Add some spice to your next D&D 5e campaign with curses to spice up your game.
Looking for some D&D 5e curses to spice up your campaign? Official curses found in D&D 5e sourcebooks and adventure guides can inspire and add terrifying surprises to your campaign. Adding curses as treasure or loot can add unique challenges and surprises to your players, making the game more engaging and immersive.
If your players have been getting a little too cocky, consider slipping a D&D 5e curse in their path. They can take various forms, from cursed magic items to sinister curses that can be inflicted on players. Certain treasures, like those found in tombs or dungeons, can curse players with significant debuffs or never-ending nightmares until they are returned. Likewise, D&D 5e magic items can be cursed, adding an unpredictable element to the dice rolls.
Here are some D&D 5e cursed items and curses to spice up your campaign.
Bestow curse
The Bestow Curse spell is a simple option to curse players, but you can combine it with Glyph of Warding to create a deadly trap. The curse can cause the following effects:
Other sources
These curses are unique to the D&D 5e campaign setting and are not official sources.
D&D 5e cursed items
These cursed items can be found in the official books, but it’s up to you as the dungeon master to decide when and how they appear.
D&D 5e cursed items can be found in the following sources:
Treasures and curses
These cursed items are specific to the D&D 5e campaign setting, but are not official sources.
These treasures can be found in official campaign books and source materials, but each has its own curse that players must be wary of. These curses can add a lot of flavour and a sense of danger to your campaign.
D&D cursed items
D&D cursed items can be found in the following sources:
D&D curses
These curses are unique to the D&D 5e campaign setting.
These curses can be found in the following sources:
D&D lycanthropy
Lycanthropy in D&D 5e can take on various forms, ranging from werewolves to weresharks. The Monster Manual doesn’t provide explicit rules, but it does offer stat blocks for lycanthropes.
Curses can be difficult to implement, but lycanthropy can be a fun way to spice up the game. It can add drawbacks and complexities to the game, but it can also be used for lighthearted fun and excitement.
D&D mummies
Mummies are undead creatures whose Rotting Fist drains the life force of their targets. They use their fists to drain their targets’ life force, slowly lowering their maximum health until they die.
Employing this curse without a Remove Curse spell is risky, but it can also be given to creatures sitting on a mummy lord’s throne or through the bite of a hoard scarab.
D&D demilich
Demiliches can employ Vile Curse, which gives disadvantage on attacks and saves. This can be useful in combat to hinder players. Adding descriptive flair to the curse, such as whispers or leaking black ichor, can make it more impactful and terrifying.
D&D fomorian
Fomorians can curse others, deforming them and impairing their speed, saves, checks, and attacks. This curse can be customised to fit the theme and character aesthetic, but care must be taken not to ruin a player’s enjoyment.
D&D rakshasa
A rakshasa can curse their targets with horrible nightmares, preventing them from obtaining rest benefits and gradually making them less useful. This adds a personal and thematic element to a horror campaign, putting a timer on defeating the rakshasa.
D&D cursed items (other)
These cursed items are unique to the D&D 5e campaign setting, but are not official sources.
Curses aren’t just magic items or monsters, they can be inflicted on players and creatures. Add some spice to your next campaign by exploring the various curses in Dungeons & Dragons.
