The Bag of Devouring in D&D 5e: Friend or Foe?

In Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition (5e), magical items can be your best friend—or your worst nightmare. Most of the time, when you find a magic item, it feels like a bonus.

But sometimes, you stumble upon something that’s more trouble than it’s worth. Enter the Bag of Devouring, one of the most deceptive items in the game. On the outside, it looks like the useful Bag of Holding, but its true purpose is much more sinister.

This guide will break down everything you need to know about the Bag of Devouring—what it is, how it works, why it’s dangerous, and how you might use (or avoid) it in your next adventure.

Whether you’re a Dungeon Master (DM) looking to add a little chaos to your campaign or a player wondering what you’ve just stumbled upon, this is for you.

What Is the Bag of Devouring?

The Bag of Devouring is a magical item that looks almost identical to the Bag of Holding. If you’re unfamiliar, the Bag of Holding is a classic item in D&D that acts like a portable storage unit. It holds a ton of stuff despite its small size, making it perfect for adventurers who collect a lot of loot.

But here’s the catch: The Bag of Devouring is actually a trap. It’s not a simple storage bag. Instead, it’s connected to an extra-dimensional creature—a sort of hungry, unseen monster.

When you place things inside the bag, there’s a chance that the bag will devour them, sending them to this creature to be consumed. What starts as a handy storage bag can quickly turn into a dangerous pit of destruction.

How the Bag of Devouring Works:

Weight: The Bag of Devouring weighs about 15 pounds—so, pretty light considering what it does.
Capacity: It can “hold” the same amount as a Bag of Holding—about 500 pounds of stuff, or 64 cubic feet of space. But here’s the problem: anything you place in it is not safe.
Devouring Objects: When you drop an object into the bag, there’s a 50% chance that it gets destroyed, sucked into another dimension and devoured by the creature living there. Once it’s gone, it’s gone for good.
Swallowing Creatures: It’s not just objects at risk. If a creature tries to reach into the bag or gets too close, they might be pulled inside. If they can’t escape, they’re crushed and suffocated. Nasty, right?

Why Is the Bag of Devouring Dangerous?

The Bag of Devouring isn’t just dangerous because it eats stuff—it’s dangerous because it looks so harmless. Most players expect a Bag of Holding when they come across a magical bag, which makes the Bag of Devouring a sneaky trick. Here’s why you need to be careful:

It Destroys Your Loot: Imagine you find a bunch of rare treasure, gemstones, or important magical items, and then you store them all in what you think is a Bag of Holding. A few hours later, you open the bag to discover half of your loot is missing—devoured! That’s a huge blow to your party’s resources.
It Can Devour Party Members: If someone reaches inside the bag, especially to retrieve something, they run the risk of being sucked in. The player has to make a DC 15 Strength saving throw to avoid getting pulled inside. If they fail, they’ll be dragged in and start taking serious damage each round until they escape or suffocate.
It’s Hard to Detect: Unless your party takes the time to properly identify the bag (using spells like Identify or carefully checking it with Arcana), you might not even realize what it is until it’s too late. By the time you figure out that it’s not a Bag of Holding, you might have already lost something—or someone—valuable.

How to Use the Bag of Devouring

Even though the Bag of Devouring is dangerous, that doesn’t mean it’s useless. Like many things in D&D, it all depends on how you use it. In the right hands, the Bag of Devouring can be a clever tool for creative players or a tricky weapon for DMs to throw at their party.

1. As a Trap

For Dungeon Masters, the Bag of Devouring is a great way to set up a sneaky trap. Because it looks like a Bag of Holding, players might eagerly start tossing their loot into it, thinking they’ve just found the perfect storage solution. Imagine their surprise when half of their items are suddenly gone! It’s a fun (and sometimes frustrating) way to mess with your party, especially if they’re the type to grab loot without checking it first.

You can also use it in puzzle or dungeon scenarios. Maybe the Bag of Devouring is part of a cursed treasure hoard, or maybe it’s been placed there by an enemy who knows the party will be greedy enough to take it. The key here is to balance the trickery—don’t make it feel unfair, but rather like a clever twist that the party could have avoided with a little more caution.

2. In Combat

While the Bag of Devouring isn’t exactly a weapon, it can still be used creatively in combat. Here are a few ideas:

Lure Enemies: If the party can trick an enemy into reaching into the bag, that enemy will have to make the same Strength saving throw to avoid being sucked in. This could be a great way to deal with a troublesome foe without having to fight them directly.
Disposing of Dangerous Items: Let’s say your party encounters a cursed object or a magical item that’s too dangerous to leave lying around. You can use the Bag of Devouring to get rid of it. Just toss it in and let the bag devour it—it’ll be gone forever (or at least, out of your hands).

3. Story Hooks

The Bag of Devouring doesn’t have to be just a trick or a tool—it can be the start of a larger adventure. Maybe the bag is actually part of a portal to another plane of existence, and the creature inside it is just a servant of a greater entity. The party might need to figure out how to close the portal before more things are pulled into it—or worse, before the creature itself breaks free.

Alternatively, you could use the Bag of Devouring as a plot device. Imagine the party needs to destroy a powerful artifact, and the Bag of Devouring is the only way to do it safely. They’ll need to track down the bag, figure out how to control it, and use it without getting themselves devoured in the process.

Creative Ways Players Can Use the Bag of Devouring

Players can get pretty creative with how they use magic items, and the Bag of Devouring is no different. Sure, it’s dangerous, but clever players might find some fun ways to use it to their advantage.

1. Clean Up After a Fight

After a big battle, there might be bodies, dangerous magical items, or other things the party doesn’t want hanging around. Instead of leaving them behind or trying to carry them, just toss them into the Bag of Devouring. It’s like an instant clean-up crew—whatever goes in is devoured, and you don’t have to worry about it anymore.

2. Dispose of Evidence

If your party is operating in a shady part of town or trying to cover their tracks, the Bag of Devouring can be incredibly useful. Need to hide stolen goods? Have a body you can’t leave behind? Drop it in the bag, and it’s gone without a trace. Just be careful not to accidentally lose something you need!

3. Negotiating with the Creature

For players who are feeling particularly bold, there’s always the option of trying to communicate with the creature inside the Bag of Devouring. Maybe it’s more than just a mindless monster—perhaps it can be bargained with. Could the party offer it items or sacrifices in exchange for information, power, or favors? This is a risky move, but it could lead to some interesting role-playing opportunities if your DM is on board.

How to Identify a Bag of Devouring

Identifying a Bag of Devouring before using it can save your party a lot of trouble. Here are a few ways players can figure out what they’re dealing with:

Identify Spell: The simplest way is to cast Identify on the bag. This spell will reveal its true nature, letting the players know it’s not a Bag of Holding.
Arcana Check: If the players don’t have the Identify spell handy, a successful Arcana check might give them some clues. The DC can vary depending on how the DM wants to play it, but with a high enough roll, players might notice something “off” about the bag.
Test with Small Items: If the party is unsure, they can test the bag by placing small, non-essential items inside it. If those items disappear, they’ll quickly realize what kind of bag they have on their hands!

Conclusion

The Bag of Devouring might not be the first item that comes to mind when you think of powerful magic items in D&D, but it’s definitely one of the most interesting. Its ability to destroy items, pull in creatures, and even serve as a portal to another dimension makes it both dangerous and intriguing.

For Dungeon Masters, it’s a great way to add a twist to your campaign, while players can use it in creative ways to solve problems (or cause them).

Just remember: the Bag of Devouring is not to be trusted. If you’re lucky enough to stumble upon one, use it wisely—or better yet, don’t use it at all!

FAQs About the Bag of Devouring in D&D 5e

1. How is the Bag of Devouring different from a Bag of Holding?

While both bags look similar, the Bag of Devouring has a 50% chance to destroy any item placed inside it, whereas the Bag of Holding is a safe, extra-dimensional storage space.

2. Can a creature survive being sucked into a Bag of Devouring?

It’s possible but very difficult. Once inside, the creature takes damage each round and must make a Strength check to escape.

3. Can I retrieve items once they’ve been devoured?

No. Once an item is devoured, it’s gone for good.

4. Is the Bag of Devouring a cursed item?

Not exactly. While it’s dangerous, it’s not classified as a cursed item. However, it can be incredibly harmful if not used carefully.

5. Can you close the portal in a Bag of Devouring?

There’s no standard way to “close” the bag’s portal, but creative DMs could introduce storylines or magic that might allow players to seal or destroy the bag.