Questions tagged [spell-components]
For questions about the components that go into spells, or how they are involved in spellcasting.
220
questions
8
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2answers
358 views
In RAW for 5e, can a player use a monster as a spell component?
One of the D&D legends stories that floated around my campus involved a poorly balanced boss fight in a 3.5 game. The players were facing a Giant Spider Wizard, and it was wiping the floor with ...
4
votes
2answers
152 views
Spellcasting and interactions with S/M components when hands are in use
Let's say I've got a creature who has a shield in one hand and their focus in another. They also have the war caster feat
They'd like to cast a spell requiring a Material component with cost/that ...
13
votes
2answers
343 views
Do you need an empty hand to cast spells?
The Weapon Storm spell has a somatic component1 (CRB p384):
[...] This damage has the same type as the weapon and uses the same die size. Determine the die size as if you were attacking with the ...
4
votes
1answer
232 views
Druids, Focuses, Shields, and Spells involving a weapon
One of my players has a 2nd level Druid. He’s been casting shillelagh on his club, he’s also using a shield. I’ve been a little loose with the Druidic focus mechanics but I desire to be more precise ...
6
votes
1answer
208 views
Do I need to put copper pieces on the eyes to cast the Gentle Repose spell if I have a spellcasting focus?
The material components of the gentle repose spell are:
a pinch of salt and one copper piece placed on each of the corpse's eyes, which must remain there for the duration
The rules for material ...
6
votes
1answer
137 views
How does the Mizzium Apparatus's ability to serve as an arcane focus interact with its ability to let you cast a spell you don't know/have prepared?
I recently got to DM my first campaign, and I was planning on letting my players get their hands on a Mizzium Apparatus. However, reading what the Guildmaster's Guide to Ravnica says about the item, ...
4
votes
2answers
303 views
Must a component pouch/focus be “out” to be handled, or can I keep it in my pocket?
When casting a spell with a material component, does one have to spend an object interaction taking the component pouch/focus out of wherever it's kept, or can it just be "handled" by touching it and ...
17
votes
2answers
872 views
What is the expected way to acquire costly material components?
If a spell's material components include any items with an indicated cost (such as the pearl worth at least 100 gp needed for identify), those items cannot be satisfied via a component pouch or ...
4
votes
1answer
134 views
Would casting the Ventriloquism spell into a Silence field allow you to cast silently?
I know Ventriloquism is an arcane spell and Silence divine, so normally most people wouldnt be able to cast both without needing magic items or such.
But if you were to use Ventriloquism to throw ...
2
votes
4answers
675 views
How would a mute spell caster work?
Would a PC with no or limited ability to speak (like a character born deaf or mute) be able to use spells with Verbal components?
5
votes
2answers
216 views
Does using the Silent Spell metamagic change the action cost for a spell?
Silent Spell costs 1 action, but allows you to waive the spell's verbal component. Does waiving the verbal component reduce the spell's action cost by 1, thus producing no net change in the number of ...
8
votes
1answer
691 views
Can a gem used as the material component for the Magic Jar spell also be used for the Imprisonment spell?
I want to cast Magic Jar to transfer my soul into a gem, then possess someone, then cast Imprisonment (using the Minimus Containment option) on my now-soulless body to store it safely into the same ...
2
votes
1answer
269 views
If a dragon uses Change Shape to turn into an Evoker, does it gain/have the material components for its spells?
Nuanced question about true polymorph (TP) and dragons changing shape:
I have a wizard who has a simulacrum (sim). Wizard TPs the sim into an Adult Bronze Dragon, which can then Change Shape into a ...
0
votes
0answers
162 views
How big are somatic components? [duplicate]
I am wondering how large the hand gestures have to be for spells with somatic components. I know in the question How loud/obvious is a wizard casting a spell? the Player Basic Rules p.79 say,
...
22
votes
2answers
3k views
Does the spell “Silence” affect the caster?
While I was DMing a 5th Edition game, one of my player's sorcerers cast the spell Silence while they were 5 feet away from an enemy caster. They centered the spell on the space that the enemy caster ...
14
votes
1answer
558 views
Do all 2019 UA Artificer spells have a de facto material component?
The 2019 UA Artificer's Spellcasting feature contains this sentence:
You must have a spellcasting focus—specifically thieves’ tools or some kind of artisan’s tool—in hand when you cast any spell ...
9
votes
2answers
884 views
Can a warlock shoot multiple beams from the Eldritch Blast cantrip with only a single free hand?
How do multiple beams of eldritch blast work with a Pact of the Blade weapon? When I, as warlock, have my Pact of the Blade rapier in one hand and cast multiple beams to hit either single or multiple ...
1
vote
0answers
57 views
If I counterspell with subtle metamagic, can my counterspell be counterspelled? [duplicate]
BBEG casts a spell, I counterspell, and the mob has a chance to counterspell my counterspell under normal circumstances, leading to a wasted slot and some hurt from the incoming spell.
If however I ...
2
votes
1answer
188 views
If you use the Still Spell metamagic feat to cast the Fireball spell, do you still have to aim with your finger?
The description for Fireball says
You point your finger and determine the range (distance and height) at which the fireball is to burst. A glowing, pea-sized bead streaks from the pointing digit
...
4
votes
1answer
358 views
If you cast Darkness using sorcery points as a Shadow Magic sorcerer, do you need material components?
Shadow Magic sorcerers at 3rd level gain the spell Darkness, which doesn't count against their spells known. In addition, they can cast it by expending 2 sorcery points.
Can you circumvent the need ...
1
vote
0answers
50 views
Can I pluck a polymorphed creature and keep its feathers? [duplicate]
So this is a question about the polymorph and true polymorph spells. Both spells include in their description an explanation as to what happens to the gear of the target of the polymorph spells ...
...
6
votes
2answers
340 views
What are the benefits to casting without the need for somatic components?
I am playing a Shadowcaster in a 3.5e Forgotten Realms campaign and I took Still Mystery at 1st level, which lets me cast mysteries without the use of somatic components. What is the benefit of being ...
18
votes
4answers
3k views
Does a wizard need their hands free in order to cause their familiar from the Find Familiar spell to reappear?
Recently, in the first session of a new campaign, my level 1 wizard found himself held captive with his hands and feet tied by rope. The DM made it clear that I could not cast spells/cantrips that ...
26
votes
5answers
3k views
How does one acquire an undead eyeball encased in a gem?
The Shadow of Moil spell (XGtE, p. 164) requires an undead eyeball inside a gem (worth at least 150 gp) as its material component.
Who would be selling such an item and if someone was selling it, how ...
2
votes
2answers
267 views
Does a caster need a free hand to cast a spell from a spell scroll?
Does a caster need a free hand to cast a spell from a spell scroll? What if they have the War Caster feat?
7
votes
1answer
202 views
How can I avoid paying for costly material components?
Create Magic Tattoo (SC p55) looks like a great spell, but it is very pricy at 100gp per casting. Is there a way to avoid/reduce the cost?
The solution should be official, at least from Dragon ...
19
votes
2answers
449 views
Can I cast reaction spells like Shield or Counterspell when I'm in the middle of casting a spell with a long casting time and don't stop casting it?
Can I use reaction spells like shield or counterspell when I'm in the middle of casting a spell with a long casting time and don't stop casting it?
The Sage Advice Compendium says:
Can you cast a ...
10
votes
1answer
207 views
How does a Spell Scroll function when the spell has a special relationship to its material components?
According to the rules for Spell Scrolls, casting from a scroll requires no material components other than the scroll itself; similarly the rules in Xanathar's Guide for scribing a spell scroll say ...
4
votes
2answers
267 views
Does a spell scroll remove the need for ‘special’ material components?
The description of a spell scroll in the DMG states:
If the spell is on your class’s spell list, you can read the scroll
and cast its spell without providing any material components.
Does this ...
2
votes
0answers
195 views
Is Charm Monster obvious to bystanders? [duplicate]
Is Charm Monster (or similar magic) obvious to bystanders that the spell is being cast?
I've looked at a number of sources, for example I've looked at the "Sage Advice Compendium" which reads:
Do ...
17
votes
1answer
654 views
Can Hunter's Mark be moved after Silence has been cast on a character?
Situation:
In a battle sequence our Paladin (Oath of Vengeance) has successfully cast Hunter's mark, later in the battle our Wizard cast Silence.
We know that Hunter's Mark requires V (verbal) ...
17
votes
3answers
4k views
Does a component pouch automatically contain components?
Are there any written rules on whether or not component pouches, when purchased, contain components or if users have to find the components and put them in?
If it's automatic, does it auto-fill when ...
10
votes
1answer
262 views
Can a component pouch be emptied of its materials?
Since the component pouch has materials in it, would you be able to empty the pouch for its materials? Say for example you need something to light a fire; could you pull a piece of coal from your ...
8
votes
2answers
2k views
Can you use two wands to cast one spell?
Basically, in the May 2019 Artificer UA (Unearthed Arcana: the Artificer Returns), the Artificer got two mutually-exclusive ways to enhance a non-magical wand to improve the spells it casts: the Wand ...
17
votes
1answer
494 views
Does the sorcerer's Subtle Spell Metamagic option allow you to ignore both Verbal and Somatic components?
This may sound like a basic question, but I'd like to be 100% sure.
In D&D 5e, Subtle Spell's description in the sorcerer class description says
When you cast a spell, you can spend 1 sorcery ...
8
votes
2answers
624 views
Does holding a wand and speaking its command word count as V/S/M spell components?
Magical wands need to be held to cast their spells.
Does holding the wand count as a material component for the wand's spell?
And if a command word needs to be used, is it considered a verbal ...
10
votes
2answers
2k views
Can you use Thunderous Smite and other “Smite” spells with unarmed strikes?
Since unarmed strikes are considered melee weapon attacks, and the 'smite' spells don't have the same restriction as booming blade or green-flame blade (the part where it requires "a weapon" as the ...
10
votes
1answer
312 views
When casting a spell using a magic item, is the casting itself visible?
Some magic items allow you to cast spells using them, even if you are normally unable to cast such spells, such as the Wand of Magic Missiles or the Helm of Telepathy.
When you cast a spell with such ...
9
votes
3answers
700 views
Does War Caster allow you to cast the Shield spell with a rod in one hand and a wand in the other?
By default, you must have a completely free hand to cast a spell that has somatic components but does not have material components. That free hand may not even be holding a spellcasting focus.
A ...
20
votes
4answers
3k views
What's the in-universe reasoning behind sorcerers needing material components?
Sorcerers are "spontaneous" spell casters. They don't "learn spells" the way a wizard does; their spells aren't granted by a powerful extraplanar entity the way a cleric's, paladin's, or warlock's ...
7
votes
5answers
1k views
Would this custom Sorcerer variant that can only learn any verbal-component-only spell be unbalanced?
I recently started reading through the Shannara books by Terry Brooks, and it got me thinking about how the notion of the wishsong would translate into a system like D&D.
My (very) rough idea ...
0
votes
0answers
82 views
Can you cast Minor Illusion without being noticed? [duplicate]
The spell has a somatic and material component, can it be cast without someone knowing you are casting a spell?
9
votes
1answer
670 views
Do these spellcasting foci from Xanathar's Guide to Everything have to be held in a hand?
I see that, for example:
A cleric or paladin can use a holy symbol as a spellcasting focus, as described in chapter 10. To use the symbol in this way, the caster must hold it in hand, wear it ...
5
votes
3answers
549 views
Does werebat guano satisfy the material component requirement for Fireball?
In one of Wizard of the Coast's adventure modules (noted in the spoiler box below), you can meet werebats:
The fireball spell has the material component:
A tiny ball of bat guano and sulfur
Could ...
2
votes
1answer
153 views
Does False Focus replace costly focuses just as it replaces costly components?
The False Focus feat says:
By using a divine focus as part of casting, you can cast any spell with a material component costing the value of that divine focus (maximum 100 gp) or less without ...
1
vote
0answers
587 views
If a UA Artificer infuses a weapon and uses it as a spellcasting focus, can it be used for the somatic component of a spell too? [duplicate]
The new Artificer class (from Unearthed Arcana) for 5e can infuse magic into weapons or shields, and use the infused item as a spell focus for material components. However, can you wave your focus for ...
9
votes
2answers
436 views
Does Swift Quiver end early if you run out of arrows after being cast?
The 5th level ranger spell swift quiver (PHB, pp. 279-280) says (bold italics emphasis mine):
Components: V, S, M (a quiver containing at least one piece of ammunition)
You transmute your ...
3
votes
2answers
319 views
Are there any guides for what ingredients would be needed to make a magic item, spell, or how long to research the spell to make it? [closed]
I’m planning to send my players on quests to get ingredients for a very powerful shield to protect a plane. Are there any guides or recommendations for the difficulty(CR) that magic items of certain ...
19
votes
1answer
2k views
Does the Resurrection spell consume material components if the target isn’t willing to be resurrected?
If my party tries to resurrect someone using the spell resurrection but the target refuses to come back to life, is the diamond (worth 1000 gold) needed to cast the spell consumed anyway?
9
votes
1answer
766 views
When are the material components for Forbiddance consumed?
The components section for forbiddance says:
V, S, M (a sprinkling of holy water, rare incense, and powdered ruby worth at least 1,000 gp)
This does not explicitly state that the spell consumes ...
