Source: Warhammer Fantasy: 4th Edition

Magic Items - Frequently Asked Questions
URL Copied!

View complete list of all frequently asked questions.

Currently displaying all results.

Are characters limited on what magic items they can take (up to their maximum)?

A character can take at most 1 magic weapon, at most 1 magic suit of armour, and at most 1 magic shield. The only characters that can take magic banners are battle standard bearers.

Dwarf characters are limited to 1 magic armour, 1 magic item, and 1 magic weapon maximum.

House Rule: It is suggested that all characters other than mages be restricted to 1 magic hand-to-hand combat weapon, 1 magic missile weapon, 1 magic suit of armour, 1 magic shield, and 1 magic item. In this restriction, treat Devices of Protection the same as magic suits of armour.

Mage characters would be restricted to 1 device of protection, 1 magic weapon, and as many other magic items as they desire.

Source: Battle Magic, p. 38, Arcane Magic, p. 8-9, Warhammer Armies - Dwarfs, p. 24 & Warhammer Design Team

Do I have to tell my opponent what magic items my figures have?

No. Nowhere in the rules does it state that you have to do this, and there is a magic items whose power is to reveal enemy magic items.

Source: Battle Magic, Arcane Magic & Warhammer Design Team

May an army have more than one of a particular magic item (such as Book of Ashur or Frostblade)?

No, the only exceptions to this are specifically stated. Some exceptions stated are power scrolls, dispel scrolls, destroy spell scrolls, Runefangs, and Chaos armour.

Source: Battle Magic, p. 38, Warhammer Armies - Empire, p. 17 & Warhammer Armies - Chaos, p. 15

Most magic items are limited to 1, but Battle Magic states that there is no limit to the number of scrolls and potions that an army can cary with it. Which Potions and scrolls are unlimited?

Dispel, Power, and Destroy magic scrolls are unlimited, as is healing and strength potions. All other scrolls (Skaven Warpscroll, Bufo's magic hex scroll, etc.) all restricted to 1.

Source: Warhammer Design Team

Can the effects of a magic item be dispelled?

If the effects of the item are considered to be a spell, yes, otherwise no.

Source: Battle Magic, p. 39

Can a character have 2 crowns, such as the Crown of Sorcery and the Crown of Command?

No. Arcane Magic strictly forbids a character from wearing 2 crowns or 2 helms

Crowns can be worn with helms. Arcane Magic specifically allows that.

The following magic items are considered crowns (may use 1 with 1 helm): War Crown of Saphery, Crown of Sorcery, Dragon Crown of Karaz, Crown of Command, Tomb King's Crown

The following items are considered helms (may use 1 with 1 crown): Dragonhelm, Golden Helm of Atrazar, Helm of Many Eyes

Source: Arcane Magic, p. 11 & Warhammer Design Team

A mage has a magic staff, such as the Staff of Flaming Death. Can the mage use the staff as a hand to hand combat weapon? If so, is the magic staff considered a magical weapon?

No and no.

House Rule: It is suggested that magical staffs can be used as hand to hand combat weapons, and if so, count as magical weapons.

Source: Warhammer Design Team

Is the point cost of the Book of Ashur correct? Compared to the Book of Nagash (100 points) and the High Elf War Crown (125 points) it looks like a steal.

Technically, the Book of Ashur costs 50 points. At the end of the battle roll a die for the spellcaster taking the Book of Ashur to see if he wanders off into the wasteland. If he does, the opponent gets the victory points for him.

Source: Arcane Magic, p. 17

The Ring of Corin (or some equivalent) is used to destroy the Book of Ashur, what happens to the character who has it?

That character looses 1 magic level, and looses all spells gained by using the Book of Ashur. Those spells lost may not be replaced by spells from the mages original spell deck.

House Rule: It is suggested that one of the following 2 house rules be used.

Option #1 would be that the player pays 50 points for the Book, and makes the die roll before the battle to see if the spellcaster with the Book of Ashur wanders off into the wastelands.

Option #2 would be that the player pays 150 points for the Book of Ashur, and makes the die roll after the battle to see if the spellcaster with the Book of Ashur wanders off into the wastelands.

Under either option, if the spellcaster fails the die roll, the opponent gains victory points for the lost spellcaster.

Source: Warhammer Design Team

Can liches and vampires use the Book of Nagash? Can Manfred von Carstein use the book of Nagash? How about Heimlich Kemmler?

Yes on all accounts. The Book of Nagash Magic Item card should allow Liches and Vampires to take it.

Source: Warhammer Design Team

Can Settra use the Carstein Ring?

No. The Carstein ring is limited to (Vampire Only) Settra is allowed to use items that are limited to (Vampire, Liche or Necromancer only).

Source: Arcane Magic, p. 11 & Warhammer Armies - Undead, p. 96-97

Can the Chaos Familiar be used to modify any die roll in the game, or only die rolls that directly affect the character? What if the die roll that directly affects the character is made by the opposing player?

The chaos familiar can only modify die rolls that directly involve the character, and it cannot be a die roll that the opponent makes.

Source: Warhammer Design Team

Can the Ring of Corin be used to destroy familiars?

No.

Source: Warhammer Design Team

What is the movement value of a mounted spellcaster that has a familiar?

When a spellcaster has a familiar, and is mounted on a steed or monster it is assumed that the spellcaster carries the familiar with him. Therefore, the spellcaster gets to move at the rate of his mount. When the spellcaster stops moving, place the familiar next to him.

Source: Warhammer Design Team

Can a mage with the Skull Staff force hidden assassins with magic items to reveal themselves? Can that mage then target the assassin with spells or missile fire? Can the assassin 'surprise attack' that character?

The character knows that the assassin is in the unit, but may not target the assassin with spells or missile fire. The assassin may not 'surprise attack' the character with the Skull Staff.

Source: Warhammer Design Team

If a Gyrocopter, engraved with the rune of disguise is within 12" of a character carrying the Skull Staff, can the character target the Gyrocopter for spells? For Missile Fire? Is the Gyrocopter revealed?

No, no, and no. Although the character 'knows' the Gyrocopter is there, and even roughly where it might be, he can't attack it because he can't actually see it.

Source: Warhammer Design Team

Do the Staff of Volans have to be used for every spell the Supreme Patriarch casts?

No. Arcane Magic states that the bearer can use the staff to cast spells with Total Power, thereby implying its use is optional.

Source: Arcane Magic, p. 17

Can the automatic wound caused by Talon of Death be saved?

Yes.

House Rule: The Warhammer Design Team suggest that no normal armour saves are allowed against magical items that inflict automatic wounds. Automatic hits can be saved against, however.

Source: Warhammer Design Team

Do devices of protection allow a save versus wounds against affects that normally don't allow an armour save, even an magic armour save?

The device of protection save versus wounds is not an armour save and is therefore not modified by attacker's strength. The device of protection save versus wounds is not an armour save and thus applies even when armour saves are not allowed.

Source: Arcane Magic, p. 9 & Warhammer Design Team

Can a character wear a device of protection and armour? Can a character wear a device of protection and magic armour?

Yes and yes. It is suggested that armour/magic armour saves be done before device of protection saves versus wounds.

Source: Warhammer Design Team

Can a character wear two devices of protection?

Yes.

Source: Battle Magic, p. 38 & Arcane Magic, p. 8-9

Can a Dwarf character use both the Rune of Spite and a Device of Protection?

No. A Dwarf Character cannot have 2 magic items of the same type.

Source: Warhammer Armies - Dwarfs, p. 24

When is Device of Protection wound save made against weapons that cause multiple wounds?

If 1 wound will be turned into many wounds by the weapon, make the roll to save the wound before the 1 wound is turned into many wounds.

A weapon with the Dwarf Rune of Smiting generates its multiple wounds before the Device of Protection save. This rune is an exception to the way all other magic weapons are treated.

House Rule: It is suggested that characters be limited to only 1 device of protection.

Source: Warhammer Design Team & Warhammer Armies - Dwarfs, p. 26

Do wounds reflected by the Black Amulet affect combat resolution?

Yes.

Source: Warhammer Design Team

If the Black Amulet rebounds a wound from a weapon with a special effect, does the special effect happen to the attacker?

No. The Black Amulet reflects the wound, not the special effects of the weapon that caused the wound. Therefore, weapons that turn 1 wound into multiple wound when rebounded only cause 1 wound, and a wound rebounded from a Frostblade does not kill the attacker.

Source: Warhammer Design Team

A model with 4 attacks and 1 wound attacks another model that has a black amulet/rune of spite. What if the first attack wounds, ant that wound is rebounded onto the attacker, do the other attacks have any effect (is the attacker dead before his additional attacks)?

For a single model all to hits rolls are taken together, then all to wound rolls, then all saves for the victim. The only exception is when a model makes attacks with different initiative values (i.e. a character riding a monster, or in a chariot), in which case all attacks with the same initiative are made at the same time (i.e. for a character on a monster, roll the attacks for the character all together, and the attacks for the monster all together).

Source: Warhammer Design Team

Does the black amulet only rebound wounds caused by hand to hand combat attacks, or does it rebound any wounds caused during the hand to hand combat phase (does the black amulet rebound wounds caused by other black amulets and the runes of spite, spells that cause wounds in hand to hand combat phase, etc.).

The Black Amulet only rebounds wounds cause by hand to hand combat attacks from other models, not wounds caused by 'devices' such as the black amulet or rune of spite. Spells that cause wounds during the hand to hand combat phase wound not be rebounded.

Source: Warhammer Design Team

Is the Golden Helm of Atrazar considered magic armour or a device of protection?

The Golden Helm of Atrazar is considered a Device of Protection and not magic armour, Arcane Magic is incorrect.

Source: Warhammer Design Team

Can wizards wear the Golden Helm of Atrazar and still cast spells?

Yes, it is a Device of Protection and not magic armour.

Source: Warhammer Design Team

When is the Golden Helm save made against weapons that cause multiple wounds?

If 1 wound will be turned into many wounds by the weapon, make the roll to absorb the wounds before the 1 wound is turned into many wounds.

This is not explicitly stated in Arcane Magic, but it is believed that the Golden Helm of Atrazar should be treated the same way as the Black Amulet.

Source: Warhammer Design Team

A character riding a mount (considered a steed, not a monster) takes off using the Boots of Flight, what happens to the mount?

A character riding a mount (or a monster, or that is in a chariot, etc., for that matter) may not use the Boots of Flight.

Source: Boots of Flight Magic Item Card & Warhammer Design Team

A character wearing the Boots of Flight looses a round of hand to hand combat, but passes his break test, is he driven off?

If the wearer used the boots to get into the combat he would be driven off in the same way as any other flier.

Source: Warhammer Design Team

Does a character wearing the Boots of Flight get to 'march-fly'?

No.

Source: Warhammer Design Team

If the general has the Crown of Command, do all units within 12" get to his 10 leadership for psychology and break tests?

Yes. All unit with n 12" get to use the general's 10 leadership value, however units that the general is not in do not get the 'unmodified 10 leadership value' for break test. All units other than the unit the general is in have there break tests modified by the combat resolution as normal. The crown enhances the person's leadership for those in the unit with him, those far away are not as inspired by the crown.

Source: Warhammer Design Team

If anEempire unit's leader has the Crown of Command, does a detachment of that unit (within 6") get to use the unmodified 10 leadership for break tests?

Yes. This would be allowed because detached units get to use that character's leadership anyway, and are considered 'part of the unit.'

Source: Warhammer Design Team

Is the Gem of Gnar considered a spell effect and therefore affected by anti-spell items from the opponent character?

No.

Items that target magic items (to destroy/disable) do work against the Gem of Gnar before its activated, but not after.

Source: Gem of Gnar Magic Item Card & Warhammer Design Team

Can a spellcaster use the 'Escape' Winds of Magic card to avoid the Gem of Gnar?

No. The 'Escape' Winds of Magic card can only be used when the spellcaster would otherwise be killed, and the Gem of Gnar does not kill the spellcaster.

Source: Battle Magic, p. 27 & Arcane Magic, p. 12

If a charging chariot hits a character with the Gem of Gnar, what happens?

The character with the Gem of Gnar can activate before he and his unit are run down by the chariot. Thus, the chariot/rider/harnessed beasts and the Gem of Gnar character are all frozen before the chariot causes any casualties.

Source: Warhammer Design Team

Can a single character with the Gem of Gnar move into contact with a character in a unit and 'suspend that character in time'?

It depends. When a character comes into contact with a unit it is suggested that the challenge phase is played out first. Therefore, when a single character with the Gem of Gnar charges a unit, the unit champion can challenge the Gem of Gnar character first. Then, if the Gem of Gnar character survives, he can be placed in base to base contact with whomever character he can reach and he can activate the Gem of Gnar. If the Gem of Gnar character is killed in the challenge, the rest of the characters in the unit are spared.

This provides players with a method of protecting their generals/good spellcasters (by placing them in units with champions).

Source: Warhammer Design Team

Can the Horn of Defiance be combined with another item, banner that increases combat bonus?

Yes but note that the Horn of Defiance only doubles rank bonus, not other combat resolution effects.

Source: Warhammer Design Team

When can I use the Lifestone of Ashraaz to swap wound totals?

The Lifestone can only be used at the very beginning of the combat phase.

Source: Warhammer Design Team

Can the Ring of Corin be used to destroy chaos rewards?

Yes.

Source: Warhammer Design Team

Does the talisman of obsidian prevent magic users from using magic items as well as winds of magic cards?

No, the talisman of obsidian only prevents the magic user's ability to cast spells and use winds of magic cards.

Source: Talisman of Obsidian Magic Item Card

Does the talisman of obsidian prevent the gem of gnar from working?

No.

Source: Talisman of Obsidian Magic Item Card

All Tomb Kings and Settra have BS of 0 but the Tomb King's Crown allows undead within 12" to use their BS, is this correct?

Yes. There is no BS increasing device that will help Settra or any of the other Mummy Tomb Kings either.

Source: Arcane Magic, p.11 & Warhammer Armies - Undead, p. 82, 96

Can the Tomb King's Crown be used in conjunction with the Blessed Sword?

No. The Tomb King's Crown effect only works when the bearer is not in hand to hand combat, and the Blessed Sword effect only works when the bearer is in hand to hand combat. You cannot be in and not in hand to hand combat at the same time.

Source: Arcane Magic, p.11 & Blessed Sword Magic Item Card

Can the Warpstone Charm modify any die roll that the controlling army has to make, or only any die roll that the holding character has to make?

The Warpstone Charm can only modify die rolls that directly involve the character, and it cannot be a die roll that the opponent makes.

Source: Warhammer Design Team

Can a character take a magic banner as one of his magic items?

Only the battle standard bearer may take a magic standard as one of his magic items. Other that battle standard bearers, only unit standard bearers in units that are allowed magic standards may take magic standards.

Source: Battle Magic, p.38

When should the effects of Mork's War Banner take effect if the battle standard bearer carrying it is involved in a challenge?

A challenge issued to a battle standard bearer equipped with Mork's War Banner should allow the possibility of saving the life of a spellcaster in the front rank, resolving the head-explosion-on-contact after the challenge is resolved (if the battle standard bearer is still alive).

Source: Warhammer Design Team

Does the Banner of Arcane Protection (which works up to 6" away from the regiment and works on any hostile spell including spells not cast at your unit) affect spells that magically move the enemy into hand to hand combat with the unit?

The banner only affects spells cast at a target within 6" of the banner. Once a spell has been successfully cast the banner can not effect it. Therefore, moved units and terrain have to be within 6" of the banner when the spell is cast for the banner to get a chance to dispel.

Source: Warhammer Design Team

Does the Battle Banner +D6 combat resolution bonus modify all of my armies hand-to-hand combats?

No. The reference to 'side' in the Battle Banner card text is referring to the 'side' of the hand-to-hand combat that the Battle Banner is involved in. The Battle Banner bonus only applies when the character/unit carrying it is involved in the combat.

Source: Rulebook, p. 30-35 & Battle Banner Magic Item Card

Do characters in a unit of skeletal cavalry with the Doomrider Banner automatically hit when the unit charges?

No. The magic banner only effects mounted skeletons, so liches, necromancers, vampires, wights, and wraiths are not effected.

Source: Arcane Magic, p. 20

Does the Hell Banner affect characters immune to psychology?

Yes.

Source: Warhammer Design Team

Does the Mork's War Banner affect spell casting Daemons?

Yes, but only the figures in base to base contact with the bearer of the standard. Take these casualties at the beginning hand-to-hand combat every turn.

Source: Warhammer Design Team

Is is possible to get an armour save better than 1+?

No. Even if circumstances give the character a 0+ or better armour save, treat it as a 1+ armour save when applying armour save modifiers.

Source: Warhammer Design Team

Orcs and Goblins are not allowed to wear heavy armour. Can Orc & Goblin characters get magic armour that is considered heavy armour?

Yes, the Orc & Goblin characters can get any magic armour.

Source: Warhammer Armies - Orcs & Goblins, p. 82

Does the Enchanted shield save bonus (+1 to armour save) affect the re-roll save given by the Armour of Fortune and the Armour of Protection?

No. When a character wearing the Armour of Fortune/Armour of Protection misses their armour save the enchanted shield does not affect the re-roll save provided by the magic armour.

Source: Warhammer Design Team

A character is wearing the Armour of Fortune/Armour of Protection and has the dawnstone, what armour saves does the dawnstone allow to be re-rolled.

The dawnstone only allows the original armour save to be re-rolled (the one modified by attackers strength, and other devices of protection the defender has). If the armour save is missed, and the dawnstone re-rolled armour saved is missed, then the unmodified save provided by the armour is made.

Source: Warhammer Design Team

Does the Dragon Armour of Aenarion confer a save against war machines?

No.

Source: Dragon Armour of Aenarion Magic Item Card

Which magic weapons prevent armour save?

The following lists indicate the effects of different weapons on armour save. If a weapon is not listed, it does not prevent armour saves.

Against the following weapons, only figures with magic armour get an armour save: Axe of Grimnir, Gotrek's Axe, Morgor the Mangler, Fearfrost, Frost Blade, Hammer of Sigmar, Obsidian Blade, Chaos Daemon Sword, Axe of Grom, Gromril Blade, Sword of Justice, Chaos Runeblade, Banisher Sword

Against the following weapons, figures get no armour save: Black Axe of Krell, Runefang

Source: Arcane Magic

The Dragon Slayer causes fear in Dragons, yet Dragons cause terror, and therefore are immune to fear. Are Dragons immune to the fear caused by the Dragon Slayer weapon?

No, the dragons fear the Dragon Slayer weapon even though they are immune to fear normally. The bearer of the Dragon Slayer Weapon can only suffer from fear of a dragon, not terror.

Source: Arcane Magic, p. 13

Can the wielder of the Dragon Bow shoot more than once in the missile phase?

Yes. The elector count should get to shoot the number of times equal to his attacks, up to 3.

Source: Arcane Magic, p. 15

Does the Magic Arrow come with a bow so that it can be given to characters that don't normally have access to a bows?

Yes, this is specified on the card description for the magic item.

Source: Sky Arrow Magic Item Card

A unit has a magic standard and the bearer of the sword of destruction is in base to base contact with the unit. Does the sword of destruction nullify the magic banner's abilities?

If the sword of destruction bearer is in base to base contact with the unit standard bearer, then the magic banner is nullified, otherwise it is not.

Assuming the magic banner is not affected by the sword of destruction, and that the magic banner is the type all the models in the unit (standard of shielding +1 save, banner of might +1 to hit) any models in base to base contact with the sword of destruction bearer still gain the benefits of the magic banner.

Source: Warhammer Design Team