Ioun Stone 5e magic item

Wondrous item, rarity varies (requires attunement) · 2024 version below

Type: Wondrous Items
Rarity: Varies
Attunement: Required

An Ioun stone is named after Ioun, a god of knowledge and prophecy revered on some worlds. Many types of Ioun stone exist, each type a distinct combination of shape and color.

When you use an action to toss one of these stones into the air, the stone orbits your head at a distance of 1d3 feet and confers a benefit to you. Thereafter, another creature must use an action to grasp or net the stone to separate it from you, either by making a successful attack roll against AC 24 or a successful DC 24 Dexterity (Acrobatics) check. You can use an action to seize and stow the stone, ending its effect.

A stone has AC 24, 10 hit points, and resistance to all damage. It is considered to be an object that is being worn while it orbits your head.

Absorption (Very Rare). While this pale lavender ellipsoid orbits your head, you can use your reaction to cancel a spell of 4th level or lower cast by a creature you can see and targeting only you.

Once the stone has canceled 20 levels of spells, it burns out and turns dull gray, losing its magic. If you are targeted by a spell whose level is higher than the number of spell levels the stone has left, the stone can't cancel it.

Agility (Very Rare). Your Dexterity score increases by 2, to a maximum of 20, while this deep red sphere orbits your head.

Awareness (Rare). You can't be surprised while this dark blue rhomboid orbits your head.

Fortitude (Very Rare). Your Constitution score increases by 2, to a maximum of 20, while this pink rhomboid orbits your head.

Greater Absorption (Legendary). While this marbled lavender and green ellipsoid orbits your head, you can use your reaction to cancel a spell of 8th level or lower cast by a creature you can see and targeting only you.

Once the stone has canceled 50 levels of spells, it burns out and turns dull gray, losing its magic. If you are targeted by a spell whose level is higher than the number of spell levels the stone has left, the stone can't cancel it.

Insight (Very Rare). Your Wisdom score increases by 2, to a maximum of 20, while this incandescent blue sphere orbits your head.

Intellect (Very Rare). Your Intelligence score increases by 2, to a maximum of 20, while this marbled scarlet and blue sphere orbits your head.

Leadership (Very Rare). Your Charisma score increases by 2, to a maximum of 20, while this marbled pink and green sphere orbits your head.

Mastery (Legendary). Your proficiency bonus increases by 1 while this pale green prism orbits your head.

Protection (Rare). You gain a +1 bonus to AC while this dusty rose prism orbits your head.

Regeneration (Legendary). You regain 15 hit points at the end of each hour this pearly white spindle orbits your head, provided that you have at least 1 hit point.

Reserve (Rare). This vibrant purple prism stores spells cast into it, holding them until you use them. The stone can store up to 3 levels worth of spells at a time. When found, it contains 1d4 - 1 levels of stored spells chosen by the GM.

Any creature can cast a spell of 1st through 3rd level into the stone by touching it as the spell is cast. The spell has no effect, other than to be stored in the stone. If the stone can't hold the spell, the spell is expended without effect. The level of the slot used to cast the spell determines how much space it uses.

While this stone orbits your head, you can cast any spell stored in it. The spell uses the slot level, spell save DC, spell attack bonus, and spellcasting ability of the original caster, but is otherwise treated as if you cast the spell. The spell cast from the stone is no longer stored in it, freeing up space.

Strength (Very Rare). Your Strength score increases by 2, to a maximum of 20, while this pale blue rhomboid orbits your head.

Sustenance (Rare). You don't need to eat or drink while this clear spindle orbits your head.

Variants

Ioun Stone of Absorption
Ioun Stone of Agility
Ioun Stone of Awareness
Ioun Stone of Fortitude
Ioun Stone of Greater Absorption
Ioun Stone of Insight
Ioun Stone of Intellect
Ioun Stone of Leadership
Ioun Stone of Mastery
Ioun Stone of Protection
Ioun Stone of Regeneration
Ioun Stone of Reserve
Ioun Stone of Strength
Ioun Stone of Sustenance

How Ioun Stones play

An Ioun stone is a small gem you toss into the air as an action. It then orbits your head at 1d3 feet and gives you its benefit, and each one requires attunement. You can take it back and stow it as an action.

There are 14 kinds. Rare: Awareness (you can’t be surprised), Protection (+1 AC), Reserve (stores 3 levels of spells) and Sustenance (no need to eat or drink). Very rare: Absorption (cancel spells of 4th level or lower that target only you, 20 levels in all), and Agility, Fortitude, Insight, Intellect, Leadership and Strength, each +2 to one ability score, to a maximum of 20. Legendary: Greater Absorption (8th level or lower, 50 levels), Mastery (+1 proficiency bonus) and Regeneration (15 hit points each hour).

Who should use them

Mastery is worth it to almost anyone: +1 proficiency bonus raises attacks, spell DCs, proficient saves and skills all at once.
Awareness suits whoever keeps watch, or the character the whole party relies on in round one.
The ability stones are best for a character stuck at 18 or 19 in their main score. At 20 they do nothing.

Common questions

How many Ioun Stones can you have at once?

As many as you can attune to, since each needs its own attunement. With the usual three-item limit, that’s three stones and no other attuned items.

Can someone steal an Ioun Stone?

In the 2014 rules, yes, but it’s hard. A creature has to use an action and either hit AC 24 or succeed on a DC 24 Dexterity (Acrobatics) check to grab or net it. The stone has AC 24, 10 hit points and resistance to all damage.

Which Ioun Stone is the best?

Mastery, for most characters: +1 proficiency bonus improves nearly everything you do. Of the rare stones, Awareness and Protection are the most useful.

Can an Ioun Stone raise an ability score above 20?

No. The six ability stones add +2, to a maximum of 20.

Does the Stone of Absorption stop area spells like Fireball?

No, not in the 2014 rules. It cancels a spell only if the spell targets only you. The 2024 version drops that limit and cancels any spell of 4th level or lower cast by a creature you can see.

What else changed in the 2024 rules?

Stones can no longer be grabbed or attacked, and you can wear up to three. Awareness now gives advantage on Initiative and Wisdom (Perception) instead of immunity to surprise, Reserve holds 4 levels of spells, and Greater Absorption burns out after 20 levels instead of 50.

Ioun Stones compared with similar items

Item	How it compares
Ring of Protection	Rare: +1 AC and +1 to saves. Strictly more than the Ioun Stone of Protection’s +1 AC.
Ring of Spell Storing	Rare: 5 levels of stored spells up to 5th level, against the Reserve stone’s 3.
Headband of Intellect	Uncommon: sets Intelligence to 19. Better than the Intellect stone for anyone below 17.
Rod of Absorption	Very rare: absorbs spells that target only you and stores their energy to fuel your own spells.

Ioun Stone 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:

Rarity: Varies → Rarity Varies.

Type: Wondrous Item
Rarity: Rarity Varies
Attunement: Required

Roughly marble sized, Ioun Stones are named after Ioun, a god of knowledge and prophecy revered on some worlds. Many types of Ioun Stones exist, each type a distinct combination of shape and color.

When you take a Magic action to toss an Ioun Stone into the air, the stone orbits your head at a distance of 1d3 feet, conferring its benefit to you while doing so. You can have up to three Ioun Stones orbiting your head at the same time.

Each Ioun Stone orbiting your head is considered to be an object you are wearing. The orbiting stone avoids contact with other creatures and objects, adjusting its orbit to avoid collisions and thwarting all attempts by other creatures to attack or snatch it.

As a Utilize action, you can seize and stow any number of Ioun Stones orbiting your head. If your Attunement to an Ioun Stone ends while it's orbiting your head, the stone falls as though you had dropped it.

The type of stone determines its rarity and effects.

Absorption (Very Rare). While this pale lavender ellipsoid orbits your head, you can take a Reaction to cancel a spell of level 4 or lower cast by a creature you can see. A canceled spell has no effect, and any resources used to cast it are wasted. Once the stone has canceled 20 levels of spells, it burns out, turns dull gray, and loses its magic.

Agility (Very Rare). Your Dexterity increases by 2, to a maximum of 20, while this deep-red sphere orbits your head.

Awareness (Rare). While this dark-blue rhomboid orbits your head, you have Advantage on Initiative rolls and Wisdom (Perception) checks.

Fortitude (Very Rare). Your Constitution increases by 2, to a maximum of 20, while this pink rhomboid orbits your head.

Greater Absorption (Legendary). While this marbled lavender and green ellipsoid orbits your head, you can take a Reaction to cancel a spell of level 8 or lower cast by a creature you can see. A canceled spell has no effect, and any resources used to cast it are wasted. Once the stone has canceled 20 levels of spells, it burns out, turns dull gray, and loses its magic.

Insight (Very Rare). Your Wisdom increases by 2, to a maximum of 20, while this incandescent blue sphere orbits your head.

Intellect (Very Rare). Your Intelligence increases by 2, to a maximum of 20, while this marbled scarlet and blue sphere orbits your head.

Leadership (Very Rare). Your Charisma increases by 2, to a maximum of 20, while this marbled pink and green sphere orbits your head.

Mastery (Legendary). Your Proficiency Bonus increases by 1 while this pale green prism orbits your head.

Protection (Rare). You gain a +1 bonus to Armor Class while this dusty-rose prism orbits your head.

Regeneration (Legendary). You regain 15 Hit Points at the end of each hour this pearly white spindle orbits your head if you have at least 1 Hit Point.

Reserve (Rare). This vibrant purple prism stores spells cast into it, holding them until you use them. The stone can store up to 4 levels of spells at a time. When found, it contains 1d4 levels of stored spells chosen by the GM.

Any creature can cast a spell of level 1 through 4 into the stone by touching it as the spell is cast. The spell has no effect, other than to be stored in the stone. If the stone can't hold the spell, the spell is expended without effect. The level of the slot used to cast the spell determines how much space it uses.

While this stone orbits your head, you can cast any spell stored in it. The spell uses the slot level, spell save DC, spell attack bonus, and spellcasting ability of the original caster but is otherwise treated as if you cast the spell. The spell cast from the stone is no longer stored in it, freeing up space.

Strength (Very Rare). Your Strength increases by 2, to a maximum of 20, while this pale blue rhomboid orbits your head.

Sustenance (Rare). You don't need to eat or drink while this clear spindle orbits your head.

Other varies wondrous items

Browse: varies magic items · all wondrous items · every magic item