Is it possible to attack enemies through a scrying sensor?

Question

The Scrying spell allows players to look at distant targets. Are there abilities or spells that allow players or characters to launch attacks against a target they are scrying?

While I am aware that characters could teleport in, I'm more concerned about zero-risk attacks from super far away.

This question was spurred by the UA sorcerer ability, Hound of Ill Omen. Recently, one of my players cast Scrying on an commoner NPC from a great distance, and then used her Hound of Ill Omen feature on the NPC. The text of the feature reads,

As a bonus action, you can spend 3 sorcery points to summon a hound of ill omen to target one creature you can see. The hound uses a dire wolf’s statistics ...

Because the character could see the NPC, I couldn't find a good reason to disallow this, and the NPC was torn to pieces.

I'm not sure if this is just a quirk of the UA wording, or if there is a precedent for this kind of attack.

Just to be clear, my question is not whether Hound of Ill Omen works this way. My question is whether other abilities/spells/etc. also work this way.

Answer 1

I would say no to the spell you are quoting (which states "summon a hound of ill omen to target one creature you can see.) as this seems to go against the PHB section on "targets" for spells. Nearly all spell types or effects it must target something (odd exceptions such as teleport and sending etc) and the PHB section on spell targeting says: (emphasis mine).

To target something, you must have a clear path to it, so it can’t be behind total cover. If you place an area of effect at a point that you can’t see and an obstruction, such as a wall, is between you and that point, the point of origin comes into being on the near side of that obstruction.

since it is highly likely that scrying wouldn't have a clear path to the target (possible if you are on a flat plane with EXTREME line of site but generally speaking)

The scrying spell only notes that you can see and hear as if you were there, it does not say you have a clear path to the target (speaking as a rules-as-written) or can act as if you were there.

Other spells depend. I would say no to long range "sight" spells such as meteor swarm as they would break the need for a clear path to the sighted target. Sending would be irrelevant as you need the same criteria for scrying anyway. Teleport would also be iffy - simply seeing somewhere does not make the location "known to you" as such. I suppose that is a DM call on what they consider "known to you" (I wouldn't consider a "common" room as "known to you", but if there were identifying parts that made it "known to you" such as a window looking onto a recognised item or location then OK you draw where you want to go and teleport into that stone wall).

An episode of the WotC podcast also clears targeting up: You always need a clear path to target a creature with a spell. You don't necessarily need to be able to see them (i.e. heavy fog wont impede) but the travel path of the spell must be clear. The spell originates from the caster so the travel path from the caster to the target must have a clear travel path. Full cover stops travel path (including glass).

Answer 2

This can be done

If we check the wording of Scrying (emphasis mine)

You can see and hear a particular creature you choose that is on the same plane of existence.

As stated in the question, the only restrictions to using the feature is that you have to see the target and spend 3 sorcery points. As Scrying specifically states you see the creature you are Scrying on, it would appear you ruled correctly!

As Slagmoth pointed out however, this is still Unearthed Arcana material and there will likely be some more limitations in place if / when it gets published.

Answer 3

You will be hard-pressed to find attack spells with infinite range (infinite range includes millions of lightyears away into space). You can, however, create attacks from super far away.

• Meteor Swarm: 1 mile range, requires sight only.

  • If you wanted to nuke, call meteors from the sky

• Storm of Vengeance: Range of sight (see this question for distances)

  • Summon a 9th-level storm spell above your enemies. The fact that the range is listed as "sight" qualifies you to cast SoV.

• Mirage Arcane: Range of sight (link as above), 1 square mile AoE

  • If you're an Illusionist Wizard, Mirage Arcane plus Malleable Illusions and Illusory Reality grant you reality warping powers. The fact that the range is listed as "sight" qualifies you to cast Mirage Arcane through Scrying. And Malleable Illusions allows you to manipulate the illusion through Scrying.
  • There is no damage here, but you can mess with them for 10 days. A bit tricky because the cast time of MA is 10 minutes, which is also the duration of Scrying.

Answer 4

Yes, but only if you're in range.

Hound of ill omen targets "one creature you can see within 120 feet of you". Scrying counts as being able to see them, but you must still be within 120 feet of them. So unless you're scrying on the next room over, you can't call forth your hound against them.

Answer 5

You can only attack through it with a spell that has a range of sight. If you can see a creature, you can attack it through a spell that has a range of sight. In a scrying sensor, you are allowed to see the target. Therefore, you may attack him with a spell of a range of sight. But the DM has the last call.

Storm of Vengeance: Range Sight

Answer 6

Since there are Magic Items that let you cast spells through them, the 5th level spell Scrying, that uses an object (a focus worth 1000 GP), should let you cast through it if the spell requires you to see the target (as long as that it is on the same plane of existence as you).

You can see and hear a particular creature you choose that is on the same plane of existence as you.

The Crystal Ball of Mind Reading and Crystal Ball of Telepathy are both items that let you cast spells that affect targets on the other side of the Scrying spell that you can see.

Crystal Ball

While touching it, you can cast the scrying spell (save DC 17) with it. {snip}
Crystal Ball of Mind Reading. You can use an action to cast the detect thoughts spell (save DC 17) while you are scrying with the crystal ball, targeting creatures you can see within 30 feet of the spell’s sensor.
Crystal Ball of Telepathy. While scrying with the crystal ball ... You can also use an action to cast the suggestion spell (save DC 17) through the one of those creatures. {that you can see}

A less powerful spell, find familiar (1st level) also let’s you cast spells through it without a physical line of path from you to the target (as long as the familiar is within 100’ of you).

Source:D&D5e SRD 5.1, p. 176(Scrying); p. 214-215 (crystal ball); p. 143 (find familiar)