How does Druid spell preparation & casting work?

Question

I just want to make sure I have ALL of this correct. Let's I'm a moon druid at level 3.

My druid has: 2 cantrips, 4 level 1 spell slots, and 2 level 2 spell slots.

Assuming a Wisdom of 16, I can prepare wisdom mod (+3) + level (3) per "instance" (before doing a long rest) which means that I can prepare 6 different spells.

I can choose any combination of 6 spells from the level 1 and 2 list since I only have level 1 and 2 spell slots.

I can cast the same spell as many times as I want (like I can cast goodberry (a lvl 1 spell) technically 6 times (4 level 1 spell slots, and 2 level 2 spell slots). The level 2 slots will increase the damage of course.

I could only cast spike growth (a level 2 spell) 2 times, because I cannot cast it as a level 1 spell.

I could do a long rest and re-prepare 6 more spells and my spell slots would all be refreshed.

Is this correct? Am missing something?

Answer 1

You have it all basically correct

So I can prepare wisdom mod (lets say +3) + level per "instance" (before doing a long rest). (So I can prepare 6 spells)

Yes, you would have 6 spells prepared each day. However, you get your spell slots back and you get to re-prepare spells after a long rest, not before. You would need to complete the entire long rest before you prepared new spells and got your used spell slots back.

I can choose any 6 spells out of the level 1 and 2 list (since I only have level 1 and 2 spell slots)

Yes, there are no restrictions on which spells you can prepare, so you can prepare all level 1 spells, all level 2 spells (although that isn't a very good idea with only 2 level 2 slots), or any combination of the above.

I can cast the same spell as MANY times as I want (like I can cast goodberry (a lvl 1 spell) technically 6 times (4 level 1 spell slots, and 2 level 2 spell slots). The level 2 slots will increase the damage of course.

Mostly correct. Not every spell increases in potency when cast at a higher level. In fact, the Goodberry spell you mentioned does not get any better when cast using a level 2 spell slot. Many do, but some do not. Keep that in mind and make sure to read the spell description before you use it in a higher level. To be clear, you absolutely CAN cast a low level spell in a higher level slot, however if there is no additional benefit for casting the spell in a higher level slot (as per the spell description) then you may not be optimally using your limited spell slot resources.

but I could only cast spike growth (a level 2 spell) 2 times, because I cannot cast it as a level 1 spell.

Exactly.

I could do a long rest and re-prepare 6 more spells and my spell slots would all be refreshed.

Yes, with one minor caveat. Keep in mind that Rules-As-Written, it is not the player that decides to take a long rest, but the DM/GM that decides if a long rest is available. Make sure you know how your DM is running the game, because you cannot initiate a long rest without DM approval, and that may determine how you use your spells and which spells you prepare.

Answer 2

I don't know why I struggled with this but it finally clicked for me. Maybe it had to do with everyone (including the player's handbook) using a Wisdom of 16 for their examples. Basically there are three aspects to this:

1. Number of spell slots (quantity of spells one can cast at each level before resting), which is 100% static based on level
2. Number of spells that can be prepared (dynamic based on Wisdom and level)
3. Casting spells at a higher level even though it was prepared as a lower level spell

So for a level 3 druid that has a Wisdom of 18:

1. Forever and always, this druid can only cast up to 6 spells before requiring a rest (4x 1st level and 2x 1st/2nd level spells)
2. Because of the high Wisdom, this druid can choose 7 spells to "prepare". It could be 7 2nd level spells or 7 1st level spells but ideally would be a logical combination of both.

   A good example for this druid would be to prepare 4x 1st level (with 1 or 2 of them able ramp up to a higher level) and 3x2nd level spells. As these spells are cast, they are still "prepared", which means that even though I prepared 7 DIFFERENT spells, I could cast 1 of the 1st level spells 7 times. I could also cast 1 of the 2nd level spells twice, which would "fill" both the 2nd level slots that are available to me. Therefore I could not cast any more 2nd level spells.

For a level 3 druid with a Wisdom of 10:

1. Still can cast 4x (1st) and 2x (1st or 2nd) spells but...
2. Because of the average Wisdom, this druid can only "prepare" 3 spells. This means the choice of those 3 become much harder because the druid can cast 6 times choosing from just those 3 spells to fill 4x 1st and 2x 2nd slots. So I would think that choosing 2x 1st level (with at least 1 and ideally both of them able to ramp up) and 1x 2nd level would make the most sense.

Example:

1st level

• Cure Wounds (can fill a 1st level or 2nd level slot when casting)
• Entangle (can only fill 1st level slot)

2nd level

• Flame Blade (this can also fill higher level slots once they become available)

During the day the druid will ideally cast 6 times using these three spells to fill 4 first level slots and 2 second level slots. Examples:

1. Cast Entangle 6 times
2. Cast Entangle 4 times and Flame Blade 2 times
3. Cast Entangle 4 times and Cure Wounds 1 time (as level 2 spell) and Flame Blade 1 time
4. Cast Cure Wounds 4 times (as level 1 spell) and Cure Wounds 2 times (as level 2 spell) etc.

I hope this helps anyone else that might be having difficulties grasping the concept of casting/preparation/spell slots and how they are affected by your Wisdom modifier. Finally, as a long-winded response to your question, YES, everything you said is accurate but I hope my exhaustive response and additional examples provide further insight.

Note: All of this is a result of my interpretation of the rules defined in the 2014 5e D&D Player's Handbook (phb) p.66 "Preparing and Casting Spells" and p.201 "Known and Prepared Spells/Spell Slots".

Answer 3

This is correct, spell slots are regenerated at the end of a long rest and you can prepare new spells at the end of a long rest as well.