Yoke of the Brazen Bull

Wondrous item, legendary (requires attunement)

This wooden yoke has polished bronze fittings burnished with flame to a lovely patina. Once every 7 days, the yoke can be placed on the neck of a horse, mule, bull, or similar quadrupedal animal, causing it to burst into flames as you hold the reins. These flames do not harm the animal but deal 1d6 fire damage to all adjacent creatures.

After 1 round, the animal transforms into a bronzescaled gorgon with hooves of flame (dealing 1d6 additional fire damage to any creature struck by its hoof, or 2d6 fire damage to creatures it hits with its Trampling Charge). Its Petrifying Breath instead deals 8d6 fire damage, rather than petrifying creatures.

This brazen gorgon is hostile to all creatures, but you can control its movement with a successful DC 15 Wisdom (Animal Handling) ability check, directing it to use its Trampling Charge on creatures of your choice. You can command it to attack (including using its breath weapon) as you direct with a successful DC 20 Wisdom (Animal Handling) ability check. If you fail the check by 5 or more, the brazen gorgon spends its turn attacking you. Each time you are hit with one of the brazen gorgon’s attacks, you must succeed a DC 15 Strength saving throw or lose your grip on the reins and allowing it to roam free and attack as it wills. The brazen gorgon can then only be controlled again by successfully grappling it, allowing you to seize control of the reins once more and attempt a new Wisdom (Animal Handling) ability check to control it. A Charisma (Intimidation) ability check can be used to control the brazen gorgon, however you suffer disadvantage on the check.

The brazen bull remains present as long as its reins are held and for 1 minute thereafter, up to a maximum of 1 hour. It can be commanded to return to its normal form with a successful DC 20 Wisdom (Animal Handling) ability check in three consecutive rounds. Any damage taken or harmful conditions suffered by the brazen gorgon are removed when it returns to its true form. The transformation also ends if the brazen gorgon is killed, which causes the yoke to cease functioning for 1 month.

Epic Attunement. You can sow the teeth of a dragon or beast with 8 or more Hit Dice in a square adjacent to the brazen gorgon. One round later, a small army of soldiers crawls forth from the ground and immediate falls upon one another in a savage battle that lasts 1d4 rounds in a radius of 20 feet, though any creature entering or beginning its turn within the area takes 3d6 bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage per round. After this brief melee, the slain soldiers and their gear crumble to dust leaving behind a small squad a group of 1d4 + 1 thugs. These thugs follow your commands for 1 hour or until destroyed.

The majority of magic items are useful for almost any class, whether they require attunement or simply work as powerful gear that enhances your combat prowess or non-combat abilities. Some items, however, interact directly with the class features of various classes, improving them or allowing them to be used in new and interesting ways, and this chapter includes a great variety of such items for each of the core classes in 5th Edition, plus additional items ideal for mounts, familiars, and similar companion creatures.