D&D General Is Shield Guardian the Best Item Hidden in the Monster Manual?

[Silam]

Ok, it’s kind of a silly question since it’s probably the only item hidden in the Monster Manual, but the Shield Guardian, or rather the amulet linked to it, is a pretty kick ass item!

The Shield Guardian is a construct with some 140-ish HPs, and regenerating 10 HP / turn.

The wearer of the amulet controlling the guardian can call the guardian (no action required), making it know instantly the direction and distance to the wearer and travel there. When within 60 ft of the wearer, half the damage taken by the wearer is transferred to the guardian.

The guardian also acts somewhat similarly to a Ring of Spell Storing, but for just one spell of levels 4 and lower. But the difference is that the guardian is the one doing the casting, thus not requiring the amulet wearer’s action nor concentration. Furthermore, it enables a form a contingency since the wearer of the amulet can specify circumstances in which the spell should be cast (in addition to manually commanding it to be cast, no action required).

Finally, when the guardian stands adjacent to the wearer, they can take a Reaction to give +5 to AC to the wearer. Essentially an at-will Shield effect.

There is no explicit mention that the wearer can command the guardian in any specific way besides the above, but even if the guardian simply hangs around soaking damage, holding concentration on a spell and reacting with Shields, that’s still quite strong!

The amulet requires no attunement, and does not have a rarity specified.

Is this overpowered or what?

 

[Jeremy E Grenemyer]

There was some horse trading in my old 3E game between the party’s two wizards when they acquired a Shield Guardian as treasure.

I like the item because it let me throw more damage at one of the wizards.

I don’t know if 4E’s Shield Guardian was any good, but it seems like 5E’s is excellent! I don’t think it’s overpowered.

 

[Silam]

I think I would probably rule that it requires attunement if I gave it as a DM.

I wonder if there are any good strategies for keeping the guardian alive at higher levels. Hiding it or what not.

 

[jasper]

And that is the reason Shield Guardian Amulet became an STORY item in Adventure League. Just too good at lower tiers. And is an extra meat shield at higher. Story Items in AL last as long as the adventure.

 

[aco175]

Looking at it now, it does seem more powerful for a rare item. I would be telling a player or poster here that it is way overpowered for the level you can get a rare item.

 

[Silam]

Looking at it now, it does seem more powerful for a rare item. I would be telling a player or poster here that it is way overpowered for the level you can get a rare item.

I agree. But what makes you anchor it to rare? The MM entry does not mention anything as far as I can tell. Did I miss it?

IMO it should probably be very rare… or perhaps even rarer? And I would make it require attunement, as I said previously.

 

[FarBeyondC]

Rime of the Frostmaiden gave its variant of the amulet rare rarity, with the stipulation of attunement (humanoids only) and extra features of knowing where the guardian is (while both it and amulet are on the same plane of existence) and ability to (try to) reanimate if both amulet and guardian are within 10 feet of each other.

 

[aco175]

I agree. But what makes you anchor it to rare? The MM entry does not mention anything as far as I can tell. Did I miss it?

IMO it should probably be very rare… or perhaps even rarer? And I would make it require attunement, as I said previously.

This is DDBeyond, but likely the 2014 stuff.

 

[FarBeyondC]

View attachment 441349
This is DDBeyond, but likely the 2014 stuff.

What does Beyond say about the Command Amulet (the 2024 version)?

Also, given Beyond got the source wrong (that description's from the Monster Manual, not the Dungeon Master's Guide) and either invented its item type and rarity or got it from somewhere else...

shrugs

 

[Cap'n Kobold]

Ok, it’s kind of a silly question since it’s probably the only item hidden in the Monster Manual, but the Shield Guardian, or rather the amulet linked to it, is a pretty kick ass item!

The Shield Guardian is a construct with some 140-ish HPs, and regenerating 10 HP / turn.

The wearer of the amulet controlling the guardian can call the guardian (no action required), making it know instantly the direction and distance to the wearer and travel there. When within 60 ft of the wearer, half the damage taken by the wearer is transferred to the guardian.

The guardian also acts somewhat similarly to a Ring of Spell Storing, but for just one spell of levels 4 and lower. But the difference is that the guardian is the one doing the casting, thus not requiring the amulet wearer’s action nor concentration. Furthermore, it enables a form a contingency since the wearer of the amulet can specify circumstances in which the spell should be cast (in addition to manually commanding it to be cast, no action required).

Finally, when the guardian stands adjacent to the wearer, they can take a Reaction to give +5 to AC to the wearer. Essentially an at-will Shield effect.

There is no explicit mention that the wearer can command the guardian in any specific way besides the above, but even if the guardian simply hangs around soaking damage, holding concentration on a spell and reacting with Shields, that’s still quite strong!

The amulet requires no attunement, and does not have a rarity specified.

Is this overpowered or what?

Bear in mind that the details for the creation of the amulet are for the purposes of creating a replacement after the previous one was destroyed by the system given immediately before that section.

No details are given for the creation of the actual Guardian. This would likely be very expensive and difficult - more like creating a golem.