It was our long distant ancestors that first discovered how to transform the bones of a fresh kill into a heavy club with which to make more fresh kills. Today of course, we have the wonders of civilization, and with that comes a litany of more advanced tools, weapons, armor, and equipment to be made from what we kill. Indeed, the resourcefulness of society means that just about every creature’s carcass can serve as more than just a trophy if you take it to someone with the right know-how. -Hamund
While some creature parts are useful fresh from the carcass, many require some alterations before their full potential can be realized. These items can be identified due to having a craft able item listed in their crafting column. As crafting is a very natural complement to harvesting, an entire chapter has been devoted to its rules here
In order to craft a harvested item into a usable item, it must be worked on by a skilled CRAFTER. Crafters are specialized professionals with the knowledge to turn raw materials into something usable. Crafters also tend to be of a certain type, covering different types of items to be made (see “Crafter Types” below).
Both player characters and NPCs may act as crafters, so long as they fulfil the stipulated requirements for their crafter type.
Crafters also need to have the right equipment and tools in order to craft an item, however that aspect is left up to the discretion of the DM and the suitability of the setting. In more fantastical campaigns, magical forges and laboratories may line every city bazaar, while in more grounded settings, finding appropriate facilities may be a quest in and of itself.
Each craft able item listed in this guide requires at least one harvestable material from a monster’s harvesting table to act as a BASE COMPONENT of the item. This base component provides the driving magical force that allows the item to function. The harvesting material and quantity of the materials required are listed in the description of the craft able item. For some craft able items, there are several potential harvestable materials that may act as the base component. In these cases, any of the listed materials may be used.
Craft able items require more than just the base component provided by harvested materials, however. Crafting an item requires a cost covering other requirements such as tools, facilities, and extra materials. Note that this cost does NOT include the cost of actually hiring a crafter, and that such a cost is considered separate. Assuming that the players are providing the base component for a craft able material, the value of this base component can be deducted from the end cost of crafting the item.
Finally, craft able items take a certain amount of time before they can be completed. The breakdown of the time and cost investment to craft an item is listed in the Magic Item Crafting Time and Cost table on the next page
| Item Rarity | Workweeks* | Cost* |
|---|---|---|
| Common | 1 | 50 gp |
| Uncommon | 2 | 200 gp |
| Rare | 10 | 2,000 gp |
| Very Rare | 25 | 20,000 gp |
| Legendary | 50 | 100,000 gp |
****Halved for a consumable item like a potion or scroll
This guide uses the rules for crafting in Xanathar’s Guide to Everything as the basis for the crafting rules presented here. DM’s are encouraged to adjust these numbers based on the needs of their own games.
Not all crafters are created equal. While a village blacksmith may be good at fixing scythes and making nails, if you hand them a dragon scale, the best you will get back is a ruined dragon scale and an apologetic look. If you have high quality materials, you're going to need a high quality crafter.
While under the base rules, anyone can craft anything so long as they meet the base proficiency requirements, under this optional rule, crafters are differentiated based on their proficiency bonus. A crafter may craft any item whose rarity is equal to or below their proficiency bonus as outlined in the Crafting Skill Proficiency table below.
| Prof | Skill Level | Item Rarity | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| +2 | Novice | Common | Usually an apprentice, assistant, or self-taught practitioner. Knows how to use the tools properly but has little skill with more difficult materials and no ability to make new ideas. |
| +3 | Journeyman | Uncommon | A craftsmen that serves their village or works in a specific role within their profession. Knows a few things very well, but most likely would not be able to understand the complexities of more exotic materials. |
| +4 | Artisan | Rare | The highest level of skill that most ordinary people could hope to attain. Capable of establishing a good trade in a city or in service of a noble. Experienced in almost all aspects of their profession and can work with some confidence on rarer materials. |
| +5 | Master | Very Rare | While hard work and dedication is always valuable, only a few people possess the inherent talent to push the limits of their craft farther than ordinary people. These talented individuals can be considered masters of their art; capable of not just reproduction, but innovation. |
| +6 | Grand Master | Legendary | An absolute master of their art. Most likely was either an adventurer in their past, or learned their trade from a supernatural force, as this would be the only way for them to become accustomed to the legendary materials that they work with. Capable of crafting any item that falls under their profession. |
You don’t ask a blacksmith to cut the timbers of your house, and you don’t ask an alchemist to craft you a suit of armor. If you want an item crafted, you need the right person for the job. Each craftable item comes with a tag in brackets explaining which type of crafter is capable of making that item.
Crafters are not restricted to a single profession either. Some skills are complimentary, or certain individuals are simply talented enough to cover multiple fields. Unless otherwise stated, crafters with multiple proficiencies use the same score for each field.
The following is a basic rundown of crafter types:
Alchemy is a profession that deals with the brewing and mixing of potions, concoctions, and tinctures. In general, if an organic material needs to be crushed, powdered, dried, boiled, melted, burned, mixed, etc., it's a job for an alchemist.
As part of their job, alchemists must also be experienced herbalists and have some knowledge of creature parts, but this level of knowledge may vary wildly from alchemist to alchemist. For example, village alchemists may know how to mix up local herbs with dried animal parts to cure a cold, while an elvish grandmaster may have learned the 12 secret uses of dragon blood.
Any character that has proficiency with alchemy tools may be considered an alchemist for crafting purposes.
A catch-all term for anyone who works primarily in the molding, transfiguration, enchanting, and manufacture of magical items. Often powerful wizards, their job requires them to not only understand magic, but also be able to weave permanent spells to transform mundane objects into wondrous ones. A common practice among artificers working with harvested materials is to transfigure them into gems and other objects more conducive to humanoid wear.
As part of their job, an artificer would have knowledge of the uses of magical creature parts, spell work, the use and preparation of magical reagents (crushed gems, incense, etc), magical identification, magical history, and basic metal and woodworking. Of course, not all artificers have the same level of skill. Some may spend their entire lives mass manufacturing the same magical trinkets day in and day out, while others have ventured to far planes and learned ancient lessons in the courts of Djinni princes.
Any character that is proficient in the Arcana skill and has access to at least one spell slot may be considered an artificer for crafting purposes.
A hammer striking anvil, the roar of a heated forge, and the hiss of cooling metal. These are the sounds of a blacksmith’s shop, the masters and crafters of metal. While the job of a blacksmith is usually simplified to a “metalworker,” the role encompasses so much more. Blacksmiths craft and fix all manners of equipment ranging from farming equipment, to weapons, to suits of armor. Not only that, but while blacksmiths normally deal strictly with metal, many creature shells, bones, and scales require metal reinforcement and/or attachments before they can be used as weapons and armor. As such, even though they are organic materials, it is still primarily a blacksmith’s responsibility to craft with them.
Blacksmith skills can vary wildly. The local blacksmith may only have a small forge from where they repair the hammers and scythes of their neighbors, while the master smiths of dwarven kingdoms smelt adamantium in rivers of magma at the heart of volcanoes.
Any character that is proficient in the Smith's Tools may be considered a blacksmith for crafting purposes.
Metal armor doesn’t agree with everyone, and many creatures have perfectly good hides that they won’t be using anymore. For times like these, a leatherworker is required. It is a long and messy job to take raw hides, tan them, preserve them, cut them, and fashion them into armor and other equipment, but most societies would break down without this crucial industry.
While leatherworkers are often looked down upon for their unpleasant job, these are usually just the leatherworkers that deal with mundane animal hides and skins. Highly skilled leatherworkers however are treated with the utmost respect since without them, your skinned Purple Worm hides would go completely to waste.
Any character that is proficient in the Leatherworker's Tools may be considered a leatherworker for crafting purposes.
Tinker Tinkers are a rare profession, but their work possesses incredible value. Tinkers are usually associated with finnicky contraptions and devices, and if they ever use magic it is usually more of an energy source rather than the driving characteristic. Really, tinkers are more concerned with finding new materials with strange properties to experiment with, and their inventions can range from the entertaining to the absolutely revolutionary.
With that in mind, tinkers vary widely in skill. A travelling peddler may have some experience in making mechanical puppets that flail around for the amusement of children, while the daring few that have travelled to Mechanus and returned alive may have unlocked the secrets of artificial life.
Any character that is proficient in the Tinker's Tools may be considered a tinker for crafting purposes.
When a piece of armor needs the blessings of a celestial, or a sword needs a spirit coaxed into it, a thaumaturge is needed. These specialized crafters usually do not consider themselves crafters at all, but simply people with special connections to the divine and their energy. Thaumaturges are not limited to just those that follow celestials either, many fiendish cults can boast their own specialized thaumaturge members that craft their cursed daggers and bind damned souls into pieces of jewelry.
As strange as it is to say, the celestials do not see everyone as equals, and certainly do not apportion their gifts impartially. A vagrant holy man is probably capable of invoking his celestial’s name to create a few vials of holy water, while a high cleric would be able to bless a hammer so that it strikes with the same fury as their celestial.
Any character that is proficient in the Religion skill has access to at least one spell slot, and is a follower of a celestial or otherworldly patron, may be considered a thaumaturge for crafting purposes.
Some craft able items originate from official source books published by Wizards of the Coast. In order to avoid lifting large sections of their book and reproducing them here, you are encouraged to look them up in their original books. The source book has been tagged next to the craft able item’s name: DMG for Dungeon Master’s Guide, and XGTE for Xanathar’s Guide to Everything.
In order to understand the quantities of harvestable materials required and the type of crafter, the following table has been made:
| Craftable Item | Harvesting Material | Crafter |
|---|---|---|
| Antitoxin (vial) | Stirge Bile (1 vial) | Alchemist |
| Arrow + 1 | Barbed Devil Barb (x1), Griffon Feather (x1), Hippogriff Feather (x1), | Blacksmith |
| Arrow + 2 | Hydra Tooth (x1) | Blacksmith |
| Bolt + 1 | Barbed Devil Barb (x1) | Leatherworker |
| Boots of the Winterlands | Yeti Hide (x1), Abominable Yeti Hide (x1) | Alchemist |
| Breastplate +2 | Stone Golem Stone (x1) | Blacksmith |
| Charlatan's Die | Cursed Knucklebones (x1) | Thaumaturge |
| Cloak of Billowing | Shimmer Cloth (x1) | Leatherworker |
| Cloak of Displacement | Cloaker Hide (x1), Displacer Beast Hide (x1) | Leatherworker |
| Cloak of Mending | Shimmer Cloth (x1) | Leatherworker |
| Cloak of the Bat | Vampire Hair (1 large pouch) | Leatherworker |
| Dagger + 1 | Bulette Tooth (1 small pouch), Vrock Talon (x1) | Blacksmith |
| Dragon Scale Mail | Dragon Scales (1 large bag) | Blacksmith |
| Dust of Disappearance | Sprite Wing (x1) | Alchemist |
| Ear Horn of Hearing | Darkmantle Otolith (x1) | Tinkerer |
| Elemental Gem | Mote of Air (x1), Mote of Earth (x1), Mote of Fire(x1), Mote of Water (x1) | Artificer |
| Eyes of the Eagle | Griffon Eye (x2), Hippogriff Eye (x2) | Artificer |
| Eyes of Charming | Dryad Eye (x2), Succubus/Incubus Eye (x2) | Artificer |
| Figurine of Wondrous Power, Obsidian Steed | Nightmare Hoof (x4) | Artificer |
| Flail + 1 | Clump of Beard Lashes (x1) | Blacksmith |
| Gauntlets of Ogre Power | Ogre Hand (x2), Oni Hand (x2) | Artificer |
| Glaive + 2 | Tyrannosaurus Rex Claw (x1) | Blacksmith |
| Goggles of Night | Oni Eye (x2) | Artificer |
| Greataxe + 1 | Allosaurus Jaw (x1) | Blacksmith |
| Greataxe + 2 | Death Tyrant Jaw (x1), Tyrannosaurus Rex Jawbone (x1) | Blacksmith |
| Greatclub + 1 | Gorgon Hoof (x2) | Blacksmith |
| Halberd + 3 | Pit Fiend Claw (x1) | Blacksmith |
| Hat of Disguise | Doppelganger Face (x1) | Leatherworker |
| Heavy Armor + 1 | Gorgon Plate (x1) | Blacksmith |
| Helm of Telepathy | Doppelganger Brain (x1) | Artificer |
| Iron Bands of Bilarro | Living Chain (x1) | Artificer |
| Javelin + 1 | Gorgon Horn (x1) | Blacksmith |
| Lance | Pteranodon Beak (x1) | Blacksmith |
| Lance + 1 | Gorgon Horn (x1) | Blacksmith |
| Longbow + 1 | Centaur Tail (x1) | Blacksmith |
| Maul + 1 | Gorgon Hoof (x2) | Blacksmith |
| Melee Bludgeoning Weapon + 1 | Ankylosaurus Tail (x1), Barlgura Hand (x1) | Blacksmith |
| Melee Piercing Weapon + 2 | Hezrou Claw (x1), Nalfeshnee Tusk (x1), Purple Worm Tooth (x1) | Blacksmith |
| Oil of Etherealness | Ectoplasmic Trail (1 vial) | Alchemist |
| Philter of Love | Devil-Tinged Blood (1 vial), Lamia Blood (1 vial), Succubus/Incubus Blood (1 vial) | Alchemist |
| Pipes of Haunting | Banshee Remnant (x1) | Artificer |
| Plate Armor + 1 | Umber Hulk Carapace (x1) | Blacksmith |
| Plate Armor + 3 | Iron Golem Iron (x1) | Blacksmith |
| Potion of Detect Thoughts | Flumph Brain (x1) | Alchemist |
| Potion of Fire Resistance | Barbed Devil Blood (1 vial), Nightmare Ash (1 small pouch) | Alchemist |
| Potion of Flying | Pegasus Wing (x2), Peryton Wing (x2) | Alchemist |
| Potion of Giant Strength | Cloud Giant Fingernail (x1), Ettin Fingernail (x1), Fire Giant Fingernail (x1), Frost Giant Fingernail (x1), Hill Giant Fingernail (x1), Stone Giant Fingernail (x1), Storm Giant Fingernail (x1) | Alchemist |
| Potion of Growth | Duergar Brainstem (x1) | Alchemist |
| Potion of Healing | Troll Blood (1/4 vial) | Alchemist |
| Potion of Superior Healing | Hydra Blood (1 vial), Naga Scale (1 small pouch), Oni Blood (1 vial), Shambling Mound Mulch (1 small pouch) | Alchemist |
| Potion of Invisibility | Duergar Brainstem (x1) | Alchemist |
| Potion of Poison | Quasit Venom (1 vial) | Alchemist |
| Potion of Poison Resistance | Quaggoth Blood (1 vial) | Alchemist |
| Potion of Water Breathing | Aboleth Mucus (1 vial), Sea Hag Hair (1 small pouch) | Alchemist |
| Shield + 1 | Gorgon Plate (x1) | Blacksmith |
| Shield + 3 | Dragon Turtle Shell Shard (x1), Iron Golem Iron (x1) | Blacksmith |
| Shortbow + 1 | Centaur Tail (x1) | Blacksmith |
| Sickle + 1 | Umber Hulk Mandibles (x1) | Blacksmith |
| Spear + 1 | Bulette Tooth (1 small pouch), Gorgon Horn (x1) | Blacksmith |
| Staff of the Woodlands | Treant Root (x1) | Artificer |
| Studded Leather Armor | Ankylosaurus Hide (x1), Lizardfolk Hide (x1) | Leatherworker |
| Studded Leather Armor + 1 | Minotaur Hide (x1) | Leatherworker |
| Studded Leather Armor + 2 | Marilith Snake Leather (x1) | Leatherworker |
| Studded Leather Armor + 3 | Marble Skin (x1) | Leatherworker |
| Sword of Life Stealing | Vampire Fang (x2) | Blacksmith |
| Sword of Wounding | Nycaloth Claw (x2) | Blacksmith |
| Trident + 1 | Merrow Claw (x1) | Blacksmith |
| Wand of Confusion | Umber Hulk Eye (x2) | Artificer |
| +2 Wand of the War Mage | Unicorn Horn (x1) | Artificer |
| Warhammer + 1 | Gorgon Hoof (x2) | Blacksmith |
| Warhammer + 2 | Roc Beak (x1) | Blacksmith |
| Warhammer + 3 | Goristro Hoof (x1) | Blacksmith |
| War Pick + 1 | Gorgon Horn (x1), Hooked Horror Hook (x1) | Blacksmith |
| Whip + 1 | Barbed Devil Tail (x1), Cloaker Tail (x1), Displacer Beast Tentacle (x1), Grell Tentacle (x1), Manticore Tail (x1) | Leatherworker |
| Wings of Flying | Deva Wing (x2), Planetar Wing (x2), Solar Wing (x2), Wyvern Wing (x2) | Artificer |