Thread by @kreimnat

I want to share with you the best #DND 5e magic item you've never heard of:

⚡🔥The Mizzium Apparatus🔥⚡

🧵~

This is my favorite magic item in the entire game for one simple reason:
It lets you *spontaneously* cast any spell on your spell list, unprepared! And it's only an uncommon

You've never heard of it (probably) because it's from Guildmaster's Guide to Ravnica
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To get specific, it lets you cast any spell off your class list by spending an appropriate spell slot and rolling an arcana check. DC = 10 + double spell level. On a success, it works, on a fail, you still cast a spell, just not the intended spell (which is very fun)
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Each spell level, up to 5th, has a table that you'll roll on if you fail to determine what spell you cast instead. Most of them are combat relevant (fireball, scorching ray, confusion, animate objects, etc.), so it's not usually horrible if you fail.
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Other drawbacks includes that it requires attunement by a sorcerer, warlock, or wizard (and it came out before the artificer but any reasonable DM would let it work for them too imo, the theming is perfect), and you need to prioritize arcana to get full value (well kinda)
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But think of the payoff! No more stressing over spell selection knowing that niche trick is only an arcana check away!

I slap this on every wizard I can manage because it just makes the class exceptionally more fun to play
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If you wrangle arcana expertise (say from the Skill Expert feat) you'll start to be unable to fail on lower level spells and cantrips as you level up. By 5th level you can get a +11 to arcana. Add 1 from the d20 to hit a DC 12 (remember, 1s don't auto-fail on ability checks).
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That means there's no reason to even prepare 1st level spells. You effectively know every cantrip for your class! And with only a 10% failure rate on 2nd level spells, you really get to beef out your higher level spells lists. By 9th level you can't fail 2nd level spells.
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While it really sings for Wizards (and Artificers), it's not horrible for sorcerers or warlocks either. Arcana is a cost, but sorcs are hungry for more spells, it's well worth it.

And there's even some excellent sorcerer cheese... what I like to call the "Accidental Blaster"
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Theoretically, you can use the apparatus to cast reaction spells (counterspell, shield, gift of gab).

But something very funny happens when you *fail* the arcana check for a reaction spell. You still roll on the table, still cast a spell! And here having *low* arcana is king
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Imagine an enemy casts any spell, you attempt to counterspell it with the apparatus. You roll against a DC 16 with your -1 arcana check and fail. Suddenly you're lobbing a fireball at your enemies as a reaction! Or fear! Sure you could roll a dud, but it's exciting!
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The silliest one is Gift of Gab. What the spell does isn't important but it's a 2nd level spell you cast as a reaction triggered when you "speak to another creature"

Suddenly all you have to do is *TALK* and you could cast one of these 2nd level spells using your reaction!
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Cards on the table, I prolly wouldn't OK the accidental blaster outside of a 1-shot, but it's fantastically silly.

Oh, and gift of gab is from the acquisitions incorporated book if you're wondering why you've never heard of it either.
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Anyway, 100% my fave item in the game. Always have the dramatically perfect spell, occasionally explode lol

Anytime a DM says "pick 1 uncommon magic item" it's always my first thought. Makes wizards absurdly fun to play. Try it!

End.

(Oh and btw, if you actually play in Ravnica, Izzet league casters can get it for free pretty early on as part of advancing their faction renown.)

Actually done.