A +1 sword is about the dullest sort of magic item to offer heroes in Dungeons & Dragons and similar games.

Professor Dungeon Master had a great video a couple of years ago detailing several magic items with wonderful little histories. They each have some drawback or curse that makes them not entirely advantageous to wield, so players would have to decide if and when to use them.

These are not traditional cursed items. In all cases, the bearer does not need to have the curse lifted; the weapon can simply be discarded.

1. Hew, the Axe

This +1 battleaxe deals maximum damage against plant creatures and anything made of wood.

Drawback: The bearer feels uneasy in woodland. (In my game, this would mean the DM would get an automatic 1 point of danger when the party enters a wooded area.)

Background: Hew was created by a dwarven runesmith who feuded with the druid from the forest where he cut firewood.

2. Backbiter, the Dagger

This is a +1 dagger, +2 to attacks from behind. It offers exploding damage: if you roll a 4 on the d4 damage die, you get to roll again, as many times as you keep rolling 4s.

Drawback: On a roll of 1 on the d4 damage die, the weapon stabs the wielder in the back for 1d4 damage–no bonuses.

Background: The weapon was made for the assassination of an emperor. The assassination was successful, but a wild magic effect in the location of the killing changed the weapon to sometimes stab the wielder. It can be found in the back of a rogue’s limed-over skeleton in a dungeon.

3. Shield of Screaming

This is a +2 medium shield with a demonic face twisted in a shout.

Drawback: When the bearer first enters combat, the shield shouts at the bearer’s opponents for one round, taunting them and daring them to attack the bearer, who is, it claims, the greatest warrior in the land.

Background: The shield was made for a king by a wizard who was having an affair with the queen and hoped to subtly make it likely the king would not survive the coming battle. The shield was buried with the embittered king, who is now a wight.

4. Skull Ring

This ring features a skull with small rubies in the eyes. It gives the wearer +1 to saving throws and armor class.

Drawback: The ring’s location (weather it is being worn by a living being or not) can be viewed at any time by means of a crystal ball.

Background: Such rings are made by a powerful witch who gives them to arcane spellcasters in her employ. She uses her crystal ball to keep an eye on them so she can find them if they die.

5. Deathbringer, the Axe

This +1 axe becomes +2 when wielded by a hero of 5th level or more and +3 when wielded by a hero of 10th level or more. Deathbringer makes the wielder seem more intimidating, giving the character a +2 to intimidation checks.

Drawback: The weapon’s intimidation aura is always active and so gives the character a -2 to charisma for all other purposes while he or she possesses it (whether or not he or she is currently carrying it).

Background: The weapon was created for Danmas, a warlord who wanted to intimidate his enemies. He was ultimately killed by his own mercenaries, who had come to hate him.