While wearing this belt, your Strength score changes to a score granted by the belt. If your Strength is already equal to or greater than the belt's score, the item has no effect on you.
Six varieties of this belt exist, corresponding with and having rarity according to the six kinds of true giants. The belt of stone giant strength and the belt of frost giant strength look different, but they have the same effect.
Type
Strength
Rarity
Hill giant
21
Rare
Stone/frost giant
23
Very rare
Fire giant
25
Very rare
Cloud giant
27
Legendary
Storm giant
29
Legendary
Variants
Belt of Hill Giant Strength
Belt of Stone Giant Strength
Belt of Frost Giant Strength
Belt of Fire Giant Strength
Belt of Cloud Giant Strength
Belt of Storm Giant Strength
How the Belt of Giant Strength plays
While you wear it, your Strength score becomes a fixed number set by the kind of giant: 21 for a hill giant belt (rare), 23 for stone or frost giant (very rare), 25 for fire giant (very rare), 27 for cloud giant (legendary) and 29 for storm giant (legendary). If your Strength is already that high or higher, it does nothing.
It sets the score, so the usual maximum of 20 doesn’t apply. A storm giant belt gives a +9 modifier: every Strength attack, damage roll, Athletics check, grapple, shove, jump and carrying calculation improves with it. It requires attunement.
Who should wear it
Strength fighters, barbarians and paladins get the obvious benefit, and it frees up their Ability Score Improvements for feats.
Anyone can use it. A rogue or a wizard with a belt becomes as strong as a giant, which opens up grappling, heavy weapons and feats of strength they couldn’t attempt before.
Check the numbers first. A hill giant belt on a barbarian with 20 Strength is only +1 to the score. It’s a much bigger jump for a character with 14.
Common questions
Can a Belt of Giant Strength raise Strength above 20?
Yes. It sets your Strength to the belt’s score, from 21 up to 29, and the normal maximum of 20 doesn’t apply.
What does the Belt of Hill Giant Strength do?
It sets your Strength to 21 while you wear it. It’s the rare, lowest version of the belt.
Does it stack with Gauntlets of Ogre Power?
No. Both set your Strength to a fixed score, so you use the higher one. With any giant belt on, the gauntlets’ 19 does nothing.
Does it increase carrying capacity?
Yes. Carrying capacity is 15 times your Strength score, so a storm giant belt lets a Medium character carry 435 pounds.
Does it work with a Manual of Gainful Exercise?
The manual raises your real Strength and its maximum by 2. The belt sets the score while worn, so it only helps if your improved Strength is still below the belt’s.
Do stone and frost giant belts differ?
No. They look different but both set your Strength to 23.
Belt of Giant Strength compared with similar items
The 2024 Dungeon Master’s Guide revised the magic items, and the SRD 5.2 carries the new text. What changed:
Rarity: Varies → Rarity Varies.
Type
Wondrous Item
Rarity
Rarity Varies
Attunement
Required
While wearing this belt, your Strength changes to a score granted by the belt. The type of giant determines the score (see the table below). The item has no effect on you if your Strength without the belt is equal to or greater than the belt's score.
