Magic Items and Equipment in D&D
Magic Items – Weapons and Armor
Magic Items – For Classes
Magic Items By Rarity
Magic Items By Rarity
Best Uncommon Magic Items
12 Uncommon Magic Items
Rare Magic Items + Costs
Top Legendary Magic Items
Starting Equipment in D&D
When you create your character, you receive equipment based on a combination of your class and background. Alternatively, you can start with a number of gold pieces based on your class and spend them on items from the lists in this section. See the Starting Wealth by Class table to determine how much gold you have to spend.
You decide how your character came by this starting equipment. It might have been an inheritance, or goods that the character purchased during his or her upbringing. You might have been equipped with a weapon, armor, and a backpack as part of military service. You might even have stolen your gear. A weapon could be a family heirloom, passed down from generation to generation until your character finally took up the mantle and followed in an ancestor’s adventurous footsteps. – Players Handbook
Armor Guide – A guide to all the Armor you can buy and adventure for.
Weapons Guide – A guide to all the Weapons you can choose from.
When you are starting out with a new character, you have the following option:
- Starting Gold by Class and Background
- Starting Equipment by Class and Background
Pick one of those two.
We have a guide on making the choice between Gold or Gear.
If you choose Starting Gold, you’ll get a set amount of gold. With that gold you can buy equipment.
If you choose Starting Equipment, you get some pre selected options on equipment.
Narratively you can just say the equipment wasn’t bought, but it was already in your possession somehow. For example you can deduct the gold you would spend to buy a sword, but say “This sword was given to me by my late uncle”
Note: If you plan to roll a character that is higher than level 1, you should check out the Starting Gold by Level Guide. Essentially if you’re rolling a level 5 or higher character, you might give him or her more equipment.
Let’s go over the Starting Gold option for new characters.
To get a final number on the starting gold involves two compoents:
- Starting Gold By Class
- Starting Gold By Background
Both your Class and your Background has a starting gold component to it. Here are the relevant tables:
Starting Gold by Class
| Class | Funds | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Artificer | 5d4 x 10gp | 125 Gold |
| Barbarian | 2d4 x 10gp | 50 Gold |
| Bard | 5d4 x 10gp | 125 Gold |
| Cleric | 5d4 x 10gp | 125 Gold |
| Druid | 2d4 x 10gp | 50 Gold |
| Fighter | 5d4 x 10gp | 125 Gold |
| Monk | 5d4 gp | 13 Gold |
| Paladin | 5d4 x 10gp | 125 Gold |
| Ranger | 5d4 x 10gp | 125 Gold |
| Rogue | 4d4 x 10gp | 100 Gold |
| Sorcerer | 3d4 x 10gp | 75 Gold |
| Warlock | 4d4 x 10gp | 100 Gold |
| Wizard | 4d4 x 10gp | 100 Gold |
Starting Gold By Background List
| Background | Starting GP |
| Acolyte | 15gp |
| Anthropologist (ToA) | 10gp |
| Archaeologist (ToA) | 25gp |
| Charlatan (PHB) | 15gp |
| City Watch / Investigator (SCAG) | 10gp |
| Clan Crafter (SCAG) | 5gp gem and 10gp |
| Cloistered Scholar (SCAG) | 10gp |
| Courtier (SCAG) | 5gp |
| Criminal / Spy | 15gp |
| Entertainer (PHB) | 15gp |
| Faction Agent (SCAG) | 15gp |
| Far Traveler (SCAG) | 10gp jewelry and 5gp |
| Folk Hero | 10gp |
| Gladiator (PHB) | 15gp |
| Guild Artisan/Merchant (PHB) | 15gp |
| Haunted One (COS) | None |
| Hermit (PHB) | 5gp |
| Inheritor (SCAG) | 15gp |
| Knight (PHB) | 25gp |
| Knight of the Order (SCAG) | 10gp |
| Mercenary Veteran (SCAG) | 10gp |
| Noble | 25gp |
| Outlander (PHB) | 10gp |
| Pirate (PHB) | 10gp |
| Sage | 10gp |
| Sailor (PHB) | 10gp |
| Soldier | 10gp |
| Urban Bounty Hunter (SCAG) | 20gp |
| Urchin (PHB) | 10gp |
| Uthgardt Tribe Member (SCAG) | 10gp |
| Waterdhavian Noble (SCAG) | 20gp |
Great, now we have our starting gold! Let’s say you made a Paladin with a Knight background.
Paladin averages 125gp and the Knight adds another 25gp. So you’re starting with 150gp. Very nice.
Once you have the gold you can buy equipment
If you choose to take Starting Equipment, here are the relevant tables:
Starting Equipment by Class
We have a guide on this choice of Starting Equipment Packs
Artificer Starting Equipment
You start with the following equipment, in addition to the equipment granted by your background:
- any two simple weapons
- a light crossbow and 20 bolts
- (a) studded leather armor or (b) scale mail
- thieves’ tools and a dungeoneer’s pack
Barbarian Starting Equipment
You start with the following equipment, in addition to the equipment granted by your background:
- (a) a greataxe or (b) any martial melee weapon
- (a) two handaxes or (b) any simple weapon
- An explorer’s pack and four javelins
Bard Starting Equipment
You start with the following equipment, in addition to the equipment granted by your background:
- (a) a rapier, (b) a longsword, or (c) any simple weapon
- (a) a diplomat’s pack or (b) an entertainer’s pack
- (a) a lute or (b) any other musical instrument
- Leather armor and a dagger
Cleric Starting Equipment
You start with the following equipment, in addition to the equipment granted by your background:
- (a) a mace or (b) a warhammer (if proficient)
- (a) scale mail, (b) leather armor, or (c) chain mail (if proficient)
- (a) a light crossbow and 20 bolts or (b) any simple weapon
- (a) a priest’s pack or (b) an explorer’s pack
- A shield and a holy symbol
Druid Starting Equipment
You start with the following equipment, in addition to the equipment granted by your background:
- (a) a wooden shield or (b) any simple weapon
- (a) a scimitar or (b) any simple melee weapon
- Leather armor, an explorer’s pack, and a druidic focus
Fighter Starting Equipment
You start with the following equipment, in addition to the equipment granted by your background:
- (a) chain mail or (b) leather armor, longbow, and 20 arrows
- (a) a martial weapon and a shield or (b) two martial weapons
- (a) a light crossbow and 20 bolts or (b) two handaxes
- (a) a dungeoneer’s pack or (b) an explorer’s pack
Monk Starting Equipment
You start with the following equipment, in addition to the equipment granted by your background:
- (a) a shortsword or (b) any simple weapon
- (a) a dungeoneer’s pack or (b) an explorer’s pack
- 10 darts
Paladin Starting Equipment
You start with the following equipment, in addition to the equipment granted by your background:
- (a) a martial weapon and a shield or (b) two martial weapons
- (a) five javelins or (b) any simple melee weapon
- (a) a priest’s pack or (b) an explorer’s pack
- Chain mail and a holy symbol
Ranger Starting Equipment
You start with the following equipment, in addition to the equipment granted by your background:
- (a) scale mail or (b) leather armor
- (a) two shortswords or (b) two simple melee weapons
- (a) a dungeoneer’s pack or (b) an explorer’s pack
- A longbow and a quiver of 20 arrows
Rogue Starting Equipment
You start with the following equipment, in addition to the equipment granted by your background:
- (a) a rapier or (b) a shortsword
- (a) a shortbow and quiver of 20 arrows or (b) a shortsword
- (a) a burglar’s pack, (b) a dungeoneer’s pack, or (c) an explorer’s pack
- Leather armor, two daggers, and thieves’ tools
Sorcerer Starting Equipment
You start with the following equipment, in addition to the equipment granted by your background:
- (a) a light crossbow and 20 bolts or (b) any simple weapon
- (a) a component pouch or (b) an arcane focus
- (a) a dungeoneer’s pack or (b) an explorer’s pack
- Two daggers
Warlock Starting Equipment
You start with the following equipment, in addition to the equipment granted by your background:
- (a) a light crossbow and 20 bolts or (b) any simple weapon
- (a) a component pouch or (b) an arcane focus
- (a) a scholar’s pack or (b) a dungeoneer’s pack
- Leather armor, any simple weapon, and two daggers
Wizard Starting Equipment
You start with the following equipment, in addition to the equipment granted by your background:
- (a) a quarterstaff or (b) a dagger
- (a) a component pouch or (b) an arcane focus
- (a) a scholar’s pack or (b) an explorer’s pack
- A spellbook
And now that you have the Starting Class Equipment, let’s move on to the second piece of the puzzle:
Starting Equipment by Background
Common Backgrounds
- Acolyte: A holy symbol (a gift to you when you entered the priesthood), a prayer book or prayer wheel, 5 sticks of incense, vestments, a set of common clothes, and a pouch containing 15gp
- Anthropologist: A leather-bound diary, a bottle of ink, an ink pen, a set of traveler’s clothes, one trinket of special significance, and a pouch containing 10gp
- Archaeologist: A wooden case containing a map to a ruin or dungeon, a bullseye lantern, a miner’s pick, a set of traveler’s clothes, a shovel, a two-person tent, a trinket recovered from a dig site, and a pouch containing 25gp
- Athlete: A bronze discus or leather ball, a lucky charm or past trophy, a set of traveler’s clothes, and a pouch containing 10 gp
- Charlatan: A set of fine clothes, a disguise kit, tools of the con of your choice (ten stoppered bottles filled with colored liquid, a set of weighted dice, a deck of marked cards, or a signet ring of an imaginary duke), and a pouch containing 15gp
- City Watch: A uniform in the style of your unit and indicative of your rank, a horn with which to summon help, a set of manacles, and a pouch containing 10gp
- Clan Crafter: A set of artisan’s tools with which you are proficient, a maker’s mark chisel used to mark your handiwork with the symbol of the clan of crafters you learned your skill from, a set of traveler’s clothes, and a pouch containing 5gp and a gem worth 10gp
- Cloistered Scholar: The scholar’s robes of your cloister, a writing kit (small pouch with a quill, a bottle of ink, folded parchment, and a small penknife), a borrowed book on the subject of your current study, and a pouch containing 10gp
- Courtier: A set of fine clothes and a pouch containing 5gp
- Criminal: A crowbar, a set of dark common clothes including a hood, and a pouch containing 15gp
- Entertainer: A musical instrument (one of your choice), the favor of an admirer (love letter, lock of hair, or trinket), a costume, and a pouch containing 15gp
- Faceless: A disguise kit, a costume, and a pouch containing 10gp
- Faction Agent: The badge or emblem of your faction, a copy of a seminal faction text (or a code-book for a covert faction), a set of common clothes, and a pouch containing 15gp
- Far Traveler: One set of traveler’s clothes, any one musical instrument or gaming set you are proficient with, poorly wrought maps from your homeland that depict where you are in Faerûn, a small piece of jewelry worth 10gp in the style of your homeland’s craftsmanship, and a pouch containing 5gp
- Feylost: A musical instrument (one of your choice), a set of traveler’s clothes, three trinkets (each determined by rolling on the Feywild Trinkets table), and a pouch containing 8gp
- Fisher: Fishing tackle, a net, a favorite fishing lure or oiled leather wading boots, a set of traveler’s clothes, and a belt pouch containing 10 gp
- Folk Hero: A set of artisan’s tools (one of your choice), a shovel, an iron pot, a set of common clothes, and a pouch containing 10gp
- Gladiator: A musical instrument (one of your choice), the favor of an admirer (love letter, lock of hair, or trinket), a costume, and a pouch containing 15gp
- Guild Artisan: A set of artisan’s tools (one of your choice), a letter of introduction from your guild, a set of traveler’s clothes, and a pouch containing 15gp
- Guild Merchant: A set of artisan’s tools (one of your choice), a letter of introduction from your guild, a set of traveler’s clothes, and a pouch containing 15gp
- Haunted One: A monster hunter’s pack, and one trinket of special significance (choose one or roll on the Gothic Trinkets table). Also gain a set of set of common clothes and 1sp.
- Hermit: A scroll case stuffed full of notes from your studies or prayers, a winter blanket, a set of common clothes, an herbalism kit, and 5gp
- House Agent: A set of fine clothes, the signet ring of your house, identification papers, and a purse containing 20gp
- Inheritor: Your inheritance, a set of traveler’s clothes, the tool you choose for this background’s tool proficiency, and a pouch containing 15gp
- Investigator (Sword Coast): A uniform in the style of your unit and indicative of your rank, a horn with which to summon help, a set of manacles, and a pouch containing 10gp
- Investigator (Ravenloft) : A magnifying glass, evidence from a past case (choose one or roll for a trinket from the Horror Trinkets table) a set of common clothes, and 10gp.
- Knight: A set of fine clothes, a signet ring, a scroll of pedigree, and a purse containing 25gp
- Knight of the Order: A set of traveler’s clothes, a signet, banner, or seal representing your place or rank in the order, and a pouch containing 10gp
- Marine: A dagger that belonged to a fallen comrade, a folded rag emblazoned with the symbol of your ship or company, a set of traveler’s clothes, and a pouch containing 10gp
- Mercenary Veteran: A uniform of your company (traveler’s clothes in quality), an insignia of your rank, a gaming set of your choice, and a pouch containing the remainder of your last wages (10gp)
- Noble: A set of fine clothes, a signet ring, a scroll of pedigree, and a purse containing 25gp
- Outlander: A staff, a hunting trap, a trophy from an animal you killed, a set of traveler’s clothes, and a pouch containing 10gp
- Pirate: A belaying pin (club), 50 feet of silk rope, a lucky charm such as a rabbit foot or a small stone with a hole in the center (or you may roll for a random trinket on the Trinkets table in chapter 5), a set of common clothes, and a pouch containing 10gp
- Sage: A bottle of ink, a quill, a small knife, a letter from a dead colleague posing a question you have not yet been able to answer, a set of common clothes, and a pouch containing 10gp
- Sailor: A belaying pin (club), 50 feet of silk rope, a lucky charm such as a rabbit foot or a small stone with a hole in the center (or you may roll for a random trinket on the Trinkets table in chapter 5), a set of common clothes, and a pouch containing 10gp
- Shipwright: A set of well-loved carpenter’s tools, a blank book, 1 ounce of ink, an ink pen, a set of traveler’s clothes, and a leather pouch with 10 gp
- Smuggler: A fancy leather vest or a pair of leather boots, a set of common clothes, and a leather pouch with 15 gp
- Soldier: An insignia of rank, a trophy taken from a fallen enemy (a dagger, broken blade, or piece of a banner), a set of bone dice or a deck of cards, a set of common clothes, and a pouch containing 10gp
- Spy: A crowbar, a set of dark common clothes including a hood, and a pouch containing 15gp
- Urban Bounty Hunter: A set of clothes appropriate to your duties and a pouch containing 20gp
- Urchin: A small knife, a map of the city you grew up in, a pet mouse, a token to remember your parents by, a set of common clothes, and a pouch containing 10gp
- Uthgardt Tribe Member: A hunting trap, a totemic token or set of tattoos marking your loyalty to Uthgar and your tribal totem, a set of traveler’s clothes, and a pouch containing 10gp
- Waterdhavian Noble: A set of fine clothes, a signet ring or brooch, a scroll of pedigree, a skin of fine zzar or wine, and a purse containing 20gp
- Witchlight Hand: A disguise kit or a musical instrument of your choice, a deck of cards, a carnival uniform or costume, one trinket (determind by rolling on the Feywild Trinkets table), and a pouch containing 8gp
Now you should be well equipped to start your character!
Rich is an avid D&D player and DM. He has been playing since the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 1st and 2nd editions. He has run campaigns of various editions with family and friends for over 20 years. Playing DnD 5th Edition in person at local game stores and online with VTT’s over the past 10 years has provided a consistent connection to how the game has grown. He strongly believes in understanding the source material, but catering the games to your individual players. Feel free to ask anything in the comments or drop him an email: [email protected].
