Holy Hand Grenade
Magic Item #2 from One-Sheet One-Shots
Free to use and share, with credit
Wondrous item, legendary (requires attunement by a cleric or paladin)
This golden sphere is capped with a divine symbol, and encrusted with jewels.
As an action, the bearer may remove the holy symbol and throw the Holy Hand Grenade to a distance of 60 feet. After three seconds, it explodes in a blast of divine energy.
When the Holy Hand Grenade explodes, each creature within 30 feet of it must make a Constitution saving throw (DC 20), taking 12d12 Radiant damage on a failure or half that on a success.
Once the holy symbol has been plucked from the sphere, it cannot be replaced. Additionally, once the Holy Hand Grenade explodes, it is lost forever.
…And Saint Attila raised the hand grenade up on high, saying, “O LORD, bless this Thy hand grenade that with it Thou mayest blow Thine enemies to tiny bits, in Thy mercy."
And the LORD did grin and the people did feast upon the lambs and sloths and carp and anchovies and orangutans and breakfast cereals, and fruit bats…And the LORD spake, saying,
"First shalt thou take out the Holy Pin, then shalt thou count to three, no more, no less. Three shall be the number thou shalt count, and the number of the counting shall be three. Four shalt thou not count, neither count thou two, excepting that thou then proceed to three. Five is right out. Once the number three, being the third number, be reached, then lobbest thou thy Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch towards thy foe, who, being naughty in My sight, shall snuff it.”
-Book of Armaments, 2:9-21
I’m sure this is something that many other homebrewers have done, but I’m a firm believer in the idea that options are a good thing to have. This is my attempt at it.
It’s probably overpowered, but I think that’s what makes it fun. It’s one-use only, and there’s also the possibility that it could go horribly wrong, so it should be a load of fun, regardless.