Magic item

Magic items, or magical items, come in many different forms and values, enhanced by many types of magic.¹

Types of magic item

Magic items are sometimes divided into nine categories:¹

Rodrick wielding Hrym, an intelligent sword.

Properties

Magic items' powers protect them from many of the natural forces that would degrade mundane equivalents over time, and they can remain stable and usable for hundreds—or thousands—of years even when stored in unsuitable conditions.²

Most magic items, such as scrolls and wands, aren't inherently tied to one magical tradition. However there are several items, such as divine holy water or an arcane robe of the archmagi, that are empowered by specifically arcane, divine, occult, or primal magic.³

Creation

Those who craft or research magic items as an occupation are often called artificers.⁴

Cursed magic items

Sometimes a magic item can be badly constructed in some fashion, leading to the manufacture of a cursed magic item instead.¹ Most are created accidentally, but some are intentionally crafted to sabotage others or to gain a benefit even at the curse's often great cost. Black markets often attempt to pass off cursed items as counterfeit magic items, especially items that are initially beneficial but lose or twist their powers over time.⁵

Intelligent magic items

Some magic items are intelligent, possessing some personality of their own.¹

Artifacts

A rare few magic items are of such power that they are considered separately from normal magic items and are termed artifacts.¹

References

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 ^1.3 ^1.4 Jason Bulmahn et al. (2009). Pathfinder RPG Core Rulebook (1E), p. 458. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-150-3
↑ Rob McCreary. (March 17, 2014). Comment on "The Half-Dead City", Paizo messageboards.
↑ Logan Bonner et al. (2019). Pathfinder Core Rulebook, Paizo Inc. ISBN 978-1-64078-168-9
↑ Jason Bulmahn et al. (2015). Pathfinder Unchained, p. 200. Paizo Inc. ISBN 978-1-60125-715-4
↑ Ron Lundeen, Jason Nelson, David N. Ross, and David Schwartz. (2015). Black Markets, p. 16. Paizo Inc. ISBN 978-1-60125-789-5

[CR458-1] 1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 ^1.3 ^1.4 Jason Bulmahn et al. (2009). Pathfinder RPG Core Rulebook (1E), p. 458. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-150-3

[2] Rob McCreary. (March 17, 2014). Comment on "The Half-Dead City", Paizo messageboards.

[3] Logan Bonner et al. (2019). Pathfinder Core Rulebook, Paizo Inc. ISBN 978-1-64078-168-9

[PU-200-4] Jason Bulmahn et al. (2015). Pathfinder Unchained, p. 200. Paizo Inc. ISBN 978-1-60125-715-4

[BM-16-5] Ron Lundeen, Jason Nelson, David N. Ross, and David Schwartz. (2015). Black Markets, p. 16. Paizo Inc. ISBN 978-1-60125-789-5

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