The price of a Wand of Magical Projectiles in Dungeons and Dragons 5e is an important consideration for players looking to purchase or acquire one in-game. Wands of Magical Projectiles are a type of magical item that allow the user to cast a variety of damaging spells using a limited number of charges. The price of these wands may vary depending on the specifics of the campaign and the availability of magical items in the game world. In general, wands in Dungeons and Dragons 5e have a wide range of prices, based on their rarity and power level. Wands of Magical Projectiles are typically classified as uncommon, meaning they are less powerful than rare or legendary wands but still offer useful magical abilities. The Dungeon Master's Guide provides a table of suggested prices for various types of magical items, based on their rarity.
Practially, however, there's a reason that this fan-made list of Sane Magic Item Prices has become so popular - it corrects what many see as an obvious deficiency within the game. Before you give your players an item, why not check its relative value on this list and see how it compares to other items, either of its rarity, or that produce similar effects - you might find that doing so saves you from making a potentially costly mistake (it's not infallible but it's saved me a couple of times).
The Wings give you a fly speed of 60 feet for one hour but then require a 1d12 hour cooldown period after each use before they can be activated again. Before you give your players an item, why not check its relative value on this list and see how it compares to other items, either of its rarity, or that produce similar effects - you might find that doing so saves you from making a potentially costly mistake it s not infallible but it s saved me a couple of times.
The Dungeon Master's Guide provides a table of suggested prices for various types of magical items, based on their rarity. According to this table, an uncommon magic item like a Wand of Magical Projectiles would have a suggested price range of 101-500 gold pieces. However, it's important to note that these prices are simply suggestions and can be adjusted by the Dungeon Master to fit the specific needs and balance of their campaign.
The 8000gp Wand of Magic Missiles
TLDR at bottom, and thanks for indulging me and reading my short story.
So I just started DMing for a group of 3 players, 2 of which have never played before (now a sorcerer and a druid). After a short two-shot (The Eldritch Farm, which was great, thanks to u/phonz1851) I have decided to run Waterdeep: Dragon Heist for this group.
First session of DH, and I am explaining to these brand new players about how Waterdeep is huge, unlike the small village they just helped out, and that there would be opportunities to buy magic items and such. The sorceress asks what kind of magic items are available that would be good for her (I was very proud of this question, they grow up so fast). So I told her that there would be wands that would allow her to cast certain spells, like magic missile (which is one of her known spells), without using a spell slot. She seemed intrigued and asked some passerby NPCs about where she would be able to find a wand shop.
So they guided her to a shop. She enters and asks about buying a Wand of Magic Missiles. I did a quick google to find out the price (I hadn't anticipated this before the session) and the very first hit says that it would be 8000gp. I felt like an idiot telling her that because she had done such a good job of role-playing to that point, only to be told that it was 80x the amount of gold she currently has. I felt like this also made me look like a tool. "Oh yeah, use some time to go buy some cool stuff! Sike! You won't have that much gold for a long time." So, she settled on a broken Wand of Magic Missiles (which the shopkeep just so happened to have) that has 6 charges, but won't regain charges ever, for 70gp.
I did more research later and found out that this price was off of a list that was a "community made" list. The following is a link to a PDF with magic item prices etc. https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8XAiXpOfz9cMWt1RTBicmpmUDg/view?usp=sharing
The DM guide on page 135 has the "Magic Item Rarity" table, and it says that uncommon magic items should/can be given to players who are higher than level 1 (which my players are) and should cost between 101-500gp.
So, why in the world would a Wand of Magic Missiles cost so much? I understand that this is an amazing resource for a sorcerer, given how few spells they can learn, and is great for spell slot management. Is it a good magic item for a 2nd level sorcerer? Definitely. Is it 8000gp good? I don't feel like it is. It's not like she is going to be running around one-shotting everything they come across with a 9th level magic missile, and it is a great opportunity to have an enemy spellcaster use shield against her.
I fully understand that there is nothing forcing me use this PDF for magic item prices, and I will likely retcon the whole scenario, I just wanted to gather some ideas as to why such a relatively lowly magic item would cost so much. I would put it closer to the 500gp range.
tldr: why would a Wand of Magic Missiles cost 8000gp (as decided by "the community," which includes this sub), when the DM guide says magic items of that rarity/power should cost between 101-500gp?
From what I understand, uncommon magic items are less valuable than rare items in terms of functional power and monetary value. From the DMG (pg. 135), uncommon items are worth 101–500 gp while rare items are worth 501–5,000 gp. I was reading through various magic items and noticed the following items:
Additionally, the availability of magical items in the game world can impact their price. If magic is common and easily accessible in the campaign setting, the price of a Wand of Magical Projectiles may be lower. Conversely, if magic is rare and valuable, the price may be higher. Ultimately, the price of a Wand of Magical Projectiles in Dungeons and Dragons 5e can vary depending on the specifics of the campaign and the preferences of the Dungeon Master. It's important for players to discuss with their DM and negotiate a fair price if they are looking to purchase or acquire a wand in-game..
Reviews for "Are There Alternatives to the Wand of Magical Projectiles in 5e That are More Affordable?"
1. John - 1 star - The "Wand of Magical Projectiles" in 5e is a complete waste of money. It is incredibly overpriced for what it offers. The range and damage potential are severely lacking compared to other similar items available in the game. Additionally, the wand requires attunement, which further limits its usefulness. Save your gold and invest in something better.
2. Sarah - 2 stars - I was excited to use the "Wand of Magical Projectiles" in my campaign, but it turned out to be a disappointment. The projectiles it produces are weak and don't provide the impact I was hoping for. The price is outrageous for an item that is essentially just a fancy stick. I would not recommend wasting your resources on this wand.
3. Mike - 1 star - The "Wand of Magical Projectiles" is not worth the price tag. The damage it deals is subpar, and the range is quite limited. I expected better results from an item that claims to be a powerful magical weapon. I regret purchasing this wand and would advise others to look for better options that offer more bang for their buck.