Orbs are just about the best shape you can be–but if you can’t be an orb, you can at least have one. Here are five real good orbs.
When it comes to arcane focuses, you have many options. You could pick a wand, or a rod, or a staff–but real spellcasters know the only correct choice is the Orb. Orbs are only available to Sorcerers, Warlock, or Wizards, because anytime you give an Orb to a Bard they try to start contact juggling it instead of casting spells, and then they just try and hit on everyone at bard college instead of moving on and adventuring. You graduated four years ago Brian.
But even if you’re not one of the chosen three, Orbs are hands down the way to go, because even if you don’t need an arcane focus, you can still grab a magical Orb that does cool things. What kind of magical Orb? Why… one of these!
Orb of Time
Also known as the Time Orb, this magical orb, when held aloft, will tell you whether it is morning, afternoon, evening, or nighttime outside.
Orb of Dragonkind
These magical orbs give you all manner of benefits, including the ability to issue a telepathic call to any dragon within a 40 mile radius. Evil dragons feel compelled to come to the Orb by the most direct route available.
Once the dragons show up, you’re on your own. Fortunately this orb can also cast Cure Wounds, Daylight, Death Ward, and Scrying a limited number of times per day.
Orb of Shielding
A magical orb found normally in Eberron but quickly making its way throughout the multiverse, the humble orb of shielding actually is an arcane focus. In addition to that, it grants you the ability to use your reaction to reduce incoming elemental damage (depending on the type of orb) by 1d4.
Orb of the Veil
An onyx sphere bearing deep spiraling grooves coming to you straight from where it plays a Critical Role in the course of Wildemount’s history, the Orb of the Veil grants its bearer +2 Wisdom as well as increasing their maximum Wisdom score by 2 (so up to 22 normally). It also grants you darkvision out to 60 feet or increases its range by 60 feet if you have it, and gives you advantage to find hidden doors.
Devastation Orb
Look if the name hasn’t already sold you, perhaps the fact that these magical orbs detonate with spectacular effect. Each one of these Orbs is aligned with an element. Water Orbs explode and create a 24 hour torrential rain, flood any nearby substantial bodies of water collapsing light structures and large or smaller creatures along the way.
An Earth Orb explodes and creates a minute long Earthquake (per the spell) within a 1-mile radius sphere.
An Air Orb detonates and creates an hour long windstorm that deals 1d4 bludgeoning damage per round to any creature caught out inside of it (so, 600d4 damage) which will also uproot weak trees and destroy light structures.
Fire Orbs don’t explode in a cataclysmic detonation, but rather create a heat wave that lasts for 24 hours, which is disappointing, but it creates a great way to exhaust any or all of your enemies.
Sure these orbs are 2,000gp each and hard to create, but if you got ’em, they’re worth it every time.
What’s your favorite Orb?
Source: Bell of Lost Souls
