Figurines of Wondrous Power 5e: Player Guide & DM Advice

Last Updated on January 22, 2023

There are a wide variety of magical items that players can find around the world of the Forgotten Realms.

The Figurines of Wondrous Power are a set of small figurines that can transform into creatures when their command words are used.

What Are the Figurines of Wondrous Power?

The Figurines of Wondrous Power are small figurines made of stone or ore imbued with magical power.

When a player uses the command word for the figures and throws them to an unoccupied space within 60 feet of them, the figurine will transform into a beast.

The duration of the transformation and subsequent cooldown are individual to the figurine and based on the figurine’s relative power as a beast. 

There are several different figurines that players may come across in the world. Each one is fashioned after a different beast, and the figurine will be fashioned after the beast it’s meant to transform into.

Once the figurine is transformed into its specified creature, it will take on the stat block of the transformed beast and stay in that form until one of several conditions is met.

Once the creature reverts into a figurine, it cannot become a beast again until the specified amount of time has passed. This time will be specific to the figurine in question.

Types of Figurines of Wondrous Power

There are several types of Figurines of Wondrous Power. Each one uses the likeness of a different beast and can transform into a different beast for different amounts of time. Some come in sets.

Here are the D&D 5e Figurines of Wondrous Power.

Bronze Griffon

Rare

This bronze statuette of a griffon rampant can become a griffon for up to 6 hours. Once it reverts back to its figurine form, it cannot transform again for 6 days.

Ebony Fly

Rare

This ebony statuette of a horsefly can become a giant fly for up to 12 hours. Once it has reverted back to its figurine form, it cannot transform again for 2 days.

Golden Lions

Rare

These golden lion statuettes are always created in pairs. 

The transformation of the lions can be used individually or simultaneously, and the statuettes can each become a lion for up to 1 hour. 

Once the lions have reverted to their figurine form, they cannot transform again for 7 days.

Ivory Goats

Rare

These ivory goat statuettes are always created in sets of three, and each goat in the set is unique and functions differently from its kin.

Goat of Traveling

This goat statuette can become a large goat with the same stats as a riding horse.

It comes loaded with 24 charges, each representing a use of up to 1 hour.

The Goat of Traveling can transform so long as the figurine retains charges.

When the charges run out, it will revert and cannot transform again for 7 days.

Goat of Travail

This figurine can become a giant goat for up to 3 hours. Once used, it cannot transform again for 30 days.

Goat of Terror

This figurine can also become a giant goat for up to 3 hours. However, this goat cannot attack.

While the goat itself cannot attack, its horns can be removed and used as weapons. One horn becomes a +1 Lance while the other becomes a +1 Longsword.

Removing one of the goat’s horns requires an action, and the weapons disappear, returning to the goat when it reverts to its figurine form.

Additionally, this goat radiates a 30-foot radius aura when ridden by a player.

Any hostile creatures that start their turn in the goat’s aura must make a Wisdom-saving throw (DC 15). On a failed save, the creature is frightened of the goat for up to 1 minute or until the goat reverts to its figurine form.

Affected creatures can repeat the Wisdom saving throw at the end of their turn, ending the effect on a successful save.

Upon a successful save, the creature becomes immune to the goat’s aura for 24 hours.

Once the goat reverts to its figurine form, it cannot transform again for 15 days.

Marble Elephant

Rare

This is one of the larger figurines, measuring about 4 inches long and high. It can become an elephant for up to 24 hours. Once it reverts, it cannot transform again for 7 days.

Obsidian Steed

Very rare

This polished obsidian horse statuette can become a nightmare for up to 24 hours.

The nightmare will fight only to defend itself. Further, if you are of a Good alignment, there is a 10% chance that the nightmare will ignore your orders.

If you mount the nightmare while it is ignoring your orders, you and the nightmare will be transported instantly to a random location on the plane of Hades, and the nightmare reverts to its figurine form.

Once the nightmare reverts back into its figurine form, it cannot transform again for 5 days.

Onyx Dog

Rare

This onyx statuette of a dog can become a mastiff for up to 6 hours. The mastiff has an Intelligence score of 8 and can speak Common when in beast form.

Additionally, the mastiff has Darkvision (60-foot radius) and can see invisible creatures and objects within this range.

Once the mastiff reverts back to its figurine form, it cannot transform again for 7 days.

Serpentine Owl

Rare

This serpentine statuette of an owl can become a giant owl for up to 8 hours.

When in beast form, the owl can communicate with you telepathically from any distance, so long as you are on the same plane of existence.

Once the owl reverts back to its figurine form, it cannot transform again for 2 days.

Silver Raven

Uncommon

This silver statuette of a raven can become a raven for up to 12 hours. 

While in beast form, players can cast animal messenger on the raven at will.

Once the raven has reverted back to its figurine form, it cannot transform again for 2 days.

Where Can I Find Figurines of Wondrous Power?

Figurines of Wondrous Power will not be objects you find just lying around. These items must be made by master artisans who can imbue the figurines with their transformation abilities; they won’t be in the hands of just anyone.

Places one might find a Figurine of Wondrous Power include in the depths of dangerous dungeons, perhaps protecting the dungeon itself, owned by people of great power or protecting sacred and otherwise important areas.

A DM’s Guide To Including Figurines of Wondrous Power

Mechanical Considerations

The initiative order is the most significant mechanical worry about giving your players access to Figurines of Wondrous Power.

While the cooldowns on the Figurines help lessen the raw power of including more allies into a fight, the chance that your players will throw out multiple Figurines in one fight could quickly turn your Big Boss Fight into child’s play for them.

Thus, you want to be careful that you don’t give your players too many Figurines as the innate power of the initiative order should not be ignored.

Additionally, you’ll want to make sure that the beasts the Figurines can transform into are not too powerful for their current level.

Combat is meant to challenge your players, and that challenge will keep them engaged.

Not only is having combat that is too easy boring, but if it revolves around their figurine, players may feel second-class to a statue that is never good.

Roleplay & World-Building Consideration

When it comes to including the Figurines of Wondrous Power, aesthetic will be critical to the immersive inclusion.

If you include the Figurine of Wondrous Power in a situation where it makes no sense, the players will notice the dissonance and be removed from the experience.

For instance, if you have a gothic spider queen who suddenly throws out the Goat of Terror or Golden Lions, players are going to wonder why she has them in the first place.

So, the first thing to ask yourself when including the figurines in your setting is “Who has them?” since that will determine where you place them.

Another essential thing to remember is that if your players acquire the figurines too early, they could be game-breaking to the early part of the game.

Players aren’t meant to begin acquiring magic items until later into the adventure, and, as such, magic items tend to be relatively high in firepower.

Unless you intend to break the figurines and render them useless during the fight, there’s a high chance your players will end up with the figurines if they win the fight.

Ensure that they’re at an appropriate time in their adventure to have such powerful magic items.

Additionally, you can create creative puzzles or traps using the Figurines of Wondrous Power.

For instance, you can use the Magic Mouth spell to create a trigger point where the spell will activate the figurines to protect the area.

There are endless possibilities for including the Figurines of Wondrous Power. Here are some character beats that you can use to inspire your own campaign!

Characters and Settings for the Figurines of Wondrous Power

A powerful noble has sets of Golden Lions to protect his manor and family. They were crafted for him by the most skilled craftsmen in the land, and he prides himself on their maintenance and care.

Players can either befriend the noble to learn the secrets of his figurines, or they can kill him to take the figurines.

If they kill him, the craftsmen who made them may be less inclined to help them as the noble was one of their most prestigious customers.

* * *

A gothic queen of pestilence who rides an Obsidian Horse and commands an army of Ebony Flies that do her bidding is holed up in her rotting gothic mansion.

Her army of giant flies has been causing trouble in the nearby countryside, and her pestilence is spreading through the countryside.

Farmers are worried that their harvest will be less abundant than years before and have tasked the players with finding the source of these flies and the spreading disease throughout the lands.

* * *

A legendary spymaster who does most of his communication via his army of Silver Ravens has been trailing the party using his reconnaissance army of Serpentine Owls.

The party slowly notices an uptick in giant owls in their vicinity, including in places where giant owls might be less common.

They can befriend the spymaster who will teach them the secrets of the figurines and help them get their own figurines made, or kill him and take his figurines.

* * *

A city guard in a magical wizard force commands an army of K9s that are Onyx Dogs. Each dog has a name, and he can name them even when they’re in figurine form.

The dogs are unwaveringly loyal to him, and he would be devastated if anything were to happen to his dogs.

However, he is getting old and is looking for new homes for his dogs as he becomes too old to care for them properly.

Players who befriend him can be gifted an Onyx Dog since he sees that the party is a force for good.

* * *

A powerful druid enshrouded himself in a jungle dungeon filled with Magic Mouths that activate his Figurines of Wondrous Power to protect it.

He uses the Figurines of Wondrous Power as vessels for the souls of his fallen animal friends and considers them his true family.

Players can learn the power of his soul transmission or kill him for his items. However, his figurines will rebel against them once they realize they’ve killed their friend.

Final Thoughts About the Figurines of Wondrous Power

The Figurines of Wondrous Power are a great way to introduce your players to the concepts of magic items.

They allow your players to become acquainted with features associated with magic items, such as command words. They also allow players to rally their party’s numbers with extra allies.

The most important thing to consider is whether or not the inclusion of the Figurines of Wondrous Power will be fun for you and your players.

There’s no right or wrong way to run a D&D game, so make your decision based on what you think will be the most fun for your group!

Good luck, have fun, and happy questing!