### The spell needs a save DC; the DC of the Sorcerer who triggers it is used In the case you offer, fireball, the magical effects require that anyone within the fireball's radius to make a saving throw. What is a saving throw made against? The spell's DC. > **Spellcasting Ability** Bards, paladins, sorcerers, and warlocks use Charisma as their spellcasting ability, which helps determine the saving throw DCs of spells they cast. (Basic Rules p. 62) > **Saving Throw** > The Difficulty Class for a saving throw is determined **by the effect that causes it**. For example, the DC for a saving throw allowed by a spell is determined by the caster’s spellcasting ability and proficiency bonus. (Basic Rules p. 62) How do you arrive at the DC for a spell that comes out of a wild magic surge? Use the DC of whomever triggered the surge. Wild Magic Surge rules text (PHB p. 103) does not offer a separate DC rubric for that particular effect, so it is tied to the sorcerer who is *the cause of that magical effect.* Is that stated anywhere in the Rules? Not as far as I can find. Does it make sense? Yes. Why? D&D 5e design principles were to make the game simpler, not more complex. If you accept that "you cast a spell" rules text as a pointer to how the DC for a spell effect from a Wild Magic surge is determined (so that the DM does not have one more thing to rule on or figure out) it meets the simplicity standard. ### Try the common sense test Should a wild magic surge from a 19th level sorcerer be more potent than from a 1st level sorcerer? (Difference in DC being +6 to +2 based on proficiency alone) and thus harder to save against? Yes, common sense would suggest that this is the case. (If I can find a Crawford tweet on this, I'll add it).