What grilling accessories do I actually need?

The essentials are: a good set of long handled tongs (your most used tool), a sturdy spatula, a reliable instant read thermometer, and a grill brush for cleaning. Everything else is optional. These four items cover 95% of grilling tasks and stay affordable when bought individually. Avoid buying large 20 piece tool sets, since most of the pieces are redundant or low quality. Buy fewer, better tools individually.