Purchasing Magic Items (5e D&D)

 Purchasing Magic Items

This can be attempted in Downtime and takes 1 work week (5 work days), one item per character searching. The N/PC chooses an item to search for, spends 25gp, then rolls an Investigation check against the listed DC. Assistance may give Advantage on the roll. Acquiring the Formula for an item has the listed Investigation DC+5. 

1. Bag of Holding DC 23 - 2000gp

2. Boots of Striding and Springing DC 21 - 1000gp

3. Cloak of Elvenkind DC 22 - 1500gp

4. Gauntlets of Ogre Power DC 25 - 4000gp

5. Gloves of Swimming and Climbing DC 21 - 1000gp

6. Goggles of Night DC 21 - 1000gp

7. Headband of Intellect DC 25 - 4000gp

8. Keoghtom’s Ointment (5 doses) DC 19 - 500gp

9. Wand of Magic Detection DC 21 - 1000gp

10. Wand of the War Mage +1 DC 21 - 1000gp

11.  +1 shield DC 21 - 1,500gp 

12. Potion of Climbing  DC 12 (1d4) - 50gp each

13. Potion of Healing DC 10 (2d4+) - 50gp each

14. Cloak of Billowing DC 16 - 200gp

15. Potion of Growth DC 17 - 250gp

16. Potion of hill giant strength DC 17 - 250gp

17. Ring of mind shielding DC 23 - 2,000gp

18. Ring of swimming DC 23 - 2,000gp

19. Perfume of Bewitchment DC 12 (1d4)  - 50gp each

20. Ring of Warmth DC 23 - 2,000gp

21.  +1 studded leather (light) or +1 hide (medium) DC 24 - 3,000gp

22.  +1 elven chain shirt (medium/special) DC 25 - 4,000gp

23. +1 breastplate (medium) DC 25 - 5,000gp

24. +1 half plate (medium) DC 25 - 6,000gp

25. +1 full plate (heavy) DC 26  - 8,000gp

26. Cloak of Protection DC 21 - 1,500gp

27. Ring of Protection DC 24 - 5,000gp

28. +1 simple weapon DC 21 - 800gp

29. +1 martial weapon DC 20 - 1,000gp

30. +2 shield DC 26 - 8,000gp

31. Bracers of Defense DC 28 - 8,000gp

32. +2 simple weapon DC 24 - 4,000gp

33. +2 martial weapon DC 23 - 6,000gp

34. Potion of Greater Healing (1d3) DC 15 - 200gp

35. Potion of Superior Healing (1d2) DC 20 - 2,000gp

36. Potion of Supreme Healing (1) DC 25 - 12,000gp

37. Scroll Level 1 (1-4) DC 12 - 50gp each

38. Scroll Level 2 (1-4) DC 17 - 500gp each

39. Scroll Level 3 (1-4) DC 22 - 1,000gp each

40. Scroll Level 4 (1-4) DC 27 - 5,000gp each

41. Scroll Level 5 (1-2) DC 30 - 10,000gp each

42. Wand of the War Mage +2 DC 28 - 8,000gp

43. Dragonscale armour (white, black) DC 26 - 10,000gp

44. Dragonscale armour (green, blue) DC 27 - 11,000gp

45. Dragonscale armour (red) DC 28 - 12,000gp

46. Armour of Resistance (Studded, Breastplate, Half Plate or Plate) DC 25 - 6,000gp

47. Ring of Resistance (any) DC 25 - 6,000gp

48. Mithral Breastplate DC 20 1000gp

49. Mithral Half Plate DC 21 1550gp

50. Mithral Full Plate DC 22 3100gp

51. Adamantine Breastplate DC 21 1300gp

52. Adamantine Half Plate DC 22 1950gp

53. Adamantine Full Plate DC 23 3900gp

Common Items

1 Armor of Gleaming Armor Common  medium or heavy xge 136 DC 16 - 200gp + base armour cost

2 Cast-Off Armor Armor Common  light, medium, or heavy xge 136 DC 18 - 400gp + base armour cost

3 Shield of Expression Armor Common  shield xge 139 DC 16 - 200gp 

4 Smoldering Armor Armor Common   xge 139 DC 16 - 200gp + base armour cost

5 Potion of Climbing Potion Common   dmg 187 DC 12 (1d4), 50gp each

6 Potion of Healing Potion Common   dmg 187 DC 10 (2d4) - 50gp each

7 Spell Scroll, 1st Level Scroll Common   dmg 200 DC 12 50gp 

8 Spell Scroll, Cantrip Scroll Common   dmg 200 DC 12 (1d4), 25gp each

9 Staff of Adornment Staff Common   xge 139 DC 16 - 200gp 

10 Staff of Birdcalls Staff Common   xge 139 DC 16 - 200gp

11 Staff of Flowers Staff Common   xge 139 DC 16 - 200gp

12 Wand of Conducting Wand Common   xge 140 DC 16 - 200gp

13 Wand of Pyrotechnics Wand Common   xge 140 DC 16 - 200gp

14 Wand of Scowls Wand Common   xge 140 DC 16 - 200gp

15 Wand of Smiles Wand Common   xge 140 DC 16 - 200gp

16 Moon-Touched Sword Weapon Common  any sword xge 138 DC 17 - 250gp

17 Unbreakable Arrow Weapon Common  arrow xge 139 DC 16 - 200gp 

18 Walloping Ammunition Weapon Common  any ammunition xge 139 DC 12 (1d4), 50gp each

19 Bead of Nourishment Wondrous Item Common   xge 136 DC 12 (1d4), 50gp each

20 Bead of Refreshment Wondrous Item Common   xge 136 DC 12 (1d4), 50gp each

21 Boots of False Tracks Wondrous Item Common   xge 136 DC 16 - 200gp

22 Candle of the Deep Wondrous Item Common   xge 136 DC 16 - 200gp

23 Charlatan's Die Wondrous Item Common yes  xge 136 DC 16 - 200gp

24 Cloak of Billowing Wondrous Item Common   xge 136 DC 16 - 200gp

25 Cloak of Many Fashions Wondrous Item Common   xge 136 DC 16 - 200gp

26 Clockwork Amulet Wondrous Item Common   xge 137 DC 16 - 200gp

27 Clothes of Mending Wondrous Item Common   xge 137 DC 16 - 200gp

28 Dark Shard Amulet Wondrous Item Common yes warlock xge 137 DC 16 - 200gp

29 Dread Helm Wondrous Item Common   xge 137 DC 16 - 200gp

30 Ear Horn of Hearing Wondrous Item Common   xge 137 DC 16 - 200gp

31 Enduring Spellbook Wondrous Item Common   xge 137 DC 16 - 200gp

32 Ersatz Eye Wondrous Item Common yes  xge 137 DC 16 - 200gp

33 Hat of Vermin Wondrous Item Common   xge 137 DC 16 - 200gp

34 Hat of Wizardry Wondrous Item Common yes wizard xge 137 DC 16 - 200gp

35 Heward's Handy Spice Pouch Wondrous Item Common   xge 137 DC 16 - 200gp

36 Horn of Silent Alarm Wondrous Item Common   xge 137 DC 16 - 200gp

37 Instrument of Illusions Wondrous Item Common yes  xge 137 DC 16 - 200gp

38 Instrument of Scribing Wondrous Item Common yes  xge 138 DC 16 - 200gp

39 Lock of Trickery Wondrous Item Common   xge 138 DC 16 - 200gp

40 Mystery Key Wondrous Item Common   xge 138 DC 10 - 50gp

41 Orb of Direction Wondrous Item Common   xge 138 DC 16 - 200gp

42 Orb of Time Wondrous Item Common   xge 138 DC 16 - 200gp

43 Perfume of Bewitching Wondrous Item Common   xge 138 DC 12 (1d4) - 50gp each

44 Pipe of Smoke Monsters Wondrous Item Common   xge 138 DC 16 - 200gp

45 Pole of Angling Wondrous Item Common   xge 138 DC 16 - 200gp

46 Pole of Collapsing Wondrous Item Common   xge 138 DC 16 - 200gp

47 Pot of Awakening Wondrous Item Common   xge 138 DC 16 - 200gp

48 Rope of Mending Wondrous Item Common   xge 138 DC 16 - 200gp

49 Ruby of the War Mage Wondrous Item Common yes spellcaster xge 138 DC 16 - 200gp

50 Talking Doll Wondrous Item Common yes  xge 139 DC 16 - 200gp

51 Tankard of Sobriety Wondrous Item Common   xge 139 DC 16 - 200gp

52 Veteran's Cane Wondrous Item Common   xge 139 DC 16 - 200gp

Bargaining - Optional Persuasion Check (d20)

9 or lower: Seller is offended, and will not sell at any price.

10-14: Seller is offended and will only sell at +50%.

15-19: Seller refuses offer, but will sell at list price.

20-24: Seller will lower price to 90% listed.

25-29: Seller will lower price to 80% listed.

30-34: Seller will lower price to 70% listed.

35-39: Seller will lower price to 60% listed.

40+: Seller will lower price to 50% listed.

Buying Random Items 

Use the rules here to see what's for sale. This is only for random stuff, often sold by adventurers looking for a quick buck.

Rarity	Asking Price
Common	3d6 x 20 gp
Uncommon	3d6 x 100 gp
Rare	3d6 × 1,000 gp, Superior 4d6 x 1,000 gp
Very rare	3d6 × 5,000 gp, Superior 4d6 x 5,000 gp
Legendary	2d6 × 25,000 gp, Superior 3d6 x 25,000 gp

Commissioned Items

In some cases (not all) it may be possible to locate a crafter who knows an item formula, and is willing to create the item on commission. For such items, the PC can spend 100gp & roll an Investigation check once per week to locate such a crafter. 

Item Rarity Typical DC to locate crafter - minimum Crafter Level

Common        15 - 3+

Uncommon    20 - 3+

Rare               25 - 6+

Rare - Superior 27 - 8+

Very Rare      30 - 11+

Commissioned Items Base Purchase Prices

Common - 200 gp, requires level 3 crafter & 1 week

Uncommon - 1,000 gp, requires level 3 crafter & 2 weeks

Rare - 8,000 gp, requires level 6 crafter & 10 weeks

Rare, Superior - 16,000gp, requires level 8 crafter & 20 weeks

Very Rare - 40,000 gp, requires level 11 crafter & 25 weeks

Very Rare, Superior - 80,000 gp, requires level 14 crafter & 50 weeks

Legendary - 200,000 gp, requires level 17 crafter & 50 weeks

Legendary, Superior - 400,000 gp, requires level 20 crafter & 100 weeks

The Commissioning PC may also need to make a Persuasion check.

Persuasion Check DC

Craft Item at x2 Base Purchase Price: DC 10 (Common, Uncommon) DC 15 (Rare) DC 20 (Very Rare-Legendary)

Craft Item at Base Purchase Price: DC 15 (Common, Uncommon) DC 20 (Rare) DC 25 (Very Rare-Legendary)

Selling Magic Items (adapted from XGTE)

Selling a Magic Item

Selling a magic item is by no means an easy task. Con artists and thieves are always looking out for an easy score, and there’s no guarantee that a character will receive a good offer even if a legitimate buyer is found.

Resources. A character can find a buyer for one magic item by spending one workweek and 25 gp, which is used to spread word of the desired sale. A character must pick one item at a time to sell.

House Rule: In many areas Common & Uncommon items may always be sold at half base price, without needing to spend a workweek or 25gp.

Resolution. A character who wants to sell an item must make a Charisma (Persuasion) check to determine what kind of offer comes in. The character can always opt not to sell, instead forfeiting the workweek of effort and trying again later. Use the Magic Item Base Prices and Magic Item Offer tables to determine the sale price.

Magic Item Base Prices

Rarity	Base Price
Common	100 gp (consumable 50gp)
Uncommon	400 gp (consumable 200gp)
Rare	4,000 gp (consumable 1,000gp*)
Very rare	20,000 gp (consumable 5,000gp*)
Legendary	100,000 gp (consumable 25,000gp*)

*change from XGTE.

These prices are indicative only. Item prices may vary within a rarity bracket, eg magic padded armour +1 will likely sell for less than magic plate armour +1.

Magic Item Offer (Persuasion Check)

For Superior items, the offer is one category higher. Eg for a Very Rare-Superior the minimum offer on a roll 5 or less is 5,000gp, and on a roll of 25-29 the offer is 40,000gp. 

Check Total	Offer
5 or less 6-9 10-14	No buyer 25% of base price (Very Rare 5,000gp) 50% of base price (Very Rare 10,000gp)
15-19 20-24	75% of base price (Very Rare 15,000gp) 100% of base price (Very Rare 20,000gp)
25-29 30 or higher	150% of base price (Very Rare 30,000gp) 200% of base price (Very Rare 40,000gp) On a roll of 30+ the offer for a Superior item is 250% of base price (Very Rare 50,000gp)