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The School of Evocation wizard's 2nd-level Sculpt Spells feature says:

The chosen creatures automatically succeed on their saving throws against the spell, and they take no damage if they would normally take half damage on a successful save.

My English isn't that good and I'm a beginner, so I think that's the problem. Beginning at 2nd level, you can create "pockets of relative safety" - what does that mean?

So what is it for if it takes no damage? I understand it this way: If you choose more than 1 creature, then you take no damage.

I couldn't find anything and no one seems to have this kind of problem. I hope you understand it.

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    \$\begingroup\$ Your English may be a barrier to answering, but is your question regarding whether there is a difference if the target of the spell would normally not take any damage vs half damage on a save? For example, a Rogue with Evasion in the middle of a fireball making their save? \$\endgroup\$
    – Pyrotechnical
    Commented Nov 9, 2018 at 14:10
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    \$\begingroup\$ @Pyrotechnical I think the question is why anyone would use Sculpt Spell, rather than the exact mechanics of how it works. \$\endgroup\$
    – Oblivious Sage ♦
    Commented Nov 9, 2018 at 14:29

4 Answers 4

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Sculpt Spells exists so you do not hurt your friends

When you cast a spell with an area of effect, everyone in the area is affected, including your friends / allies. Sculpt Spells lets you create "holes"(="pockets of relative safety") in the spell to keep your friends safe.

So an example use is:

  1. You cast an area spell, say, thunderwave in an area where friends and enemies are.
  2. You have Sculpt Spells so you can choose up to 1 + 1 (spell level) friends in the area
  3. The friends you chose are safe from your thunderwave and take no damage
  4. Everyone else takes the spell's effect as normal

Visual Example

These drawings may also help visually understand Sculpt Spell:

1. Normal situation: A caster (blue) casts a spell. Four other people are caught and harmed by the spell: Two blue, two red.

2. With Sculpt Spell: A caster (blue) casts a spell. While the blue people are in the area where the spell is cast, they are in "pockets" and not affected by the spell. The two red characters are affected by the spell.

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    \$\begingroup\$ +1, love the ridiculous drawings to overcome the language barrier. \$\endgroup\$
    – Pyrotechnical
    Commented Nov 9, 2018 at 15:59
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    \$\begingroup\$ -1, those circles don't look freehand. (I kid) \$\endgroup\$
    – Yakk
    Commented Nov 9, 2018 at 16:01
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    \$\begingroup\$ -1 for triggering my "fireball explodes in a square!?!?!" OCD. I had just gotten over it with years of therapy. \$\endgroup\$
    – Jake
    Commented Nov 9, 2018 at 18:50
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    \$\begingroup\$ @KorvinStarmast no because depending upon point of origin, thunder wave should either be conical or a circle. In fact this is much worse, why did you do this to me? (I hope my jocular nature is coming through in this. I did not give a -1. In fact quite the opposite) \$\endgroup\$
    – Jake
    Commented Nov 9, 2018 at 22:38
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    \$\begingroup\$ @KorvinStarmast I hate when creators are wrong. \$\endgroup\$
    – Jake
    Commented Nov 10, 2018 at 2:40
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There are several spells which target all creatures within a given area (such as Fireball), regardless of whether they are friendly to you or not. Sculpt Spell allows you to modify the area of such a spell so that certain creatures within are protected against the spell's effects. The most common usage for this would be to throw a Fireball into the middle of a combat without also damaging your melee teammates.

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Sculpt Spell is a feature that lets you shape a spell's area effect so that it does not hit the chosen creatures. The chosen creatures automatically succeed on the save and take no damage.

For Example:

The party is fighting monsters in a small room. The Wizard decides to use Fireball. Fireball will fill the entire room, so the Wizard uses Sculpt Spell while casting the Fireball. Now with Sculpt Spell affecting Fireball, the Wizard can make the ball of fire go around himself and his allies so only the monsters are hit.

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    \$\begingroup\$ Yes, @Ravery... It's the specific name of a Sorcerer ability. \$\endgroup\$
    – T.J.L.
    Commented Nov 9, 2018 at 14:33
  • \$\begingroup\$ @T.J.L. -- ah noted, and edited by doppelgreener. It's worth also noting the the Sorceres Careful spell metamagic is identical to Sculpt Spell \$\endgroup\$
    – ravery
    Commented Nov 9, 2018 at 14:42
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    \$\begingroup\$ They're very different, actually. Careful Spell costs sorcery points, has no school restriction, target count is based on a stat, and grants automatic saves. Sculpt Spells has no cost, only works on evocations, target count is based on spell level, grants an automatic save and inflicts no damage when used with a save-for-half spell. \$\endgroup\$
    – T.J.L.
    Commented Nov 9, 2018 at 14:46
  • \$\begingroup\$ "the Wizard can make the ball of fire go around himself and his allies so only the monsters are hit." RAW, the Wizard (evoker) can protect their allies, but not themself (rpg.stackexchange.com/questions/154381/…) \$\endgroup\$
    – Kirt
    Commented Jun 16, 2021 at 15:57
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The chosen creatures automatically succeed on their saving throws against the spell, and they take no damage if they would normally take half damage on a successful save.

They do not just take no damage it depends on what making a SAVE on the spell does. It could be half damage, no damage, etc. They simply automatically make their saving th

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    \$\begingroup\$ Hey, welcome to RPG SE, read the tour if you haven't already and check the help center if in need of guidance. It looks like your answer isn't complete, you may want to finish it to help readers understand it. \$\endgroup\$
    – Zoma
    Commented Feb 5, 2020 at 13:14
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    \$\begingroup\$ What does this add that hasn't already been covered? \$\endgroup\$
    – T.J.L.
    Commented Feb 5, 2020 at 21:12

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