Staff of Swarming Insects (2014 Dungeon Masters Guide)

rare · Wondrous Item · Requires Attunement by a bard, cleric, druid, sorcerer, warlock, or wizard

This staff has 10 charges and regains 1d6 + 4 expended charges daily at dawn. If you expend the last charge, roll a d20. On a 1, a swarm of insects consumes and destroys the staff, then disperses.

Spells

While holding the staff, you can use an action to expend some of its charges to cast one of the following spells from it, using your spell save DC: giant insect (4 charges) or insect plague (5 charges).

Insect Cloud

While holding the staff, you can use an action and expend 1 charge to cause a swarm of harmless flying insects to spread out in a 30-foot radius from you. The insects remain for 10 minutes, making the area heavily obscured for creatures other than you. The swarm moves with you, remaining centered on you. A wind of at least 10 miles per hour disperses the swarm and ends the effect.

Versatile

This weapon can be used with one or two hands. A damage value in parentheses appears with the property—the damage when the weapon is used with two hands to make a melee attack.


Staff of Swarming Insects (2024 Dungeon Masters Guide)

rare · Melee Weapon 2024 · Requires Attunement by a bard, cleric, druid, sorcerer, warlock, or wizard

This staff has 10 charges.

Insect Cloud

While holding the staff , you can take a Magic action and expend 1 charge to cause a swarm of harmless flying insects to fill a 30-foot Emanation [Area of Effect] originating from you. The insects remain for 10 minutes, making the area Heavily Obscured for creatures other than you. A strong wind (like that created by Gust of Wind) disperses the swarm and ends the effect.

Spells

While holding the staff, you can cast one of the spells on the following table from it, using your spell save DC and spell attack modifier. The table indicates how many charges you must expend to cast the spell.

Spell Charge Cost
Giant Insect 4
Insect Plague 5

Regaining Charges

The staff regains 1d6 + 4 expended charges daily at dawn. If you expend the last charge, roll 1d20. On a 1, a swarm of insects consumes and destroys the staff, then disperses.

Versatile

A Versatile weapon can be used with one or two hands. A damage value in parentheses appears with the property. The weapon deals that damage when used with two hands to make a melee attack.

Mastery: Topple

If you hit a creature with this weapon, you can force the creature to make a Constitution saving throw (DC 8 plus the ability modifier used to make the attack roll and your Proficiency). On a failed save, the creature has the Prone condition.