When it comes to powerful necromancy artifacts in Dungeons & Dragons, the Hand and Eye of Vecna have long been the most infamous. These pieces of the dark god Vecna’s remains are often seen as ultimate tools of corruption and power.
However, while these artifacts certainly hold great strength, they’re not the strongest necromantic objects in the game. That title belongs to the Wand of Orcus, a weapon so powerful that it trumps even Vecna’s relics in its ability to control the dead.
The Rise of Necromancy in D&D
Necromancy is one of the most feared schools of magic in Dungeons & Dragons. The very idea of raising the dead or controlling undead armies is enough to strike terror into the hearts of adventurers.
Some of the most iconic necromancers in D&D lore have wielded artifacts that give them unimaginable power over life and death, including the legendary Hand and Eye of Vecna. However, there is another artifact that stands out even more in the realm of necromancy: the Wand of Orcus.
The Wand of Orcus: The Ultimate Necromantic Weapon
Arguably the most powerful necromantic artifact in the D&D universe, the Wand of Orcus is a magical mace that has been wielded by Orcus, the Demon Prince of the Undead.
Orcus is a being of pure chaos and violence, with an insatiable thirst for the destruction of all life on the Material Plane. His goal is to turn every living creature into a mindless undead servant, and the Wand of Orcus serves as the perfect tool to achieve this goal.
The Wand of Orcus is not only a weapon of immense power, but it also serves as a spellcasting focus for necromantic magic.
This means that whoever wields the wand can cast some of the most devastating necromantic spells in the game, including Circle of Death, Animate Dead, Finger of Death, Blight, and even the terrifying Power Word Kill. With the Wand of Orcus in hand, a necromancer can spread death and decay at an unprecedented rate.
In terms of appearance, the wand is a metal rod topped with a skull, an heirloom from an ancient hero who once sought to defeat Orcus. While it can deal significant necrotic damage when used as a melee weapon, its true power lies in the magic it channels, allowing the wielder to unleash devastation upon the living and the dead alike.
Additionally, the Wand of Orcus provides a +3 bonus to a character’s AC when equipped, making it not just a tool for destruction, but also a protective item.
The Sentient Nature of the Wand
One of the most terrifying aspects of the Wand of Orcus is its sentience. Unlike Vecna’s Hand or Eye, which are powerful relics of a god, the Wand of Orcus has its own malevolent intelligence.
The wand possesses the ability scores of Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma, and it is fully aware of its surroundings and its wielder. Any creature who attempts to attune to the wand and isn’t Orcus himself will face instant death if they fail a Wisdom saving throw, only to rise as a zombie under the wand’s control.
The wand is not just a passive tool; it can speak to its wielder, often in a cruel and manipulative manner. As a chaotic evil entity, the wand tries to feign loyalty to whoever holds it, offering promises of power and domination.
However, these promises are empty, and the wand will eventually betray its wielder to return to Orcus’ hands. The Wand of Orcus desires nothing but the complete annihilation of life, and it will stop at nothing to see that goal fulfilled.
The Army of the Undead
What truly separates the Wand of Orcus from Vecna’s artifacts is the scale of its necromantic power. The Wand of Orcus allows its wielder to cast the Call Dead ability, raising an entire army of undead in a single action.
Unlike Animate Dead, which requires multiple casts to raise undead creatures, Call Dead summons a vast army of zombies and skeletons totaling 500 Hit Points, all of which rise from the ground in one swift motion. This army lasts for an entire day, allowing the wielder to command a massive undead force without needing to constantly re-cast the spell.
The ability to summon such a large army in an instant makes the Wand of Orcus an incredibly powerful tool for any necromancer, far surpassing the abilities of those who wield Vecna’s relics. However, this power comes at a cost: anyone who wields the Wand of Orcus will inevitably be bound to Orcus’ desires of destruction, spreading chaos and death in his name.
The Corrupting Influence of the Wand
While the Wand of Orcus offers immense power, it also carries with it the corrupting influence of Orcus himself. Those who wield the wand risk losing their free will, becoming pawns in the Demon Prince’s war against all life.
The temptation of such power can be hard to resist, especially for characters who are drawn to the dark arts of necromancy. However, the Wand of Orcus is not a tool for heroes—it is an artifact for those who embrace destruction and chaos, willing to sacrifice their soul for the promise of ultimate power.
In D&D campaigns, the Wand of Orcus can serve as a central element for character development. A character’s struggle with the wand’s power, the seduction of its promises, and the eventual fall into corruption can lead to rich storytelling and character arcs.
The artifact itself is a perfect example of how items in D&D can shape a character’s fate and morality, serving as both a tool for immense power and a test of a character’s resolve.
