Best Potions In Dungeons & Dragons, Ranked

Summary

Potion of Cloud Giant Strength: Immediate and powerful strength boost for melee classes.
Potion of Healing: Common but crucial potion for saving lives in dire situations.
Potion of Speed: Unparalleled speed and reflex boost without concentration cost.

As a seasoned Dungeon Master with over two decades of gaming under my belt, I can confidently say that these potions and elixirs are nothing short of magical treasures in the world of tabletop role-playing games. They add a layer of excitement, strategy, and unpredictability that keeps players on their toes and enhances the overall experience.

Dungeons & Dragons adventurers have often found themselves in critical situations where a potion has proven crucial for character survival, particularly during intense campaigns like “Curse of Strahd”. In dire circumstances when no healing is available, a potion becomes a lifesaver. Similarly, during battles against formidable adversaries such as a white dragon, a potion can aid in resisting the beast’s chilling breath.

For those curious about the reasons behind the high value of these items, here’s a ranked list showcasing the top potions within the game, taking into account their usefulness, buffs provided, and the critical predicaments they can alleviate.

8. Potion Of Cloud Giant Strength

Drinking This Will Open All Doors (With A Kick)

Immediate and powerful effect
Utility both in and out of combat
Athletics Checks become easy as pie

This elixir significantly boosts the strength of any melee character, increasing their attribute to 27 for an hour. However, if their strength is already at or above this level, no additional effect occurs. In other words, it enhances their natural power and striking force. On the battlefield, applying this potion to a Fighter or Barbarian is much like providing them with a flamethrower; enemies will be caught off guard by their increased might. Off the battlefield, this enhancement can also prove dangerous, even for those who consume it.

When players receive a +7 increase in their Strength Attribute, they attempt an Athletics check to leap, always succeeding unless they roll a natural 1. However, the challenge lies in determining how high they’ll jump and how they’ll survive the descent. Misuse can result in catastrophe, but proper application can allow a buffed barbarian to literally shatter doors with a mighty kick.

7. Potion Of Healing

The Most Common Of Potions, The Most Underrated

It can save players in a pinch.
It can be used with a bonus action (at the DM’s discretion).
Useful when the party healer has run out

Even seasoned gamers will recognize the value of a Healing Potion upon sight, regardless of its size. It’s crucial because not every character class can utilize healing abilities. These miniature rejuvenation vials prove particularly useful in emergencies such as: The party healer is out of spells, has fallen out with the player and refuses to heal them, or a party member who requires healing is off on their own, disregarding the rule of thumb ‘never split the party’.

It’s advantageous that these potions are readily available in various locations (chests, random finds, or purchase at stores), and it’s advisable for players to always have a few on hand. However, a strict Dungeon Master might impose the “durability rule,” meaning these glass/crystal flasks will break upon taking bludgeoning damage. But don’t worry, there are several methods to avoid this issue. The most common solution is using an Adventurer’s Belt or Bandolier, which can hold up to 6 flasks and safeguards them from damage.

6. Potion Of Speed

The Second Best Thing Players Can Carry In A Potion Belt

Haste without the need to waste a spell or maintain concentration
Boost players’ movement, and actions during 10 rounds
Absolutely critical in boss fights

The Speed Potion, previously referred to as the Potion of Haste or Elixir of Haste, is an exceptional item that benefits all character classes. With actions restricted to a limited number per round, this magical drink grants players supernatural speed and agility. Upon activation, it doubles the players’ choices, and stays active for 10 rounds (or one minute), without requiring continued focus or concentration.

Conversely, this artifact also confers extra benefits such as Haste, a boost of +2 to your Armor Class (AC), and an edge during Dexterity Saving Throws. It’s one of the top items for adventurers due to these advantages. Luckily, it doesn’t come with any odd side effects, just a faint metallic taste. Most alchemists blend it with mint to mask this peculiar flavor.

5. Potion Of Water Breathing

No More Concerns About Athletic Checks For Swimming

Relatively cheap to craft
Adds great roleplay value
Great for underwater exploration/seafaring campaigns

The Potion Of Water Breathing is one of the best items in Dungeons & Dragons, and any wannabe adventurer should carry one of these in their belt if they want to triumph in the realms. The truth is that this potion is self-explanatory: It allows players to breathe underwater for a set amount of time (usually 1 hour) and also allows the drinker to move nimbly through the waters as if they had been born to live there. This potion is especially useful for players that are bound to embark on an adventure to cross the seas or are exploring the Sword Coast in search of a legendary shipwreck, brimming with treasure.

It’s a great way to add some extra flavor to the campaign, and it is always useful to have one in case of need. Since players never know what they will find in their adventures, having one of those can potentially save their lives. Just imagine failing a dexterity saving throw and falling through thin ice into the cold waters. Having this potion will then help players survive long enough to find a breathing hole, or be rescued from beneath the ice. It won’t help them deal with the cold, though, and that will depend on their fortitude and the DM’s discretion.

4. Potion Of Heroism

The Best Companion For Times That Require Daring Actions

Rare To Find, But Some Vendors Might Have It In Stock
Powerful Buff For Every Combat Situation
Another Powerful Spell Without The Concentration Cost

The Potion of Heroism will grant players the effects of the Bless Spell (players can roll a d4 and add the result to their attack rolls or ability checks) and 10 additional hit points for an hour. Additional hit points will grant overheal if the player is in full health, and will be spent first when it receives damage. This potion is great, because whoever drinks it has a chance to overturn the tide of battle or save the party during a negotiation, and the effects last longer than the Bless spell and do not require a constant concentration check.

As someone who appreciates games, I’d say the potion of heroism offers benefits that extend beyond its use in combat or role-play scenarios. It fosters boldness among players, which can be particularly helpful when the plot seems stuck due to fear or indecision. When skillfully employed, this potion can instill courage in a party, motivating them to take risks and explore the unknown. This, in turn, leads to a smoother, more dynamic gaming experience for everyone involved.

3. Elixir Of Health

Another Lifesaver When Exploring The World

It Can Cure Most Diseases (Lycanthropy Is Not A Disease)
It Replaces Minor Restoration Spells
Cures Poison, Deafness, Paralysis, Petrification, and Blindness

When a Cleric isn’t around to perform their duties, many groups often seek help from Hags, Witches, Druids, and other magic users who might negotiate for their services at a high cost to revive a petrified companion back to life. However, there exists a solution in the form of an Elixir (specifically, the Elixir of Health), which is often underestimated yet potent. This elixir serves as a viable alternative to the Minor Restoration Spell for healing various afflictions.

Players might be able to purchase Elixirs of Health for under 500 gold pieces by negotiating wisely, and these items can be found at apothecaries, mages, and general stores in towns and cities. They’re also frequently discovered in alchemist laboratories and the remnants of abandoned mage towers. This elixir could mean the difference between life and death for a party member who is close to succumbing to a deadly illness. However, it doesn’t have the power to lift Curses, such as Lycanthropy or Dire Jinx, from their afflicted victims.

2. Potion Of Flying

This Thing Will Give You Wings (Not Just A Caffeine Overdose)

It can save players from untimely death
Grants aerial superiority to grounded races
The ranged classes’ best friend

I’ve found that the power of the Potion of Flying is often overlooked. Much like other potions, it bestows the benefits of a spell that enhances abilities, without the need to sustain focus over time. The effects of this elixir last even longer than traditional spells. Drinking this potion grants you the ability to move at your base speed through the air for an hour. You can hover at any height, freely moving upwards and downwards as desired.

This, of course, has only one disadvantage: if the player doesn’t mind the timing, and the effects wear off while they are in the air, it means a certain death by taking fall damage. But against the possibilities that this alchemy-made miracle offers, that’s but a faint risk. The aerial superiority granted by the Fly spell granted to classes such as Rangers, Rogues, Sorcerers, Warlocks, and other spellcasters, without the cost of maintaining concentration, is incredible. Sadly, it is a rare and expensive potion that is highly coveted by thieves, so selling it is always restricted in lawful cities.

1. Potion Of Greater Invisibility

With One Of These, You Can Tie Down The Rogue So He Doesn’t Cause Trouble

Immediate Effect, No downsides
Remain Invisible even when attacking
Only True Sight can counter it

This extremely rare concoction can turn a creature completely invisible, with all and its equipment. Unlike the regular version of this draught, the Greater Invisibility Potion grants the same effects for one hour and it maintains the spell even when the creature affected by it attacks.

In a fight or in peaceful situations, this potion offers a versatile tactical advantage. If your group has a highly recognized and pursued Rogue, they can swap them out for another member until the heat dies down for their covert comrade. The potential uses of this flask are almost endless, and it’s up to you, the players, to use your creativity (along with discussions with your party and the Dungeon Master) to fully exploit its capabilities.

2024-12-28 05:34