Tasha’s Magic Cauldron of Everything is the newest expansion for Dungeons and Dragons 5e ruleset. The 192 pages are packed with new character options, spells, and magic items for both players and dungeon masters, yet it also canonizes a category of magic items from the Unearthed Arcana test rules. Through this, Tasha’s adds a fun way to both customize player characters and give them access to powerful magic.
Mixing together artistic expression and new magic options for PCs in TCoE come magic tattoos. A newly canonized feature for Dungeons and Dragons helps to both empower PCs with new magical abilities and new ways to express their character’s individuality. This comes as a welcome feature for many players alongside new character subclasses from outside the Player’s Handbook.
The new options for magic tattoos in TCoE follow some basic rules for the category at large. The rarity of a tattoo determines how large an area of the PC’s skin is covered by the tattoo, with each tattoo offering a thematic style as inspiration for the players to describe the image itself. The tattoos begin as a magic needle containing the ink that is pressed to the characters skin before literally becoming the tattoo, infusing the character with new magical abilities and emblazoning the art across their skin. TCoE offers alternatives to the ink tattoo such as being a brand or scarification, continuing the book’s focus on character customization. Each tattoo bestows different effects, many of which lend themselves well to advanced combat tactics or roleplay utility for PCs.
One of the biggest focuses throughout TCoE is character customization and magic tattoos go a along way in adding to those possibilities alongside new character subclasses like the Path of the Beast for DnD barbarians. The tattoos themselves are as varied as the players who might use them, each with their own stylistic choices and magical effects.
The different magic tattoos are as varied as magic items are in general, with variations in tactical power based on rarity. There are many options to fit many different types of PCs some tattoos have features that a DnD druid might make the most use of, as others would better befit a fighter or rogue, but many players will enjoy the ability to create unconventional mixes of class with the magic abilities afforded by the tattoos.
Tattoos range from offensive attacks to defensive boons like the Absorbing Tattoo which allows PCs to choose a type of elemental damage like thunder or necrotic damage to become resistant to. The PC can then use a reaction to instead become immune to the damage and, as the name suggests, absorb some of the damage instead. The element chosen influences the color and style of the tattoo, which is fun for characters following an elemental theme like an artillerist artificer who focuses on dealing out thunder damage.
Another defensive magic tattoo is the Barrier Tattoo, a great choice for spellcasters like the Sorcerer to use alongside their other features. The Barrier Tattoo boosts the character’s Armor Class provided they aren’t wearing any armor already. The boost to AC is determined by the rarity of the tattoo and, at higher rarity, can confer AC far beyond what a spellcaster might normally possess, helping with avoiding some damage from that pesky Ogre assaulting the party. The tattoo appears as metallic colors depicting symbols of protection like a shield on the user’s skin.
On the offensive side come offerings like the Eldritch Claw Tattoo, depicted as jagged lines and claw-like shapes to befit any Warlock’s features and aesthetic. The Eldritch Claw makes any unarmed strikes made magical as far as overcoming magic resistances, which can be useful in a pinch when a spellcaster is out of spell slots. Expending the tattoos usage for a day allows the PC to empower their attacks, extending their range up to fifteen feet. Their weapons produce black tendrils that lash out at enemies outside of normal melee range, making it a great choice for melee classes as well, and add extra damage to those attacks for the duration.
Another great offensive choice is the Bloodfury Tattoo. A legendary item, the tattoo is bright in color depicting furious imagery such as flames or a raging sea, it has ten charges a day that give players some powerful options. A charge can be spent to add a whopping 4d6 extra necrotic damage on a hit, something any Monk might see as incredibly powerful on top of their options for multiple attacks. A great option for melee fighters the tattoo can also use a charge to allow a reaction attacks against any melee strike made at the PC. Useful for Rogues that like to stay in the thick of combat, this reaction also gives advantage on the retaliatory strike.
Utility is important in Dungeons and Dragons as well and the magic tattoos offer many choices in that regard as well. The Spellwrought Tattoo acts similar to a magic scroll, imbued with one cantrip or spell up to 5th level depending on the tattoo’s rarity. The wielder can expend the tattoo’s daily charge in order to cast that spell, with its spellcasting modifiers determined again by the rarity. This tattoo can be a great addition for a character without spells to perform some magical feats, like a Rogue who might want access to the Mage Hand spell in order to remotely lift coin from unwary strangers.
The Spellwrought Tattoo is useful for spellcasters as well, since the spell itself doesn’t draw from their pool of spell slots and can be imbued with any spell regardless of their class or their Wizard school. DMs will obviously have discretion in this regard, but it can also be a fun way for a lower level spellcaster to have access to one use of a more powerful spell.
Mixing utility with combat options is the Ghost Step Tattoo, appearing on the character’s skin as a shifting image that seems to blur and move. The tattoo’s three charges can be used to assume a ghostly form, temporarily resisting physical damage, avoiding grapples or restraints, and allowing the PC to move through solid objects. Even the heaviest races in Dungeons and Dragons can move subtly through walls or barriers with ease temporarily with the Ghost Step Tattoo.
There are even more magic tattoos available to players in Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything for eager players to explore and experiment with. These present another great way to customize their characters beyond the normal backgrounds and other character options already available.
Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything is available now in both digital and physical formats.
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