- Type
- Wondrous Items
- Rarity
- Uncommon
- Attunement
- Required
- Price (2014)
- 101–500 gp (DMG value range)
- Price (2024)
- 400 gp
Your Intelligence score is 19 while you wear this headband. It has no effect on you if your Intelligence is already 19 or higher.
Headband of Intellect 5e magic item
Wondrous item, uncommon (requires attunement) · 2024 version below
How the Headband of Intellect plays
While you wear it, your Intelligence score is 19. If it’s already 19 or higher, it does nothing. It’s uncommon and requires attunement.
That makes it much better for some characters than others. For a fighter or barbarian with 8 Intelligence, it’s +5 to every Intelligence check and save, and suddenly they’re the party’s expert on history and arcana. For a wizard with 16 or 17 Intelligence, it’s a modest bump now and frees up an Ability Score Improvement for a feat.
Who should wear it
- Eldritch Knights and Arcane Tricksters, who cast Intelligence spells but put their best scores into Strength or Dexterity.
- Low-level wizards and artificers whose Intelligence is 17 or lower, as long as they’re willing to swap it out later.
- Anyone with low Intelligence who wants to resist Intelligence saves, such as a mind flayer’s blast or Feeblemind.
Common questions
Does the Headband of Intellect add +2 or set Intelligence to 19?
It sets your Intelligence to 19 while you wear it. If yours is already 19 or higher, it has no effect.
Is the Headband of Intellect good for a wizard?
Early on. A wizard with 16 goes to 19, which is +1 to spell attacks and save DCs, and can spend Ability Score Improvements on feats instead. Once the wizard reaches 19 or 20, it’s useless to them.
Does it stack with a Tome of Clear Thought?
Not directly. The tome raises your real Intelligence by 2; the headband only matters if your Intelligence is still below 19 after that.
Does it require attunement?
Yes.
Does it count for multiclassing requirements?
The rules don’t say whether a magic item’s score counts. Tables differ, so ask your DM.
Headband of Intellect compared with similar items
| Item | How it compares |
|---|---|
| Gauntlets of Ogre Power | Uncommon: sets Strength to 19. The same idea for fighters. |
| Amulet of Health | Rare: sets Constitution to 19. |
| Tome of Clear Thought | Very rare: +2 Intelligence and +2 to its maximum, permanently. |
| Ioun Stone of Intellect | Very rare: +2 Intelligence while it orbits you, up to 20. |
| Belt of Giant Strength | Rare to legendary: Strength of 21 to 29. |
Headband of Intellect 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:
Same rarity and attunement; the text is reworded for the 2024 rules glossary.
- Type
- Wondrous Item
- Rarity
- Uncommon
- Attunement
- Required
Your Intelligence is 19 while you wear this headband. It has no effect on you if your Intelligence is 19 or higher without it.
Other uncommon wondrous items
- Amulet of Proof against Detection and Location
- Bag of Holding
- Bag of Tricks
- Boots of Elvenkind
- Boots of Striding and Springing
- Boots of the Winterlands
- Bracers of Archery
- Brooch of Shielding
- Broom of Flying
- Circlet of Blasting
- Cloak of Elvenkind
- Cloak of Protection
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