Can a magic wand be used as an arcane focus? - Rules & Game Mechanics - Dungeons & Dragons Discussion - D&D Beyond Forums (2024)

  • Search
    • Search all Forums
    • Search this Forum
    • Search this Thread
  • Tools
    • Jump to Forum

Can a magic wand be used as an arcane focus?

  • #1 Oct 28, 2018

    Rookbird

    Rookbird

    • View User Profile
    • View Posts
    • Send Message

    • Adventurer
    • Join Date: 7/26/2017
    • Posts: 9
    • Member Details

    The answer is probably a simple "yes" but does anyone have a reference in the rules for using a magic wand (such as a Wand of Magic Missiles) as an arcane focus, like a mundane wand?

  • #2 Oct 28, 2018

    pwhimp

    pwhimp

    • View User Profile
    • View Posts
    • Send Message

    • Hero
    • Location: Sigil
    • Join Date: 5/5/2017
    • Posts: 633
    • Member Details

    I don't see anything specific mentioned in the PHB, but JC says yes.

    https://www.sageadvice.eu/2016/03/08/can-a-wizard-use-a-magic-wand-as-her-arcane-focus/

  • #3 Oct 29, 2018

    All wands, rods, and staffs can be used as an arcane focus. They are the magic item versions of normal arcane foci in the same fashion that magic armor and magic weapons are magic item versions of normal armor and weapons.

  • #4 Oct 30, 2018

    Greenstone_Walker

    Greenstone_Walker

    • View User Profile
    • View Posts
    • Send Message

    • Thaumaturgist
    • Join Date: 8/19/2017
    • Posts: 1,304
    • Member Details

    Quote from DxJxC >>

    ...and staffs can be used as an arcane focus.

    I'd rule that staves are not automatically arcane foci. For example, something like the Staff of the Woodlands.

  • #5 Oct 30, 2018

    DxJxC

    DxJxC

    • View User Profile
    • View Posts
    • Send Message

    • Half-Dragon Archmage
    • Location: Saar Chasm
    • Join Date: 4/5/2018
    • Posts: 15,651
    • Member Details

    Quote from Greenstone_Walker >>

    Quote from DxJxC >>

    ...and staffs can be used as an arcane focus.

    I'd rule that staves are not automatically arcane foci. For example, something like the Staff of the Woodlands.

    In this case it is a druidic focus. Allow me to correct myself: wands, rods, and staffs (as well as many wondrous items) can be used as spellcasting foci if they are similar to a focus used by that class.

  • #6 Mar 2, 2023

    Werepyre_Lestat

    Werepyre_Lestat

    • View User Profile
    • View Posts
    • Send Message

    • Adventurer
    • Join Date: 3/4/2022
    • Posts: 1
    • Member Details

    where is that printed?

  • #7 Mar 2, 2023

    ACEspinz

    ACEspinz

    • View User Profile
    • View Posts
    • Send Message

    • Swashbuckler
    • Join Date: 1/22/2022
    • Posts: 213
    • Member Details

    The closest printing is in Equipment that can be used as a "Spellcasting Focus" listed in that section. There are other specific items that allow other things to be used as a Spellcasting Focus, such as a Ruby of the War Mage from XGtE. However a quarterstaff (for instance) is only 2sp while an staff for arcane spellcasting focus is listed as 5gp. When spell casters make their focus their weapon as well, they aren't casting with a Mace substituting as a Rod or a Quarterstaff substituting as a Staff, they're using the improvised weapons rules that allow a item similar enough to an item listed in the Weapons table to be used as if it were that weapon. So it's the other way around, using an arcane spellcasting focus worthy staff as a quarterstaff.

    There's no "improvised spellcasting focus" rule that lets you pick up any old item thats similar to a staff, wand, rod or other item listed in the Spellcasting Focus Equipment section and treat it like one. BUT if the particular object is called by one of those names, then it's generally identified with that item at it's base level.

    If you pick up a Wand of Magic Missile, sure it'll have charges for the Magic Missile spell, but its also an item called a "wand" and if there's no specific rule in it's description that prevents it from being an arcane spellcasting focus, then the general rule from the Equipment section and other sections that list"wand" as an arcane spellcasting focus will apply.

    The closest counter argument RAW I can find is in the DMG "Spells" section of Treasure where it writes "A magic item, such as certain staffs, may require you to use your own spellcasting ability when you cast a spell from the item." Certain staffs not being all.

    P.S. beyond all that you have the link further up to JC's tweet, even if it isn't official.

    Personally, I would rule that if there is an item which matches the name of something listed as a spellcasting focus at it's core, then it may be used as such unless it is worth less than the list price (excluding cursed items).

    EDIT: Beware that Holy Symbol type spellcasting focuses for Clerics and Paladins represent a god or pantheon so not any or every Holy Symbol type item they find might be something they can use as a focus. Many DMs would ignore this unless it was a magic item for a specific god or alignment though. The simple idea being that even if you take the holy symbol focus from a cultist priest that it represents the pantheon which both your gods are in (even if your gods oppose one another).

    Last edited by ACEspinz: Mar 2, 2023

  • #8 Mar 2, 2023

    Ravnodaus

    Ravnodaus

    • View User Profile
    • View Posts
    • Send Message

    • Thaumaturgist
    • Join Date: 4/11/2019
    • Posts: 3,150
    • Member Details

    A wand is a wand.

    I got quotes!

  • To post a comment, please login or register a new account.

Posts Quoted:

Reply

Clear All Quotes

Previous Thread

Jump to Forum

Next Thread

Can a magic wand be used as an arcane focus? - Rules & Game Mechanics - Dungeons & Dragons Discussion - D&D Beyond Forums (2024)

FAQs

Can a magic wand be used as an arcane focus? - Rules & Game Mechanics - Dungeons & Dragons Discussion - D&D Beyond Forums? ›

All wands, rods, and staffs can be used as an arcane focus. They are the magic item versions of normal arcane foci in the same fashion that magic armor and magic weapons are magic item versions of normal armor and weapons. ...and staffs can be used as an arcane focus.

Can you use a wand as an Arcane Focus? ›

Wizards use Arcane Foci, which are: Crystals, Rods, Wands, Staffs and Orbs. A spell might need 1 or more of the following things: A Material component. An arcane focus replaces the need for materials.

What weapons can be used as an arcane focus? ›

An Arcane Focus is either an orb, a wand, or a staff. The staff can be used as a weapon, but as most arcane casters are Int or Cha primary, with Con and Dex as their preferred physical stats, using a Str-based staff to melee with may not work out well for you.

Can a magic staff be an Arcane Focus? ›

Can magic staves, Staff of Power for example, be used as an arcane focus? The short answer to both parts of your question is yes. Can you enchant a staff that is an arcane focus? As a sorcerer, you can start with an arcane focus, and if it's a staff, it can be used as a quarterstaff.

Is an Arcane Focus a magic item? ›

The arcane focus is a powerful magic item that serves as a conducting material with which the wizard taps magical energies. A focus creates a mental link with its owner and stores the mentally-mapped spells that the wizard would normally write in his spellbook.

Do you need a free hand for arcane focus? ›

Generally, you would need a free hand for your focus anyway. The effect of an arcane focus is that you may use it in place of most material components, but to supply them for a spell requires a free hand to manipulate them anyway.

How many times can you use an arcane focus? ›

Your arcane focus will never be used up. Some spells consume their material components though and those spells have notes in their descriptions saying that the material components are consumed by the spell. Protection from Evil and Good is a spell where the components are consumed by casting the spell.

What is the best weapon for arcane? ›

With an Arcane scaling of A and the ability to increase status effect buildup, the Ripple Blade is one of the best Arcane weapons in Elden Ring. Effects like Blood Greases, Poison Greases and Soporific Greases are improved when both the weapon and your Arcane stat have been increased.

Can you put an arcane focus on a shield? ›

Yes. The shield, the arcane staff, or both can serve as a spell focus / holy symbol. If neither is a spell focus or holy symbol, then the cleric will need to unequip one or the other in order to cast spells with somantic components.

What is the benefit of an arcane focus? ›

Whether they take the shape of a crystal, orb, staff, or wand, an arcane focus allows a caster to cast spells with an inexpensive material component without providing that material component during the casting of a spell.

Who can use Arcane Magic? ›

Bards, sorcerers, warlocks, and wizards learn to cast arcane spells, which are typically flashy and powerful. Clerics, druids, rangers and paladins cast divine spells, which draw their power from a deity, from nature, or simply the caster's inner faith.

Can an arcane focus be a tattoo? ›

As well, you can use your tattoos as an arcane focus when casting wizard spells.

Can an arcane focus be an amulet? ›

Arcane Amulet is a spell focus. It can be used by any caster to provide focus for spells that have a material component (spell focus replaces the need to have actual material components). It can be bought from vendors or found as random loot. Arcane Amulet can be used by Sorcerers and Wizards.

Is a wand an Arcane Focus? ›

An arcane focus is a special item— an orb, a crystal, a rod, a specially constructed staff, a wand-like length of wood, or some similar item— designed to channel the power of arcane spells.

Who can use an arcane focus? ›

An arcane focus is a special item designed to channel the power of arcane spells. A sorcerer, warlock, or wizard can use such an item as a spellcasting focus, as described in the Spellcasting section.

What does an arcane focus cover? ›

An arcane focus replaces all necessary components for a spell except : Components that have an associated monetary value, for instance “a diamond worth at least 300gp” Components that are explicitly stated as being consumed by the casting of the spell.

Can a bow be an arcane focus? ›

Connecting to the void with an Arcane Focus Bow creates an ethereal drawstring made out of the casters mana where they may manifest their projectile spell as an arrow. Swords / Daggers - Swords and Daggers may be used as a focus for casting.

Can a pact weapon be an arcane focus? ›

You can use any weapon you summon with your Pact of the Blade feature as a spellcasting focus for your warlock spells.

Can a holy symbol be an arcane focus? ›

A cleric or paladin can use a holy symbol as a spellcasting focus, as described in the Spellcasting section.

Can an amulet be an arcane focus? ›

Arcane Amulet is a spell focus. It can be used by any caster to provide focus for spells that have a material component (spell focus replaces the need to have actual material components). It can be bought from vendors or found as random loot. Arcane Amulet can be used by Sorcerers and Wizards.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Duncan Muller

Last Updated:

Views: 5923

Rating: 4.9 / 5 (79 voted)

Reviews: 86% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Duncan Muller

Birthday: 1997-01-13

Address: Apt. 505 914 Phillip Crossroad, O'Konborough, NV 62411

Phone: +8555305800947

Job: Construction Agent

Hobby: Shopping, Table tennis, Snowboarding, Rafting, Motor sports, Homebrewing, Taxidermy

Introduction: My name is Duncan Muller, I am a enchanting, good, gentle, modern, tasty, nice, elegant person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.