This new magic item for Dungeons & Dragons is a spear that can transform into a giant venomous snake. At higher tiers, you can make poisonous attacks and slip away from attackers.
Serpent Spear
Weapon (spear), uncommon [Tier 1]
(requires attunement)
Damage: 1d6+1 piercing
Weight: 4 lbs.
Properties: Thrown (range 20/60), Versatile (1d8+1)
While attuned to the spear, you gain a +1 bonus to attack and damage rolls made with this weapon.
Serpent Form. You can use an action to speak this staff’s command word and throw the spear to a point within 20 feet of you. The staff becomes a giant poisonous snake under your control and acts on its own initiative count. By using a bonus action to speak the command word again, you return the spear to its normal form in a space formerly occupied by the snake.
On your turn, you can mentally command the snake if it is within 60 feet of you and you aren’t incapacitated. You decide what action the snake takes and where it moves during its next turn, or you can issue it a general command, such as to attack your enemies or guard a location.
If the snake is reduced to 0 hit points, it dies and reverts to its spear form. It can not be transformed again until the next dawn. If the snake reverts to spear form before losing all its hit points, it regains all of them.
Rare [Tier 2] upgrade
When you achieve level 5 while attuned to the spear, you have a +2 bonus to attack and damage rolls made with this magic weapon.
Serpent Form. You can make the staff become a giant poisonous snake or a giant constrictor snake.
Venom Strike. You can use a bonus action to coat the blade with poison. The poison remains for 1 minute or until an attack using this weapon hits a creature. That creature must succeed on a DC 15 Constitution saving throw or take 2d10 poison damage and become poisoned for 1 minute. The spear can’t be used this way again until the next dawn.
Very Rare [Tier 3] upgrade
When you achieve level 10 while attuned to the spear, the range increases the 30/90 feet and you have a +3 bonus to attack and damage rolls made with this magic weapon.
Return. When you make a ranged attack with the spear, it teleports back to your hand at the end of your turn.
Serpent Form. You can make the staff become a giant poisonous snake or a giant constrictor snake, or it can break apart into a swarm of poisonous snakes.
Venom Strike. You can use a bonus action to coat the blade with poison. The poison remains for 1 minute or until an attack using this weapon hits a creature. That creature must succeed on a DC 17 Constitution saving throw or take 3d10 poison damage and become poisoned for 1 minute. This feature can now be used a number of times per day equal to your proficiency bonus.
Legendary [Tier 4] upgrade
When you achieve level 17 while attuned to the spear, the range increases the 40/120 feet, and you have a +4 bonus to attack and damage rolls made with this magic weapon.
Poison Resistance. While attuned to the spear, you have resistance to poison damage.
Slippery Escape. When a creature you can see within 5 feet of you hits you with an attack roll and deals damage to you with the attack, you can use your reaction to move up to half your speed without provoking opportunity attacks. This feature can be used a number of times per day equal to your proficiency bonus.
Venom Spray. You extend the spear toward a creature you can see within 30 feet and spray poison from the spear. The creature must succeed on a DC 17 Constitution saving throw or take 3d12 poison damage. This feature can be used a number of times per day equal to your proficiency bonus.
Power Tiers
To help Game Masters determine which player character levels a magic item is appropriate for, each item is assigned a power tier.
Tier 1: Levels 1 – 4
Common and Uncommon items for characters still learning their abilities.
Tier 2: Levels 5 – 10
Uncommon and Rare items for characters who are seasoned adventurers.
Tier 3: Levels 11 – 16
Very Rare items for characters who are established masters of their class.
Tier 4: Levels 17 +
Legendary items for characters who are like superheroes or demigods.
An item’s power tier is only a suggestion, and the GM should consider how each item would best fit with their campaign and player characters.
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