An Arcane Focus is a Spellcasting Focus that some arcane casters use to cast specific types of spells.

A spellcaster can use three options to allow an arcane caster to cast a spell using a material (M) component.

They can either use the spell components, component pouches, or a spellcasting focus.

It’s best to use the pouch, or the focus in order to make spellcasting as simple as possible.

A crystal, orb, rod, staff, or wand can all be used to create an arcane focus.

These focuses have prices that can be found in Chapter 5 of the Player’s Handbook.

Technically, a staff with an arcane focus (cost 5 gp) is different from a quarterstaff (cost 2 sp). A staff with an arcane focus can be used to make a quarterstaff. However, a regular quarterstaff cannot serve as an arcane focus. This is something you should consider when building your characters.

You might be able to use additional items as arcane focuses by your DM.

Arcane Casters

Arcane casters are bards, sorcerers, warlocks, and wizards. They also include artificers, and eldritch knights (Fighter subclass).

But for some (insane!) rules, bards and artificers technically cannot use an arcane focus.

Luckily all these classes can use component pouches to cast their spells.

Alternately, these spellcasters may use other types of foci. A bard may use a musical instrument to cast spells, while an artificer can use thieves’ or artisan’s tools.

It is also important to remember that an arcane focus, or component pouch for casting spells, requires a free hand.

Some characters may want to switch their spellcasting focus. For example: A knight possessed by an eldritch sword and shield might need to drop his sword in order to cast a spell that contains S or M components.

The knight can then pick up the sword with their free Interact With an Object.

You might also be able to use your hands with magic items, which can be used as a focus for spellcasting.

The Hat of Wizardry (common magical item) can be used as a spellcasting focus for a wizard. Or the Ruby of the War Mage, which is a common magic item, lets you use a weapon as a spellcasting focus at the cost of an attunement.

The War Caster feat allows characters to cast spells using a somatic component (S) even if they don’t have a weapon or shield.