You can Activate an Item with the invested trait only if it’s invested by you.

If an activation has the manipulate trait, you can activate it only if you’re wielding the item (if it’s a held item) or touching it with a free hand (if it’s another type of item).

Some items take minutes or hours to activate. You can’t use other actions or reactions while activating such an item, though at the GM’s discretion, you might be able to speak a few sentences. As with other activities that take a long time, these activations have the exploration trait, and you can’t activate them in an encounter. If combat breaks out while you’re activating one, your activation is disrupted (see the Disrupting Activations sidebar).

Some items can be activated only a limited number of times per day, as described in the item’s entry. This limit is independent of any costs for activating the item. The limit resets during your daily preparations. The limit is inherent to the item, so if an ability that can be used only once per day is used, it doesn’t refresh if another creature later invests or tries to activate the item.

If an item lists “Cast a Spell” after “Activate,” you have to use the same actions as casting the spell to Activate the Item, unless noted otherwise. This happens when the item replicates a spell. You must have a spellcasting class feature to Activate an Item with this activation. Refer to the spell’s stat block to determine which actions you must spend to Activate the Item to cast the spell. You essentially go through the same process you normally do to cast the spell but draw the energy for the spell from the magic item. All the normal traits of the spell apply when you cast it by Activating an Item.

Some items, once activated, have effects that can be sustained if you concentrate on them. Sustaining an effect requires using the Sustain action. If an item’s description states that you can sustain the effect, that effect lasts until the end of your turn in the round after you Activated the Item. You can use a Sustain action on that turn to extend the duration.

Some item effects can be dismissed, ending the duration early due to you or the target taking action. Dismissing an activation requires using the Dismiss action.

An item’s level indicates what level of adventurer the item is best suited for, but there’s no limit to the items a character can use based on level. A 3rd-level character who finds an item of 4th level or higher while adventuring can use it normally, and they can purchase the item if they can find it for sale and can afford it. When making items, a character can Craft only items whose level is equal to or lower than their own.

If an item is available for purchase, a character can typically buy it for the listed Price, and the character uses this Price when they use the Craft activity to make the item. If a character wants to sell an item, they can sell it for half its Price (or full Price, if they made the item for someone else on commission), assuming they’re able to find a buyer. The GM determines whether a buyer is available.

An item’s stat block includes a Usage entry that indicates whether a character must be holding or wearing the item in order to use it, or whether they instead must have it etched or affixed onto another item.

An item might require the crafter to provide specific raw materials, supply spells, or meet other special requirements to Craft it. These appear in the Craft Requirements entry of the stat block. Any of these Craft Requirements are in addition to the normal requirements for crafting the item.

Etching a rune largely follows the same process as Crafting items, though runes can be transferred and follow some other special rules detailed here.

Some items with multiple type entries get special treatment when it comes to formulas and upgrades. The existing knowledge you have about the item means you don't need to start from scratch with these items.

If you have the formula for an item, you don't need a different formula to Craft a different type of that item that's just a higher-level upgrade. For example, if you have the formula for a +1 weapon potency rune, you don't need to secure a new formula to etch a +2 weapon potency rune. This works similarly with items such as a spacious pouch with its multiple types or doubling rings with a base version and greater version.

You can also upgrade an item or rune to a stronger version. This essentially means you Craft a permanent item from a lower-level version of the same item. For example, you might upgrade +1 weapon potency rune to a +2 weapon potency rune or upgrade a spacious pouch type I to a spacious pouch type II. The cost for this upgrade is the full difference in Price between the items, and the Crafting check uses a DC for the item's new level. You don't have to upgrade step by step either! You could upgrade a spacious pouch type I directly to type III or type IV.

If the different types in an item entry are wildly different, such as with aeon stones or marvelous miniatures, you need separate formulas and can't directly upgrade the items. If a type of the item has a higher rarity, that type requires its own formula. The GM will make the determination if it's unclear and might bypass these rules in special circumstances or if it suits the theme of their game.

Most magic weapons and armor gain their enhancements from potent eldritch runes etched into them. These runes allow for in-depth customization of items.

Runes must be physically engraved on items through a special process to convey their effects. They take two forms: fundamental runes and property runes. Fundamental runes offer the most basic and essential benefits: a weapon potency rune adds a bonus to a weapon's attack rolls, and the striking rune adds extra weapon damage dice. An armor potency rune increases the armor's item bonus to AC, and the resilient rune grants a bonus to the wearer's saving throws. A reinforcing rune increases a shield's durability. Property runes, by contrast, grant more varied effects—typically powers that take effect each time the weapon is used or that are constant while the armor is worn, such as a rune that grants energy resistance or one that adds fire damage to a weapon's attacks.

The number of property runes a weapon or armor can have is equal to the value of its potency rune. A +1 weapon can have one property rune, but it could hold another if the +1 weapon potency rune were upgraded to a +2 weapon potency rune. Since the striking and resilient runes are fundamental runes, they don't count against this limit. A shield can't have property runes, only a reinforcing rune.

An item with runes is typically referred to by the value of its potency rune, followed by any other fundamental runes, then the names of any property runes, and ends with the name of the base item. For example, you might have a +1 longsword or +2 greater resilient fire-resistant chain mail.

Rune-etched items have the same Bulk and general characteristics as the non-magical version unless noted otherwise. The level of an item with runes etched onto it is equal to the highest level among the base item and all runes etched on it; therefore, a +1 striking mace (a 4th-level item) with a frost rune (an 8th-level rune) would be an 8th-level item.

Each rune can be etched into a specific type of armor, shield, or weapon, as indicated in the Usage entry of the rune's stat block. Explorer's clothing can have armor runes etched on it even though it's not armor, but because it's not in the light, medium, or heavy armor category, it can't have runes requiring any of those categories.

Fundamental Runes

Fundamental Rune	Etched Onto	Benefit
Armor potency	Armor	Increase item bonus to AC and determine maximum number of property runes
Resilient	Armor	Grant item bonus to saves
Reinforcing	Shield	Increase Hardness, HP, and BT
Weapon potency	Weapon	Grant an item bonus to attack rolls and determine maximum number of property runes
Striking	Weapon	Increase weapon damage dice

Table 11-6: Armor Upgrade Prices

Starting Armor	Improved Armor	Price and Process
+1 armor	+1 resilient armor	340 gp to etch resilient (8th level)
+1 resilient armor	+2 resilient armor	900 gp to etch +2 armor potency (11th level)
+2 resilient armor	+2 greater resilient armor	3,100 gp to etch greater resilient (14th level)
+2 greater resilient armor	+3 greater resilient armor	19,500 gp to etch +3 armor potency (18th level)
+3 greater resilient armor	+3 major resilient armor	46,000 gp to etch major resilient (20th level)

Table 11-7: Weapon Upgrade Prices

Starting Weapon	Improved Weapon	Price and Process
+1 weapon	+1 striking weapon	65 gp to etch striking (4th level)
+1 striking weapon	+2 striking weapon	900 gp to etch +2 weapon potency (10th level)
+2 striking weapon	+2 greater striking weapon	1,000 gp to etch greater striking (12th level)
+2 greater striking weapon	+3 greater striking weapon	8,000 gp to etch +3 weapon potency (16th level)
+3 greater striking weapon	+3 major striking weapon	30,000 gp to etch major striking (19th level)

Suits of armor can be crafted from precious materials or infused with magic to grant them abilities exceeding those of typical armor. Many suits of magic armor are created by etching runes onto them. The magic armor stat block lists the Price and attributes of the most common armors you can make with fundamental runes. Other special suits of armor might be made of precious materials, and some are specially crafted items all on their own.

Though shields can't be etched with weapon or armor runes, they can be improved by a specific type of fundamental rune known as a reinforcing rune. Reinforcing runes can be etched only on shields, including specific shields, and every reinforcing rune includes maximum Hardness and Hit Point values. Since the runes work by increasing the structural integrity of a shield by a certain amount, they can't increase the durability of a shield beyond a listed maximum value. Shields can't be etched with property runes, only reinforcing runes.

All magic shields are specific items with a wide variety of protective effects, as described in their entries.

Weapons can be crafted from precious materials or infused with magic to grant them powerful and unusual abilities.

An alchemical bomb combines volatile components that explode when the bomb hits a creature or object. Most alchemical bombs deal damage, though some produce other effects. Bombs have the bomb trait.

Bombs are martial thrown weapons with a range increment of 20 feet. When you throw a bomb, you make a weapon attack roll against the target's AC, as you would for any other weapon. It takes one hand to draw, prepare, and throw a bomb. The bomb is activated when thrown as a Strike—you don't have to activate it separately. As consumables, bombs can't have runes etched onto them, have talismans attached to them, or benefit from runes granted in other ways (such as from spells or from items that replicate runes from other items). Spells and magic items that give you a bonus to all your attacks (or to all thrown weapons, for example) can still apply to them.

Click here for the Alchemical Bombs category page.

Elixirs are alchemical liquids that are used by drinking them. They have the elixir trait. These potent concoctions grant the drinker some alchemical benefits.

Click here for the Alchemical Elixirs category page.

Alchemical poisons are potent toxins distilled or extracted from natural sources and made either stronger or easier to administer. Each poison's stat block includes the Price and features for a single dose. Poison doses are typically kept in a vial or some other type of safe and secure container.

Applying alchemical poisons uses Interact actions. A poison typically requires one hand to pour into food or scatter in the air. Applying a poison to a weapon or another item requires two hands, with one hand holding the weapon or item. The Usage entry for a poison indicates the number of hands needed for a typical means of application, but the GM might determine that using poisons in other ways functions differently.

The full rules for how poisons and other afflictions work are found here. A creature attempts the listed saving throw as soon as it's exposed to the poison; on a failed save, the creature advances to Stage 1 of the poison after any listed onset time elapses.

Virulent Poisons: Some poisons have the virulent trait. You must succeed at two consecutive saves to reduce a virulent affliction's stage by 1. A critical success reduces a virulent affliction's stage by only 1 instead of by 2.

Click here for the Alchemical Poisons category page.

Alchemical tools are consumable items you don’t drink.

Click here for the Alchemical Tools category page.

The table below provides the Hardness, Hit Points, Broken Threshold, and example items for some types of common materials. The table has separate entries for thin items (like shields), ordinary items (like armor), and reinforced or durable structures (such as walls).

Stone is a catchall for any hard stone, such as granite and marble. Likewise, wood covers ordinary woods, such as oak and pine. Metal weapons and armor are assumed to be made of iron or steel unless noted otherwise.

If an object consists of more than one material, the GM typically uses the statistics for the strongest material involved. For instance, breaking a wall made of paper panels over a woven wooden framework would require damaging thin wood, not paper. However, the GM might choose the weaker material based on the item's function. For instance, breaking the wooden handle of a hammer rather than its iron head would still render the item unusable. Sometimes an item is even less sturdy than the Hardness and Hit Points provided for a thin object; for instance, a twig doesn't take 9 damage to break, even though it's made of thin wood. Similarly, a particularly sturdy item or structure might have even higher Hardness and Hit Points. Certain structures, particularly thick walls, are so reinforced that you have to break them down over time with tools. (More information on walls can be found here.)

Table 11-4: Material Hardness, Hit Points, and Broken Threshold

Material	Hardness	HP	BT	Example Items
Paper	0	1	—	Book pages, paper fan, scroll
Thin cloth	0	1	—	Kite, silk dress, undershirt
Thin glass	0	1	—	Bottle, spectacles, window pane
Cloth	1	4	2	Cloth armor, heavy jacket, sack, tent
Glass	1	4	2	Glass block, glass table, heavy vase
Glass structure	2	8	4	Glass block wall
Thin leather	2	8	4	Backpack, jacket, pouch, strap, whip
Thin rope	2	8	4	Standard adventuring rope
Thin wood	3	12	6	Chair, club, sapling, wooden shield
Leather	4	16	8	Leather armor, saddle
Rope	4	16	8	Industrial rope, ship rigging
Thin stone	5	16	8	Chalkboard, slate tiles, stone cladding
Thin iron or steel	5	20	10	Chain, steel shield, sword
Wood	5	20	10	Chest, simple door, table, tree trunk
Stone	7	28	14	Paving stone, statue
Iron or steel	9	36	18	Anvil, iron or steel armor, stove
Wooden structure	10	40	20	Reinforced door, wooden wall
Stone structure	14	56	28	Stone wall
Iron or steel structure	18	72	36	Iron plate wall

These magic items are ammunition for ranged weapons. Each item's stat block includes an Ammunition entry that lists which type of ammunition it can be Crafted as, or “any” if it's not limited to any particular type. All stat blocks for ammunition omit the Usage and Bulk entries; use the standard rules for the type of ammunition to determine reloading times and Bulk.

When using magic ammunition, use your ranged weapon's fundamental runes to determine the attack modifier and damage dice. Don't add the effects of your weapon's property runes unless the ammunition states otherwise—the ammunition creates its own effects. Magic ammunition deals damage on a hit normally in addition to any listed effects unless its description states otherwise.

Regardless of whether an attack with magic ammunition hits or misses, launching the ammunition consumes its magic. Magic ammunition is made of normal materials, not precious materials, unless stated otherwise.

Click here for the Magical Ammunition category page.

Casting a Spell from a scroll requires holding the scroll in one hand and activating it with a Cast a Spell activity using the normal number of actions for that spell. The spell must appear on your spell list. Because you're the one Casting the Spell, use your spell attack modifier and spell DC. The spell also gains the appropriate trait for your tradition (arcane, divine, occult, or primal).

Any physical costs are provided when a scroll is created, so you don't need to provide them when casting from a scroll. If the spell requires a locus, you must have that locus to Cast the Spell from a scroll.

All scrolls have the same base statistics unless noted otherwise. A scroll has light Bulk and must be held in one hand to be activated.

The process to Craft a scroll is much like that to Craft any other magic item. When you begin the crafting process, choose a spell to put into the scroll. You must either Cast that Spell during the crafting process, or someone else must do so in your presence. Casting that Spell doesn't produce its normal effects; instead, the magic is trapped inside the scroll. The casting must come from a spellcaster expending a spell slot. You can't Craft a scroll from a spell produced from another magic item, for example. The caster must provide any cost of the spell. A scroll's rarity is the same as that of the spell it contains.

Like other consumables, scrolls can be crafted in batches of four. All scrolls of one batch must contain the same spell at the same rank, and you must provide one casting for each scroll that is crafted.

A scroll’s Price and level are based on the spell. The name is simply “scroll of,” followed by the spell’s name.

Each talisman’s stat block indicates the type of item it can be affixed to. Affixing or removing a talisman requires using the Affix a Talisman activity. A single talisman can be affixed to only one item at a time, and an item can have only one talisman affixed to it at a time without suppressing them all.

These are but a few of the talismans available.

Click here for the Talismans category page.

When you Invest an Item that has the apex trait, it improves one of your attributes, either increasing the attribute’s modifier by 1 or to a total of +4, whichever would give you a higher value. This gives you all the benefits of the new attribute modifier until the investiture ends. For example, in addition to increasing rolls you make using the attribute, increasing your Intelligence lets you become trained in an additional skill and learn a new language, and increasing your Constitution gives you more Hit Points.

An apex item grants this benefit only the first time it’s invested within a 24-hour period, and you can benefit from only one apex item at a time. If you attempt to invest an apex item when you already have one invested, you don’t gain the attribute modifier increase, though you do gain any other effects of Investing the Item.

Click here for the Apex Items category page.

You might want to acquire items that benefit a creature that assists you, such as an animal companion, familiar, or bonded animal. These items have the companion trait, meaning they function only for animal companions, familiars, and similar creatures. Normally, these are the only items a companion can use. Other items can qualify at the GM's discretion, but a companion can never Activate an Item.

Any worn companion item needs to be invested. However, your companion needs to invest it, rather than you doing so. This requires you to use the Invest an Item activity alongside your companion, helping them attune to the item and ensuring it is properly fit. A companion has an investiture limit of two items (instead of the 10-item limit a player character has).

Click here for the Companion Items category page.

These items need to be held to use them. Weapons, wands, and staves follow special rules and have their own sections.

Click here for the Held Items category page.

A magical staff is an indispensable accessory for a spellcaster. A staff is tied to a person during a preparation process, after which the preparer, and only the preparer, can use the staff to produce magic. The spells that can be cast from a staff are listed in bullet points organized by rank. Staves can be found in multiple types, with more powerful types containing more spells—such a staff always contains the spells of all lower-level types of the staff, in addition to the spells listed in its own entry. All magical staves have the staff trait.

Click here for the Staves category page.

Short, slender items typically made of wood, wands let you cast a specific spell without expending a spell slot. They can be used once per day, but can be overcharged to attempt to cast them again at great risk. Each wand holds a spell of a certain rank, determined when the wand is created. Cantrips, focus spells, and rituals can't be placed in wands.

If you find a wand, you can try to deduce what spell is in it. If the spell is a common spell from your spell list or is a spell you know, you can use a single Recall Knowledge action and automatically succeed. If it's not, you must Identify Magic.

This section includes magic items you wear. Most have the invested trait, which means you can wear no more than 10. Armor appears in its own section here, high-level apex items that can increase ability modifiers are here, and worn items for pets appear here.

Click here for the Worn Items category page.

Gems are naturally occurring minerals, typically in a crystalline form, or, in a few cases, organic material such as amber, coral, and pearls. All but the largest gems weigh about half as much as a coin, so about 2,000 gems is 1 Bulk. Unworked gems are worth half the Price of a finished gem and can serve as the minimum raw materials necessary to Craft the finished gem. Lesser semiprecious stones are level 0 items, moderate and greater semiprecious stones are 1st-level items, lesser and moderate precious stones are 4th-level items that require expert proficiency to Craft, and greater precious stones are 7th-level items that require master proficiency to Craft.

Table 2-23: Gems

d%	Lesser Semiprecious Stones	Price
1–7	Agate	1d4×5 sp
8–14	Alabaster	1d4×5 sp
15–21	Azurite	1d4×5 sp
22–28	Hematite	1d4×5 sp
29–35	Lapis lazuli	1d4×5 sp
36–42	Malachite	1d4×5 sp
43–49	Obsidian	1d4×5 sp
50–56	Pearl, irregular freshwater	1d4×5 sp
57–63	Pyrite	1d4×5 sp
64–70	Rhodochrosite	1d4×5 sp
71–77	Quartz, rock crystal	1d4×5 sp
78–84	Shell	1d4×5 sp
85–92	Tiger’s-eye	1d4×5 sp
93–100	Turquoise	1d4×5 sp
d%	Moderate Semiprecious Stones	Price
1–7	Bloodstone	1d4×25 sp
8–14	Carnelian	1d4×25 sp
15–21	Chrysoprase	1d4×25 sp
22–28	Citrine	1d4×25 sp
29–35	Ivory	1d4×25 sp
36–42	Jasper	1d4×25 sp
43–49	Moonstone	1d4×25 sp
50–56	Onyx	1d4×25 sp
57–63	Peridot	1d4×25 sp
64–70	Quartz, milky, rose, or smoky	1d4×25 sp
71–77	Sard	1d4×25 sp
78–84	Sardonyx	1d4×25 sp
85–92	Spinel, red or green	1d4×25 sp
93–100	Zircon	1d4×25 sp
d%	Greater Semiprecious Stones	Price
1–10	Amber	1d4×5 gp
11–20	Amethyst	1d4×5 gp
21–30	Chrysoberyl	1d4×5 gp
31–40	Coral	1d4×5 gp
41–50	Garnet	1d4×5 gp
51–60	Jade	1d4×5 gp
61–70	Jet	1d4×5 gp
71–80	Pearl, saltwater	1d4×5 gp
81–90	Spinel, deep blue	1d4×5 gp
91–100	Tourmaline	1d4×5 gp
d%	Lesser Precious Stones	Price
1–25	Aquamarine	1d4×50 gp
26–50	Opal	1d4×50 gp
51–75	Pearl, black	1d4×50 gp
76–100	Topaz	1d4×50 gp
d%	Moderate Precious Stones	Price
1–25	Diamond, small	1d4×100 gp
26–50	Emerald	1d4×100 gp
51–75	Ruby, small	1d4×100 gp
76–100	Sapphire	1d4×100 gp
d%	Greater Precious Stones	Price
1–25	Diamond, large	1d4×500 gp
26–50	Emerald, brilliant green	1d4×500 gp
51–75	Ruby, large	1d4×500 gp
76–100	Star sapphire	1d4×500 gp

These pieces of artwork have listed Prices, but might be more valuable to a collector or someone with a personal connection. Consider whether the PCs could discover this information and secure a greater reward. For instance, a dwarven crown might be worth 1,000 gp for its exquisite crafting, but even more to the dwarves who lost the crown of their first queen long ago.

On the other hand, the materials used to make an art object, such as the paint and the canvas of a painting, are worth far less than the finished object. Some art objects on the following tables include uncommon or rare precious materials, though usually not in large enough amounts for other crafting purposes. If you're rolling randomly and don't want to give out an uncommon or rare material, roll again or modify the description (for instance, you might change a dawnsilver crown to a gold crown).

Table 2-24: Sample Art Objects

d%	Minor Art Object	Price
1–5	Elegant cloth doll	1d4 gp
6–10	Scrimshaw whale bone	1d4 gp
11–15	Illustrated book	1d4 gp
16–20	Brass statuette of a bull	1d4 gp
21–25	Carved wooden game set	1d4 gp
26–30	Set of six ivory dice	1d4 gp
31–35	Engraved copper ring	1d4 gp
36–40	Lapis lazuli pendant	1d4 gp
41–45	Hand mirror with decorated frame	1d4 gp
46–50	Colorful velvet half mask	1d4 gp
51–55	Set of decorated ceramic plates	1d4 gp
56–60	Leather flagon with Caydenite symbol	1d4 gp
61–65	Bronze bowl with wave imagery	1d4 gp
66–70	Brass anklet	1d4 gp
71–75	Iron cauldron with gargoyle faces	1d4 gp
76–80	Silver religious symbol	1d4 gp
81–85	Bronze brazier with Asmodean artwork	1d4 gp
86–90	Plain brass censer	1d4 gp
91–95	Simple sculpture	1d4 gp
96–100	Simple painting	1d4 gp
d%	Lesser Art Object	Price
1–5	Silk ceremonial armor	1d4×10 gp
6–10	Inscribed crocodile skull	1d4×10 gp
11–15	Illuminated manuscript	1d4×10 gp
16–20	Simple silver circlet	1d4×10 gp
21–25	Copper statuette of a salamander	1d4×10 gp
26–30	Alabaster and obsidian game set	1d4×10 gp
31–35	Silk fan decorated with turquoise	1d4×10 gp
36–40	Ceremonial dagger with onyx hilt	1d4×10 gp
41–45	Amphora with lavish scenes	1d4×10 gp
46–50	Colorful pastoral tapestry	1d4×10 gp
51–55	Chrysoberyl symbol of an evil eye	1d4×10 gp
56–60	Alabaster idol	1d4×10 gp
61–65	Silk mask decorated with citrines	1d4×10 gp
66–70	Set of decorated porcelain plates	1d4×10 gp
71–75	Etched copper ewer	1d4×10 gp
76–80	Brass scepter with amethyst head	1d4×10 gp
81–85	Bronze chalice with bloodstones	1d4×10 gp
86–90	Iron and rock crystal brazier	1d4×10 gp
91–95	Quality sculpture by an unknown	1d4×10 gp
96–100	Quality painting by an unknown	1d4×10 gp
d%	Moderate Art Object	Price
1–5	Porcelain doll with amber eyes	1d4×25 gp
6–10	Marble altar	1d4×25 gp
11–15	Parade armor with flourishes	1d4×25 gp
16–20	Silver coronet with peridots	1d4×25 gp
21–25	Moonstone and onyx game set	1d4×25 gp
26–30	Gold and garnet ring	1d4×25 gp
31–35	Ceremonial shortsword with spinels	1d4×25 gp
36–40	Silver statuette of a raven	1d4×25 gp
41–45	Porcelain vase inlaid with gold	1d4×25 gp
46–50	Enormous tapestry of a major battle	1d4×25 gp
51–55	Gold necklace with peridots	1d4×25 gp
56–60	Virtuoso silver flute	1d4×25 gp
61–65	Coral idol of an elemental lord	1d4×25 gp
66–70	Silver mirror with gilded frame	1d4×25 gp
71–75	Silver flagon inscribed with fields	1d4×25 gp
76–80	Copper and spinel puzzle box	1d4×25 gp
81–85	Small cold iron cauldron with onyx	1d4×25 gp
86–90	Silver and jade censer	1d4×25 gp
91–95	Life-size sculpture by an expert	1d4×25 gp
96–100	Wide landscape by an expert	1d4×25 gp
d%	Greater Art Object	Price
1–5	Gilded ceremonial armor	1d4×250 gp
6–10	Ancient dragon skull etched with mystic sigils	1d4×250 gp
11–15	Original manuscript from a world-famous author	1d4×250 gp
16–20	Gold and aquamarine diadem	1d4×250 gp
21–25	Gold dragon statuette	1d4×250 gp
26–30	Jet and white gold game set	1d4×250 gp
31–35	Gold rapier with amethysts	1d4×250 gp
36–40	Gold urn with scenes of judgment	1d4×250 gp
41–45	Splendid lyre of world-famous lyrist	1d4×250 gp
46–50	Platinum-framed monocle	1d4×250 gp
51–55	Gold mask of a high priest	1d4×250 gp
56–60	Crystal dinner set, fine silverware	1d4×250 gp
61–65	Gold and opal bracelet	1d4×250 gp
66–70	Intricate silver and gold music box	1d4×250 gp
71–75	Jeweled orrery of the planes	1d4×250 gp
76–80	Gilded scepter with sapphire	1d4×250 gp
81–85	Fine gold spyglass	1d4×250 gp
86–90	Gold chalice with black pearls	1d4×250 gp
91–95	Towering sculpture by a master	1d4×250 gp
96–100	Famous portrait by a master	1d4×250 gp
d%	Major Art Object	Price
1–5	Jewel-encrusted gold altar	1d4×1,000 gp
6–10	Saint’s bone with lost scriptures	1d4×1,000 gp
11–15	Previously lost volume from a legendary author	1d4×1,000 gp
16–20	Jeweled mithral crown	1d4×1,000 gp
21–25	Platinum dragon statuette	1d4×1,000 gp
26–30	Diamond ring with platinum band	1d4×1,000 gp
31–35	Star sapphire necklace	1d4×1,000 gp
36–40	Darkwood violin by a legend	1d4×1,000 gp
41–45	Platinum image of a fey noble with a bit of orichalcum	1d4×1,000 gp
46–50	Jeweled gold puzzle box	1d4×1,000 gp
51–55	Crystallized dragon heart	1d4×1,000 gp
56–60	Living flame shaped into a phoenix	1d4×1,000 gp
61–65	Phasing ether silk tapestry	1d4×1,000 gp
66–70	Solidified moment of time	1d4×1,000 gp
71–75	Tankard owned by Cayden Cailean	1d4×1,000 gp
76–80	Thought lens of astral essence	1d4×1,000 gp
81–85	Divine art piece created by Shelyn	1d4×1,000 gp
86–90	Chandelier crafted from dreams	1d4×1,000 gp
91–95	Enormous chryselephantine sculpture by a legend	1d4×1,000 gp
96–100	Major painting by a legend	1d4×1,000 gp

Every artifact is an item with the artifact trait. This trait means two things: the item can’t be crafted or have its runes adjusted by normal means, and it can’t be damaged by normal means. Artifacts are always rare or unique. The ones found here are all 20th level or higher, which is typical for artifacts. The other rules for wearing or using the item still apply.

Mechanically, an artifact functions in the game just like any other item—only the scope of its abilities is different. Artifacts can and should do things normal items can't, so you don't need to apply the normal limitations on creating items.

When you're making an artifact, start by defining its role in the story. Is it meant to be a powerful weapon against the forces of darkness? A mercurial force injecting random chance? A terrible danger that needs to be destroyed? The artifact's role in the story affects the features you give it. Come up with some story beats that make sense for the item, then create abilities that enable those moments. An artifact can have more abilities than a typical item—just make sure they all fit its theme.

Give your item the artifact trait and either the rare trait (if there multiple items of its kind), or the unique trait (if only one exists). Other traits work like they do for any other item. An artifact is usually 20th level or higher, but its specific level is up to you. Imagine who created it and what their level likely was.

Though you can disregard most of the normal limitations on items, be careful not to create an artifact that will undermine your story. If your item's abilities are so useful or strong that the best option in any battle is to always use the artifact to annihilate the opposition, the artifact has taken over your story instead of serving it. A 5th-level character with access to 10th-rank spells through an artifact can lead to incredible stories, but if the DC is so high that enemies are guaranteed to critically fail against those spells except on a natural 20, the item will probably distort play more than you intended. To avoid this, you might set the item's DCs, attack bonuses, and the spell ranks of its offensive abilities significantly lower than they would be for an item of its level, especially if they can be used at will. You could also create artifacts that use the wielder's spell DC instead of having their own DC, to make them more broadly usable at a wider range of levels. In addition, an artifact's abilities should be somewhat narrow in their application; aim to make your artifacts very powerful in certain situations, rather than having broadly applicable abilities. For instance, Serithtial deals additional damage against creatures that are worshippers of Zon-Kuthon, which makes the weapon very effective when facing those creatures, but not against every foe the PCs run across.

Countless artifacts have been created over the ages, only a few of which are described here.

Click here for the Artifacts category page.

Every intelligent item has the intelligent trait. Intelligent items can’t be crafted by normal means—typically an accident, a divine act, or a major sacrifice on the part of the creator is required to grant the item the mental essence it needs for sentience, and in some rare cases the spiritual essence it needs to have a soul of its own. Because of this, intelligent items are always rare or unique. The normal statistics and rules for wearing or using an item of its type still apply to an intelligent item. In addition, intelligent items have a few statistics other items lack.

As a default, intelligent items have control over all their own magic, meaning an intelligent magic weapon could deny the effects of its fundamental and property runes if it so chose, and intelligent items perform their own activations when they wish. Intelligent items can typically use 3 actions per turn, acting on their partner's turn. These actions don't count toward their partner's 3 actions. They have a reaction if any of their activations requires one.

Beyond denying magic effects and communicating their displeasure, intelligent items can usually influence or hinder their partners only in subtle ways. If the item is a weapon or tool necessary for an action (like a thieves' toolkit), it can at least be disruptive enough to make its partner take a –2 circumstance penalty to associated checks, much as if the partner were using an improvised weapon or tool. If an intelligent item can have a greater effect, such as seizing control of its partner's body for a time, the intelligent item's entry includes those abilities.

When you first set out to create an intelligent item, ask yourself what role you expect the item will play in your game. Unlike any other item, the intelligent item is a character of its own and adds to the group dynamic, usually in ways similar to a minor NPC who follows the party throughout the adventure. That means it's important to have a clear role in mind. Is the item an ally in the PCs' dangerous quest? A kindred spirit and confidante? A foil for the PC? A morally ambiguous ally worth handling for its great power? Or perhaps a bit of comic relief? Once you know what you want in the item, you can develop its personality and abilities in parallel, coming up with thematic links between them.

When choosing values for the intelligent item's statistics, you'll often want to use values suitable for a creature of its level. You could use much lower values if you want to give it a weakness, but keep in mind that a low Will modifier might make it particularly easy to control, which could be a problem if it can make life miserable for its partner. Because the item can usually activate its abilities on its own, the intelligent item is essentially adding a limited additional character to the PCs' team, so consider its effect on the encounters the PCs face. For example, a high-level normal item that lets a PC cast a 3rd-rank fireball every round might be reasonable given that it counts toward the PC's available actions, but an intelligent item is adding that fireball on top of everything else the PCs can do.

The following, as well as the intelligent artifact Serithtial, are a few example intelligent items to get you started.

Click here for the Intelligent Items category page.

The following are a few examples of cursed items.

Click here for the Cursed Items category page.

Item curses alter their base item, much like a property rune. A curse can be applied to the specific types of magic items listed in its Usage entry. Curses typically can’t be removed or transferred from the item, though at your discretion, either might be possible after the curse is broken. If the PCs manage to break the curse, the newly uncursed item could be quite valuable.

Click here for the Item Curses category page.

Some relics might begin as ordinary items with a rich history. They might be part of a character's starting gear, only to have their true powers uncovered later during play. Other relics can be acquired during play as part of the ongoing story. Regardless of their origin, these powerful items might not appear to be much at first, but they contain the potential to become something truly great.

For example, an old, tarnished amulet found around the neck of a buried king might turn out to be an item of deep historical significance that awakens to great power. The seemingly ordinary family sword, passed down to each new generation, might unlock hidden potential through the deeds of its owner.

The PCs might immediately recognize a relic for its ability, or they might carry it for a time before its true nature becomes apparent. The story of a relic should be a tale of discovery. At first, a relic's wielder likely doesn't fully understand the item's power, or might be unable to use it, learning of its abilities only after a momentous event or fortuitous breakthrough. Ultimately, relics are powerful tools in service of the story, working as a valuable tie to the narrative, but their growth and development are in your hands. Because of the place relics hold in the story, they aren't available for purchase, nor can they be crafted.

Pay attention to the characters' backstories for potential relics, and look for spots in your narrative that might be suitable for campaign relics. If you're planning to use relics in your game, let the players know in advance, since their ideas and plans can guide you and give them greater investment in the relics.