The 5e Broom Of Flying: Your Ultimate Guide To Soaring In D&D
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to trade your dusty boots for a sleek, magical sweep of wood and twine, cutting through the clouds above your Dungeons & Dragons campaign? The 5e broom of flying isn't just a quirky novelty from a fantasy storybook; it's one of the most iconic, versatile, and surprisingly powerful magic items in Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition. It transforms how a character moves, explores, and engages with the world, offering a unique blend of accessibility and aerial prowess. But how do you get one, how exactly does it work, and what are the secrets to using it effectively without drawing the wrong kind of attention? This comprehensive guide will unpack every detail of the broom of flying, from its basic rules to advanced tactical applications, ensuring you and your Dungeon Master are on the same page the next time someone says, "I summon my broom!"
What Exactly Is a Broom of Flying?
At its core, a broom of flying is a common magic item (though its utility often makes it feel much rarer) that functions as a flying vehicle. Described in the Dungeon Master's Guide, it appears as a mundane broom until a command word is spoken, at which point it animates and can carry a rider. Its simplicity is its genius: no complex attunement, no spell slots required, just a word and a leap of faith.
The broom has a flying speed of 50 feet and can hover. It can carry up to 400 pounds, though its speed is halved if the load exceeds 200 pounds. Critically, it requires concentration to control, similar to maintaining a spell. If the rider stops concentrating, the broom descends at a rate of 60 feet per round until it lands or the rider resumes control. This single mechanic is the source of most of its tactical depth and potential vulnerabilities.
The Official Rules: A Breakdown from the Source Material
The Dungeon Master's Guide (page 158) provides the foundational rules. Let's dissect them:
- Activation: Speaking the command word (an action) while within 5 feet of the broom.
- Capacity: 400 lb. maximum, with a speed penalty over 200 lb.
- Control: Requires concentration (as the concentration game mechanic). This means taking damage forces a Constitution saving throw to maintain control, and other concentration-breaking effects apply.
- Landing: The broom can land gently on any surface capable of supporting it.
- Durability: It has AC 15, 20 hit points, and is immune to poison and psychic damage. If it drops to 0 HP, it becomes a normal, non-magical broom.
This stat block makes it clear: the broom is a vehicle with a stat block, not a permanent fly spell effect. This distinction is crucial for understanding its interactions with combat, environmental hazards, and spell effects.
How to Actually Get Your Hands on One
Acquiring a broom of flying in a campaign can be a quest in itself. Its rarity is officially listed as "uncommon," placing it in a coveted tier of magic items that are powerful but not game-breakingly so. Here are the most common pathways to ownership:
1. Treasure Hoards and Dungeon Loot
The classic D&D experience. A broom of flying might be found in:
- The workshop of a reclusive wizard or artificer.
- The trophy room of a giant who uses it as a stepstool.
- A sealed chest in a forgotten ruin, protected by a minor curse or puzzle.
- As part of a bounty from a grateful noble after completing a mission.
2. Purchase from a Specialist Vendor
In a large city with a magic district (like Waterdeep's Yawning Portal or Sharn's Morgrave University shops), a broom of flying might be for sale. Its price typically ranges from 5,000 to 10,000 gold pieces, reflecting its utility. Be prepared for haggling, proof of credit, or a side-quest for the vendor.
3. Gift from a Patron or Ally
A powerful spellcaster who favors your cause might gift one. A fey patron could present it as a playful token, while a celestial might provide it as a tool for a divine mission. This often comes with narrative strings attached.
4. Crafting It Yourself
For the artificer or wizard with the right tools and time, crafting a broom of flying is possible. The Xanathar's Guide to Everything crafting rules suggest a cost of 500 gp and 10 days of work for an uncommon item, plus the need for a formula and possibly rare components like a feather from a giant eagle or a strand of a djinni's hair.
Mastering the Mechanics: Flying 101 for Adventurers
Knowing the rules is one thing; using the broom effectively is another. Here’s how to turn this simple item into a cornerstone of your adventuring strategy.
Concentration is King (and Your Biggest Weakness)
The concentration requirement changes everything. You cannot be stunned, paralyzed, or otherwise incapacitated without plummeting. This means:
- Combat Caution: Engaging in melee while flying is risky. A single Stunning Strike from a monk or a Hold Person spell sends you into a deadly freefall.
- Defensive Positioning: Use your 50 ft. fly speed to stay out of reach of ground-based foes. Kite enemies, especially those without ranged options.
- Team Play: Have a ally ready with a Sanctuary spell or positioned to catch you if you fail a concentration save.
Weight Management and Speed
The 400 lb. capacity is generous, but the 200 lb. threshold for full speed is critical. A heavily armored fighter (plate armor is 65 lb.) with a pack, weapons, and gear can easily approach 150-200 lb. Lightfoot halflings or gnomes have a natural advantage here. Consider:
- Storing heavy loot in a Bag of Holding (which doesn't count toward your carried weight) and only retrieving it when landed.
- Using a Rope of Climbing to lower treasure down from the air instead of carrying it on the broom.
The Art of the Dismount
Disembarking is an object interaction (free) or part of your movement. You can hop off while the broom hovers. However, if you want the broom to wait, you must maintain concentration. A clever trick: command the broom to "land" on a stable surface (a cliff edge, a tower roof) and then dismount. It will stay there until you call it again, freeing your concentration for spells or combat.
Creative and Tactical Uses Beyond Simple Transport
Think bigger than just avoiding goblin arrows. The broom of flying enables entire categories of adventure.
Scouting and Reconnaissance
With a fly speed of 50 ft., you can reach a bird's-eye view in minutes. Use it to:
- Locate a dungeon entrance hidden in a forest canopy.
- Survey a battlefield before a battle, spotting enemy fortifications or ambush parties.
- Track a fleeing target across open terrain.
- Pro Tip: Pair with the Beast Sense spell (via a willing beast companion) for a magical drone-like surveillance system.
Access and Infiltration
The ultimate vertical mobility tool.
- Scale Impossible Terrain: Reach a window 100 feet up a sheer cliff face or the roof of a fortified keep.
- Bypass Ground Defenses: Fly over a moat, a wall of fire, or a field of caltrops.
- Surprise Attacks: Drop from the sky onto a rooftop sentry or directly into a guarded courtyard. The Psychic damage immunity means even a Mind Blank effect won't stop you from trying to fly, though you'd still need to concentrate.
Environmental Problem-Solving
- Cross Chasms and Rivers: No need to find a bridge. The broom can carry the entire party across in trips (remember the weight limit!).
- Escape Natural Disasters: Flee a flood, outrun a wildfire, or get above a toxic fog.
- Chase Sequences: In a pursuit across city rooftops or through a canyon, the broom is a game-changer. A chase with a griffon? The broom's 50 ft. speed is competitive, though a griffon has better acceleration and attacks.
The Dungeon Master's Perspective: Balancing the Broom
If you're a DM, a broom of flying in your party can shift the balance of exploration and challenge design. Here’s how to handle it fairly.
Is It Too Powerful?
In the hands of a clever party, it can trivialize certain obstacles. A broom of flying essentially negates vertical challenges and many terrain-based puzzles. The key limitation is concentration and vulnerability while flying. Design challenges that:
- Feature strong winds (requiring a Strength (Athletics) check to control the broom).
- Include enemy archers or spellcasters with Magic Missile (auto-hit, forces concentration saves) or Hold Person.
- Occur in confined spaces like dense forests, narrow canyons, or inside large buildings where maneuvering is difficult.
- Involve magical zones that suppress concentration (like an Antimagic Field) or cause fatigue (like a Slow spell).
Integrating It Into the World
A broom of flying isn't a common sight. Its presence should have narrative weight.
- NPC Reactions: City guards might demand to see its registration. A Red Wizard of Thay might try to confiscate it. A Harpers agent might see it as a useful tool for their network.
- Economic Impact: It makes long-distance travel and scouting jobs trivial. How does that affect the local economy? Does a courier's guild see the owner as competition?
- Theft and Target: A visible broom of flying is a target for thieves. It should be insured, hidden, or magically secured (like with a Glyph of Warding) when not in use.
Homebrew Variants and Upgrades
For a more unique item, consider these DM-friendly variants:
- Broom of the Stormcaller: Same as normal, but can cast Fog Cloud once per day.
- Broom of Silent Flight: Grants advantage on Stealth checks while flying, as it makes no sound.
- Carpet of Flying (Lesser): A broom that doesn't require concentration but has a shorter duration (1 hour) or a lower speed (30 ft.).
- Sentient Broom: Has a personality (grumpy, proud, cowardly) and might refuse to fly in the rain or demand polishing.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Let's address the common queries that arise around this magical item.
Q: Can the broom fly in a straight line through a dungeon corridor?
A: Yes, as long as the corridor is wide and tall enough to accommodate its 5-foot width and your rider. A 5-foot-wide, 10-foot-tall corridor is fine. A 5-foot-wide, 6-foot-tall tunnel is not.
Q: What happens if I fall unconscious while flying?
A: You stop concentrating. The broom immediately begins descending at 60 feet per round. If it hits the ground before you regain consciousness or are caught, you and the broom take falling damage.
Q: Can I use the broom to carry more than 400 lbs. if I make multiple trips?
A: Yes, but each trip is separate. You must land, unload, and take off again. The 400 lb. limit is per flight.
Q: Does the broom have a maximum altitude?
A: The rules don't specify one, but it's implied it can't fly into outer space or the Plane of Air without additional magic. A reasonable DM ruling is a few thousand feet, limited by breathable air and the concentration required to maintain flight in thinner atmosphere (perhaps a Constitution saving throw per hour at extreme altitude).
Q: Can a familiar or mount use the broom?
A: The broom can carry any creature(s) up to its weight limit. A find familiar spell could theoretically ride it, but the familiar would need to maintain concentration if it were the one controlling it (which it can't, as familiars can't concentrate on spells). A ranger's animal companion could ride it if you commanded it, but you'd be the one concentrating.
Q: Is it better than the fly spell?
A: It's different. Fly is a 3rd-level spell with a 60 ft. speed, no concentration on the target after casting (the caster concentrates), and a 10-minute duration. A broom of flying has a 50 ft. speed, requires the rider to concentrate, but has unlimited duration. The broom is a reliable, always-available tool; fly is a powerful, limited resource. The broom wins for exploration and long travel; fly wins for short, intense combat bursts where you need to cast other concentration spells.
Conclusion: Soar Above the Ordinary
The 5e broom of flying is far more than a whimsical transport. It is a tactical instrument, a narrative catalyst, and a test of a player's strategic creativity. Its genius lies in its elegant simplicity—a concentration-based flying speed—which creates a constant risk-reward calculation. Will you stay high and safe, or dive into the fray knowing a single well-placed Magic Missile could send you crashing down?
For players, mastering the broom means understanding its limits and exploiting its strengths. For DMs, it means designing adventures that respect its power without negating it, turning the sky itself into a dynamic battlefield. Whether you're scouting a dragon's lair, escaping a collapsing tower, or simply arriving at the tavern in style, the broom of flying ensures that in the world of D&D, the journey is just as thrilling as the destination. So speak the word, grip the handle, and remember: the greatest danger isn't the fall, but forgetting to concentrate on the way down.
