Dungeon Master's Guide

ALIGNMENT CONFLICT

A sentient magic item has an alignment. Its creator or A sentient item has a will o f its own, shaped by its
nature might suggest an alignment. If not, you can pick personality and alignment. If its wielder acts in a
an alignment or roll on the following table. manner opposed to the item's alignment or purpose,
conflict can arise. When such a conflict occurs, the item
d l OO Alignment d l OO Alignment makes a Charisma check contested by the wielder's
Lawful good Chaotic neutral Charisma check. If the item wins the contest, it makes
01-15 Neutral good 74-85 Lawfu l evi l one or more of the following demands:
1 6-35 Chaotic good 86-89 Neutral evil
36-50 Lawful neutral 90-96 Chaotic evil • The item insists on being carried or worn at all times.
51 -63 Neutral 97-00 • The item demands that its wielder dispose of anything
64-73
the item finds repugnant.
C HARACTERISTICS • The item demands that its wielder pursue the item's

Use the information on creating NPCs in chapter 4 goals to the exclusion of all other goals.
to develop a sentient item's mannerisms, personality • The item demands to be given to someone else.
traits, ideals, bonds, and flaws. You can also draw on the
"Special Features" section earlier in this chapter. If its wielder refuses to comply with the item's wishes,
the item can do any or all of the following:
If you determine these characteristics randomly,
ignore or adapt any result that doesn't make sense Make it impossible for its wielder to attune to it.
for an inanimate object. You can reroll until you get a Suppress one or more of its activated properties.
result you like. Attempt to take control of its wielder.

SPECIAL PURPOSE If a sentient item attempts to take control of its
wielder, the wielder must make a Charisma saving
You can give a sentient item an objective it pursues, throw, with a DC equal to 12 + the item's Charisma
perhaps to the exclusion of all else. As long as the modifier. On a failed save, the wielder is charmed by the
wielder's use of the item aligns with that special item for l d l 2 hours. While charmed, the wielder must
purpose, the item remains cooperative. Deviating from try to follow the item's commands. If the wielder takes
this course might cause conflict between the wielder damage, it can repeat the saving throw, ending the effect
and the item, and could even cause the item to prevent on a success. Whether the attempt to control its user
the use of its activated properties. You can pick a special succeeds or fails, the item can't use this power again
purpose or roll on the following table. until the next dawn.

dlO Purpose SAMPLE SENTIENT ITEMS
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Aligned: The item seeks to defeat or destroy those
of a diametrically opposed alignment. (Such an The sentient weapons described here have storied
item is never neutra l .) histories.
2 Bane: The item seeks to defeat or destroy creatures
of a particu lar kind, such as fiends, shapechangers, BLACKRAZOR
trolls, or wizards.
3 Protector: The item seeks to defend a particu lar Weapon (greatsword), legendary (requires attunement
race or kind ofcreature, such as elves or druids. by a creature ofnon-lawful alignment)
4 Crusader: The item seeks to defeat, weaken, or
destroy the servants of a particular deity. Hidden in the dungeon of White Plume Mountain,
5 Templar: The item seeks to defend the servants Blackrazor shines like a piece of night sky filled with
and interests of a particular deity. stars. Its black scabbard is decorated with pieces of
6 Destroyer: The item craves destruction and goads cut obsidian.
its user to fight arbitrarily.
7 Glory Seeker: The item seeks renown as the You gain a +3 bonus to attack and damage rolls made
greatest magic item i n the world, by establishing with this magic weapon. It has the following additional
its user as a famous or notorious figure. properties.
8 Lore Seeker: The item craves knowledge or is
determined to solve a mystery, learn a secret, or Devour Soul. Whenever you use it to reduce a
u n ravel a cryptic prophecy. creature to 0 hit points, the sword slays the creature and
9 Destiny Seeker: The item is convinced that it and its devours its soul, unless it is a construct or an undead. A
wielder have key roles to play in future events. creature whose soul has been devoured by Blackrazor
1 0 Creator Seeker: T h e item seeks its creator and can be restored to life only by a wish spell.
wants to understand why it was created.
When it devours a soul, Blackrazor grants you
temporary hit points equal to the slain creature's hit
point maximum. These hit points fade after 24 hours.
As long as these temporary hit points last and you keep
Blackrazor in hand, you have advantage on attack rolls,
saving throws, and ability checks.

Ifyou hit an undead with this weapon, you take ldlO
necrotic damage and the target regains ldlO hit points.
If this necrotic damage reduces you to 0 hit points,
Blackrazor devours your soul.

2 1 6 C H APTE R 7 I TREASURE