the inside where they belong.
Without thick, leathery skin, hard scales,
or a chitinous carapace, for humans and
humanoids armor will have to suffice.
Special Abilities
Some armor and shields have a special magical ability
which only triggers by your command or under a specific
circumstance. These special abilities can be conferred on
any armor or shield, and are often conferred on protective
gear destined to receive AC bonuses as part of the
enchantment process.
Adding a special ability to a piece of armor or shield
increases the rarity of the item by one degree, and an item
which only bears a special ability is Uncommon. In addition,
if the original item doesn’t require attunement, conferring
the special ability means the modified item requires
attunement. Finally, adding a second special ability increases
the item’s rarity by another step. For example, a +1 shield
is Uncommon. A +1 drowcraft shield is Rare, a +1 drowcraft
gnashing shield is Very Rare, a +2 drowcraft gnashing shield is
Legendary, etc.
The following special abilities are presented in
alphabetical order.
Darksoul Protection
Prized by the forces of darkness, darksoul protection items help
you resist effects commonly used against evil creatures.
While you wear the armor, you have resistance to
radiant damage.
Demonmight Ward
Wrought deep in the Nine Hells for use not against demons
in the Blood War but against good creatures, your defenses
increase the more powerful your opponent becomes.
You have a +1 bonus to AC against attacks from good
creatures. This bonus increases to +2 against attacks from
good celestials.
Drowcraft
Once in regular use by drow Houses, drowcraft armor has
fallen out of favor with drow warriors. Nevertheless, it
remains powerful.
While you wear the armor and remain in an area of
faerzress, this magic armor grants you a +2 bonus to AC.
Gnashing
Gnashing armor is crafted to depict terrifying creatures that
look like they’re made of teeth. It is said that the first suit of
gnashing armor was crafted by a cleric of Tiamat using teeth
from wyrmlings specially sacrificed to that cause. It is readily
apparent that the faces in the armor bear expressions of
vicious cruelty, baring their teeth and snarling in defiance.
5
 While you wear the armor, whenever a creature
successfully grapples you, the snarling mouths animate and
bit your foe. The creature grappling you takes 1d6 piercing
damage. In addition, while it grapples you, it takes 1d6
piercing damage at the start of each of its turns.
Halfweight
Carefully crafted by certain denizens of the Underdark to
grant their warriors an advantage in battle, these armors are
examples of exceptional craftsmanship.
You are proficient with this armor even if you lack
proficiency with medium or heavy armor.
Hideous
A hideous item is embellished with bits of flesh, skulls, teeth,
dried viscera, and other disgusting horrors. It emits an odor
of rotting meat, and creatures within 5 feet of you hear the
sound of buzzing flies.
While you wear the item you have advantage on
Intimidation checks you make. However, you have
disadvantage on Persuasion and Stealth checks.
Malleable
When donned, this armor carefully and magically molds
itself to the wearer. Those inhabitants of caverns and caves
who value their mobility prize them.
While you wear the armor, you can move through a space
that is large enough for a creature one size smaller than you
without squeezing.
Ocular
An item with this property grants all-around vision, making
it difficult to sneak up on or surprise you. Legends tell
that long ago a small cult of humanoids living in Skullport
under Waterdeep venerated a degenerate beholder as a
god. This beholder crafted some magic items to reward its
worshippers.
Armor and shields with this property feature multiple
small eyes on stalks. While you wear it, you can’t be
surprised, and you have advantage on initiative rolls
and Perception and Investigation checks you make
involving sight.
A blindness spell cast on you negates the item’s abilities for
the duration of the spell.
Xornhide
Though not literally made from the stony hide of a xorn, this
armor’s magic lets you move like one.
While you wear the armor, you can use a bonus action
to speak the armor’s command word. When you do, you
gain a burrow speed of 20 feet for 1 minute. Once you use
this ability, you can’t use it again until you finish a short
or long rest.
6
Armor Descriptions
L
ike every other kind of magic item,
magical armors are usually designed for
a specific purpose, whether to prevent
its wearer from getting hurt or allowing
them to do a specific thing. Magic armor
designed and crafted by villains (or their
minions) is no different.
Cortical Armor
Armor (plate), legendary (requires attunement)
Designed by illithids and crafted by their servants, cortical
armor protects the wearer from harm, both from physical
and mental attack. It is formed of cunningly articulated, leaf-
thin steel plates that always exude a mucous-like substance.
While you wear the armor, you have a +1 bonus to AC.
In addition, you are protected as though you were under the
effects of a mind blank spell.
Exoarmor
Armor (plate), legendary (requires attunement)
Another suit of armor designed by illithids for their
most trusted bodyguards, exoarmor is composed of bulky,
reinforced metallic plates and braces interwoven between
thin metallic layers that make the wearer look as though they
wear an insect’s carapace.
While you wear the armor, you have a +1 bonus to AC. In
addition, your Strength and Constitution scores increase by
2, up to a maximum of 22.
Fleshshifter
Armor (leather or studded leather), rare
Made from the stitched-together skins of sentient
humanoids, the dark enchantments in this armor lets you
change your appearance.
You have a +1 bonus to AC while you wear this armor. In
addition, as an action you can use the armor's magic to cast
the alter self spell. Once you use this ability, you can’t use it
again until you finish a short or long rest.
Grim Defender
Armor (breastplate), rare (requires attunement)
Festooned with the grimacing, leering faces of fiends, this
armor allows you to transfer your pain to another.
You have a +1 bonus to AC while you wear this armor.
In addition, when you take damage from a melee weapon
attack, you can use your reaction to cause another creature
you can see within 100 feet of you to take the damage
instead. The target can make a DC 16 Constitution saving
throw. On a failure, it takes the damage. Once you use this
ability, you can’t use it again until you finish a long rest.
 • You have resistance to bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing
damage from ranged weapons.
• You understand any spoken language you hear. Moreover,
when you speak, any creature that knows at least one
language and can hear you understands what you say.
In addition to its useful functions, the shield has its pitfalls:
Gargauth still inhabits the shield, and can communicate
directly through the shield with its wielder. The archdevil
employs a snarling, cruel voice when doing so. Gargauth
hears words spoken within 30 feet of the shield. While you
wear the shield, the Hidden Lord whispers to you, and his
base urgings are hard to resist. At the start of each of your
turns, you must make a DC 20 Wisdom saving throw or be
compelled to commit an act of cruelty or betrayal within the
next 24 hours.
Hellsteel
Slicing Defender
Armor (scale), rare (requires attunement)

Made of layer after layer of razor-sharp scales, this armor

punishes creatures that try to grapple you.
You have a +1 bonus to AC while you wear this armor.
When a creature grapples you, it takes 2d8 slashing damage.
In addition, you can launch up to 6 of the armor's scales,
which streak to the air to strike your foes. Make a ranged
weapon attack for each scale. You have a +1 bonus to hit
and damage rolls you make with the scales, which are magic
weapons and deal 1d6 slashing damage each. Once you use
Hellsteel this ability, you can’t use it again until you finish a long rest.
Armor (plate), legendary (requires attunement)

This dark, red-veined plate armor can sheath its wearer

in a protective fiery aura. An Abishai armorsmith named
Nirzayal crafted the first Hellsteel armor, but other suits
have appeared since. Made from the scales of a remorhaz The Truth of the Shield
tempered in the fires of the Nine Hells, red veins like The Shield of the Hidden Lord was once wielded
flickering sparks run through the plates.
While you wear the armor, you have a +1 bonus to AC
by the Archdevil Gargauth during the Blood Wars.
and you have resistance to fire damage. In addition, as an Banished from the Nine Hells for some misdeed
action you can speak the armor’s command word to cast so foul that even fiends turned up their noses at it,
the fire shield spell (warm shield only). Once you use this
ability you can’t use it again until you finish a short or long
Gargauth wandered the other planes of existence,
rest. Finally, even if the fire shield property isn’t activated, a eventually settling on Toril. He nearly became a
creature that grapples you takes 1d8 fire damage at the start demigod at one point, amassing a widespread cult.
of each of its turns. However, during the Spellplague the cult was
If your alignment is good or neutral, none of the armor’s
abilities function, and your AC decreases by 2, as the armor crushed by an unprecedented alliance of the churches
makes you sluggish. of Bane, Bhaal, Loviatar, and Talona, and
Gargauth himself was trapped within his shield.
Shield of the Hidden Lord
Armor (shield), legendary (requires attunement)

The origin of this wondrous item is not widely known,

though sages who have studied it suspect it might have
been first used in a battle on the Fields of the Dead, east of
Baldur’s Gate.
Crafted from pure mithral, the shield is inlaid with
hundreds of tiny diamonds, emeralds, rubies, and sapphires
that form the shape of a snarling, bestial face.
While holding this shield, you have a +2 bonus to AC. In
addition, you have the following additional powers:

7
 After you score a hit one a living creature with a ravenous
Weapons weapon and deal damage, subsequent hits you score against
that creature deal an extra 2d6 damage of the weapon’s type.

J
ust as armor keeps a villain’s precious
bodily fluids on the inside where they belong,
weapons permit villains (or their agents and
minions) to release an enemy’s soul to its final
reward—or simply cause them unimaginable
agony.
Special Abilities
As with armor and shields, some weapons have a special,
triggered magical ability. These special abilities can be
conferred on any weapon, and are often conferred on
weapons destined to receive bonuses to hit and damage as
part of the enchantment process.
Adding a special ability to a weapon increases the rarity
of the item by one degree, and a weapon which only bears
a special ability is Uncommon. In addition, if the original
weapon doesn’t require attunement, conferring the special
ability means the modified item requires attunement.
Adding multiple abilities affects weapons as specified under
Armor & Shields.
The following special abilities are presented in
alphabetical order.
Blindsighted
While it’s unsheathed, the weapon constantly issues faint
whispers only you can hear. You gain blindsight out to a
range of 30 feet.
Bloodthirsty
When you reduce a living creature to 0 hit points with this
weapon, you gain 1d6 temporary hit points.
This ability can only be applied to a melee weapon that
deals piercing or slashing damage.
Smoking
Perhaps the first of these items came from where the
Elemental Plane of Fire meets the Plane of Air. No one
knows for sure.
As an action, you can use the item’s power to cast the
stinking cloud spell centered on the item. Once you use this
ability, you can’t use it again until you finish a long rest.
Souldrinking
Whenever a souldrinking weapon deals damage, the target
must make a DC 14 Constitution saving throw. On a failure,
the target loses a Hit Die. On a critical hit, the target loses 2
Hit Dice), and the wielder gains 2d8 temporary hit points.
The lost Hit Dice are restored after the target finishes a long
rest. If a target is reduced to 0 or Hit Dice, it dies.
Spellstrike
A spellstrike weapon allows you to transfer some or all of the
weapon’s enhancement bonus as a bonus to saving throws
you make to avoid spells and spell-like effects. You choose
how to allocate the weapon’s enhancement bonus at the
start of your turn before using the weapon, and the effect
on saving throws lasts until the start of your next turn.
This bonus stacks with all other bonuses that benefit your
saving throws.

Corrosive
You can use a bonus action to speak the weapon’s command
word and cause it to become slick with a layer of acid.
While the weapon oozes acid, it deals an extra 1d6 acid
damage to any target it hits. The acid lasts until you use a
bonus action to speak the command word again or until you
drop or sheathe the weapon.
Bows, crossbows, and slings with this ability bestow the
acid energy upon their ammunition.

Cursespewing
Whenever a cursespewing weapon deals damage, the target
must make a DC 14 Wisdom saving throw. On a failure, the
target rolls a d4 and subtracts it from the next attack roll,
saving throw, or ability check it makes.

Ravenous Spellstrike Rapier

Adorned with teeth and fangs, ravenous weapons make
appalling sucking sounds when they slice through living
flesh. When a ravenous weapon wounds a creature, it
acquires a taste for that creature’s flesh and blood.

8
Splitting
Carved with V-shaped runes and markings, splitting
weapons cause ammunition fired from it to break into two
identical missiles, each of which streak toward the target.
Both missiles are identical, and both must be aimed at the
same target. Make separate attack rolls for the missiles.
Strength Sapping
Every time a strength sapping weapon deals damage, the target
must make a DC 14 Strength saving throw. On a failure, the
target gains a level of exhaustion.
Vile
You can use a bonus action to speak the weapon's command
word and cause it to radiate necrotic energy.
While it does so, it deals an extra 1d6 necrotic damage to
any target it hits. The extra damage effect lasts until you use a
bonus action to speak the command word again or until you
drop or sheathe the weapon.
Bows, crossbows, and slings with this ability bestow the
necrotic energy upon their ammunition.
Viper
You can use a bonus action to speak the weapon’s command
word and cause it to transform into a venomous serpent.
A viper weapon with the Versatile or Reach properties
transforms into a giant poisonous snake, and all others
transform into a poisonous snake.
Each viper disappears when it drops to 0 hit points or after
1 minute. The viper is friendly to you and your companions.
Roll initiative for the viper, which has its own turns. It obeys
any verbal commands that you issue to it (no action required
by you). If you don’t issue any commands to it, it defends
itself from hostile creatures, but otherwise take no actions.
The GM has the creatures’ statistics.  Weapon (longsword), very rare (requires attunement)
Once you use this ability, you can't use it again until 24
hours have passed.
Weapon Descriptions
Like armor and shields, many magic weapons are specifically
designed to accomplish a certain task, from keeping unruly
slaves in line to slaying good creatures more easily.
Angelkiller
Weapon (greatsword), rare (requires attunement)
When you hit a celestial with this magic weapon, that
creature takes an extra 2d6 necrotic damage. If the target
has 25 hit points or fewer after taking this damage, it must
succeed on a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw or be destroyed.
On a success, the creature becomes frightened of you until
the end of your next turn.
Blackguard's Blade
Weapon (longsword), rare
The blade of this foul sword is made of black iron and is
covered in evil symbols.
You gain a +1 bonus to hit and damage rolls you make with
this magic weapon. When you hit a good-aligned creature
with it, the creature takes an extra 3d6 slashing damage.
Charnel Reaver
Weapon (battleaxe), rare
This dwarven war axe, created by duergar smiths, utterly
consumes the physical form of any living creature it slays.
You have a +2 bonus to attack and damage rolls you make
with this magic weapon. When you reduce a creature to 0
hit points with it, the creature's body is reduced to mist and
wafts away. The creature can be restored to life only by
means of a true resurrection or a wish spell.
Ebon Lash
Weapon (whip), rare
Created by and for the Red Wizards and their agents, these
black whips affect the minds of creatures they strike.
You have a +1 bonus to hit and damage rolls that you make
with this magic weapon.
In addition, when you score a hit with it against a creature,
the target must make a DC 12 Wisdom saving throw.
On a failure, the creature is incapacitated until the end of
its next turn.
Finally, as an action, you can use the whip’s magic to cast
the charm person spell. Once you use this ability, you can’t use
it again until you finish a long rest.
Everchanging Blade
Nobody knows from whence these weapons come, but
their magical ability is profound. In one moment, it can be a
simple knife. In another, it can be any single-handed weapon
its owner wants it to be.
You have a +1 bonus to hit and damage rolls that you make
with this magic weapon.
As an action, you can speak the weapon’s command word,
causing it to expand or contract into any single-handed
simple or martial weapon you choose. No matter what its
form, it retains its +1 bonus.
9
 Final Rest
Weapon (longsword), rare
While such weapons are usually found in the hands of good
(or at least neutral) crusaders who loathe the undead, sages
in Impiltur are convinced these swords were instead created
to provide a certain amount of insurance for necromancers.
Ancient scrolls from Nar and Raumathar suggest that these
ornate swords were enchanted by necromancers and given
to guards whose task was to stand by and watch while the
necromancers worked; if any of their undead creations
showed too much unlife, the guards were charged to use
their swords to send the foul death-spawn to their final rest,
hence the name.
You have a +1 bonus to hit and damage rolls made with
this magic weapon. When you hit an undead with this
weapon, the undead takes an extra 3d6 slashing damage.
Hand Spinneret
Weapon (hand crossbow), very rare (requires attunement)
As all know, the drow of Menzoberranzan, Ched Nasad,
and other Underdark cities have a high regard for hand
crossbows. Certain favored agents of the matron mothers are
given hand spinnerets to aid them in their missions.
You have a +2 bonus to hit and damage rolls that you
make with this magic weapon. In addition, as an action, you
can use the weapon’s magic to cast the web spell. Once you
use this ability, you can’t use it again until you finish a short
or long rest.
a notched and rusty blade. In darkness, all its flaws fade and a
soft violet light washes the weapon from point to pommel.
An assassin’s weapon if ever there was one, it is a
weapon forged for dark deeds that works best when
cloaked in shadow.
While you hold the dagger, you have darkvision out to a
range of 60 feet.
While you're in darkness, you have a +1 bonus to hit
and damage rolls you make with this magic weapon. While
you're in bright light, you have a -2 penalty to hit and
damage rolls you make with this weapon, which isn't magic.
In dim light, the dagger is a normal weapon.
In addition, as an action you can use the dagger's magic to
cast the darkness spell. You can see through darkness created
in this way.
Nightblade
Weapon (dagger), rare
The Red Wizards of Thay craft these black-bladed daggers
for their many spies.
You have a +1 bonus to hit and damage rolls that you make
with this magic weapon.
In addition, when you hit a good-aligned creature with
it, that creature must succeed on a DC 16 Wisdom saving
throw or be frightened of you for 1 minute. The creature can
repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending
the effect on itself on a success.

Harrowheart
Weapon (rapier), very rare (requires attunement)

Drow smiths created these needle-sharp swords at the

behest of Bregan d'Aerthe, who issue them to their most
trusted agents.
You have a +2 bonus to attack and damage rolls you
make with this magic weapon. In addition, when you score
a critical hit with it against a good-aligned creature, the
damage is tripled rather than doubled.

Manyfang Dagger
Weapon (dagger), very rare

A manyfang dagger looks like a normal dagger, but when it

hits, three blades of magical force spring out from the main
blade, stabbing and slicing the same target, then winking into
nothingness again.
You have a +1 bonus to hit and damage rolls that you make
with this magic weapon. Final Rest
In addition, when you score a hit with it, roll the damage
dice four times and add them together.

Midnight Blade
Weapon (dagger), very rare (requires attunement)

When inspected in the bright light of day a midnight blade

masks its true potential, appearing as a common dagger with

10
Scourge of Fangs
Weapon (flail), rare
Favored by the yuan-ti and drow clerics of Lolth, a scourge of
fangs has a handle made of adamantine and five serpentine
constructs as lashes.
You have a +1 bonus to hit and damage rolls that you make
with this magic weapon.
When you score a hit with it, the serpents strike, dealing
2d4 slashing damage instead of bludgeoning damage. In
addition, the target must make a DC 14 Constitution saving
throw. On a failure, the target takes an extra 2d4 poison
damage and is poisoned for 1 minute. On a success, it takes
half as much poison damage and isn’t poisoned. A creature
can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns,
ending the effect on itself on a success.
If a good-aligned creature tries to wield the scourge, the
first time the scourge is used in combat the snakes attack the
wielder instead of the intended target.
Scourge of Tiamat
Weapon (whip), very rare (requires attunement)
These corrosive viper whips are greatly prized by priests
of Tiamat. The weapons were first devised in an ancient
sarrukh realm located in what is now southern Mulhorand,
and it is no longer known how they’re made. Most of the
existing scourges of Tiamat have been recovered from the
scattered remnants of sarrukh civilization.
In addition to its normal properties, as an action you can
use a scourge of Tiamat to spit its corrosive venom up to 30
feet as a ranged weapon attack. On a hit, the target takes 1d6
acid damage, 1d6 poison damage, and must succeed on a DC
16 Constitution saving throw or be poisoned for 1 minute. A
creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its
turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.
target takes an extra 1d8 lightning damage. In addition, as an
action you can use the weapon’s magic to cast the lightning
bolt spell. Once you use this ability, you can’t use it again until
you finish a short or long rest.
Trespasser
Weapon (greatsword), legendary (requires attunement)
Deep in the Underdark—and hidden in other places in the
world—the mind flayers weave their intricate and nefarious
plots. Illithids create powerful items with which they arm
their servants, and Trespasser is one of the most famous.
Trespasser was last seen in the hands of the Dead Rats gang
in Neverwinter, who stole it from the remnants of the illithid
colony when the Underchasm was sealed. Whether they still
have it is unknown.
You have a +2 bonus to hit and damage rolls that you make
with this magic weapon.
When you score a critical hit with this weapon, its blade
sprouts writhing, metallic tentacles along the cutting edges.
The blade shears off the top of the target’s skull, and the
tentacles pull out its brain. The creature dies if it can’t
survive without the lost brain. A creature is immune to this
effect if it is immune to slashing damage, doesn’t have or
need a head, has legendary actions, or the GM decides that
the creature is too big for its head to be cut off with this
weapon. Such a creature instead takes an extra 6d8 slashing
damage from the hit.

Skull Blade
Weapon (longsword), rare

These foul weapons bear the symbol of Cyric on blade and

hilt, and are highly prized by priests of the Lord of Lies.
Devotees of Cyric traveling incognito usually obscure the
hilt in some way to prevent the symbols from being seen, but
leave the mark on the blade uncovered, since it’s only seen
when the blade is unsheathed.
You have a +2 bonus to hit and damage rolls that you make
with this magic spellstrike weapon.

Storm Star Trespasser

Weapon (morningstar), legendary (requires attunement)

These ancient weapons were forged at the height of ancient

Netheril, during its golden age. Very few remain, and those
that still exist were closely held in the City of Shade. Storm
stars were typically wielded only by members of a noble
family or elite military officers. When not in use, it appears
to be a normal morningstar, but when held it crackles with
spectacular arcs of electricity.
You have a +2 bonus to hit and damage rolls that you make
with this magic weapon. When you score a hit with it, the

11
 Miscellaneous Magic
M
any magic items were designed to
defeat evil (for example, maces of
disruption, which destroy the foul undead).
In the same way, many magic items in
common use today were once exclusively
associated with villains and evildoers.
Daggers of venom, for example, were created by yuan-ti.
Hereafter follows a selection of miscellaneous magic items
created with nefarious intent.
Wondrous Items
Many, storied, and clever are the magic items used by
villains, from poisoned apples that put maidens to sleep to
gauntlets that strip flesh from bone, from flowers that poison
lovers to staves that let you melt into shadow. Hereafter
follows a selection of villainous magic.
Antimagic Torc
Wondrous item, legendary (requires attunement)
Little is known about these ornate golden neckbands, save
that they are of a fantastic age. The design is like nothing
seen in Faerûn.
While you wear the torc, you can use an action to speak its
command word to cast the antimagic field spell on yourself.
Once you use this ability, you can’t use it again until you
finish a long rest.
Antimagic Torc
12
Belt of the Dread Emperor
Wondrous item, legendary (requires attunement by a spellcaster)
This thick leather belt is embossed with figures cowering in
fear. There are six lengths of chain attached to the belt, and
at the end of each chain is a shiny steel manacle.
While you wear the belt, if a willing (or dominated or
helpless) humanoid creature is attached to the belt by a
chain and a manacle, you can draw magical energy from that
creature to power your spells. As an action, you can cast a
spell you have prepared by using a chained creature's hit
points instead of expending a spell slot. A chained creature
takes necrotic damage equal to 10 times the slot level you
want to use. For example, a 2nd-level spell causes 20 necrotic
damage, and an 8th-level spell slot causes 80 necrotic
damage. You can only draw from one creature at a time. If
the chained creature does not have enough hit points left to
power a desired spell, the spell fails and the creature dies. If a
creature is reduced to 0 hit points in this way, it dies, and its
body is instantly reduced to ash.
The creature can be restored to life only by means of a true
resurrection or a wish spell.
Bracers of Suffering
Wondrous item, uncommon (requires attunement)
Ennui defines a shadar-kai's existence. Some go so far as to
mutilate themselves so they can at least feel something, no
matter how small. Shadar-kai call bracers of suffering "gal-
ralan" and wear them to help focus the mind.
When you attune to the bracers, the spines inside bite
deep into the flesh. Roll a hit die, add your Constitution
modifier (if any), and subtract that number from your hit
point maximum. In addition, while you wear the bracers
you gain a +1 bonus to saving throws you make against
charm and dominate spells, as well as the incapacitated and
stunned conditions.
Boots of Tremorsense
Wondrous item, uncommon (requires attunement)
Dwarves of Mithral Hall captured a pair of these boots from
a duergar raiding party and brought them to Silverymoon for
identification.
While you wear the boots, you have tremorsense out to a
range of 60 feet.
Camellia Of The Black Lady
Wondrous item, very rare
A beautiful, creamy-white flower that beguiles, then
punishes, those who displease you, these blossoms were
created for the Black Lady, a notorious assassin and devotee
of the goddess Shar. The Black Lady was beauty, grace, and
poise personified, and surrounded herself with the scent of
sweet flowers from the camellias she wore in her hair.
At first glance, a camellia seems a simple, mundane
flower. On closer inspection, the shapes of the inner petals
of the flower suggest unsettling, depraved forms. The
bloom has a sickly-sweet, overpowering odor that carries a
considerable distance.
 As an action, you can use the camellia’s magic to target a
creature within range that can see, hear, and understand
you. The target must succeed on a DC 18 Wisdom saving
throw or be affected as though by a dominate person spell
for 1 minute.
When the duration ends, the target must make a DC 18
Constitution saving throw, taking 4d10 poison damage on a
failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.
Once it’s used, a camellia crumbles to dust and is destroyed.
Cephalometer
Wondrous item, very rare (requires attunement)
The illithids have created many very strange tools which
resemble magic items but are usually powered by psionics. In
any case, evil creatures the world over find them useful. This
set of curved, iron calipers measure a creature’s head size.
As an action, you can fit them to a willing or restrained
creature’s head. If you do, you can use the cephalometer’s
power to cast the dominate person or feeblemind spell on that
creature. An unwilling creature can make a saving throw
listed in the spell’s description, using your spell save DC or
DC 17, whichever is higher.
You can attempt to use this ability in combat against an
unwilling creature within 5 feet of you. Make a melee spell
attack with disadvantage. On a hit, you can use the device as
described above.
In addition to the powers noted above, when you apply
the cephalometer to the head of a willing or restrained subject
you can conduct a mind probe for up to 10 minutes. An
unwilling subject can make a DC 17 Charisma saving throw;
on a success, the cephalometer fails to function.
You access all the subject’s memories and knowledge, from
deeply suppressed memories to what the victim had for
lunch. You can can telepathically pose one question, and the
cephalometer extracts the answer from the subject’s brain and
relays it directly to yours. These answers are to the best of
the victim’s knowledge. You and the subject needn’t share a
language. An unwilling subject can make a DC 17 Charisma
saving throw; on a success, the cephalometer fails to function.
The cephalometer may be used to probe a sleeping subject,
and a sleeping subject has disadvantage on the saving throw.
Chardalyn
Wondrous item, very rare
The magic of ancient, vanished Netheril was powerful
indeed. But not only did the Netherese arcanists harness
colossal amounts of magic in spells and artifacts, they also
found natural magic items in their surroundings.
More than 4,000 years ago, Netherese miners discovered
chardalyns. A naturally occurring black rock, a chardalyn
sized to fit into the palm of a human hand can contain a
single spell, much like a scroll or potion. By hurling the
rock at a target, the very brittle stone shatters into powder
on impact, releasing the spell. Netherese arcanists typically
imbued chardalyns with offensive spells like lightning bolt, but
also chose spells like forcecage. Chardalyns are never found
these days; sages say it’s obvious the Netherese mined out all
existing veins of chardalyn ore.
When you find a chardalyn, you can make a DC 14
Intelligence (Arcana) check. On a success, you identify the
spell the rock holds and what spell slot level was used to
imbue the rock with the spell.
A chardalyn is a light thrown weapon with a range of
20/60. As an action you can throw a chardalyn at a target
within range. On impact, the spell it contains is released, and
the chardalyn is destroyed.
Circlet of Seven Serpents
Wondrous item, very rare (requires attunement)
Sages say these circlets were devised by the nagas who
inhabit the Nagawater and Nagaflow in the ancient empire
of Chondath.
A circlet is fashioned from a single piece of stone carved
to resemble intertwined snakes. The serpents’ eyes are tiny
emeralds, and the serpents’ scales are chased with silver
and platinum.
While you wear the circlet, as an action you can cast the
mage hand or true strike cantrips. In addition, as an action
you can use the circlet’s magic to cast the charm monster spell.
Once you use this latter ability, you can’t use it again until
the next dawn.
Cloak of Stone
Wondrous item, rare (requires attunement)
Another example of the very specialized magic devised by
duergar for their slave-taking raiding parties, these mottled
gray cloaks help the wearer blend into natural stone—in
some cases literally.
While you wear this cloak with its hood up, Wisdom
(Perception) checks made to see you have disadvantage, and
you have advantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks made to
hide, as the cloak’s color shifts to camouflage you. Pulling the
hood up or down requires an action.
In addition, as an action you can use the cloak’s magic to
cast the meld into stone spell. Once you use this ability, you
can’t use it again until you finish a short or long rest.
Collar of Venom
Wondrous item, uncommon
These heavy iron collars are designed to be worn by a pet
beast or monstrous creature. When a creature wearing the
collar scores a hit with a natural attack, the target must make
a DC 14 Constitution saving throw or be poisoned until the
end of its next turn.
Darkvision Invisible Paint
Wondrous item, uncommon
Devised by surface-dwelling peoples to use against those who
dwell in the Underdark, this special alchemical paint matches
the shading and colors of the surface to which it is applied,
rendering that item invisible to darkvision. Note the item is
perfectly visible when seen in bright or dim light.
13
 Daylight Pellet
Wondrous item, rare
As is well known, evil creatures often war more amongst
themselves than they do with good people. This nasty
weapon was devised by drow for use against other drow, but
it is equally useful against any creature sensitive to light.
Drow wizards take small pieces of crystal, enchant them,
then coat them with grease before baking them within a
brittle clay shell.
As an action, you can throw a pellet up to 60 feet, where it
shatters and releases a daylight spell centered on that point.
Daylight pellets are usually found in pouches containing
3d4 pellets.
Drow House Insignia
Wondrous item, rarity varies (requires attunement)
Common among drow elves in good standing with their
respective houses, these insignia are incredibly rare
among other creatures, even in the Underdark, much less
above ground.
Cast in a brittle metal, these metal tokens are normally
worn on a chain around the neck. Each bears a symbol of a
noble house from a particular drow city; a house present in
different cities has a different insignia for each city.
Most insignia have a single minor magical ability that can
be used once per day, usually a spell of 3rd level or lower.
Typical spells for a house insignia are blur, comprehend
languages, enhance ability, feather fall, jump, read magic,
shield, spider climb, unseen servant, and water breathing. Those
belonging to powerful drow often contain multiple spells of
greater power, like teleport or plane shift. An insignia with a
spell of 3rd level or lower is Uncommon, one with 2 spells is
Rare, and one with a 4th-level or higher spell is Rare.
As an action, you can cast the spell your insignia contains.
Once you use this ability, you can’t use it again until 24 hours
have passed.
Drow House Insignia
14
Flensing Gauntlet
Fang Bead
Wondrous item, rare
Found in a small leather bag containing 1d6 + 2 beads, each
bead is a small black orb engraved with a pair of fangs.
As an action, you can throw a bead at a target within 60
feet of you. On impact, the bead bursts into a swarm of
poisonous snakes.
The swarm disappears when it drops to 0 hit points or
after 1 minute.
The swarm is friendly to you and your companions. Roll
initiative for the swarm, which has its own turns. They obey
any verbal commands that you issue to them (no action
required by you). If you don’t issue any commands to them,
they defend themselves from hostile creatures, but otherwise
take no actions.
The GM has the swarm’s statistics.
Fire Elemental Gem
Wondrous item, very rare
Always found singly, these red or orange gems are painfully
warm to the touch and glows dimly.
As an action, you can smash the gem to cast the conjure
elemental spell, summoning a fire elemental. Once you use the
gem in this way, it is destroyed.
Flensing Gauntlet
Wondrous item, very rare (requires attunement)
Hideous things worn only by those who delight in causing
pain, this glove—liberally festooned with barbs, spikes, and
hooks—is designed to strip flesh from bone.
As a bonus action, you can activate the gauntlet. If you do,
your unarmed attacks become magical and deal 1d6 slashing
and 1d6 piercing damage. In addition, a living creature you
hit must make a DC 16 Constitution saving throw. On a
failure, the target is incapacitated with excruciating pain until
the end of its next turn as the gauntlet tears and rends flesh.
Gauntlet of Disintegration
Wondrous item, very rare (requires attunement)
These powerful leather gloves are often kept as a last-ditch
defense by wizards who agree that the best defense is a good
offense. Some say they are created by beholders for their
most trusted minions, but this is madness, since everyone
knows beholders trust no one.
While you wear the glove, you can use an action to cast
the disintegrate spell, using your spell save DC or DC 16,
whichever is higher. Once you use this ability, you can’t use
it again until 24 hours have passed.
Gem of Psychic Poison
Wondrous item, very rare (requires attunement)
These gems are purple, shot with streaks of blue.
While it's in your possession, it poisons you so that anyone
casting a mind-affecting or divination spell targeting you is
affected with a feeblemind spell.
Girdle of Skulls
Wondrous item, rare
This belt can create servants to protect you in battle. By
plucking a skull from the belt, you can call forth a skeleton to
do your bidding.
This girdle has 1d6 + 3 skulls hanging from it. You can use
an action to detach a skull and throw it up to 60 feet away.
When it reaches the end of its trajectory, the bead transforms
into a skeleton.
Each skeleton disappears when it drops to 0 hit points or
after an hour passes.
The skeleton is friendly to you and your companions. Roll
initiative for the skeleton, which has its own turns. It obeys
any verbal commands that you issue to it (no action required
by you). If you don't issue any commands to it, it defends
itself from hostile creatures, but otherwise takes no actions.
The GM has the skeleton's statistics.
You can hurl multiple skulls, or even the whole girdle,
as one action. When you do so, increase the number of
skeletons by 1 for each skull beyond the first.
Glove of Venom
Wondrous item, rare (requires attunement)
Coveted by assassins of many lands, these supple gloves are
crafted from the skins of venomous snakes or woven from
the fur of giant spiders.
While you wear the glove, you can use an action to
activate its magic and make an unarmed attack. On a hit, the
target takes 4d10 poison damage. In addition, the target must
make a DC 16 Constitution saving throw or be poisoned for
1 minute. The target can repeat the saving throw at the end
of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.
Once you use this ability, you can’t use it again until you
finish a short or long rest.
Gloves of Burrowing
Wondrous item, rare (requires attunement)
Like the drow, the duergar are very, very clever in the
magic items they enchant. These thick leather gauntlets are
festooned with scrawls that bend the mind, presumably a
remnant of the duergar’s enslavement by the illithids.
While you wear the gloves, you can use an action to speak
the command word and gain a burrow speed of 20 feet for 10
minutes. Once you use this ability, you can’t use it again until
you finish a short or long rest.
Greater Piwafwi
Wondrous item, rare (requires attunement)
Seldom given to any save the most trusted of a drow
matron mother’s servants—and the term “trusted” is entirely
relative in this context—these black cloaks are treasured by
their wearers.
While you wear the cloak, you have all the benefits of a
cloak of elvenkind, and you also have resistance to fire damage.
Lesser piwafwi are simply cloaks of elvenkind.
Heaven’s Thorn
Wondrous item, rare
This dark green, dagger-sized thorn has a sharp point, but it
makes a poor weapon because it is too brittle and fragile.
You can make a melee spell or unarmed attack with
it. When you score a hit with it against a good-aligned
creature, it releases terrible energy, and the target is stunned
for 1d4 rounds.
Hook of Dissolution
Wondrous item, rare
This wicked-looking metal hook is a sharp, rusty hunk of
steel about 9 inches long.
As an action, you can skewer a helpless creature. At the
start of each or the creature's turns, it must make a DC 18
Constitution saving throw. On a failed save, the creature
takes 3d6 + 15 necrotic damage.
The target is disintegrated if this damage leaves it with
0 hit points.
A disintegrated creature and everything it is wearing and
carrying, except magic items, are reduced to a pile of fine
gray dust. The creature can be restored to life only by means
of a true resurrection or a wish spell.
Iron Maiden of Preservation
Wondrous item, rare
This torture device is shaped like a coffin and filled with
spikes that pierce the flesh. Screams and terror seem to come
from it in waves, even when it's empty.
A creature inside when the lid is closed takes 1d8 piercing
damage, then at the start of each of its turns it takes an
additional 1d8 piercing damage.
At the end of each of its turns, the iron maiden restores
1d8 hit point to a creature inside.
15
 Thus, the creature inside may take hours or days to die,
all the while the constant agony and terror as its wounds are
continually inflicted and then healed.
Necklace of Demons
Wondrous item, very rare
This necklace is braided out of human tendons, and has 1d6
+ 3 small black spheres attached to it.
You can use an action to detach a sphere and throw it up
to 60 feet away. When it reaches the end of its trajectory, the
sphere shatters, summoning a demon. 1 sphere summons a
demon of CR 1 or less.
You can hurl multiple spheres, or even the whole necklace,
as one action. When you do so, increase the CR of the
demon you summon by 1 for each sphere beyond the first.
A demon disappears when it drops to 0 hit points or after
an hour passes.
The demon is friendly to you and your companions. Roll
initiative for the demon, which has its own turns. It obeys
any verbal commands that you issue to it (no action required
by you). If you don't issue any commands to it, it defends
itself but otherwise take no actions.
The GM has the demon's statistics.
Skull of Terror
Wondrous item, uncommon (requires attunement)
Druids, shamans, and other users of primal magic create
these skulls to drive back those who would despoil the
wilderness. A creature that beholds a totem finds their
thoughts filled with monstrous images and sensations of pain
and suffering.
While you display the skull where creatures can see it, you
have a +1 bonus to your spell save DC when you cast spells
that charm, dominate, or cause fear.
Slime Pot
Wondrous item, very rare
This small black pot has a removable lid and an iron handle.
If you fill the pot with water and some dead animal matter
(a rat's, a severed hand, or similar) 24 hours later a patch of
green slime has taken its place. By using an action to carefully
dump out the pot's contents, you can place the patch of slime
where you want it. You have no control over or immunity
to the slime.
Slippers of Shadow-walking
Wondrous item, rare (requires attunement)

Oil of the Lamia
Wondrous item, very rare
The sages of Candlekeep guess the formula for this oil was
created by an evil lamia wizard. Irrespective of its true origin,
this concoction makes magic items more powerful.
When you apply the oil to a magic item that produces an
effect requiring a creature to make a saving throw, the oil
increases the DC of the saving throw by 2. Applying the oil
takes 1 minute, and the oil lasts for 1 hour. The oil is held in
a small flask and will coat one item, no matter the size.
Little is known about how these slippers came to be, save
that they are popular among the Shadow Thieves of Amn, as
well as spies and assassins around the Sea of Fallen Stars.
When you wear these slippers, whenever you are in dim
light or darkness, as a bonus action you can teleport up to 60
feet to an unoccupied space you can see that is also in dim
light or darkness. You then have advantage on the first melee
attack you make before the end of the turn.

Sanguine Nostrum
Wondrous item, very rare

Found in a small packet, this powder resembles ashes from a

cremation urn.
As part of a ritual that lasts 1 hour, you mix the sanguine
nostrum with the blood of a sentient creature and sprinkle
the mixture on its still-beating heart, which you then devour.
At the conclusion of the ritual, you gain the benefits of a
foresight spell.

Shriek Paste
Wondrous item, uncommon

Small pots of this alchemical substance are often carried by

denizens of the Underdark who wish to keep an area secure
from intrusion by light-using above-grounders. It is derived
from the distilled fluids of shriekers. Oil of the Lamia
This ceramic jar, 3 inches in diameter, contains 1d4 + 1
doses of a thick mixture that smells faintly of mushrooms.
The jar and its contents weigh ½ pound. As an action, you
can smear a dose of shriek paste on a surface. Starting at the Shriek Paste
end of your turn, when bright light or a creature is within
30 feet of the shriek paste, it emits a shriek audible within 300
feet of it. 

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Sun Flash Pellet
Wondrous item, rare

Like daylight pellets, sun flash pellets were developed by

drow for use against drow, but they are very effective
against creatures sensitive or vulnerable to sunlight, such
as vampires.
As an action, you can crush a pellet in your hand, where it
releases a sunbeam spell.
Sun flash pellets are much rarer than daylight pellets and are
usually found alone.

Symbol of Demogorgon
Wondrous item, rare (requires attunement)

This unholy symbol is dedicated to the Prince of Demons,

and is worn as an amulet. Tome of Books
While you wear it, your Wisdom score increases by 2, up
to a maximum of 20, and your Charisma score decreases by Web Choker
2, down to a minimum of 3. Wondrous item, rare

Another item created and prized by drow priestesses both

Tome of Books
Wondrous item, very rare (requires attunement)
Coveted by spellcasters the multiverse over, these incredibly
rare items were likely developed by Netherese arcanists, if
not the varrukh who predated the elves from whom the
Netherese first learned the rudiments of magic. A tome of
books permits a scholar or wizard to carry an entire library
within one much smaller book.
Each of a tome of books’s 250 pages can hold an entire
book—even a bulky, heavy, wizard’s spellbook. To put
another book into the tome of books, as an action you simply
place the book on one of the tome’s blank pages and speak
a command word. The book disappears, and an illustration
of the book appears on the tome’s page, along with its title
and a brief synopsis of its contents. You can use an action
to retrieve a book by opening the tome of books to the
appropriate page and speaking the command word.
If the tome of books is destroyed, all the books stored in
it are lost.
Vasharan Offal Bag
Wondrous item, rare (requires attunement)
This big burlap sack is filled with dung that always remains
fresh and odiferous. If the bag is ever upended and totally
emptied, it loses all its power.
As an action, you can reach into the back and remove a
giant centipede.
The giant centipede disappears when it drops to 0 hit
points or after an hour passes.
The giant centipede is friendly to you and your
companions. Roll initiative for the giant centipede, which
has its own turns. It obeys any verbal commands that
you issue to it (no action required by you). If you don't
issue any commands to it, it defends itself but otherwise
take no actions.
The GM has the giant centipede's statistics.
Once you use this ability, you can't use it again until 24
hours have passed.
for its utility and fashion, these necklaces are created from
the woven strands of a giant spider’s web, dyed black
and festooned with gray spheres consisting of globs of
knotted webbing.
When found, a web choker has 1d6 + 3 spheres hanging
from it. You can use an action to detach a sphere and throw it
up to 60 feet away. When it reaches the end of its trajectory,
the sphere detonates as a web spell (save DC 15).
You can hurl multiple spheres, or even the whole
necklace, as one action. When you do so, increase the area of
the web by 20 feet for each sphere beyond the first.
Rings
Small, relatively easy to create, and quite easy to hide and
smuggle, minor magic rings are often used as a form of
trade currency.
Master Ring
Ring, very rare (requires attunement)
Sages suspect the first set of master and slave rings were first
developed by an evil Red Wizard of Thay, who concealed the
nature of the slave rings (see Cursed Items) until he needed to
enforce his will with the master ring.
While you wear this iron ring, emblazoned with the
symbol of a brooding falcon, as a free action on your turn
you can deal 3d6 necrotic damage to anyone wearing a
slave ring keyed to your master ring. Furthermore, you can
exchange messages with anyone wearing a slave ring, as if
using a sending spell, three times per day. Typically, a master
ring has ten slave rings keyed to it.

17
 Ring of Antivenom
Ring, rare (requires attunement)
Crafted and worn by those who work around poison and
venomous creatures, these rings are also prized by villains
who gained their position thanks to “robust” methods of
advancement in evil organizations.
While you wear the ring, you have immunity to poison
damage, and you have advantage on saving throws you make
to avoid the poisoned condition.
Ring of Domination
Ring, legendary (requires attunement)
A hag coven forged the ring of domination to steal the hearts
of men. The coven had just enough magical power enough to
construct a single ring, and—hags being hags—when the ring
was finished the hags turned against each other. While they
fought, their slaves rose up and slew them.
While you wear the ring, you have advantage on
Persuasion, Deception, and Intimidation checks you make.
In addition, as an action you can use the ring's power to
cast the dominate person spell. Creatures you target with the
spell have disadvantage on saving throws they make to avoid
or end it. Once you use this ability, you can’t use it again until
you finish a long rest.
Ring of Thought Detection
Ring, uncommon (requires attunement)
These rings are used by spies and assassins to gain
information and gauge their victims’ defenses.
This ring has 3 charges, and it regains 1d3 expended
charges daily at dawn. While wearing the ring, you can
use an action to expend 1 of its charges cast the detect
thoughts spell.
Ring of the Viper
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Ring of the Viper
Ring, rare (requires attunement)
These rings are prized by evil monks of the Order of Long
Death, who use them to embody the concept of death and
pain. They are also sought after by spies, mountebanks,
and courtesans as cunningly hidden, last-ditch defenses, for
when the hand that wears a ring of the viper strikes exposes
flesh, the viper carved into the stone animates to bite and
envenom an enemy.
When you score a hit against a living target with an
unarmed strike, the target takes 1 piercing damage. In
addition, the target must make a DC 14 Constitution saving
throw. On a failure, the target takes 2d6 poison damage is
poisoned for 1 minute. On a success, the target takes half as
much damage and isn’t poisoned. The target can repeat the
saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect
on itself on a success.
Ring of Weeping
Ring, rare (requires attunement)
It is not known who first devised these rings (much less
why), or what magical formula for enchanting a ring could
go so horribly wrong. Whatever the creator's intent, this
ring bestows weeping, crippling sadness.
As an action, you can touch a sentient humanoid within 5
feet of you. The target must make a DC 11 Wisdom saving
throw. On a failure, the target is incapacitated until the end
of its next turn, then has disadvantage on attack rolls, saving
throws, and ability checks for 1d4 rounds. Each time you use
the ring to affect a creature, you have a –1 penalty on attack
rolls, saving throws, and ability checks for 1d4 rounds.
Serpent Ring
Ring, very rare (requires attunement)
Yuan-ti who can pass for warm-blooded humanoids,
whether by magic or naturally, often need subtle tokens so
their fellows spare them the gruesome death or enslavement
reserved for sentient creatures that aren’t yuan-ti. They
created these rings to fill that need, though some say the
ancient varrukh first devised them. In any case, the making
of such rings has passed beyond the serpent realms and into
the hands of factions as the Cults of Tiamat and Sset. Non-
yuan-ti in the city of Hlondeth in the Vilhon Reach will pay a
ransom of gold for one.
While you wear the ring, you are immune to poison
damage from snakes, serpents, and reptiles of any kind,
including yuan-ti. In addition, snake beasts refuse
to attack you.

Rods
More powerful but less portable than wands, and less potent
but more handy than staffs, rods occupy a unique niche in
the hierarchy of magic items.
Celestial Bane Rod
Rod, very rare
Deep blood red in color, this metal rod is about 2 feet long
and topped with a curved spike. It was created millennia ago,
during an ancient war between angels and devils.
Celestials within 60 feet of the rod have disadvantage on
attack rolls, saving throws, and ability checks.
Flesh-Eating Rod
Rod, very rare
This black iron rod is carved with the leering faces of
demons all along its length. The pain and suffering it inflicts
make it desirable only to the cruelest wielders.
As an action, you can make a melee weapon attack with
this rod. You're proficient with the rod, which counts as
a magic weapon. On a hit, the target takes 2d8 necrotic
damage. In addition, for 1 minute, at the start of each of its
turns the target takes an addition 1d8 necrotic damage. At
the end of each of its turns, the target can make a DC 16
Constitution saving throw with disadvantage, ending the
ongoing damage on itself on a success.
The rod regains 1d8 + 1 expended charges daily at
midnight. If you expend the rod’s last charge, roll a d20. On a
1, the rod crumbles into bone dust and is destroyed.
Rod of Webspinning
Rod, rare (requires attunement)
Some say these rods were created by drow wizards. Others
point to priestesses of Lolth. In any case, its powers are
only really attractive to those with an unnatural affinity to
arachnids. Made of some unknown dark metal, the rods are
embellished with spider and web designs.
While you hold it, you have a +1 bonus to AC and saving
throws against poison. In addition, as an action you can cast
the web spell. Once you use this ability, you can’t use it again
until you finish a long rest.
Finally, you have the following abilities:
Web Sense. While in contact with a web, you know
the exact location of any other creature in contact with
the same web.
Web Walker. You ignore movement restrictions
caused by webbing.

Harrow Rod
Rod, very rare

Evil mages often use these black, slightly twisted metal rods
to melt their victims on the rare occasion they get uppity and
cluster together.
As an action, you use the rod's magic to sprays a
cone of acid.
Each creature in a 60-foot cone must make a DC 17
Dexterity saving throw. A creature takes 8d8 acid damage
on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.
Once you use this ability, you can’t use it again until you
finish a short or long rest.

Rod of the Dead

Rod, rare

It is known that these rods were first devised by Netherese

arcanists thousands of years ago. It is thought that the
making of them died with that empire, but more and more
have been seen in recent years, in the hands of necromancers
of the City of Shade and—more distressingly—the Red
Wizards of Thay. It is not known if the Thayans developed
their rods independently or reverse-engineered a Netherese
example, and Szass Tam remains silent.
This rod has 10 charges. While holding it, you can use
an action to expend a charge and touch a corpse with
it. If you do, the corpse animates as though you cast an
animate dead spell.

Rod of the Dead

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 Staffs
Many powerful spellcasters are villains, and some of them
spend their time crafting staffs not known to the wider
world, preferring to customize their creations and keep
them close.
Staff of Shadows
Ring, rare (requires attunement by a spellcaster)
This staff is carved from ebony enchanted to the hardness of
tempered steel and is inlaid with mystic runes picked out in
obsidian and jet. Sages in Candlekeep suspect the Shadovar
retained the secrets of making these staffs from the days of
ancient Netheril.
This staff can be wielded as a magic quarterstaff that grants
a +1 bonus to attack and damage rolls made with it.
The staff has 10 charges. As an action, you can expend 1
or more charges to cast one of the following spells from the
staff, using your spell save DC and spell attack bonus: shadow
blade (1 charge), shadow of Moil (2 charges).
In addition, as an action you can expend a charge to
conjure a shadow. The shadow appears in an unoccupied
space that you can see within range. The shadow disappears
when it drops to 0 hit points or after 1 hour passes.
The shadow is friendly to you and your companions for
the duration. Roll initiative for the shadow, which has its
own turns. It obeys any verbal commands that you issue to it
(no action required by you). If you don’t issue any commands
to the shadow, it defends itself from hostile creatures but
otherwise takes no actions.
The staff regains 1d8 + 2 expended charges daily at dawn.
If you expend the last charge, roll a d20. On a 1, the staff
dissipates like a shadow in the noon sun.
Spells. While holding the staff, you can use an action to
expend some of its charges to cast one of the following spells
from it, using your spell save DC: stone shape (1 charge), wall
of stone (2 charges), meld into stone (2 charges), or flesh to stone
(3 charges).
Staff of the Underdark
Ring, very rare (requires attunement)
This plain wood staff is highly useful for maneuvering
around the Underdark.
This staff can be wielded as a magic quarterstaff that
grants a +1 bonus to attack and damage rolls made with it.
While holding it, you gain a +1 bonus to Armor Class and
saving throws.
The staff has 10 charges and regains 1d8 + 2 expended
charges daily at dawn. If you expend the last charge, roll a
d20. On a 1, the staff retains its bonus to attack and damage
rolls but loses all other properties. On a 20, the staff regains
all charges.
Spells. While holding the staff, you can use an action to
expend 1 or more charges to cast one of the following spells
from the staff, using your spell save DC and spell attack
bonus, or DC 15, whichever is higher: darkvision (1 charge),
gaseous form (2 charges), passwall (3 charges), find the path
(3 charges).

Staff of Spiders
Ring, rare (requires attunement by a spellcaster)

This jet-black staff is inlaid with thin platinum wires in

a web pattern. They’re created by wizards loyal to drow
noble houses, and generally used by those house’s most
trusted agents.
This staff has 10 charges and regains 1d6 + 4 expended
charges daily at dawn. If you expend the last charge, roll a
d20. On a 1, a swarm of miniscule spiders consumes and
destroys the staff, then disperses.
Spells. While holding the staff, you can use an action to
expend a charge to cast one of the following spells from it,
using your spell save DC: conjure animals (spiders only), web,
or spider climb.

Staff of Stone Staff of Stone

Ring, rare (requires attunement by a spellcaster)

Duergar are responsible for these staffs, which they make

from petrified wood and use in their mysterious work deep
below the surface.
This staff has 10 charges and regains 1d6 + 4 expended
charges daily at dawn. If you expend the last charge, roll a
d20. On a 1, the staff disappears in a puff of smoke.

20
 damage can't be reduced in any way. As an action, you can
Cursed Items make a DC 14 Constitution saving throw, ending the effect
on yourself on a success.

T
he magic items and alternative
rewards presented in this book are all
touched in some way by darkness. Some Potion of Delusion
items are cursed and prevent heroes from Wondrous item, rare
reaching their full potential. Cursed items A potion of delusion always looks like a potion of healing,
often prove a gift as well as a curse, as the and gives the illusion of healing. But it is something
items hereafter show. else entirely.
When you drink this potion, you feel a surge of energy
Cursed Item Descriptions but are surprised to find none of your wounds have healed.
You gain 1d8 + 3 temporary hit points, but lose 1 hit die. In
Sometimes these items are created by a twisted mind and left addition, you move up to your movement toward the nearest
for unsuspecting creatures to find and suffer thereby. Other creature that is hostile to you.
times they're simply the result of an item-enchantment
ritual gone awry.
Slave Ring
Ring, uncommon (requires attunement)
Boots of Many Steps
Wondrous item, uncommon (requires attunement) These rings appear to be rings of protection until they're put
on and attuned.
These mismatched boots promise always appear to offer Cursed. This item is cursed. Attuning to it curses you
the unmatched mobility of a pair of boots of striding and unless the wearer of the master ring (see entry in this book)
springing. The longer one wears them, the greater the keyed to it removes it.
chance for the curse to manifest; eventually you will make
one too many jumps and disappear into a dark and sinister
realm of endless corridors and featureless passages.
While you wear these boots, your walking speed becomes
30 feet, unless your walking speed is higher, and your speed
isn't reduced if you are encumbered or wearing heavy
armor. In addition, you can jump three times the normal
distance, though you can't jump farther than your remaining
movement would allow.
Curse. This item is cursed. Attuning to it curses you until
you are targeted by the remove curse spell or similar magic.
Removing the boots fails to end the curse on you. Whenever
you roll a natural 1 on an attack roll or saving throw, you
disappear into a pocket dimension. At the end of each of
your turns, you can make a DC 12 Charisma saving throw.
On a success, you reappear in the space you last occupied or
in the unoccupied space nearest it.

Cloak of Poison
Wondrous item, rare (requires attunement)

While this infamous cloak can be deadly, it provides

unexpected benefits to those with the courage to wear it.
While you wear the cloak, when a creature hits you with
a melee weapon attack, it must make a DC 14 Constitution
saving throw. On a failure, it takes 2d8 poison damage and
for the next minute at the start of each of its turns it takes
5 (1d8) poison damage. On a success, the target takes half
as much damage and takes no ongoing damage. An affected
creature can repeat the saving throw at the start of each of its
turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.
Curse. This item is cursed. Attuning to it curses you until
you are targeted by the remove curse spell or similar magic.
Removing the cloak fails to end the curse on you. Whenever Boots of Many Steps
you roll a natural 1 on an attack roll or saving throw, you
take 1d8 poison damage, and at the start of each of your
turns for the next minute, you take 1d4 poison damage. This

21
 Divine Boons You gain resistance to poison damage and a +1 bonus to
Dexterity (Stealth) checks you make.

R
ewards need not always be
tangible. Other rewards can include divine
boons granted by dark gods. In each case,
the rewards offer great power to those
who use them, though that power comes
at a risk.
Any god can bestow a boon, not just those gods the
adventurer favors. An evil god, for example, might bestow a
boon onto a good hero as a temptation or an ironic reward
for some inadvertent service.
Asmodeus's Dread Authority
Asmodeus invests you with a portion of the authority with
which he rules the Nine Hells. A sinister sigil appears in
the palm of your left hand. The symbol shines when you
use the boon.
Choose a creature you can see within 60 feet of you. That
creature must make a DC 16 Wisdom saving throw. On
a failure, at the start of each of your turns you can order
the creature to move up to half its speed to a location you
specify. The creature can repeat the saving throw at the start
of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.
Once you use this boon, you can’t use it again until you finish
a short rest.
Bane's Battle Acumen
The Iron General is the consummate warrior and those
with his favor gain a measure of his tactical genius. When
you receive this boon, you assume a sinister appearance:
your eyes become jet black, and through them you can see
opportunities on the battlefield.
Whenever you roll a natural 19 or 20 for an attack roll
using a weapon, a creature you choose within 60 feet of you
can use its reaction to move up to half its speed without
provoking opportunity attacks.
In addition, whenever you're reduced to less than half
your hit point maximum, roll a d8. On an odd result,
you're incapacitated until the end of your next turn. On
an even result, you teleport a number of feet equal to the
die roll times 10 and become invisible until the end of
your next turn.
Loviatar's Inescapable Pain
Loviatar instructs her devotees to embrace their agony,
for only through pain can one unite the mortal with the
divine. The Scourge Mistress demands pain and expects her
followers to provide it. Those who receive his boon feel their
bones grind in their flesh.
Whenever you're reduced to less than half your hit
point maximum, you gain a +1 bonus to hit and damage
rolls you make.
In addition, when you score a hit against a creature using
a melee weapon attack, you can use your reaction to cause
that creature and other creatures within 10 feet of you to
make a DC 16 Wisdom saving throw. On a failure, a creature
takes 3d8 necrotic damage and is incapacitated for 1 minute,
wracked with indescribable pain. At the start of each of its
turns, an affected creature takes an addition 1d8 necrotic
damage. An affected creature can repeat the saving throw at
the end of each of its turns, ending the effects on itself on a
success. Once you use this boon, you can’t use it again until
you finish a short rest.

Gruumsh’s Bloodthirsty Wrath

Gruumsh has an appetite for chaos, and carnage is the only
thing that can sate him. The orc god's only desire is to spread
strife and destruction across the Material Plane. On gaining
this boon, you rip out your own left eye. The organ regrows
in an image of Gruumsh's own.
The first time you reduce an enemy to 0 hit points
during an encounter, you gain a number of temporary hit
points equal to 1d8 + your Constitution ability modifier
(minimum 1).

Lolth’s Fickle Favor

The Queen of Spiders is a fickle goddess. She is as likely
to bestow a curse as she is to offer a boon. Lolth is a petty,
scheming monster. She cares nothing for her worshipers,
and when she grants her boon it is only to escalate conflict,
in which she delights. After you gain this boon you hear
faint, whispering voices and sees things watching you from
the shadows. Nobody else can detect these things, but you're
sure they're there.

22
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