Attunement. Some Magic Items require a creature to form a bond with them before their magical Properties can be used. This bond is called attunement, and certain items have a prerequisite for it. If the prerequisite is a class, a creature must be a member of that class to attune to the item.
Why do some magic items require attunement?
Some magic items require a creature to form a bond with them before their magical properties can be used. For example, a magic shield that requires attunement provides the benefits of a normal shield to a creature not attuned to it, but none of its magical properties.
Can you attune a magic item?
To attune to a magic item, a character must spend a short rest (at least 1 hour) with the item. For a weapon, this might mean practicing with it. For a wondrous item, this might take the form of meditating while holding it. At the end of the short rest, the character has attuned to the item.
Do you attune to +1 weapons?
Yes, they are magical regardless of attunement. The case of the Hammer of Thunderbolts is clear cut. The DMG clearly states it functions as a +1 weapon (and does more when attuned).
What does attunement do to a magic item?
Attunement is first and foremost a game mechanic for limiting magic item use. You already found all the relevant rules and they explain what they mean by forming a bond (handling the item during a short rest) and what the benefits are (access to the item’s magical properties.) There’s nothing else to it.
How does Attunement work in the gauntlets?
The gauntlets’ rules text states ‘Wondrous item, uncommon (requires attunement)’. So they don’t require any prerequisite, beyond having a free attunement slot – and even if you don’t have an empty slot you can simply un-attune to one of your previously attuned items and free the slot up for the gauntlets.
How many magic items can a creature attune to?
An item can be attuned to only one creature at a time, and a creature can be attuned to no more than three magic items at a time. Any attempt to attune to a fourth item fails; the creature must end its attunement to an item first. Additionally, a creature can’t attune to more than one copy of an item.
Do you have to identify a magic item to be able to use it?
You can’t attune to a magic item if you don’t understand it’s properties, especially if you don’t know that it requires attunement. The rules specifically require that the short rest used to attune be a different short rest than the short rest used to identify its properties:
