Are wands overpowered? https://www.enworld.org/threads/thoughts-on-wands-being-overpowered-in-5e.636170/
Wands provide a tremendous boost to the number of spells a player can cast during an adventuring day. Also, they typically allow the wielder to cast spells at a much higher level than their current level.
For example, a Wand of Magic Missiles can cast Magic Missiles as a 7th level spell (it also doesn't require attunement so literally any character can use it); this is something a caster shouldn't be able to do until level 13:
Wand of Magic Missiles
This wand has 7 Charges. While holding it, you can use an Action to expend 1 or more of its Charges to cast the Magic Missile spell from it. For 1 charge, you cast the 1st-level version of the spell. You can increase the spell slot level by one for each additional charge you expend.
The wand regains 1d6 + 1 expended Charges daily at dawn. If you expend the wand's last charge, roll a d20. On a 1, the wand crumbles into ashes and is destroyed.
Yes, there's a chance to break it but you can cast it at level 6 instead (and 6th level spell slots are available for level 11 casters). This doesn't consider following up with expending spell slots after using the wand. A Draconic Sorcerer with Metamagic can do 9x1d4+6 (68 or 76.5) at level 6. Without the damage modifications, the expected damage is 28. For comparison, the same Sorcerer can cast a Fireball at 3rd level for 8d6+5 (expected damage: 33); there are area of effect (AoE) considerations with Fireball but Magic Missile can also target multiple enemies; no spells get close to this amount of damage until they can cast a Delayed Blast Fireball at level 7 (64 damage)... Animate Objects and Disintegrate can keep up if we assume failed saving throws.
Staff of Healing is slightly more restrictive (requiring attunement by a Bard, Cleric, or Druid) but it doesn't say how many levels you need in those classes -- one level in any of those classes will allow you to cast Cure WOunds (up to 4th level), Lesser Restoration, or Mass Cure Wounds:
Staff of Healing
This staff has 10 Charges. While holding it, you can use an Action to expend 1 or more of its Charges to cast one of the following Spells from it, using your spell save DC and Spellcasting ability modifier: Cure Wounds (1 charge per Spell Level, up to 4th), Lesser Restoration (2 charges). or mass Cure Wounds (5 charges).
The staff regains 1d6 + 4 expended Charges daily at dawn. If you expend the last charge, roll a d20. On a 1. the staff vanishes in a flash of light, lost forever.
The fact that you can cast Cure Wounds safely up to 9 times a day is pretty good, especially at lower tiers of play and on average, it should allow 7-8 casts (1d6+4 is 7.5) every day.
Can a Raging Barbarian use a Staff to Cast a spell?
No, the Barbarian cannot cast spells while raging and even though the wand is expending the resources to cast the spell, the Barbarian is still casting the spell. A druid using Wild Shape is in the same situation until it gains the Beast Spells trait.
Can a Thief Rogue use a Wand as a bonus action?
No.
Another side note... Using an action provided by a magic item is not (1) casting a spell or (2) using an item. This means Fast Hands doesn't allow you to use a wand as a bonus action.
https://twitter.com/JeremyECrawford/status/525302987351007235
Can you use Metamagic with spells cast from a wand?
Yes, you are casting the spell.
https://www.reddit.com/r/DMAcademy/comments/cl198z/can_sorcerers_meta_magic_abilities_affect_spells/
If a magic item's description says you cast a spell from it, you can use Metamagic on the spell. #DnD
- Jeremy Crawford (@JeremyECrawford)
Alright, so there is a wording concern I have with Wands (and Staff of Power) but I think it's still safe.. but it has to do with casting a spell as a bonus action and then trying to take the "Cast a spell Action" vs "Use a Magic Item [to cast a spell]"
That said, it's a good reminder that if you cast a spell as a bonus action... you can't use your reaction (on that turn) to cast Counterspell as a reaction.
The way I interpret that, the spell is being cast by the wielder of the wand -- that means they are casting a spell with their action (and which action that is taken is a semantics issue).
Mike Mearls had a slightly different opinion (and I also agree with him on the statement) but typically the class features in question have some text along the lines of "when you cast a spell using a spell slot" or "that expends a spell slot"
believe it's only when you cast from your slots
- Mike Mearls (@mikemearls)
https://rpg.stackexchange.com/questions/168414/can-a-sorcerer-use-the-quickened-spell-metamagic-option-on-a-spell-cast-from-a-m
https://rpg.stackexchange.com/questions/50054/does-casting-a-spell-from-an-item-allow-you-to-apply-class-abilities-that-are-us
https://rpg.stackexchange.com/questions/125982/if-your-bonus-action-spell-is-counterspelled-are-you-still-restricted-to-castin
https://rpg.stackexchange.com/questions/147913/what-level-is-a-spell-if-you-cast-it-without-expending-a-spell-slot
Can a Wand be used with a Focus?
Yes, as long as the caster can wield the focus and wand at the same time.
This is slightly different
Do wands require material components and/or spell slots?
No, from the DMG:
Spells cast with magic items do not require mats or spell slots.
https://www.reddit.com/r/dndnext/comments/np4erl/spell_scrolls_wands_material_components_and_raw/
Can a spell cast from a magic wand, like Wand of Magic Missiles or Wand of Fireballs be Counterspelled?
It's unclear.
Jeremy Crawford responded to a question (that has been removed by the original author) with a non-answer that seemed to imply you could Counterspell a wand but follow up questions asking for clarification were unanswered:
Counterspell targets a creature casting a spell, no matter the source of the spell (the creature, an item, etc.). #DnD
- Jeremy Crawford (@JeremyECrawford)
The rules for casting spells from magic items in the DMG states the following (emphasis is mine):
Spells
Some magic items allow the user to Cast a Spell from the item. The spell is cast at the lowest possible spell level, doesn’t expend any of the user’s Spell Slots, and requires no Components, unless the item’s description says otherwise. The spell uses its normal Casting Time, range, and Duration, and the user of the item must concentrate if the spell requires Concentration. Many items, such as potions, bypass the casting of a spell and confer the spell’s Effects, with their usual Duration. Certain items make exceptions to these rules, changing the Casting Time, Duration, or other parts of a spell.
Magic item, such as certain staffs, may require you to use your own Spellcasting ability when you Cast a Spell from the item. If you have more than one Spellcasting ability, you choose which one to use with the item. If you don’t have a Spellcasting ability—perhaps you’re a rogue with the Use Magic Device feature—your Spellcasting ability modifier is +0 for the item, and your Proficiency bonus does apply.
"Requiring no Components" implies the material, verbal, and somatic components of the spell are ignored when casting it from a magic item, effectively giving the spell the Subtle Metamagic property.