D&D: Five Consumables that are Worth the Gold
D&D is full of mundane and magic items, some of which you can even buy in a little shop. Which ones are worth it though?
When it comes to D&D, going out and going shopping is about as good as it gets. After all, adventurers long to take their hard-won gold and spend it on a little treat. Everyone loves to have a trinket. Or a potion. Or the occasional ointment.
Because a big part of feeling like you’re doinga good job in D&D is being able to have the tools to address any situation. And sure, you can rely on class features for a lot of things. But these consumable items, magic and/or otherwise, are often worth the price of gold and using in any fight.
Holy Water
This one is a D&D classic. Like Costco hot dogs, the price hasn’t changed since 1st Edition. 25 gold pieces worth of silver will get you a vial of holy water, even in this economy. And it’s a great catchall item to have, especially at the lower levels when you’re often hard pressed to deal reliable damage to undead who might be incorporeal or otherwise resistant to regular damage.
A vial of holy water, well-thrown can help you deal with ghosts, finish off zombies, and more. At higher levels, you may not get a lot out of it, but that’s when you start to tell the DM that you’re interested in investing in quantity. After all, at 2d6 Radiant damage per vial, if you start to tie a few together, it could potentially add up.
Potion of Healing
Is there any magic item more ubiquitous than a potion of healing. The one magic item that no DM will ever say “no, you can’t buy them.” These are so ingrained upon our collective unconscious that you already know these are vials of red liquid, and that they’ll top you up or prop you up, depending on where your hit points are.
And in D&D 5.5E when you can drink one as a bonus action? You’re about to do a lot more in combat chugging.
Muroosa Balm
This is a slightly less common magic item. You’ll find it in Explorer’s Guide to Wildemount. Initially intended for use as a sunscreen (and let this be a reminder to you to put some on now that we’re in the peak of summer), this paste also functions as a balm of fire resistance, giving you fire resistance for an hour. This property makes it the perfect item to bring with you on a Red Dragon hunt, or any other timey ou know you’re up against fire-breathing foes.
Ryath Root
This little item out of Tomb of Annihilation is like a proactive healing potion. Consume one root and you’ll gain 2d4 temporary hit points, granting you a buffer of health above and beyond your maximum. Sure, you can only eat one before you have to make a DC 13 Constitution save to avoid being Poisoned, but even if you fail, that status only lasts an hour. So start your day with a handful of Ryath Root.
Dust of Disappearance
This magical dust comes in a little satchel. And when you take an action to throw it into the air, you can cause you and everyone within ten feet of where you’re sprinkling the dust to become invisible. This is a great way to turn the whole party invisible for a few minutes, though you’ll want to move fast, since like other consumables, it’s effectiveness is determined by 2d4 – that’s how many minutes of invisibility you’ll have. So once you throw this in the air, get moving.
What are some of your favorite expendable items?
