Deck of Illusions icon: a spread of mystery cards
Icon by Faithtoken, CC BY 3.0

Deck of Illusions 5e magic item

Wondrous item, uncommon · 2024 version below

Type
Wondrous Items
Rarity
Uncommon
Attunement
Not required
Price (2014)
101–500 gp (DMG value range)
Price (2024)
400 gp

This box contains a set of parchment cards. A full deck has 34 cards. A deck found as treasure is usually missing 1d20 - 1 cards.

The magic of the deck functions only if cards are drawn at random (you can use an altered deck of playing cards to simulate the deck). You can use an action to draw a card at random from the deck and throw it to the ground at a point within 30 feet of you.

An illusion of one or more creatures forms over the thrown card and remains until dispelled. An illusory creature appears real, of the appropriate size, and behaves as if it were a real creature except that it can do no harm. While you are within 120 feet of the illusory creature and can see it, you can use an action to move it magically anywhere within 30 feet of its card. Any physical interaction with the illusory creature reveals it to be an illusion, because objects pass through it. Someone who uses an action to visually inspect the creature identifies it as illusory with a successful DC 15 Intelligence (Investigation) check. The creature then appears translucent.

The illusion lasts until its card is moved or the illusion is dispelled. When the illusion ends, the image on its card disappears, and that card can't be used again.

Playing CardIllusion
Ace of heartsRed dragon
King of heartsKnight and four guards
Queen of heartsSuccubus or incubus
Jack of heartsDruid
Ten of heartsCloud giant
Nine of heartsEttin
Eight of heartsBugbear
Two of heartsGoblin
Ace of diamondsBeholder
King of diamondsArchmage and mage apprentice
Queen of diamondsNight hag
Jack of diamondsAssassin
Ten of diamondsFire giant
Nine of diamondsOgre mage
Eight of diamondsGnoll
Two of diamondsKobold
Ace of spadesLich
King of spadesPriest and two acolytes
Queen of spadesMedusa
Jack of spadesVeteran
Ten of spadesFrost giant
Nine of spadesTroll
Eight of spadesHobgoblin
Two of spadesGoblin
Ace of clubsIron golem
King of clubsBandit captain and three bandits
Queen of clubsErinyes
Jack of clubsBerserker
Ten of clubsHill giant
Nine of clubsOgre
Eight of clubsOrc
Two of clubsKobold
Jokers (2)You (the deck's owner)

Deck of Illusions in the 2024 rules

The 2024 Dungeon Master’s Guide revised the magic items, and the SRD 5.2 carries the new text. What changed:

Type
Wondrous Item
Rarity
Uncommon
Attunement
Not required

This box contains a set of cards. A full deck has 34 cards: 32 depicting specific creatures and two with a mirrored surface. A deck found as treasure is usually missing 1d20 − 1 cards.

The magic of the deck functions only if its cards are drawn at random. You can take a Magic action to draw a card at random from the deck and throw it to the ground at a point within 30 feet of yourself. An illusion of a creature, determined by rolling on the Deck of Illusions table, forms over the thrown card and remains until dispelled. The illusory creature created by the card looks and behaves like a real creature of its kind, except that it can do no harm. While you are within 120 feet of the illusory creature and can see it, you can take a Magic action to move it anywhere within 30 feet of its card.

Any physical interaction with the illusory creature reveals it to be false, because objects pass through it. A creature that takes a Study action to visually inspect the illusory creature identifies it as an illusion with a successful DC 15 Intelligence (Investigation) check. The illusion lasts until its card is moved or the illusion is dispelled (using a Dispel Magic spell or a similar effect). When the illusion ends, the image on its card disappears, and that card can't be used again.

Deck of Illusions

1d100Illusion*
01–03Adult Red Dragon
04–06Archmage
07–09Assassin
10–12Bandit Captain
13–15Basilisk
16–18Berserker
19–21Bugbear Warrior
22–24Cloud Giant
25–27Druid
28–30Erinyes
31–33Ettin
34–36Fire Giant
37–39Frost Giant
40–42Gnoll Warrior
43–45Goblin Warrior
46–48Guardian Naga
49–51Hill Giant
52–54Hobgoblin Warrior
55–57Incubus
58–60Iron Golem
61–63Knight
64–66Kobold Warrior
67–69Lich
70–72Medusa
73–75Night Hag
76–78Ogre
79–81Oni
82–84Priest
85–87Succubus
88–90Troll
91–93Veteran Warrior
94–96Wyvern
97–00The card drawer

*Stat blocks for these creatures (except the card drawer) appear in "Monsters."

Other uncommon wondrous items

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