DnD Magic Item Conversions: Ankhs and Anklets

Ra’s Ankh

Wondrous Item, Artifact (requires attunement)

Aura: Overwhelming Evocation

This ankh is bestowed directly to Ra’s avatar in the world. It carries the power of the sun and is anathema to undead.

Beacon of the Sun. This holy symbol shines with bright light in a 20-foot-radius and dim light for an additional 20 feet. As an action you can command the ankh to suppress or reactivate this effect. This light is sunlight. 

So long as this effect is active, you are immune to radiant damage and the first creature you deal damage to each turn with a spell or attack takes an additional 4d8 radiant damage.

Greater Turning. As an action, you can present this holy symbol to repel Undead. Each Undead within 30 feet of you must make a Wisdom saving throw. If the creature fails its saving throw, it is turned for 1 minute or until it takes any damage. If a creature with a Challenge Rating of 5 or lower fails its saving throw, it is destroyed instead.

A turned creature must spend its turns trying to move as far away from you as it can, and it can't willingly move to a space within 30 feet of you. It also can't take reactions. For its action, it can use only the Dash action or try to escape from an effect that prevents it from moving. If there's nowhere to move, the creature can use the Dodge action. 

You may use this property up to three times a day and regain all uses each day at dawn.

Random Properties. The ankh has the following randomly determined properties:

-2 minor beneficial properties

-1 major beneficial property

-2 minor detrimental properties

Destroying the Ankh. The ankh is no more difficult to destroy than a nonmagical ankh. If destroyed, it reforms in the hand of the creature that most recently attuned to it the following dawn. Only after the deity that created the ankh has been slain does the ankh no longer reform.

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True Ankh

Wondrous Item, Legendary (requires attunement by a creature of Challenge Rating or Level 15 or higher)

Aura: Very Strong Evocation and Abjuration

The True Ankh is dedicated to a single deity when it is created. If a follower of another deity or a creature unable to attune to the ankh willingly touches it, that creature takes 10d8 + 20 radiant damage and is stunned until the start of its next turn.

Raise Dead. You can use this ankh to cast the raise dead spell any number of times. Once you have used this property on a creature, that same creature cannot be raised using the ankh for 100 days.

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Equus Anklet

Wondrous Item, Uncommon (requires attunement)

Aura: Minor Conjuration

This silver amulet is inscribed with the image of a mount or other beast of burden.  As an action, you can cast the find steed spell using the amulet. When you do so, the amulet transforms into the steed, which takes the form of the animal inscribed on the amulet.

Once you have used this property, it can’t be used again until the next dawn.

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Here are some more items converted from the 2e Encyclopedia Magica into 5e and published on the DMsGuild under Artifacts of Antiquity Volume 1. Finishing up the ankhs means some more Egyptian flavor pretty directly with the Ra reference. This is a pretty easy fix, depending on whatever pantheon you're looking to run, just slot in Pelor, Amaunator or some other sun-themed deity. After that, we're moving back into more mundane magic items with anklets.

DnD 3.5 to 5e Spell Conversions: Absorption

Absorption

3rd-level abjuration

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• Casting Time: 1 reaction, which you take when you see a creature within 60 feet targeting you with a spell
• Range: 60 feet
• Components: S
• Duration: Instantaneous
• Classes: Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard

You attempt to absorb a spell that targets only you. If the spell is of 5th level or lower, the spell is absorbed. If the spell is 6th level or higher, make an ability check using your spellcasting ability. The DC equals 10+ the spell’s level. On a success the spell is absorbed. An absorbed spell has no effect.

Additionally, when you successfully absorb a spell you briefly store that spell’s energy, which can be used to power your own spells. Until the end of your next turn, you may use the stored energy to cast a spell that you have prepared or know without expending a spell slot. The maximum level of this spell is equal to your spellcasting modifier or the level of the absorbed spell, whichever is lower.

At Higher Levels: When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 6th level or higher, the absorbed spell has no effect if its level is less than or equal to the level of the spell slot you used.

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One of the spells from my conversions of the entire 3.5 Spell Compendium into 5e and published in Spells of Antiquity. This one is a little bit like counterspell, a little bit like dispel magic, but also a little bit of its own thing.

DnD Magic Item Conversions: Ankhs

          Ankh of Life

Wondrous Item, Legendary (requires attunement by a cleric or paladin)

Aura: Very Strong Evocation 

This powerful symbol of divinity is made of birchwood and bereft of ornamentation. It has the following powers: 

Spells. The ankh has 10 charges. While holding it, you can use an action to expend 1 or more of its charges to cast one of the following spells from it, using your spell modifier and spell save DC: protection from evil and good (1 charge), lesser restoration (2 charges), revivify (3 charges), regenerate (7 charges). 

The ankh regains 1d6 + 4 expended charges daily at dawn. 

Divine Light. This holy symbol shines with bright light in a 20-foot-radius and dim light for an additional 20 feet. As an action you can command the ankh to suppress or reactivate this effect. 

Turn Undead. As an action, you can present this holy symbol to repel Undead. Each Undead within 30 feet of you must make a Wisdom saving throw. If the creature fails its saving throw, it is turned for 1 minute or until it takes any damage.

A turned creature must spend its turns trying to move as far away from you as it can, and it can't willingly move to a space within 30 feet of you. It also can't take reactions. For its action, it can use only the Dash action or try to escape from an effect that prevents it from moving. If there's nowhere to move, the creature can use the Dodge action. 

Once you have used this property, it can’t be used again until the next dawn.

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 Ankh of Power

Wondrous Item, Legendary (requires attunement by a cleric or paladin)

Aura: Very Strong Evocation and Abjuration

It is believed that only a dozen of these priceless objects exist. While holding this ankh, any spell you cast using a spell slot of 1st level or higher is cast as though you had used a spell slot one level higher.   

Sunbeam. As an action, you can cast the sunbeam spell using your spellcasting modifier. Once you have used this property, it can’t be used again until the next dawn.

Divine Health. You are immune to all forms of poison and disease and have immunity to poison damage.

Holy Ankh. This holy symbol shines with bright light in a 20-foot-radius and dim light for an additional 20 feet. As an action you can command the ankh to suppress or reactivate this effect.

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 Nithian Ankh

Wondrous Item, Rare (requires attunement  by a spellcaster)

Aura: Moderate Evocation

These magical totems are given by the immortals, usually in times of need and as rewards for worthy deeds. Their powers vary depending upon which immortal created it. This ankh has one spell of up to 5th level associated with it. While holding the ankh, you can cast that spell using your spellcasting modifier and spell save DC.

Once you have used this property, it can’t be used again until the next dawn.

Divine Light. This holy symbol shines with bright light in a 20-foot-radius and dim light for an additional 20 feet. As an action you can command the ankh to suppress or reactivate this effect.

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Here are some more items converted from the 2e Encyclopedia Magica into 5e and published on the DMsGuild under Artifacts of Antiquity Volume 1. I've been using AI generated art previously while freely showcasing some of these items, but I'm pretty conflicted about AI art as a whole- so until some legality and copyright things get a bit better hammered out there I think I'll just stick to more items per post. Right now, we're getting to the section about ankhs- a lot of them have an egyptian feel and are quite a bit more powerful than your average magic item, often themed around light and smiting undead.

DnD 3.5 to 5e Spell Conversions: Absorb Object

Absorb Object

1st-level illusion (ritual)

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• Casting Time: 1 action
• Range: Touch
• Components: V, S
• Duration: 8 hours
• Classes: Artificer, Wizard

You touch an unattended object, which seems to meld into your body. The object must be tiny or smaller. It cannot be detected with even a careful search, although detect magic reveals the presence of a magical aura. The only evidence of its presence is a faint blotch on your skin shaped vaguely like the object. You may have a maximum number of objects stored with this spell equal to your spellcasting modifier.

As a bonus action on your turn, you may touch the spot to cause the object to appear in your hand, ending the spell. If the spell duration expires the object appears in the hand originally used to touch the object. A sentient magic item can make a Wisdom saving throw to resist the effect of this spell.

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One of the spells from my conversions of the entire 3.5 Spell Compendium into 5e and published in Spells of Antiquity. Originally, this was a spell specifically for the assassin class. I debated whether it would just make a nice feature for some rogue subclass out there somewhere, but in the end it seemed a neat niche spell for artificers and wizards. Of course, being illusion means that rogues still gain access if they go for arcane trickster. 

DnD 3.5 to 5e Monster Conversions: Aboleth Mage

 Among the watery tombs and dungeons they inhabit, the lords of the aboleths focus their efforts to achieve dominion through their study of wizardry. Their great power marks them as among the lords of all subterranean creatures. Still, these creatures, devoted to their arcane scholarship, spend most of their long lives alone. 

- Dungeons and Dragons v3.5 Monster Manual

           

Here we go, the far realms psionic terrors that haven't quite managed to become as infamous as other iconic monsters like mind flayers or beholders. Though they do exist already in 5th edition, this is a scaled up version of the basic aboleth, with greatly enhanced spellcasting abilities. In addition, I had best not forget some lair actions for those who choose to fight the aboleth in its own den:

Art is by Wizards of the Coast.

Encyclopedia Magica: Anchor of Weight

Anchor of Weight

Wondrous Item, Uncommon

Aura: Minor Transmutation

This 3-inch-long miniature golden anchor  is attached to a silver thread. When the string is tied to a creature or vehicle and dropped while speaking a command word, that creature or vehicle stops all movement and stays steady at that point until the command word is spoken again.

Curse. This anchor is cursed. When activated, the creature or vehicle immediately begins to fall, as though 2,000 pounds of additional weight were added to what they are carrying. If the thread is severed, the curse is broken and the anchor vanishes.

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One more item from the 2e Encyclopedia Magica converted to 5e. This one is effectively just the Aerial Anchor in appearance and function, but with a curse added in for extra excitement.

Encyclopedia Magica: Seafaring Anchor

Seafaring Anchor

Wondrous Item, Common

Aura: Faint Transmutation

This anchor is attached to a short cable. When affixed to a seafaring vessel and cast overboard, the cable magically lengthens until the anchor reaches the seafloor, and shrinks when retracted. The maximum length the cable can reach is 1 mile.

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One more magic item from the 2e Encyclopedia Magica converted to 5e. This one is a fairly simple common item, essentially just a regular anchor with no need to allocate storage to extra length of chain- but hey, a little magic here and there is great for flavor.