D&D 5e spell changes: Difference between revisions

|one-name=Rule changes

|two-name=Race changes

|three-name=Class changes

|four-name=Spell changes

|five-name=Feat changes

}}This page describes any changes that have been made to the rules of certain [[spells]] in ''Baldur's Gate 3'' (BG3), from their original specifications in ''Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition'' (D&D 5e). Other rule changes can be found on their [[D&D 5e Rule Changes|related pages]].

The rule changes described on this and related pages are written with the assumption the reader understands the relevant D&D 5e rule. These pages will not explain what the D&D 5e rule is, only what the changed or altered BG3 rule is. These pages also include many BG3 features and abilities that are unchanged from D&D 5e to help a D&D 5e player quickly see which options have changed and which have not, and make decisions without having to do additional research. If the BG3 rule aligns with a OneD&D rule or other playtest material from D&D 5e, that is considered a rule change from D&D 5e.

** Example: {{SAI|Fireball}} (action) and {{SAI|Misty Step}} (bonus action) can be cast during the same turn.

* No spells have a '''somatic component'''. You can cast spells without a free hand, such as while wielding a weapon and wearing a shield.

** To cast spells from the [[Bard]] spell list, Bards either use their equipped musical instrument or whistle. This visually acts as a spellcasting focus.

** [[Ritual Spells]] are always cast as a ritual when cast outside of combat, and ritual casting does not increase the casting time. Some spells which are not ritual spells in 5e have become so (see below).

* Cantrips get their second upgrade when reaching level 10 instead of level 11, e.g. {{SAI|Fire Bolt}} deals 3d10 damage by level 10.

 

=== Reaction spells ===

When choosing whether to use a reaction, players have access to a lot more information than they normally would in D&D 5e. For example:

* When choosing whether to use a reaction that can modify the result of an attack roll or impose advantage or disadvantage, you are told the result of the attack roll, the required roll needed for a hit, and whether the attack roll was a critical hit or miss.

* You can choose to use a reaction that imposes advantage or disadvantage after the check or save is first rolled.

* When choosing whether to use a reaction that can modify the result of another creature's spell, you are told the name of the spell being cast, whether or not it was upcast, the spell DC, and the result of any saving throw (if applicable).

** No [[Arcana]] check is needed to identify the spell being cast.

|+Changes to cantrips

!Spell name!!Range and

!Other changes

|{{SAI|Friends}}||-||You lose -10 reputation with whoever you cast Friends on when the spell ends in Balanced [[difficulty]] and above. This can sometimes be avoided by casting Friends while under effects of [[Disguise Self]], except against playable [[Origins]].

|{{SAI|Guidance}}||-||The bonus to ability checks is applied automatically until the spell ends. Using it once does not end the spell. It can be cast during conversation without consequences.

|{{SAI|Produce Flame}}||Duration increased from 10 minutes to until Long Rest.||Added to the Cleric spell list. Radius of shed light increased to 30 ft, instead of 10 ft bright and an additional 10 ft dim.

|{{SAI|Thaumaturgy}}||Range reduced from 30 ft to self||Grants advantage on Intimidation and Performance checks. Can be used during a conversation if an option using one of these skills is selected.

==First level spells==

|+Changes to first level spells

!Spell name!!Range and

!Other changes

|You can only choose from preset appearances that do not resemble any of the game's NPCs.  

Became a '''[[Spells#Ritual%20Spells|Ritual]]''' spell'''.'''

 

|Feather fall becomes a bonus action to cast in most scenarios, but there are some cutscenes where you may use the spell as well. Became a '''[[Spells#Ritual%20Spells|Ritual]]''' spell'''.''' In 5E casting time is a Reaction, not in BG3 (has to be precast so you need to plan to be blown off a rooftop etc.)

|Became a '''[[Spells#Ritual%20Spells|Ritual]]''' spell'''.''' Uniquely among BG3 spells, it can be cast at a higher level when ritual casting.

|This is part of the attack action, and will only consume the bonus action and spell slot if the attack connects. Unlike the other Smite spells, [[Thunderous Smite]] does not require concentration, since BG3 applies that to the persistent effect which this spell does not have. The target always gets pushed back 10 feet on hit, and the save is only to resist falling prone.  

==Second level spells==

|+ Changes to second level spells

! Spell name!!Range and

!Other changes

|{{SAI|Calm Emotions}}||-||The spell only includes the option to make humanoids in the area immune to the [[Charmed (Condition)|Charmed]] or [[Frightened (Condition)|Frightened]] conditions. However, it also deactivates (and prevents further activation of) the [[Rage]] ability used by [[Barbarian|Barbarians]] and certain other creatures, which, while a logical interpretation, is not a function of the 5e version as written.

|{{SAI|Cloud of Daggers}}||Size increased from a 5 ft square to a 7 ft radius circle. ||-

|{{SAI|Darkness}}||Duration reduced to 1 minute. Can only be targetted on a point, and cannot target an object.|| -

|{{SAI|Darkvision (spell)|Darkvision}}||Duration changed from 8 hours to until Long Rest||The range of darkvision granted by the spell is reduced to 40 feet, in line with reductions to the racial [[Darkvision (Passive Feature)|darkvision]] features.

|{{SAI|Detect Thoughts}}||Duration increased from 1 minute to until Long Rest so long as the caster maintains concentration||There are dialogue prompts to use Detect Thoughts at specific instances. Became a '''[[Spells#Ritual%20Spells|Ritual]]''' spell'''.'''

|{{SAI|Enhance Ability}}||Duration increased from 1 hour to until long rest for as long as the caster can maintain concentration.||Bear's Endurance gives 7 temporary hit points, rather than 2d6. Cat's grace gives resistance to falling damage rather than mitigating fall damage from 20 ft or less.

|{{SAI|Gust of Wind}}||AoE is 40 ft instead of 60. Spell is immediate rather than lasting 10 turns and requiring concentration.||Since the spell is immediate the direction cannot be changed after the fact. Off Balance does not halve the movement speed of the victims if they try to move towards the caster.

|{{SAI|Heat Metal}}||-||If a target has a metal weapon and metal armour then this spell will prioritize the weapon. If armour is targeted, it cannot be removed.

|{{SAI|Hold Person}}||-||The spell itself is not changed, but note that the range for automatic critical hits is increased from 5 ft to 10 ft for ''all'' [[Paralysed (Condition)|Paralyse]] effects.

|{{SAI|Lesser Restoration}}||-||Can remove [[Diseased (Condition Type)|Diseased]] conditions in addition to those it can remove in 5e.

|{{SAI|Magic Weapon}}||Lasts until long rest or until the caster loses concentration||Can be applied to a weapon that is already magical, and does stack with any magical bonuses from that weapon. Cannot be applied to ranged weapons.

|{{SAI|Melf's Acid Arrow}}||Range reduced from 90 ft to 60 ft.||Creates an [[Acid Surface]] on the ground under the target in addition to its other effects.

|{{SAI|Mirror Image}}||-||The spell still grants three illusory duplicates, but each gives the caster a +3 bonus to AC. Each time an attack misses, one of these duplicates disappears.

|{{SAI|Moonbeam}}||Range reduced from 120 ft to 60 ft, cylinder radius reduced from 5 ft to 3.3 ft||Shapechangers do not have disavantage on the saving throw, and are not reverted to their original form if they fail.

|{{SAI|Protection from Poison}}||Duration increased from 1 hour to until long rest, and concentration is still not required||Neutralizes all poisons affecting the targets instead of just one.

|{{SAI|See Invisibility}}||Lasts until Long Rest instead of 1 hour.||Does not provide the ability to see into the Ethereal Plane, which in general is not implemented in BG3.

|{{SAI|Silence}}||Range reduced from 120 ft to 60 ft||Note that although spell components are not a thing in BG3, some spells ''are'' explicitly immune to this, and it's generally spells that lack verbal components in 5e.

|{{SAI|Spiritual Weapon}}||-||The weapon is considered an entity and can be directly attacked, has 20 HP, immune to psychic and poison, and resistant to all other damage types. It behaves like a summoned creature, with its own turn in the initiative order, rather than requiring the caster to use a bonus action to activate it. It can use the [[Weapon actions]] associated with the selected weapon type.

|{{SAI|Warding Bond}}||-||Does not end if the caster and the target move more than 60 ft from one another.

|{{SAI|Web}}||Duration increased from 1 hour to until long rest for as long as you can maintain concentration.||Creates a [[Web Surface]] which can be destroyed with fire damage, and which does not cause falling damage if a creature falls onto it from any height.

The web surface applies [[Enwebbed (Condition)|Enwebbed]], which has the same mechanical effects as [[Restrained (Condition)|Restrained]] (which is what this spell does in 5e) but is technically a different condition.

==Third level spells==

|+Changes to third level spells

!Spell name!!Range and

!Other changes

|{{SAI|Animate Dead}}||-||The caster can choose between a zombie or skeleton with each cast. Both creatures have different stat blocks than what is in the Monster Manual, and can be found on the [[Animate Dead|spell's page]].

|{{SAI|Blink}}||-||Ends concentration effects on others (i.e Haste, Invisibility) when phased to other plane

|{{SAI|Elemental Weapon}}||-||No upcast benefits, even if a multiclass character casts it from a higher level non-Paladin spell slot.

|{{SAI|Fear}}||Duration reduced to 3 turns.||Does not require affected creatures to [[Dash]] away from the caster; like other Fear effects in BG3, it immobilizes the affected creatures instead.

|{{SAI|Feign Death}}||Duration reduced to 1 minute||The effect can be removed using the [[Help]] action.

|{{SAI|Gaseous Form}}||Duration increased from 1 hour to until long rest so long as the caster maintains concentration||Does not reduce the target's movement speed. The target becomes tiny in size, which is how the game mechanically allows them to fit through small spaces.

|{{SAI|Glyph of Warding}}||Range increased from touch to 30 feet, and only takes an action to cast. The radius is fixed to 13 ft||The caster may select from the Explosive Runes option with all associated damage types, or use glyphs that cause creatures to fall asleep or get pushed away. There is no generic option to have the glyph trigger a spell of the caster's choice.

|{{SAI|Grant Flight}} (Fly)||Duration reduced to 1 minute||Name changed so to avoid confusion with the [[Fly (Class Action)|Fly]] action that creatures with a flying speed have. The target's movement speed increases to 60 ft and they are able to fly between two points, but they must end each move on the ground.

|{{SAI|Hypnotic Pattern}}||Duration reduced to two rounds. Range reduced from 120 ft to 60 ft. Area of effect changed from a 30 ft square to a circle with radius 15 ft.||The effect can be ended with a bonus action, rather than a full action, by someone shoving the target.

|{{SAI|Lightning Arrow}}||-||Uses a ranged spell attack for the primary damage rather than being combined with a ranged weapon attack. No upcast benefits, even if a multiclass character casts it from a higher level non-Ranger spell slot.

|{{SAI|Remove Curse}}||-||There are no cursed items/equipment that require attunement, hence this not being mentioned in the description.

|{{SAI|Revivify}}||The spell's range is increased to 30 feet, and when cast the caster can bring the ally back to life with 1 hp at any location in the spell's AOE.||There is no time limit on using revivify. Revivify can be used regardless of how damaged, burned or mutilated the body is. If the body went missing such as falling into a chasm, a blue soul spawns in its place which can be used to revive the target. The spell can only be used on [[Companions]] or the player character.

|{{SAI|Speak with Dead}}||The spell is cast on self, giving the caster the ability to speak with the dead. The duration is increased from 10 minutes to until long rest. Concentration is not required.||The creature will still not talk with their killer, but one can sometimes get around this by using [[Disguise Self|disguise self]]. Each corpse can only be subject to the spell once. The deceased will not be able to talk if they were killed by acid, fire, lightning, necrotic, or radiant damage. Became a '''[[Spells#Ritual%20Spells|Ritual]]''' spell'''.'''

|{{SAI|Spirit Guardians}}||The radius is reduced to 10 ft. Duration reduced to 1 minute||The damage type is chosen by the caster when the spell is cast, rather than being affected by the caster's alignment.

==Fourth level spells==

|+Changes to fourth level spells

!Spell name!!Range and

!Other changes

|{{SAI|Banishment}}||Duration reduced from 1 Minute / 10 rounds to 2 rounds.||Does not have the secondary effect of permanently banishing extra-planar entities (e.g. Celestials, Fiends) at the end of the spell.

|{{SAI|Confusion}}||Duration reduced from 1 Minute / 10 rounds to 3 Turns, Radius increased to 6 m / 20 ft||Does not affect allies in the area of effect.

|{{SAI|Conjure Minor Elemental}}||-||Upcasting grants no benefit. Concentration not required. Effect limited to 1-2 units.

|{{SAI|Conjure Woodland Being}}||-||Upcasting grants no benefit. Concentration not required. Effect limited to 1 Dryad.

|{{SAI|Dimension Door}}||Range reduced to 1.5 m / 5 ft.||Effect reduced to line of sight only. When teleporting with another creature, they must be Medium or smaller, rather than your size or smaller.

|{{SAI|Dominate Beast}}||-||Upcasting grants no benefit. Target does not get Advantage on save from being in combat with you or allies.

|{{SAI|Fire Shield}}||Duration reduced from 10 Minutes/100 Rounds to 10 Turns.||Light spreads in 3 m / 10 ft radius only. Cannot be dismissed as an action.

|{{SAI|Freedom of Movement}}||Duration increased from 1 hour to Long Rest.||Removes the [[Stunned (Condition)|Stunned]] condition (in addition to [[Paralysed (Condition)|Paralysed]] and [[Restrained (Condition)|Restrained]]). Does not affect underwater movement, as there is none in BG3.

|{{SAI|Grasping Vine}}||-||The vine is treated as a summoned creature which has 26 hit points, an AC of 13, and its own place in the initiative order.

|{{SAI|Greater Invisibility}}||-||Invisible creature must now make increasingly difficult [[Stealth]] checks when attacking, casting spells, or doing anything else that would automatically end the basic [[Invisibility]] spell.

|{{SAI|Guardian of Faith}}||Duration reduced from 8 hours to 10 Turns.||The Guardian now acts as a summoned creature with associated stat block and can be defeated by enemies. It loses hit points when it deals damage, instead of disappearing after it has dealt a certain amount of damage.

|{{SAI|Phantasmal Killer}}||Range reduced from 36 m / 120 ft to 18 m / 60 ft.||Does not apply the [[Frightened (Condition)|Frightened]] condition, but its own [[Phantasmal Killer (Condition)|Phantasmal Killer]] condition, which includes both the fear effect and the ongoing psychic damage effect.

|{{SAI|Polymorph}}||Duration reduced from 1 Hour / 600 Turns to 5 Turns.||Excess revert-causing damage no longer carries over to the creature's hit points. Can only turn a creature into a sheep instead of any beast under a certain challenge rating.

|{{SAI|Wall of Fire}}||Range reduced from 36 m / 120 ft to 18 m / 60 ft.||The maximum length of the wall is increased from 60 ft to 120 ft; there is no option to create a circular wall.

 

==Fifth level spells==

|+Changes to fifth level spells

!Spell name

!Range and duration changes

!Other changes

|Rather than any elemental below a certain Challenge Rating, the caster can summon one of four specific types. At level 6, four stronger types become available. The conjured creature will never go hostile against those who summoned them since Concentration is not required to maintain control of the summoned creature.

==Sixth level spells==

Upcasting benefits are not listed for any sixth level spells, as it is not possible to acquire spell slots of 7th level or higher in the game.

|+Changes to sixth level spells

!Range and duration changes

!Other changes

==See also==

*[[D&D 5e rule changes]]

*[[D&D 5e class changes]]

*[[D&D 5e race changes]]

*[[D&D 5e feat changes]]