*The rogue picks up the wand and shakes it at the dragon!*
Use Magic Device allows a character to use a magic item that normally has a specific spellcasting class requirement (aka “in your spell list”). There is no limit to the magic item type which can be activated (spell scrolls, wands, etc), but this skill does not grant the ability to circumvent other magic item requirements, such as alignment, heritage, level, etc. A spellcasting class could also use this skill, allowing a wizard to use a cleric scroll, a sorcerer to use a Druid thing, etc.
You can use any ability you'd like for the check, but you must describe how that particular ability is being applied to the effort. Role-play it a little.
**No character can learn proficiency in Use Magic Device.** Note that some class / archetype abilities will overshadow this skill:
- [Thief](https://dnd5e.wikidot.com/rogue:thief) (rogue subclass) with the Use Magic Device feature (13th level)
- Artificer with the Techno-Arcanical Attunement feature (14th level)
- Warlock with the eldritch invocation of Arcane Appropriation (min 5th level)
***Reminder:** The Use An Item action does not apply to magic items—any item that requires an action to activate is treated as its own separate action, not the Use An Item action.*
Below are the DCs for different applications of this skill. You gain an expertise die on your check if you’ve successfully activated the item in question at least once before. You also gain an expertise die if you are any flavor of spellcaster (cleric, Arcane Trickster, Wildborn ranger, etc), and another if you can cast 3rd-level spells.
**Table: Use Magic Device DCs**
| Task | DC |
| ------------------------- | ------------------------------------- |
| Activate Blindly + | 16 |
| Decipher from a spellbook | 16 + spell level |
| Use a spell scroll | 13 + spell level |
| Use a wand | 13 |
| Other | Varies, but often as Activate Blindly |
### +Activate Blindly
Some magic items are activated by special words, thoughts, or actions. A successful check to activate the item blindly allows you to use it without these niceties. You must perform some vaguely-equivalent activity in order to make the check. That is, you must speak, wave the item around, or otherwise attempt to get it to activate.
### Failure
- If you fail the skill check by 9 or less, you can’t activate the device.
- If you fail by 10 or more, you suffer a mishap. A mishap means that magical energy gets released but it doesn’t do what you wanted it to do. Roll on the Wild Magic Surge table to see the results:
[http://dnd5e.wikidot.com/sorcerer:wild-magic](http://dnd5e.wikidot.com/sorcerer:wild-magic "http://dnd5e.wikidot.com/sorcerer:wild-magic")
https://a5e.tools/node/2091
https://a5e.tools/node/1237
### Specialties
*activate blindly, spellbooks, scrolls, wands, attunement required by X class (choose one)*
#useMagicDevice