Summary
Magic items are one of the most unique ways you can make your character stand out inDungeons & Dragons. Depending on what you’re attuned to, your character could take on the role of a melee combatant or more of a support class. However, some magic items aren’t always that helpful, or, at the very least, seem a little far-fetched.
However, these completely hilarious magic items are so bad, they might just be good. Every Dungeons & Dragons player should try them out at least once. So, the next time you go hunting for magic items, try one of these totally outrageous options.
Requires Attunement?
No
The bag of tricks appears to be empty when you first acquire it. However, when you reach inside the bag, you may discover a random, fuzzy object. By taking the magic action, you may pull the fuzzy object out and throw it up to 20 feet. From there, the fuzzy object transforms into a random animal.
Some of the animals you can pull from this bag are actually quite helpful. However, thanks to the randomness element of this item, you really never know what you’re going to get. You could get a panther to aid you in battle or a badger.
This lute is so much more than just a pretty musical instrument. You can actually wield this weapon like a magic club, dealing 2d8 thunder damage on a successful hit. Plus, if you’re a bard, you can use your Charisma modifier instead of your Strength modifier.
Ultimately, this item makes it onto this list for one key reason: the visual gag of a bard swinging a giant lute like a club. The idea of using your musical instrument as a bludgeoning weapon is downright hilarious, and, in this case, also extremely practical.
Similar to the Bag of Tricks, the Hat of Vermin is another magic item that can generate random creatures. When you hold this hat, you may take a magic action and expend a charge to summon either a bat, a frog, or a rat. Somewhat hilariously, the animal in question is completely indifferent to you and your party.
Ultimately, the Hat of Vermin is little more than a parody of a commonplace magician’s trick. It’s hilarious that this item exists at all, but it could make a great addition to a novice wizard’s arsenal if that’s part of your character concept.
This next magic item is for all the cooks out there. This belt pouch appears to be empty and has ten charges. When you hold this pouch, you may take the magic action to expend a charge and name a nonmagical type of seasoning like salt or pepper. When you do so, you can subsequently remove that spice from the belt.
Yes, this is, in a phrase, a chef’s dream. This magic item would undoubtedly be helpful for the culinary-inclined in real life. But, ultimately, it probably isn’t all that useful in DND. Still, it’s kind of funny that it exists at all.
When it comes to chaotic magic items, none are as popular as the Deck of Many Things. If you’ve yet to run this magic item as a DM, or experience it as a player, you’re in for a treat. The Deck of Many Things resembles a normal set of playing cards; however, drawing cards from this deck comes at your own risk.
Depending on the card you draw, you could either vastly improve your abilities or stats, or could permanently immobilize you. For example, if you draw the Donjon card, you disappear and become entombed in suspended animation in an extraplanar dimension. High-risk. High-reward.
For noble characters, or for players who just want their character to look their best, this next item is for you. The Cloak of Many Fashions has one very simple, but creatively useful effect. When you wear this cloak, you’re able to take a Bonus Action to change the style, color, and quality of the cloak to anything you want.
This means you could make yourself look far richer than you actually are. Or, you could make the cloak more or less conspicuous, whatever you choose. Despiteits lack of stat buffs, this cloak could actually prove immensely useful in a roleplay-based campaign.
Yes
Despite the name, the Pipes of the Sewers can actually prove incredibly useful, so long as you get used to the stench. When you are attuned to this item, you gain three charges that reset at dawn. If you play the pipes, you can call forth a swarm of rats to you. The swarm then makes a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw. Should they fail, they fall under your command.
This is the best way to live out a Pied Piper fantasy. You can also call forth multiple swarms by expending more charges. Be warned, if they make their save, though, the rats won’t really do anything to help you.
This pot appears completely ordinary and is perfectly suited for growing small plants. If you plant a regular shrub inside this pot and let it grow for 30 days, the shrub eventually reawakens as an Awakened Shrub (see the 2025 Monster Manualfor their stat block) and breaks the pot.
From there, the shrub is friendly to you and your allies and obeys your commands, meaning you could have a friendly ally in combat. However, using this item in combat does mean you might have to carry the pot around with you for 30 days, or make a return trip to a bastion. Either way, this item is great for characters with a green thumb.
Decked out with bird carvings, this staff has 10 charges. When you hold the staff and use a magic action, you can expend a charge from the staff to perfectly mimic a bird’s call out to a range of 120 feet. And yes, that really is all it does.
The staff obviously has a nice design, and can make for a nice bit of flavor for a druid character. Ultimately, I just love the idea of a highly seriousDungeons & Dragons roleplaymoment being broken up by the sound of a goose honking.
The Tankard of Sobriety has a very stern, mean-looking face carved into one side of the tankard. While the tankard does not affect magical substances, should you drink wine, ale, or any other alcoholic substance from this tankard, you’re able to drink without being inebriated.
To be honest, I’m not exactly sure what purpose this tankard would serve. Maybe, at best, you could use it to fake your way through a drinking contest. This item is so outlandish, I can’t believe it even exists in Dungeons & Dragons. But, it’s a nice touch to add to a very full magic items list.
