Afternoon Folks! In today’s post, DnD 5e Attunement Explained, I’ll be going over this fairly simple mechanic which helps to balance the usage of all the whacky and wonderful magic items that exist in this game.
So grab your three favorite things and strap in as we dive right into the post!
What is Attunement?
Attunement in DnD comes into play when we look at magic items. Some magic items will have a little note on them saying that it requires attunement. What this means is to fully wield the powers granted by the magic item, a special bond must be created between the wielder and the item.
How does Attunement work?
In 5e attunement works by taking a short focusing on the magical item. Obviously, you can sprinkle on whatever flavor you wish. For instance, a Bard trying to attune to a magical lute could spend a short rest messing around with the tuning of the lute to become familiar with the item and forge that bond.
There are a number of caveats that come with attuning to an item. Only one creature can attune to a particular item at a time. So you can’t share attunement with an item (unless the item states otherwise).
A creature can only attune to three magical items at once. If a creature is already at three attunements and wants to attune to a new item, then it must first break the bond with one of the three items it’s currently attuned to. To end an attunement a creature must spend another Short Rest with the item, similar to when they initially created the bond.
Attunement to any given item can end if the creature is more than 100ft from the item for more than 24 hours. It will end if the attuned creature dies. It will also end if another creature attunes to the item.
Attunement Question Time
How long does it take to attune in 5e?
Typically, it takes a short rest. However, the item might dictate that it requires a longer or a more intricate attunement process.
Does a +1 weapon require attunement in 5e?
No, a basic +1 weapon doesn’t require attunement.
Can you attune to multiple items at the same time in 5e?
You can attune to up to three magical items at the same time.
Wrap Up
A short but sweet post. Attunement is something that will almost certainly come up in your games, and you definitely want to know the details about it as magical items can really make a game snowball out of control in terms of your player’s power levels. So make sure you use them appropriately so you can keep a handle on your encounters. So until next time, may your day be a critical success!
TheGM