Dungeons & Dragons empowers players to craft a myriad of unique characters, many of whom center their endeavors around intricate magical abilities. Among the popular archetypes is the summoner—or conjurer. These mages utilize spells and special abilities to conjure creature companions that assist them in combat. Given the mechanics of action economy in D&D, having additional creatures on the battlefield offers a considerable strategic advantage, making summoner builds formidable.
Some summoners opt for a few strong allies, while others prefer to summon numerous creatures, prioritizing quantity over quality. In D&D’s 5th Edition, spells and items related to summoning were often convoluted and could unnecessarily slow down gameplay. Though the challenges remain somewhat present in the 2024 rules iteration, the latest adjustments have streamlined many spells and items associated with conjuration. Below, we explore ten items featured in the 2024 Dungeon Master’s Guide that significantly aid summoner builds, enhancing both gameplay and strategy.
10 The Bag of Tricks Adds a Level of Luck to Conjuration
A Grab Bag of Animal Companions
The bag of tricks is an essential tool for summoners. Available in various types, it introduces an element of randomization to summoning tactics. Inside this bag are fuzzy spheres that can be thrown up to 20 feet to summon a friendly animal ally. Players can command these creatures using a bonus action during combat.
The type of creature summoned is determined by rolling a d8 and consulting a specific table containing various beasts, including options like owls, apes, and lions. There are three distinct variations of the bag of tricks: gray, tan, and rust-colored, each with its unique summoning table. While the effectiveness of summoned beasts can vary, having an extra ally always proves beneficial, especially since the bag can summon up to three creatures per day before requiring a recharge. As a summoner advances, however, reliance on the bag may become less appealing.
9 The Robe of Useful Items Plays Into Creating Whatever You Need
Tools for Any Occasion at Your Beck and Call
In addition to summoning creatures, summoners can leverage their magical capabilities to create practical objects for their team. The robe of useful items serves this purpose exquisitely, featuring magical patches that represent various items. By tearing off these patches, the wearer can summon real objects to aid their actions. Initially, the robe typically comes with at least sixteen patches but can hold up to twenty-eight.
Out of these patches, twelve represent standard non-magical items like lanterns and daggers. The remaining patches are determined randomly, providing items or creatures that could range from valuable treasures to helpful allies. This robe grants a summoner greater control compared to the bag of tricks, and while the patches will eventually be depleted, the versatility it offers is invaluable to any character’s toolkit.
8 The Staff of Swarming Insects Is Perfect for Bug-Themed Mages
Summon a Plague of Locusts on Top of Your Enemies
For summoners with an affinity for insects, the staff of swarming insects elevates combat strategies by providing access to powerful spells through its charges. Equipped with ten charges, the staff allows the wielder to utilize various effects. One approach is to expend a charge to produce a cloud of harmless insects within a 30-foot line, obscuring the area and hindering opponents for up to ten minutes.
This cloud can greatly disrupt enemy attacks, granting the staff wielder a significant tactical advantage. However, the primary strengths of the staff arise from its spellcasting potential, including giant insect and insect plague. Requiring 4 and 5 charges respectively, both spells invoke formidable allies for combat and pose distinct threats to adversaries. Thus, it is particularly useful to a conjurer who leans into the grotesque elements of magic.
7 The Hat of Vermin Is a Good Common Magic Option
Embrace Your Inner Stage Magician
For novice D&D characters, common magical items provide an excellent gateway to explore magical concepts without compromising game balance. The hat of vermin exemplifies this balance by allowing its wearer to summon either a rat, bat, or frog through a magical action.
The catch, however, is that these summoned creatures do not inherently bond with their conjurer. Instead, they behave as ordinary animals, often seeking to escape the scene altogether. Limited to three charges per day, the hat provides only modest abilities, yet offers players creative potential. Clever adventurers will undoubtedly discover innovative uses for this charming item.
6 The Horn of Valhalla Brings Forth Otherworldly Defenders to Your Side
An Item More Useful for Martial Summoners
In a unique twist, the horn of Valhalla is most beneficial in the hands of martial characters rather than spellcasters. This distinction arises from the item’s rules, which enhance its power based on the user’s proficiency with simple and martial weapons. By blowing into the horn, the wielder summons fierce berserkers to join their cause.
These summoned warriors attack with martial weapons and are immune to charm and fear effects, advantageous against many foes. However, the horn can be utilized only once every seven days, placing limitations on its strategic application. Regardless, the potent summoned berserkers can significantly shift the balance of combat.
5 Daern’s Instant Fortress Is a Good Defensive Option for Emergencies
Conjure Up a Whole Castle for Your Party
Shifting focus back to the summoning of inanimate objects, Daern’s instant fortress lives up to its name. With this item, players can conjure a majestic castle figurine that expands into a formidable stronghold when needed. Measuring twenty feet to a side and thirty feet tall, this fortress serves as an excellent defensive position against threats.
Originally designed to crush enemies beneath it, new 2024 rules state that creatures occupying the space when summoned are harmlessly pushed aside. While this ability has diminished, the fortress still stands as a powerful asset. Once deployed, it is immune to physical damage and resistant to all others, including spell effects like knock. However, the only drawback lies in its susceptibility to damage, as only a wish spell can restore any lost hit points.
4 Control Elementals with These Four Magic Items
Bowls, Braziers, Censers, and Stones
Four pivotal items provide summoners the ability to engage elemental allies: the bowl of commanding water elementals, brazier of commanding fire elementals, censer of commanding air elementals, and stone of commanding earth elementals. Each functions similarly to summon its respective elemental, enabling tactical combat support for up to one hour.
These elemental allies act independently and do not require commands to be issued, making them particularly valuable. Moreover, these items do not demand attunement and can be activated by any party member within five feet, ensuring inclusivity in gameplay. Notably, maintaining the elemental ally does not require concentration, negating the risk of early dismissal.
3 A Manual of Golems Can Create a Permanent Summon
A Powerful Protector That Doesn’t Require Concentration
The manual of golems opens the door to summoning enduring allies. With this item, players can craft a clay, flesh, iron, or stone golem, which remains loyal to its creator as long as it exists. Unlike temporary summons lasting mere minutes or hours, the laborious task required to create a golem sees it persist indefinitely, until it meets its end. Notably, the most robust golem, achieving a challenge rating of 15, adds much power to any team.
2 Figurines of Wondrous Power Are Easily-Transportable Animal Friends
A Plethora of Fun Options to Make Use Of
Figurines of wondrous power come in a variety of shapes and animals, enabling players to transform them into corresponding creatures when activated. Each figurine varies in rarity and capabilities but serves its purpose effectively. Upon touching a figurine, it morphs into an animal that follows the user’s commands, acting on its initiative. Options include everything from mastiffs and lions to goats and even nightmares from the realm of Hades.
Some creatures excel as scouts or messengers, while others prove formidable in battle. For instance, goat figurines possess unique features like removable horns that transform into magical weapons and the ability to act as mounts for up to 24 hours. Figurines of wondrous power embody their name, providing valuable tools for any adventurer’s arsenal.
1 The Cube of Summoning Can Bring Forth Some of the Most Powerful Allies
No Concentration Required for These Strong Creatures
Finally, the cube of summoning allows players to execute some of the most potent conjuration spells found in the game. It enables characters to summon an aberration, beast, construct, elemental, dragon, or fey, all of which represent fifth-level spells. Notably, while traditional casting would require concentration, using the cube bypasses this restriction.
A hint of randomness persists, akin to the bag of tricks, as players roll a d6 to determine the creature type summoned. Each summoned ally operates under its autonomous initiative and strives to defend its conjurer, wielding abilities such as a dragon’s breath weapon. Consequently, this Dungeons & Dragons item is highly effective for bringing forth powerful allies without the typical costs and concentration required by traditional spellcasting.
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