D&D 5E Druids and Magic Items
- Thread starter lobo316
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Even if the druid dropped items and picked them up while wildshaped, I would say that most would not work and would probably risk being damaged. A bear could not effectively wear a cloak because it would just get in it's way, a wolf doesn't have fingers to put a ring on, etc.
It's possible some forms (such as an ape) could use some items, so I would take it on a case by case basis.
As the DMG states: When a nonhumanoid tries to wear an item, use your discretion as to whether the item functions as intended. A ring placed on a tentacle might work, but a yuan-ti with a snakelike tail instead of legs can't wear boots.
It's possible some forms (such as an ape) could use some items, so I would take it on a case by case basis.
As the DMG states: When a nonhumanoid tries to wear an item, use your discretion as to whether the item functions as intended. A ring placed on a tentacle might work, but a yuan-ti with a snakelike tail instead of legs can't wear boots.
Thanks for the replies thus far. [MENTION=6801845]Oofta[/MENTION], yea, that DMG entry, as well as the Druid description on the DM call is what has me looking to see what others are doing. I listed rings and cloaks as examples, but there's a whole slew of items this could apply to. Amulets for example. A wolf could wear an amulet, no? I could simply state that the creature has to be of medium or small size (not tiny, not larger than med) and has to have a reasonable way of wearing said item (like the example of an ape wearing a magic ring). The cloak example you gave would exclude large bears (like polar bears or dire bears) simply by virtue of size.
The way I've been doing it thus far is you simply cannot use them unless it's an item created for said purpose. I could create, for example, an "amulet of wildshape" that becomes part of the animal form when the druid shape changes (like, embedded it's chest) and grants abilities that way. Otherwise, it's a no.
The way I've been doing it thus far is you simply cannot use them unless it's an item created for said purpose. I could create, for example, an "amulet of wildshape" that becomes part of the animal form when the druid shape changes (like, embedded it's chest) and grants abilities that way. Otherwise, it's a no.
Springheel
First Post
Yeah, brilliant! Bet you never thought of just using common sense and reading the books.... 
Seriously though, I'd just rule that anything worn merges with the form when the shapeshifting occurs, unless it's something specifically created for that occasion. If the player has hands (like an ape) they can use magic weapons (though not well). Magic items picked up after the transformation other than weapons don't work, just like they wouldn't work if you stuck them on an actual animal.
Seriously though, I'd just rule that anything worn merges with the form when the shapeshifting occurs, unless it's something specifically created for that occasion. If the player has hands (like an ape) they can use magic weapons (though not well). Magic items picked up after the transformation other than weapons don't work, just like they wouldn't work if you stuck them on an actual animal.
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Sunseeker
Guest
I have ruled that any intelligent creature can use magic items when they follow the rules on understanding/attuning to them and have the reasonable physical capacity to wear it. So yes, an intelligent bear or wolf or ape could wear a cloak or a necklace or a crown, provided that they could manipulate the clasps properly.
As for Druids, magic items shape-shift within a range, so armor designed for a humanoid won't fit on a bear and armor designed for a bear won't adjust to a human, but a choker or belt may, depending on how much of a chance you undergo, so, a belt on a gnome might break when it turns into a bear, but a belt on a half-orc or a dragonborn might not.
Weapons are unusable unless you have the appropriate appendages to use one. So if you turn into an ape, you can still wield a sword. But if you turn into a bear, you cannot.
As for Druids, magic items shape-shift within a range, so armor designed for a humanoid won't fit on a bear and armor designed for a bear won't adjust to a human, but a choker or belt may, depending on how much of a chance you undergo, so, a belt on a gnome might break when it turns into a bear, but a belt on a half-orc or a dragonborn might not.
Weapons are unusable unless you have the appropriate appendages to use one. So if you turn into an ape, you can still wield a sword. But if you turn into a bear, you cannot.
The problem that I see with a bear wearing a crown or similar, is that there is no way a crown made for a humanoid would stay on a bears head. The shapes are just too different. Try putting a hat on a dog. Yes, if the dog doesn't move it might be ok. Now have the dog play fetch. It's not going to work.
Cloaks hit the same issue. Assuming the clasp is big enough to go around the neck (big if) it's not going to lay correctly, it's just going to interfere with walking (I envision is falling to one side and getting stepped on by the front legs). With help I suppose it could be tied on ...
Of course that only matters if you want to be realistic. If you run more of a cartoon world than I do (and there's nothing wrong with that) it might be ok.
But there are very few items that a bear could comfortably wear that are made for the humanoid, upright form.
Cloaks hit the same issue. Assuming the clasp is big enough to go around the neck (big if) it's not going to lay correctly, it's just going to interfere with walking (I envision is falling to one side and getting stepped on by the front legs). With help I suppose it could be tied on ...
Of course that only matters if you want to be realistic. If you run more of a cartoon world than I do (and there's nothing wrong with that) it might be ok.
But there are very few items that a bear could comfortably wear that are made for the humanoid, upright form.
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