[RPG] n item that lets a character cast Detect Magic repeatedly, without expending spell slots or wasting time ritual-casting

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Playing Curse of Strahd, we've found that Lord Von Zarovich seems to be able to cast Alarm (or something like it) that operates from hundreds of miles away.

It seems like a good strategy for our party might be to use Detect Magic extensively. The spell should be able to detect the presence of a magical trap, giving us more of a fighting chance. But Barovia is a pretty big place and the spell only lasts for 10 minutes at a time.

Is there an item (amulet, ring, circlet, etc.) that would confer Detect Magic to the wearer/user, to avoid us wasting hundreds of spell slots or hours on ritual time?

Assuming there is no such item, or it would be unavailable to us (due to cost or access), what other ways can we access Detect Magic without expending spell slots or performing rituals?

Best Answer

There are several magic items that let the user cast detect magic.

There are several such magic items; unfortunately, as far as I know, none of them are explicitly available in CoS.

The items are:

Obviously, the Staff and the Orb are extremely powerful and most likely not an option for a low-level party.

There are alternatives to gain access to detect magic.

  • If feats and XGE are allowed for your game, Xanathar's Guide to Everything allows Drow to take the Drow High Magic racial feat (p. 74), which lets them learn the detect magic spell and cast it at will (among other benefits).
  • Warlocks can choose the Eldritch Sight invocation, which lets them cast detect magic at will (i.e. without expending a spell slot).

Other things to consider

If you feel that the ability to detect magical alarms is the problem for the party success, you can:

  • Look for and utilize alternative and creative ways to enter into or access spaces. Not every possible entrance might be warded; the more creative you get, the better your chance of success.
  • Rely on your detect magic, but use it well and only when you have a reason. Your DM is likely utilizing the alarm because they consider it an interesting challenge to overcome. If you start abusing permanent detect magic, they might just stop and do something else instead. However, if you first set yourself up to success in a different way (see the previous point) and then just use 1 spell slot to cast detect magic when it matters, you both engage with what the DM presented to you and don't have to slow down the pacing of the session by casting a spell over and over again.
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