Can the Dispel Magic spell end the spell effect of a spell that already ended?

Question

I realized I had this question at the very end of answering the following:

• Does the blindness inflicted by the Wall of Light spell last for 1 minute even if concentration on the spell ends?

So I'll just use the example there, wall of light for my example here.

Say wall of light is cast on somebody, they are blinded for 1 minute, but then the caster of wall of light drops their concentration on the spell while their target remains blinded. Can that target then be targeted with dispel magic? The dispel magic spell states:

Choose one creature, object, or magical effect within range. Any spell of 3rd level or lower on the target ends. For each spell of 4th level or higher on the target, make an ability check using your spellcasting ability. The DC equals 10 + the spell's level. On a successful check, the spell ends.

And, to me, there is a magic effect in range: the blinded effect from wall of light but what is unclear to me is whether that counts as "any spell of [X] level or lower". The spell already ended, so what happens in this case?

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We already have a similar question:

• Can lethargy from haste spell's ending be dispelled?

But I believe the case of haste is a bit exceptional in that its effect only occurs once the spell ends and things like this can occur before the spell ends and then continue afterwards.

Answer 1

In general, a spell effect that can be ended by Dispel Magic is one that is tied to the spell's duration.

Taking an example from another spell - Blindness and Deafness - the spell duration is 1 minute, and the effect itself is tied to the duration of 1 minute. Therefore, you could dispel it and end the effect.

In the case of Wall of Light, the 1-minute duration of the blindness is an effect of interacting with the spell - and not tied to the spell's duration. So dispelling the Wall of Light would not end the effect (For the same reason, dropping concentration also does not end the effect).

For that reason, you cannot dispel the 'blindness' effect of the spell, even if the spell has already ended. It is an effect that the affected creature has on them, and not subject to being dispelled. While dispel magic can target spell effects, its effect is ultimately to only end spells.

Answer 2

Only if dispel magic is cast at 4th level or higher.

Dispel magic at 3rd level can only end spells:

Any spell of 3rd level or lower on the target ends.

In contrast, dispel magic at 4th level or higher ends spell effects:

When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 4th level or higher, you automatically end the effects of a spell on the target if the spell’s level is equal to or less than the level of the spell slot you used.

Once the spell has ended, there is no spell to end, so dispel magic at 3rd will have no effect. But at 4th level or higher, it can end the effects of a spell.

Is it inconsistent? Obviously, but I have ruled it this way in the games I run, and my players have generally preferred it this way: this makes upcasting the spell better, beyond just the "automatically succeed" effect given by upcasting.

Keep in mind, it is still up to the DM to decide if a particular effect is a valid target for dispel magic: When can a magical effect be targeted with the dispel magic spell?