Questions tagged [spell-components]
For questions about the components that go into spells, or how they are involved in spellcasting.
302
questions
2
votes
1answer
149 views
What's the cheapest way for an Eldritch Knight to be able to wield two weapons while still being able to cast spells with somatic/material components?
For the purpose of this question, assume "two weapons" to include "a one-handed weapon and a shield".
Compared to other spellcasters, Eldritch Knights are sort of at a disadvantage ...
7
votes
2answers
464 views
Are there any descriptions of the casting of Identify in official writings?
I am making a list of how my wizard would cast spells, specifically using the components supplied. Sometimes this is pretty obviously a joke which I can play upon, but sometimes the components don't ...
14
votes
2answers
1k views
How do the material components of Heat Metal work?
I'm a rookie DM with an even more rookie group of players. I have some questions about Heat Metal (2nd level transmutation).
It says you need a piece of iron and a flame. It also says the target of ...
8
votes
4answers
254 views
Under what conditions does a Martial Spellcaster need the Warcaster feat to comfortably cast spells?
I had a player recently come to me about playing an Eldritch Knight character, and they had questions about their ability to cast spells while holding a weapon (or two), and were debating taking the ...
7
votes
2answers
423 views
Can I draw a weapon as a part of a Melee Spell Attack?
A spell like Steel Wind Strike requires a melee spell attack. Use an Object (PHB pg193) states, "...such as draw a sword as part of an attack." This doesn't clarify a spell or weapon attack. ...
8
votes
1answer
324 views
Is the brass brazier required for the Find Familiar spell, or can it be replaced by a spellcasting focus/component pouch?
When spell components are consumed or have a cost, they need to be provided and cannot be substituted by a spellcasting focus. The find familiar spell has such components:
10 gp worth of charcoal, ...
2
votes
1answer
77 views
Are there any monsters or races that can cast spells without verbal components
So a while back I saw the piper race in their list of racial traits they have the following
Mystic Voice (Su): Piper spellcasters have a natural magic in their
voice and must use it as an element of ...
4
votes
1answer
496 views
As a sword-and-board Eldritch Knight fighter, do I need to put away my sword on my turn if I want to cast the Shield spell as a reaction?
Without the War Caster feat, I can't cast spells with somatic components if I have both a shield and a sword in my hands. Putting my sword away or dropping it is a free action; however, you can't do ...
6
votes
2answers
1k views
Can an Armorer Artificer wearing Guardian-model Arcane Armor cast a somatic spell without holding tools or having the Warcaster feat?
The Guardian model described in the Arcane Armor feature of the Armorer Artificer includes "Thunder Gauntlets":
Each of the armor’s gauntlets counts as a simple melee weapon while you aren’...
10
votes
1answer
1k views
Can objects created by Performance of Creation be used as expensive material components?
Tasha's Cauldron of Everything introduces the College of Creation which gets the class feature Performance of Creation:
As an action, you can channel the magic of the Song of Creation to create one ...
5
votes
2answers
845 views
Does the material component of Booming blade need to the same one used in the attack?
Does the spell specify that the material component need be the same as the one used in the attack?
As part of recent errata to the green-flame blade and booming blade cantrips, their material ...
12
votes
2answers
2k views
If I have a single diamond worth more than 300 gp, does Revivify consume the whole diamond?
Thanks to a heist of mixed success, I have in my possession a single diamond worth roughly 550 gold pieces. If I use this diamond to cast Revivify, will casting the spell consume the whole diamond? I ...
1
vote
1answer
215 views
What is the definition of “mineral goods” for the material component of the Galder's Speedy Courier spell?
The 4th-level spell Galder's speedy courier from the published adventure Lost Library of Kwalish has the following material component:
25 gold pieces, or mineral goods of equivalent value, which the ...
11
votes
1answer
1k views
Does the verbal component for spellcasting have to be words?
To make a long story short: for my first D&D campaign, I want to create a warlock that had to give up her voice as a part of her deal with her Patron.
As such, she is incapable of speaking, but ...
0
votes
2answers
134 views
Do spells like burning hands specify specific non-material components? [duplicate]
In "Does Burning Hands really require touching thumbs?", it has been established that burning hands does indeed require touching thumbs. A question that is danced around there is, "is ...
5
votes
1answer
205 views
Can Warforged be targeted by the Clone spell?
The clone spell's components include, among other things (PHB, p. 222):
at least 1 cubic inch of flesh of the creature that is to be cloned
However, warforged do not have flesh as other humanoids do ...
10
votes
5answers
972 views
Can a creature under the effect of a Discord Symbol perform verbal spell components?
Symbol (PHB, pg. 280) allows you to create a magical glyph that triggers on a condition you determine. One of the glyphs you can create is called Discord:
Each target must make a Constitution saving ...
5
votes
1answer
691 views
What’s easier for a new dnd player, component pouch or arcane focus?
I’m just starting out in dnd and creating my first character (a half-elf wizard) and I’m at the equipment section. I’ve looked up the differences between the component pouch and arcane focus and can’t ...
-5
votes
1answer
200 views
Where might one find copper wire? [closed]
The Message spell requires a short piece of copper wire to cast. Suppose you do not have access to a spell component pouch. Where might copper wire exist? And how might it be used outside of ...
4
votes
2answers
239 views
Does simplifying spell component management using a taxation system unbalance spell casting?
I have started a new campaign and am considering making life a little easier for my spell casters by not expecting them to source and find all their components ahead of time, especially where ...
7
votes
2answers
251 views
Can a wereraven Way of Shadow monk cast Darkness while in raven form?
In my ongoing Curse of Strahd game,
The question has arisen about what spells a wood elf Way of the Shadow Monk would have access to in the various wereraven forms.
In the humanoid (wood elf) form, ...
1
vote
0answers
134 views
How to use the material components for Pass Without Trace [closed]
I am aware that many material components are either a joke (good or bad) or somehow related to how the spell works (IE: fleece for illusion is pulling the wool over someone). But for Pass Without ...
8
votes
3answers
789 views
Does an artificer require two hands to cast spells with a costly material component?
An artificer must use an appropriate spellcasting focus when casting artificer spells. And they must use costly material components when applicable. Neither can replace the other.
But can they handle ...
32
votes
6answers
5k views
How big is a 5000 gp diamond? [duplicate]
I play a teleportation and extra dimensional sorcerer in my group and I'm getting close to obtaining the spell Gate which requires "a diamond worth at least 5,000 gp". How big would a ...
14
votes
5answers
2k views
Does a Druid with the Archdruid feature need spell components when under effects like Shapechange?
Does a level 20 druid need components for spells when in another form caused by non-wildshape effects that change their form but still allow them access to their class features, like the spell ...
5
votes
2answers
710 views
Does an artificer's Spell-Storing Item bypass the need for costly/consumed material components?
Suppose I am an 11th-level Artificer with a +5 intelligence modifier, and I use my Spell-storing Item feature to store Continual Flame, whose material component is "ruby dust worth 50 gp, which ...
8
votes
3answers
672 views
Do you need a free hand for your holy symbol if you're wearing it visibly?
I've been creating a Paladin who uses the Defense fighting style while wielding two weapons (instead of the more common Dueling style with weapon and shield). However, I was worried that spell ...
3
votes
1answer
200 views
How do spell components work in regards to the UA Psionic Soul Sorcerer's Psychic Sorcery ability?
The UA Psionic Soul Sorcerer has the following Psionic Talent option:
Psychic Sorcery. When you cast a spell, you can use your mind to form it, rather than relying on words, gestures, and materials. ...
7
votes
3answers
572 views
Can the Chromatic Orb diamond be used as an Arcane Focus?
Chromatic Orb
Components: V, S, M (a diamond worth at least 50 gp)
You hurl a 4-inch-diameter sphere of energy at a creature that you can see within range. You choose acid, cold, fire, lightning, ...
10
votes
4answers
2k views
Is there a way to bypass the somatic components of spells?
I was thinking of making a character that has no hands, and was wondering if there's any way to get around somatic components of spells. I made a list of all the spells that don't have somatic ...
5
votes
2answers
218 views
What is the verbal component of the Dissonant Whispers spell?
This was thought up while reading the following question:
Increase the range of Dissonant Whispers
The dissonant whispers spell has only Verbal components and states:
[...] You whisper a discordant ...
3
votes
1answer
247 views
What appendages are needed to perform the somatic components of a spell?
In Dungeons & Dragons, many sentient beings or devices could learn spells &/or rituals. But it's unclear who is able is able to perform somatic components normally done by a humanoid of 3' to ...
16
votes
1answer
716 views
Can you tell if someone transfers Hunter's Mark or Hex after the original target is reduced to 0 HP?
The spells hunter's mark and hex both include this clause:
If the target drops to 0 hit points before this spell ends, you can use a bonus action on a subsequent turn of yours to [mark/curse] a new ...
14
votes
4answers
328 views
Does contingency work if you are polymorphed and so the statuette merged with your body?
The spell Contingency has a material component of:
a statuette of yourself carved from ivory and decorated with gems worth at least 1,500 gp
The spell also ends if this statue isn't on your person.
...
2
votes
1answer
208 views
Should magic items which allow to cast spells be considered as material components? [duplicate]
For using Counterspell, a spell needs to contain some kind of component, otherwise it cant be countered.
https://twitter.com/jeremyecrawford/status/642086415040294912?lang=en
When casting spells from ...
3
votes
2answers
150 views
Can two spells with different types of components be cast in the same action?
Would someone who is casting something with a Somatic and Material component, say Minor Illusion, also be able to cast something with only a Verbal component, say Thaumaturgy, in the same action? I'm ...
6
votes
1answer
211 views
If a spellcaster's racial trait grants a spell that requires material components, can they use their class' focus to cast that spell?
Based on the answer to this question about non-spellcasters, spells granted by racial traits don't waive the need for material components. However, can spellcasters use their class' allowed focuses ...
1
vote
1answer
132 views
What would verbal components actually sound like?
Something I've always wondered is what does a verbal component actually sounds like in-universe. Is it random sounds, gibberish, or do you anime it and chant something in actual words. Given that the ...
14
votes
1answer
943 views
Can concentration spells be “adjusted” while silenced?
For an example, the party is fighting Strahd, a vampire spellcaster. The party cleric casts Dawn, off center on Strahd to only affect him. Then the party wizard casts silence directly on top of ...
16
votes
3answers
2k views
If a Cleric uses “a sprinkling of holy water” in a spell, does the flask eventually get used up?
e.g. the Bless spell calls for "a sprinkling of holy water"
Is the flask essentially unlimited for Bless, or is there a conversion of X sprinklings in 1 flask?
1
vote
1answer
481 views
Does Green-Flame Blade benefit from the Alchemist artificer's Alchemical Savant feature if they use alchemist's supplies as an improvised weapon?
The Alchemist artificer's 5th-level Alchemical Savant feature states (WGtE, p. 180; E:RftLW, p. 58):
Whenever you cast a spell using your alchemist’s supplies as the spellcasting focus, you gain a ...
1
vote
1answer
215 views
Are the Power Word spells especially easy to identify?
There are various high level spells named "Power Word: X". They are all verbal-only spells (except Power Word: Heal), and tend to have the following text in them(...except Power Word: Heal):
You ...
3
votes
1answer
161 views
Can spellcasters try to make it difficult to identify what spell they're casting?
How to identify a spell being cast? discusses how to identify a spell.
This question seeks to discover whether there are steps a spellcaster could take during casting to make this identification more ...
10
votes
2answers
465 views
If one of the platinum rings that serves as a component of the Warding Bond spell is removed and then replaced, do the effects of the spell resume?
Warding Bond has a duration of 1 hour and has a material requirement of
a pair of platinum rings worth at least 50 gp each, which you and the target must wear for the duration
If one of the two ...
2
votes
1answer
106 views
Does activating a scroll require satisfying the spell's verbal and somatic components?
Example: The wizard is in the area of a silence spell effect and wants to activate a scroll. The spell on the scroll normally requires verbal and somatic components. Is the wizard prevented from ...
2
votes
3answers
340 views
Does using an arcane focus reduce the cost of adding a spell to your spellbook?
The material explanation in chapter 10 of the Players Handbook states that:
'A character can use a component pouch or a spellcasting focus in place of the components specified for a spell. But if a ...
6
votes
1answer
218 views
Spirit Guardians Material Components
Short Version:
The 5e rules state that a player can substitute material components with a focus. Could the player provide the actual material instead?
If so, could a Divine Soul Sorcerer/Paladin use ...
5
votes
1answer
120 views
As far as Spell Components are concerned, what do “retrieve”, “manipulate” and “stow” mean?
From Core Rulebook (p. 303):
Focus: A focus is an object that funnels the magical energy of the spell. The spell gains the manipulate trait and requires you to either have a free hand to retrieve ...
2
votes
2answers
900 views
What is Jester using as a focus for Scrying in Critical Role?
Reading through the PHB, I found the spell Scrying, which has the following Components:
Components: V, S, M, (a focus worth at least 1000 gp, such as a crystal ball, a silver mirror or a font ...
12
votes
1answer
2k views
If a sorcerer rolls on the Wild Magic Surge table and gets a result that says they cast a certain spell, does it require the usual components?
Several effects from the Wild Magic sorcerer's Wild Magic Surge table (PHB, p. 104) tell you, the sorcerer, to cast a spell as the result, for example:
You cast fireball as a 3rd-level spell ...
