Fizban’s “Steepable” Hoard Magic Items
Last Updated: 2026-06-06
Fizban’s Treasure of Dragons includes some Magic Items in a category called “Hoard Magic Items”. These weapons are:
- Dragon’s Wrath Weapon
- Dragon-Touch Focus
- Dragon Vessel
- Scaled Ornament
These items are special in that they can “steep” in a dragon’s hoard in order to (a) gain in power (and item rarity), and (b) change item effects (such as damage type).
Normally, Hoard Magic Items Cannot Change Rarity
Normally, all rewarded Hoard Magic Items from Fizban’s Treasury of Dragons cannot change rarity, and thus, no “steeping” is allowed.
ALPG 2026.2 (pg. 5)
Fizban’s Treasury of Dragons’ Magic Item. Unless stated otherwise (D&D Adventurers League Adaptation Guide, ALAG), their rarity never increases or decreases.
So, as a general rule, “steeping” is not permitted in AL.
However…
Dragon Delves Is the Exception
When running Dragon Delves adventures, you are given the option in the book of rewarding some Hoard Magic Items from Fizban’s Treasure of Dragons.
https://www.dndbeyond.com/sources/dnd/drde/introduction#Option3HoardMagicItems
ALAG 2026.2 (page 4):
OPTION 3: HOARD MAGIC ITEMS The Hoard Magic Items awarded under this option may be steeped in Dragon Delves adventures, as described. The resulting item must be a tier appropriate rarity after steeping. Year-long steeping, steeping between sessions or in other adventures without AL-specified steeping guidance, and Hoard Item Quirks are not available. When a dragon is slain, use the steeping information from Fizban’s Treasury of Dragons (“Hoard Magic Item”).
The items rewarded are initially Slumbering (Uncommon) and must be “quirk free”, but are also “steepable” within the Dragon Delves adventures only (see below).
Because these items are “steepable”, but similar items rewarded from other adventures are not, it’s very important that accurate logs are kept (see below).
Fizban’s “Steeping” Rules
These are the rules for steeping. Fizban’s Treasure of Dragons explains the rules, but AL adds some additional rules.
Increasing Power
https://www.dndbeyond.com/sources/dnd/ftod/dragon-magic#IncreasingPower
Living Dragon’s Hoard
If you find a dragon’s hoard, and the dragon is still alive, you must “steep” the item for 1 year in order to bring the hoard item to the dragon’s level. This is not an available option within AL.
Recently-Slain Dragon’s Hoard
If you find a dragon’s hoard, and the dragon has been slain less than 1 hour prior, you can “steep” the item for only 8 hours, after which time, the item rises one and only one state (for example, from Slumbering to Stirring, Stirring to Wakened, or Wakened to Ascendant).
Don’t Kill Non-Hostile Dragons
ALAG 2026.2 (page 4):
Inform Players. If needed, warn players that attacking friendly NPCs is an evil act, makes magic items obtained this way Unavailable, goes against etiquette guidance (ALPG), and could be disruptive (ALDMG).
Intentionally killing a dragon that poses no danger is an evil act, and is not allowed in AL. Killing such a dragon in order to access a “recently-slain dragon’s hoard” is not allowed. Steeping your weapon in such a hoard invalidates your Magic Item and makes it Unavailable.
Why Can’t I Steep For Longer to Gain More Levels?
Steeping in a slain dragon’s hoard requires that steeping begins within 1 hour. Once the 8 hours pass and the weapon gains one level, restarting is not within the 1-hour time limit anymore.
Not-So-Recently-Slain Dragon’s Hoard
If you find a dragon’s hoard, and the dragon has been dead for more than 1 hour, steeping does nothing.
Additional AL Rules
In addition to the above, AL requires that a steeping item cannot steep to a level higher than what would be “tier appropriate”:
The resulting item must be a tier appropriate rarity after steeping.
Maximum Item State By Tier
| Tier | Maximum Rarity | Maximum State |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Uncommon | Slumbering |
| 2 | Rare | Stirring |
| 3 | Very Rare | Wakened |
| 4 | Legendary | Ascendent |
Since the last adventure in Dragon Delves is Tier 3, the highest state your Hoard Magic Items can achieve is Wakened (Very Rare).
Changing Item Effects
Steeping a Dragon’s Wrath Weapon changes the weapon’s damage type:
When it steeps in a dragon’s hoard, it absorbs the energy of the dragon’s breath weapon and deals damage of that type with its special properties.
https://www.dndbeyond.com/sources/dnd/ftod/dragon-magic#DragonsWrathWeapon
Similarly, steeping a Dragon-Touched Focus changes the item’s effects too:
[…] and it gains an additional property determined by the family of the dragon in whose hoard it became Stirring
and
The spells are determined by the family of the dragon in whose hoard it became Wakened.
https://www.dndbeyond.com/sources/dnd/ftod/dragon-magic#DragonTouchedFocus
Decreasing Power
By the rules, if you stay unattuned to the item for 30 days, the item drops one state until it’s back to Slumbering.
ALAG 2026.2 (page 4):
Also, inform them that the listed magic items lose power if unattuned for 30 days (Fizban’s Treasury of Dragons); when unattuned, players must log each session’s days and count DT spent.
For this mechanic, you’re supposed to track Downtime Days spent and in-game days in each of your game sessions to track whether you’re unattuned to the item for 30 days.
Service Awards? Nope (Almost)
These Hoard Magic Items are not static drops in the adventures. So they cannot be claimed using Service Awards.
However, if you DM one of the T1 adventures, you can use the “as a player” option to reward one of your own T1 characters the items received by the other players.
But, steeping a weapon is not available as one of the “as a player” service awards. In order to steep one of your items, you must play the adventures.
Tradability
Steeped items can be traded.
AL Admin:
These aren’t character crafted magic items.
https://discord.com/channels/516367331358801950/1049794647322546246/1395553604122706081
Be Kind: If you steep an item, please keep accurate logs. Please present those logs to anyone you’re trading a steeped item with.
Give Some Love to Your Logs, Please
For these magic items, it’s very important to keep accurate AL logs. The following information should be logged:
- The acquisition of the initial Slumbering item.
- Increasing power: all occurrences of steeping your items.
- When unattuned (includes not bringing the item with you on an adventure), track:
- Downtime Days spent, and
- Days that pass during your adventure.
- Decreasing power: when the above adds up to 30 days, your item decreases in power one level
See 📝Logging Your Adventures for more general information about keeping your AL logs.