Magic Item Rarity and Attunement
Six rarity tiers from Common to Artifact, attunement limit of 3 items, and methods for identifying magic items.
Magic items are categorized by rarity, which indicates their power level and how commonly they appear in the world.
Rarity Tiers
| Rarity | Character Level Range | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Common | 1st level or higher | Potion of Healing, Cloak of Many Fashions |
| Uncommon | 1st level or higher | +1 Weapon, Bag of Holding, Boots of Elvenkind |
| Rare | 5th level or higher | +2 Weapon, Flame Tongue, Ring of Protection |
| Very Rare | 11th level or higher | +3 Weapon, Staff of Power, Amulet of Health |
| Legendary | 17th level or higher | Holy Avenger, Ring of Three Wishes, Vorpal Sword |
| Artifact | Unique | Typically one-of-a-kind story items with world-shaping power |
Attunement
Some magic items require attunement — a special bond formed during a short rest spent focusing on the item. A creature can be attuned to a maximum of 3 magic items at any time. Attuning to a fourth item requires ending attunement with one already bonded. Attunement ends if the item is more than 100 feet away for 24 hours, if the creature dies, or if another creature attunes to the item. Some items specify class, alignment, or other requirements for attunement.
Identifying Magic Items
A character can identify a magic item by spending a short rest focused on it (handling it, tasting a potion, etc.) or by casting the identify spell. The detect magic spell reveals the presence of magic but not what an item does.