Questions tagged [spells]
For questions about specific manifestations of magic that we generically call "spells." Use the [magic] tag for more generic questions about magic, and [spellcasting] for questions specifically about the process of spellcasting.
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What is the source of the "spells do only what they say they do" rules interpretation principle?
Every time somebody asks a question like "can I use X spell for doing Y" the answer is usually "no" because spell descriptions are very short in 5e, and usually they don't ...
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Is there “flavor text” in D&D 5e spells?
Is there any evidence, in the rules or from developer comments, that parts of the description of a D&D 5e spell is “only flavor text” and should be ignored for determining what happens in-game?
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If I multiclass into 2 or more spellcasting classes, how do I determine my known/prepared spells?
If I multiclass into 2 or more classes/subclasses that can cast spells, how do I determine what spells I know or can prepare?
For instance, if I am playing a multiclassed character with 1 level in ...
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Is a dead creature's body considered an "object"?
I never really gave this much thought until this question brought it up: Is a dead creature's body considered to be an object? And is it still a creature?
My initial reaction was that it would not ...
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What counts as a target for a spell?
There have already been several questions regarding what counts as a target for a spell; some, such as this Q/A, are regarding glyph of warding as it states:
The spell must target a single creature ...
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Does casting a spell from an item allow you to apply class abilities that are used when casting a spell?
This question is updated to request additional answers and details in light of information now available in the Dungeon Master's Guide.
In the released DM basic rules, Lost Mine of Phandelver, Hoard ...
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Can a multiclass character with 1 level of wizard copy any wizard spell they find into their spellbook?
The "Your Spellbook" sidebar for the wizard includes the following line:
Copying a Spell into the Book. When you find a wizard spell of 1st level or higher, you can add it to your spellbook ...
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Do Cantrips use your character level or class level?
Cantrips seem to be the only type of spell that cares only about your class level.
However, in the multiclassing section they are not mentioned, does this mean that cantrips use your character level, ...
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How loud/obvious is a wizard casting a spell?
Some spells have somatic and vocal components, that's well known.
How loud must a wizard talk? How obvious/wide should his gestures be?
Some spells that would be awesome would be fairly limited if ...
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What makes a spell being cast considered to be a {class} spell?
My understanding is that when a spell is known or prepared via one of your class features, or if you cast it via a class feature, it's considered a "class spell" (sorcerer spell, cleric spell, etc.) ...
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Can spells be cast through a Wall of Force?
The spell description of wall of force is silent on the question of whether spell effects can pass through the wall. The semi-relevant part of the description states:
Nothing can physically pass ...
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Can you make an unwilling creature willing? In other words, what defines “willing”?
Going through the spells, I see the phrase "Willing creature" used to determine who you can cast some spells on. I don't ever see a proper definition of what a willing creature is, but I would assume ...
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Is a spell suppressed or removed when the target temporarily becomes invalid? [duplicate]
Based on Jeremy Crawford's tweet, if a target is under the effect of an ongoing spell, and then the target changes such that it is no longer a valid target, the spell no longer effects them.
But does ...
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What happens when a caster targets an object that looks like a creature with a spell that targets only creatures?
There are many spells which explicitly target creatures:
Choose one creature within range
The target creature is normally supposed to make a saving throw in this case.
What happens when the ...
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Does going outside of range or line of sight after casting a spell have any effect?
Does going outside the range of the spell or breaking line of sight between the caster and target break concentration or otherwise affect control over the spell?
For example, a Heat Metal spell has a ...
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Does Burning Hands really require touching thumbs?
The D&D 5E spell Burning Hands has verbal and somatic components, and is described like this:
As you hold your hands with thumbs touching and fingers spread, a thin sheet of flames shoots forth ...
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Can you cast a spell learned from the Magic Initiate feat using spell slots?
Can you cast a spell learned from the Magic Initiate feat using spell slots?
Say I play a wizard who learns cure wounds by taking the Magic Initiate feat. Could I cast that spell using the Wizard's ...
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Can Polymorph end spells that require the target to be humanoid?
There are several spells that require the target to be "humanoid" such as Hold Person, Dominate Person, etc.
However, if the target is Polymorphed after that spell has been successful, then what ...
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Can a polymorphed creature use class features that don't require speech or hand gestures?
The Polymorph spell states (in part):
The target’s game statistics, including mental ability scores, are
replaced by the statistics of the chosen beast. It retains its
alignment and personality....
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Is the Moonbeam spell amazing, or are we doing it wrong?
The description of the moonbeam spell (PHB pg. 261) says:
When a creature enters the spell's area for the first time on a turn or starts its turn there, it is engulfed in ghostly flames that cause ...
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Does order matter when casting a cantrip with a casting time of a bonus action and another spell?
When casting a spell as a bonus action, you can't cast another spell on the same turn except a 1-action cantrip - can the order be "reversed"? Can you cast a cantrip first as a bonus action, then any ...
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What happens when you target a "magical effect" with Dispel Magic?
In D&D 5e, the spell Dispel Magic says
Choose one creature, object, or magical effect within
range.
The rest of the spell description explains that spells "on the target" of a level lower ...
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What is the maximum number of Simulacra I can have?
Simulacrum seems like a powerful spell; I assume that the duplicate gets all my known spells and spell slots due to this part of the description:
Otherwise, the illusion uses all the statistics of ...
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Is there a rule for how to handle creative use of spells?
During a fight in a semi-flooded room, one of my players wanted to use Shocking Grasp on the water:
Lightning springs from your hand to deliver a shock to a creature you try to touch. Make a melee ...
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Counterspelling a counterspell
My party went up against two wizards. Wizard NPC 1 cast a spell, and Wizard PC used their reaction to Counterspell to try to block it. Wizard NPC 2 counterspelled Wizard PC. I have two questions about ...
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How many times do you roll damage for Magic Missile?
The "Damage Rolls" section of the rules (PHB p. 196, also in the online Basic Rules) says this:
If a spell or other effect deals damage to more than one target at the same time, roll the damage ...
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If you have the ability to cast a spell without a spell slot, can you cast that spell using a spell slot?
A 10th level Drow warlock (for instance) has the following Drow Magic racial trait (PHB p. 24), in addition to its warlock spellcasting abilities:
You know the dancing lights cantrip. When you reach ...
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The verbal component of 'Suggestion'
In a recent game the verbal component of 'Suggestion' came up. I had assumed that the verbal component was just me saying the words and was added to mechanically stop me from casting it in magical ...
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Does Mirror Image affect spells that have no attack roll?
I have two questions concerning the mirror image spell.
If I am under the effect of mirror image and was targeted by a spell like blight, do I roll a 1d20 to determine whether myself or an image was ...
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Do you need line of sight to cast spells on someone?
The rules on spellcasting contain the following section:
A Clear Path to the Target
To target something [with a spell], you must have a clear path to it, so it can't be behind total cover. If you ...
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Is a melee spell attack also a melee attack?
The absorb elements spell says:
The spell captures some of the incoming energy, lessening its effect on you and storing it for your next melee attack. You have resistance to the triggering damage ...
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Can you permanently True Polymorph into yourself?
Can a character true polymorph into itself (possibly after transforming into some other form first)? Possibly to prevent aging, cure wounds, or alter their original body in some way? Or as a means of ...
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Is a 1st-level spell cast using a 4th-level slot a 1st-level spell, or a 4th-level spell?
As the title says: Is a 1st-level spell cast using a 4th-level slot a 1st-level spell, or a 4th-level spell?
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It is commonly said that epic spellcasting in D&D 3.5e is broken. What are some examples of broken epic spellcasters?
It is commonly said that epic spellcasting in D&D 3.5e is broken. What are some examples of broken epic spellcasters?
Available options I've read about include things like chain-gating solars to ...
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When are targets picked for spells with multiple "missiles"?
For spells like Magic Missile and Scorching Ray that involve multiple ranged attacks, when do you pick targets for each ray/missle?
Do you pick them all up front and then roll attack/damage? Or do ...
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Does a spellcaster know when their spell has no effect due to a save or immunity?
Suppose a cleric casts Zone of Truth on a captured enemy. Unbeknownst to them, the enemy is a rakshasa. Zone of Truth says (PHB, p. 289):
You know whether each creature succeeds or fails on its ...
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What is the meaning of 'permanent' in description of True Polymorph?
Following on from this question: Can I True Polymorph a goblin into adamantine (and then forge him into a sword?)
Casting True Polymorph on an unwilling creature (relevant parts included only):
You ...
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Does the Darkness spell block vision?
In discussing this question, I came to realize that the real question was whether Darkness blocks vision or merely creates "darkness".
Per the wording of the spell:
Magical darkness spreads from ...
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Living forever in D&D (via spells)?
I was thinking of a way for a humanoid (PC or NPC) to live forever in a D&D setting, but through rather "common" and reproducible means, such that they will be available to many. By this logic I ...
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How do you determine the 'most potent effect' for overlapping spells?
Inspired by this question: Does the Spirit Guardians spell stack with multiple casters?
Using the spirit guardians example described in the linked question, suppose the 3 clerics had the following ...
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How much should NPCs charge for spells cast as services to PCs?
As the title suggests, I need to know how to compute the appropriate cost for spells that NPCs provide as services (components included) to the party.
My search has come up with the following:
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How does Mage Armor interact with Unarmored Defense?
If a character with the Unarmoured Defence class feature casts Mage Armour, what is their AC? Do they choose which 'base' AC they take, or do they stack somehow? Is there rules text that explains ...
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Can a spell be readied to trigger when its intended target comes into view?
Can I ready witch bolt, for instance, with the condition of attacking "the first goblin to come out of the cave" if I cannot see the goblin at the time of my (Ready) action? To be perfectly clear: at ...
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Can you use Wish to duplicate a spell at a higher level?
Wish allows you to duplicate the effects of any spell L8 or lower. Does that include a lower-level spell, cast at L8? Say, as a Wizard, casting Heal at L8.
I'm leaning towards yes, but it wouldn't be ...
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Does the Spirit Guardians spell stack with multiple casters?
Recently played with a group, where 3 of their clerics would cast spirit guardians, claiming monsters in the area had to make 3 wisdom saves for 3d8 damage each, potentially adding up to 9d8 damage ...
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Can a multiclass character use either of its spellcasting modifiers for spells?
Can a multiclass character use either of its spellcasting modifiers for spells?
When character multiclasses into multiple classes that can cast spells, which modifier do you use for casting the spell?...
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When a creature is hit with more than one fireball simultaneously, do they take damage from all of them?
Say a creature walks through a door and triggers two spell glyphs from two glyph of warding spells that are programmed to cast a fireball at the creature that walks through the door. Both glyphs are ...
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Can a spell be prepared once and cast multiple times?
Our group had some confusion about preparing spells for a Wizard and Cleric. The rules say that you prepare a number of spells from your list and that you tick off spell slots when you cast a spell. ...
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Can I use a spell with a casting time of "Bonus Action" as my action?
I get that some spells are "especially swift" to cast and thus have a casting time of "Bonus Action". But is there any reason I couldn't cast such a spell as my Action?
Does it make a difference if ...
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What happens when Wild Shape/Polymorph runs out in a space that's too small?
So in a 5e campaign I'm running, the party Druid has recently been doing some scouting of the local monster caves in spider form to avoid notice. I've also described how the goblins and kobolds who ...
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