Wand of the War Mage 5e: +1, +2 and +3, and Which Spells It Helps

A Wand of the War Mage in 5e is a wand that requires attunement by a spellcaster and comes in three versions: +1 (uncommon), +2 (rare) and +3 (very rare). While you hold it, you add that bonus to spell attack rolls, and your spell attacks ignore Half Cover. It has no charges and no activation; the bonus is always on. It doesn't touch your spell save DC, so it helps Fire Bolt and Eldritch Blast but not Fireball. The verdict: a strong pick for an attack-roll caster, especially a warlock, and close to useless for a caster who lives on saving throws.

Table of Contents

• •Wand of the War Mage Rules Text
• •How the Wand of the War Mage Works
• •Wand of the War Mage +1, +2 and +3 Compared
• •Wand of the War Mage: 2014 vs 2024
• •Is the Wand of the War Mage Worth It?
• •Wand of the War Mage for DMs
• •Frequently Asked Questions

Wand of the War Mage Rules Text

Both entries cover all three bonuses in one item.

How the Wand of the War Mage Works

Who can attune

The wand requires attunement by a spellcaster. Both SRDs define that the same way: a creature qualifies if it can cast at least one spell using its own traits or features, not through a magic item. A wizard, a warlock, a cleric or a paladin all qualify. So does a character who can cast a spell from a species trait or a feat.

Spell attack rolls only

The bonus applies to spell attack rolls, the attacks you make as part of a spell. It doesn't raise your spell save DC, and it doesn't add damage. Some common examples:

Spells with several attack rolls get the most out of it. A level 11 warlock's Eldritch Blast fires three beams, and each beam rolls separately with the bonus.

Ignoring Half Cover

Half Cover gives +2 to AC and Dexterity saves. It comes from a low wall, a piece of furniture, or (the common case) another creature standing between you and the target, friend or foe. With the wand you ignore it on spell attacks. Three-Quarters Cover (+5) and Total Cover still apply.

That makes the cover clause worth about as much as the +2 wand's bonus whenever you're firing past your own fighter into melee. A +1 wand against a goblin behind the party's paladin is effectively +3.

Holding it

The bonus works only "while holding this wand", so the wand takes up a hand.

Using it as a spellcasting focus

In 2024 the rules answer this: the SRD's Wands category says that unless its description notes otherwise, a wand can be used as an Arcane Focus, and the Wand of the War Mage's text says nothing against it. A Sorcerer, Warlock or Wizard can use it as their Spellcasting Focus, so one hand covers both the bonus and Material components. A cleric or druid can still hold it for the bonus, but it isn't their kind of focus.

The 2014 SRD has no wand-category rule. Its arcane focus is "a wand-like length of wood, or some similar item". DM ruling: a magic wand fits that description, so let a 2014 arcane caster use it as a focus too.

Stacking

Bonuses from different magic items add together. A wizard holding a +2 wand and a Staff of Power (which gives +2 to spell attack rolls while held) has +4 in total, and needs both hands to do it. You can't attune to two copies of the same item, so two Wands of the War Mage don't stack.

Wand of the War Mage +1, +2 and +3 Compared

The math: a +7 spell attack hits AC 15 on an 8 or higher (65 percent). Against Half Cover that target is AC 17 and needs a 10 (55 percent). The wand removes the cover and adds its bonus, so a +3 wand hits on a 5 or higher, 80 percent, either way. Over a fight of five rounds of Eldritch Blast with three beams, that's 15 attacks: a +3 wand turns about 10 hits into about 12, or into 12 instead of 8 when the target has Half Cover.

The +3 is a very rare item for 40,000 GP in the 2024 SRD. For a pure attack caster it competes with other very rare items, but for most casters the +1 or +2 is the realistic find.

Wand of the War Mage: 2014 vs 2024

The item text barely changed. The 2024 text says "spell attack roll" where 2014 says "spell attack", the 2024 SRD prices each version, and its Wands rule makes the wand an Arcane Focus by default. What did change is the spell list around it: some 2014 attack spells use saving throws in 2024 (Inflict Wounds is now a Constitution save), so a 2024 cleric may get less from the wand than a 2014 one.

Is the Wand of the War Mage Worth It?

Warlocks get the most. Eldritch Blast is the warlock's main attack at every level, and every beam benefits. Sorcerers and wizards who lean on Fire Bolt and Scorching Ray come next. A cleric with Guiding Bolt and Spiritual Weapon gets steady value.

It's a poor choice for a caster built around saving-throw spells: an enchanter, a controller, or a druid. They should take a Cloak of Protection or a Ring of Protection for the attunement slot, or a Pearl of Power to get a spell slot back.

The +1 wand at uncommon competes with the Cloak of Protection at the same rarity. For a warlock who blasts every round, take the wand. For a caster who mostly casts saving-throw spells and sometimes Fire Bolt, the cloak's +1 to AC and all saves does more.

Wand of the War Mage for DMs

Where it turns up. In the hands of an enemy war mage, an evoker or a warlock cultist. The +1 version fits early treasure alongside other uncommon items; the +3 belongs at high level.

What it changes. Very little. A +1 to +3 attack bonus is the same kind of boost a +1 to +3 weapon gives a fighter, without the damage bonus. Ignoring Half Cover is the part that changes tactics, because the party caster no longer needs to step out from behind the front line to get a clean shot.

Pricing. 400 GP (+1), 4,000 GP (+2) or 40,000 GP (+3) by rarity under the 2024 SRD; the 2014 SRD has no prices. The magic item generator and magic item rarity calculator can fill the rest of a wizard's hoard.

Hooks.

• •A war college gives each graduate a +1 wand. A deserter took a +3 from the commandant's office, and the college wants it back quietly.
• •An evoker NPC duels the party's warlock for a wand, first to three hits. It's a bet on whose attack rolls are better.
• •A wand found in a battlefield ruin hasn't been attuned to in decades. Identifying it shows it's a +2, and also turns up the name of its last owner.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Wand of the War Mage work with Eldritch Blast?

Yes. Eldritch Blast uses spell attack rolls, and each beam rolls separately, so the wand's bonus applies to every beam and each one ignores Half Cover.

Does the Wand of the War Mage increase spell save DC?

No. It only adds to spell attack rolls. Spells that call for a saving throw, such as Fireball or Hold Person, aren't affected.

Who can attune to a Wand of the War Mage?

A spellcaster: any creature that can cast at least one spell through its own traits or features, not through a magic item. Any class with spellcasting qualifies.

Can a Wand of the War Mage be used as a spellcasting focus?

In the 2024 rules, yes: any wand can be used as an Arcane Focus unless its description says otherwise, so a Sorcerer, Warlock or Wizard can cast through it. The 2014 SRD has no such rule, so it's the DM's call there.

Do two Wands of the War Mage stack?

You can't attune to two copies of the same item, so no. A wand does stack with a different item that boosts spell attacks, such as a Staff of Power.

How much is a Wand of the War Mage worth?

Under the 2024 SRD, 400 GP for the +1 (uncommon), 4,000 GP for the +2 (rare) and 40,000 GP for the +3 (very rare). The 2014 SRD has no magic item prices.

Item text: System Reference Document 5.1 (2014) and 5.2.1 (2024), Wizards of the Coast, CC-BY-4.0. Analysis, rulings and ideas are Loreify's own.