You can use the identify spell to identify any spell effects an item or creature is currently being affected by or the spell used to create an item (see the spell description from the SRD or PHB). You learn whether any spells are affecting the item [you touch throughout the casting] and what they are.
How does D&D magic work?
You prepare a spell and mark it in your own mind, and can “feel” it as an entity of its own. To cast it, you find it in your mind, visualise it and release it using trigger components/words/gestures. Each spell is its own thing: if you want to cast it more than once, you have to memorise several instances.
Can you cast identify on people?
If you instead touch a creature throughout the casting, you learn what spells, if any, are currently affecting it.
Do Artificers need to prepare rituals?
Artificers can cast ritual spells as a ritual if they have those spells prepared. They don’t need the ritual caster feat. Similar to how ritual casting works with clerics and druids. The ritual caster feat would allow you to cast ritual spells that are written in the ritual book without needing them to be prepared.
Do you need to use the identify spell?
If you prefer magic items to have a greater mystique, consider removing the ability to identify the properties of a magic item during a short rest, and require the identify spell, experimentation, or both to reveal what a magic item does. The DMG, as you also point out, contains variant rules.
Can a magic item be identified by its description?
A magic item’s description specifies whether the item is cursed. Most methods of identifying items, including the identify spell, fail to reveal such a curse, although lore might hint at it. A curse should be a surprise to the item’s user when the curse’s effects are revealed.
Can a curse be broken with the identify spell?
Most methods of identifying items, including the identify spell, fail to reveal such a curse, although lore might hint at it. A curse should be a surprise to the item’s user when the curse’s effects are revealed. Attunement to a cursed item can’t be ended voluntarily unless the curse is broken first, such as with the remove curse spell.
What should I do if I find a cursed object?
Your best option is to burn the object. You can also give the item to a gifted psychic who has experience with these things. He or she can put a binding spell on the object that safely seals in the evil. The psychic will store the item in a place where it can never hurt another soul.
