Magic on a Budget: Cheap and Effective Items for D&D 5e

Cheap Magic Items in D&D 5E Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) is a popular tabletop role-playing game that features a rich fantasy world filled with magic, monsters, and adventure. In the game, players can acquire magical items to enhance their characters' abilities and aid them on their quests. Magic items come in a variety of forms, from powerful artifacts to minor trinkets. However, not all magic items are created equal when it comes to their power and rarity. Some magic items are relatively cheap and easy to obtain, making them accessible to players early on in their adventures. Cheap magic items in D&D 5E are typically of low rarity and less powerful compared to their higher-tiered counterparts.

Cloak of resistance +1. Actually, even +2 is pretty cheap for what it gives you.

Geomancer s Glyph, an old stone carved device that allows the user to know how deep they are underground and grants proficiency in identifying different stone types. On daily attunement, make a DC10 charisma saving throw, if failed the user will attempt peace first until they are hit for any damage or are persuaded to attempt violence DC10.

Cheap magic items in D&D 5E are typically of low rarity and less powerful compared to their higher-tiered counterparts. They can still offer unique abilities, utility, or provide an advantage in specific situations. These items can be obtained from various sources, such as looting defeated enemies, finding them as treasure, or purchasing them from magical merchants.

Cheap magic items you really enjoy

I have long been a fan of such things as rings of sustenance and boots of striding and springing.Now with all the new material I have disbarred bandages of speedy recovery and feather step slippers. Curious to hear what cheaper items say ten thousand or less are your favorites?

I find that first level pearls of power are really good value for a magus who focus on shocking grasp and have the meta-magic master feat, there so cheap that at higher levels you could easily have dozens of them and never run out of shocking grasps so you can make use of spell-combat all the time.

Bracers of Falcon’s Aim
Aura faint transmutation; CL 3rd
Slot wrists; Price 4,000 gp; Weight 1 lb.

Each of these crimson leather bracers is emblazoned with the image of a soaring golden falcon scanning the ground for easy prey.

They continually grant the wearer the benefits of the aspect of the falcon spell, though without the spell’s physical transformation.

Craft Wondrous Item, aspect of the falcon; Cost 2,000 gp.

Opinion:
So powerful for its price, and when you consider the effects of the spell, it makes you wonder why it was able to be so low a price.

Adamantium: Arrowheads. Even if only for cutting notches in your sword, or graffiti and such. A file if you can get it. Wedges, cubes, bars. And a weapon(s) that can double as a digging tool.

Hybridization Funnel: Take 10 minutes, combine two splash weapons into one, which goes inert in an hour. My local GM has ruled the Alchemist bonus to splash damage applies twice when using one of these 'ketchup-and-mustard-gas' weapons. Your GM might disagree.

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I'm a fan of alchemy, and consumables like feather tokens, silversheen.

Wayfinders & bags of holding are good low-mid cost choices.

I think ioun stones and figurines of wondrous power can be neat.

A friend of mine loves this little item:

Aegis of Recovery
Source Rival Guide pg. 5
Aura faint abjuration and conjuration; CL 3rd;
Slot neck; Price 1,500 gp; Weight —
Description
An aegis of recovery grants its wearer a +2 resistance bonus on all saving throws made to recover from an effect, such as poison or lingering damage from an attack. This bonus does not help against preliminary saving throws against such effects. Should the wearer ever drop below 0 hit points, the aegis cures 2d8+3 points of damage to the wearer and then crumbles, becoming useless from then on.
Construction
Requirements Craft Wondrous Item, barkskin, cure moderate wounds; Cost 750 gp

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This item was more fun than expected in a game I ran recently:

Boat, Folding
Source PRPG Core Rulebook pg. 1
Aura moderate transmutation; CL 6th
Slot none; Price 7,200 gp; Weight 4 lbs.
Description
A folding boat looks like a small wooden box about 12 inches long, 6 inches wide, and 6 inches deep when it is inactive. In this mode, it can be used to store items just like any other box. Yet when the proper command word is given, the box unfolds itself rapidly in the space of a single round to form a boat 10 feet long, 4 feet wide, and 2 feet in depth. A second command word causes it to unfold even further into a ship 24 feet long, 8 feet wide, and 6 feet deep. The folding boat cannot unfold if there isn't enough open space for it to occupy once unfolded. Any objects formerly stored in the box now rest inside the boat or ship.

In its smaller form, the boat has one pair of oars, an anchor, a mast, and a lateen sail. In its larger form, the boat has a deck, single rowing seats, five sets of oars, a rudder, an anchor, a deck cabin, and a mast with a square sail. The boat can hold 4 people comfortably, while the ship carries 15 with ease.

A third word of command causes the boat or ship to fold itself into a box once again, but only when it is unoccupied.
Construction
Requirements Craft Wondrous Item, fabricate, creator must have 2 ranks in the Craft (ships) skill; Cost 3,600 gp

Chime of Opening! Never leave home without it. I'm also in love with the Cape of the Mountebank, but eventually the game seems to expect you in a Cloak of Resistance so I usually cave by level 10.

I'm a big fan of Boots of the Cat. Fun footwear that is more flavorful than a Ring of Feather Falling. The flavor is worth the little bit of falling damage the wearer might incur.

I recently found the Sleeves of Many Garments. They cost the same as a Royal outfit (minus the jewelry), and can mimic any non-magical garment, including the Royal outfit, with the added benefit that they can be donned without assistance.

Bag of Holding and Handy Haversack are popular low- to mid-level items. They can even be layered one inside another; just be careful not to let the outermost bag get destroyed.

The Ring of Sustenance is one of those items that can be great, but I never seem to take it when building mid-level characters because there are always other items that take precedence. It's great for a wizard with crafting feats; just prepare one use per day of Extended Rope Trick, and work inside while the party camps. (In a caster-heavy party, camping overnight could easily involve three watch shifts of 4 hours each.)

Hat of Disguise, or as it more commonly known around my table, Cloak of Disguise.

Feather tokens. I love them.

Muleback Cords. The cheapest way to carry (literally) the rest of the party.

here here Detect Magic! One of my characters is revered as a 8' tall barbarian bronze half dragon thanks to the wonderful hat of disguise!

Ring of Invisibility.Non stop unlimited on demand invis. Very useful.

Bookplate of Recalling and Bookmark of Deception. For 2, 500gp, I can now call my spellbook to me daily as long as it's on same plane, while it looks like any kind of book for others.

Implanted, cracked Noun stone grants Regeneration per hour for just 3, 400gp. Regeneration means I can regrow limbs with any healing?

Shawl of Life keeping, 1000 GP and allows you to store 10 HP which heals you if you fall below 0.

Bord so made this

Wand of Magic Missile's (Hylan)

Aura faint evocation [force]; CL 1st
Price 2,000 gp; Weight 1/2 lb.

AC 7, HP 5, hardness 5, Break DC 16
Activation spell trigger
This wand requires no charges and may be activated once per round.
This wand may only be activated if the character is at full HP.

This wooden wand is shaped like a short sword. "It is dangerous to go alone. Take this." is scribed in elven along the blade.

Range medium 110 ft.
Targets one creature
Duration instantaneous
Saving Throw none; Spell Resistance yes

A short sord blade shaped missile of magical energy darts forth from the wand and strikes its target, dealing 1d4+1 points of force damage.
The missile strikes unerringly, even if the target is in melee combat, so long as it has less than total cover or total concealment. Specific parts of a creature can't be singled out. Objects are not damaged by the spell.

CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS
Craft Wand, Magic Missile; Cost 1,000 gp

Bead of Newt Prevention is my new favorite item, it saved our party's ass multiple times in the last game we played.

"Get Thee Hence. For ZOTPOX Curses you and Casts you out."

I really like smoke sticks. If the party is ready for there use they are a real advantage.

Mask of Stony Demeanor
Aura moderate transmutation; CL 6th
Slot head; Price 500 gp; Weight 4 lbs.

When worn, this mask transforms the wearer's face into a stone statue and its voice into an emotionless monotone. Though it allows the wearer to speak, its facial expressions and voice betray little emotion, granting a +10 competence bonus on Bluff checks made to lie and a +5 competence bonus on Bluff checks made to feint, but also imposes a –5 penalty on Bluff checks made to pass a hidden message.

Dusty Rose Prism (Ioun Stone)
Aura strong varied; CL 12th

Cracked: This stone grants a +1 competence bonus on initiative checks. Price: 500 gp.

I will also throw a second in for the muleback cords.

Boots of levitate. Realtively cheap. It's usually one of the first things my wizards make.

Gotta love Handy Haversacks. there are very few characters that cannot make use of this item. both for carrying capacity, and for the move-action to get anything out.

Ioun Torch: 75gp for an item that orbits your head with Continual Flame. How can this not be useful?

Wand of Cure Light Wounds. 750gp of goodness. always good. Always in fashion.

Of course, there are plenty of mundane things you should really have on hand. like a Alchemical Silver Light Mace (25gp to have both bludgeoning and silver. plus, as a light weapon it can be used with Weapon Finesse!)

Muleback Cords. The cheapest way to carry (literally) the rest of the party.

Combine that with the heavyload belt, get fly casted on your character, then go all Mighty Mouse!

It is interesting how the item creation rules have changed what we see as "cheap" magic items. :-)

As for the OP, Handy Haversack and Bookplate of Recalling are both items I really liek for their cost.

Cloak of resistance +1. Actually, even +2 is pretty cheap for what it gives you.

For 10,000 gp, one of the more exotic items I like is a Bronze Griffon. It's like a flying carpet, a golem and a rope of entanglement all rolled into one. sort of, but not really.

I want to dot this thread.

Also ring of counterspell. At 4000$ I maie sure to never leave the house without this, great for every class. Pick any spell you feel vulnerabke to and ask the cleric or wizard to put it in. Voila

A continual flame spell cast on something.

As a third level light spell, it stops parties from getting utterly destroyed by creatures that can spam darkness. About the best effect you can get for 50gp.

A continual flame spell cast on something.

As a third level light spell, it stops parties from getting utterly destroyed by creatures that can spam darkness. About the best effect you can get for 50gp.

Actually, you want it heightened to 4th level, because Deeper Darkness is often 3rd level and continual flame will only beat it if it's higher level.

Furthermore, my recommended target item is a shuriken kept in a light-proof pouch. It's a free action to draw shuriken (they draw like ammunition) and it's a free action to drop anything, so without sacrificing any actions you can get your light source out.

Buy several as you can afford it, and you could spend an attack or two expanding the field of light beyond the spot you dropped the first one. Remember a given square has an AC of 5.

Actually, you want it heightened to 4th level, because Deeper Darkness is often 3rd level and continual flame will only beat it if it's higher level.

Furthermore, my recommended target item is a shuriken kept in a light-proof pouch. It's a free action to draw shuriken (they draw like ammunition) and it's a free action to drop anything, so without sacrificing any actions you can get your light source out.

Buy several as you can afford it, and you could spend an attack or two expanding the field of light beyond the spot you dropped the first one. Remember a given square has an AC of 5.

That is awfully clever about the shuriken. Kudos!

As for items, I really like the ring of sustenance for any prepared caster, as well as the bookplate of recall/bookmark of deception (I prefer a trashy romance novel or a very boring technical manual of some kind) for spellbook users.

I'll also echo the cracked dusty rose prism ioun stone (+1 initiative for 500GP?! yes please) and the haversack.

Also. has anyone mentioned the Quick Runner's Shirt yet? Its a godsend for melee types.

This item was more fun than expected in a game I ran recently:

Boat, Folding
Source PRPG Core Rulebook pg. 1
Aura moderate transmutation; CL 6th
Slot none; Price 7,200 gp; Weight 4 lbs.
Description
A folding boat looks like a small wooden box about 12 inches long, 6 inches wide, and 6 inches deep when it is inactive. In this mode, it can be used to store items just like any other box. Yet when the proper command word is given, the box unfolds itself rapidly in the space of a single round to form a boat 10 feet long, 4 feet wide, and 2 feet in depth. A second command word causes it to unfold even further into a ship 24 feet long, 8 feet wide, and 6 feet deep. The folding boat cannot unfold if there isn't enough open space for it to occupy once unfolded. Any objects formerly stored in the box now rest inside the boat or ship.

In its smaller form, the boat has one pair of oars, an anchor, a mast, and a lateen sail. In its larger form, the boat has a deck, single rowing seats, five sets of oars, a rudder, an anchor, a deck cabin, and a mast with a square sail. The boat can hold 4 people comfortably, while the ship carries 15 with ease.

A third word of command causes the boat or ship to fold itself into a box once again, but only when it is unoccupied.
Construction
Requirements Craft Wondrous Item, fabricate, creator must have 2 ranks in the Craft (ships) skill; Cost 3,600 gp

This is probably one of my favorite items as well.

Dotted. Shuriken idea is gold. And I have a Quick Runner's Shirt on my Mage. It's not just for melee types. Double move withdraw action followed by a spell in the face of your attacker,anyone? Sure beats a five foot step!

Necklaces of fireballs are completely awesome for the price as well! First off they do NOT take up your neck slot. They also make AWESOME ambushes.

You can place a necklace down in the middle of the ambush and when the targets are in range cast your own fireball/scorching ray/flaming sphere ect. It get's a saving throw +7 or the entire thing explodes!

The big necklace (8700gp or crafted for 4350) would explode for 58d6!

You could always put the necklace on a summoned creature or something as well for some fun shenanigans!

Wands are great to have as a possession because they are light, valuable, and useful in combat. The Wand of Magic Missiles is no exception, as the caster of this uncommon wand has up to 7 charges per day to use. Read on to find out why the Wand of Magic Missiles is stellar to find!

One example of a cheap magic item is the Bag of Holding. This item is a small, seemingly ordinary bag but has a magical interior that can hold an extraordinary amount of items without increasing in size or weight. It allows players to carry much more loot and supplies without encumbering themselves, making it a valuable asset for adventurers. Another cheap magic item is the Immovable Rod. This item is a metal rod with a button on one end. When the button is pressed, the rod becomes magically fixed in place and cannot be moved until the button is pressed again. This item can be used creatively in various situations, such as creating a temporary ladder or preventing doors from opening. Other cheap magic items may include potions that provide temporary buffs or healing, magical trinkets that offer minor spell-like abilities, or scrolls that allow casting spells once. These items may not have the same level of impact as legendary or rare items, but they can still be useful and fun additions to a player's arsenal. The presence of cheap magic items in D&D allows players to have access to magical abilities and items early on in their adventures. It adds depth to character customization and provides players with additional tools to overcome challenges. Additionally, these items can serve as rewards or loot for completing quests or defeating enemies, creating a sense of progression and achievement. In conclusion, cheap magic items in D&D 5E are accessible and affordable magical items that offer unique abilities or utility to players. While they may not possess the same power and rarity as higher-tiered items, they still provide players with options and advantages in their quests and adventures. These items add flavor and depth to the game, allowing players to customize their characters and overcome challenges in creative ways..

Reviews for "Unlock the Power: Cheap Magic Items for D&D 5e"

1. John - 1/5 - I was really disappointed with the "Cheap magic items 5e" book. The items in this book were anything but magical. They felt like low effort creations that lacked creativity and uniqueness. There were no interesting abilities, enchantments, or backstories to any of the items. It felt like someone had thrown together a bunch of random ideas without any thought or care. As someone who enjoys playing D&D to immerse myself in a fantastical world, this book did nothing to enhance that experience. I would not recommend wasting your money on this poorly executed collection of mundane items.

2. Sarah - 2/5 - While "Cheap magic items 5e" did have some interesting items, I found that many of them were vastly underpowered. It felt like the authors were afraid to give players anything remotely useful or game-changing. I understand the desire to balance the game, but these items lacked any sort of impact on gameplay. They were easily overshadowed by even the most basic starting equipment. I was hoping for a fun and creative collection of affordable magic items, but unfortunately, this book fell short of my expectations.

3. James - 1/5 - I have never been so disappointed with a D&D publication before. "Cheap magic items 5e" felt like a cash grab. The items in this book were not only cheap in terms of cost but also in terms of quality. Many of the items felt poorly thought out and unbalanced. Some had ridiculously low prices for the power they offered, while others were overpriced for their usefulness. It was clear that this book was hastily put together without much consideration for game balance or player satisfaction. Save your money and look elsewhere for quality magic item supplements.

Discovering the Diamond in the Rough: Cheap 5e Magic Items