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Spells
| Overview | All spells | Cantrips | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 | Level 5 | Level 6 |
| Spells |
|---|
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| Lists of spells by level |
| Lists of spells by school |
| Lists of spells by class |
| Other lists |
Spells are magical effects that are created by creatures via spellcasting.[1] Spells are frequently cast to deal damage and provide healing, or to inflict conditions on their targets.
All classes are capable of casting spells with the help of scrolls and magic items, and classes with the Spellcasting or Pact Magic features – called spellcasters – have spell slots they can expend to cast spells they know, without the need for scrolls.
Overview[edit | edit source]
Spells are created from the Weave, the magical energies of the multiverse. They are conjured through experience, knowledge, or innate ability, or via the use of scrolls and magical items.
Spell levels[edit | edit source]
All spells have a level – a measure of their power and difficulty to cast. To cast a spell, the caster must usually expend a spell slot of sufficient level. Spells cast from scrolls consume the scroll instead and do not consume spell slots when cast, nor do most spells granted by magic items.
Level 0 spells are called cantrips, and can usually be cast at will, without expending a spell slot.[2]
Spellcasting ability[edit | edit source]
Most classes – except base fighter and rogue or their subclasses not listed below – have a designated ability known as their spellcasting ability, which represents their capacity to cast spells.[3][4]
If a character has none of the above classes, they use Intelligence as their default spellcasting ability. Exceptions include 
Halsin, 
Jaheira, 
Minsc, 
Minthara, and 
Shadowheart, who use Wisdom, and 
Wyll, who uses Charisma. When casting a spell, the spellcasting ability used depends on whether the spell was learned (first three points below) or cast from an item.
- Spells learned from taking levels in a class use that class's spellcasting ability modifier.
- Spells learned from scribing scrolls into a wizard's Spellbook count as wizard spells (because learning from scrolls is a wizard class feature), and thus use Intelligence.
- Spells granted from racial features use the spellcasting ability determined by the race.
- Spells from other sources (including magic items, illithid powers that require a saving throw, and using scrolls directly) use the spellcasting ability of the class the creature most recently took a first level in, or the character's default spellcasting ability, if no such class was taken.[5]
Arcane Synergy on items such as the 
Diadem of Arcane Synergy also uses this spellcasting ability.
Spell properties[edit | edit source]
Each spell belongs to a school, which defines its general purpose, and all spells have a range at which they can be cast and a specified target or area of effect. A spell may have an instantaneous effect when cast (for example, a projectile attack), or a spell may have an effect which persists for a specified duration (measured in turns).
Most spells can be interrupted by 
Counterspell before they are cast, and most spells cannot be cast by 
Silenced creatures.
Schools of magic[edit | edit source]
Every spell belongs to one of eight schools of magic: abjuration, conjuration, divination, enchantment, evocation, illusion, necromancy, or transmutation. Some class features only benefit spells of a specific school.
Casting time[edit | edit source]
All spells have a casting time that determines whether it requires the caster to take an 
Action, a 
Bonus Action, or a 
Reaction. Most spells require the caster to take an action.
Spell saves[edit | edit source]
Harmful spells which do not require an attack roll and target an area or a specific point in space – or affect a target directly – allow targeted creatures to attempt a saving throw (save) against the spell, potentially reducing or ignoring the spell's effects.
The Difficulty Class (DC) of these saves – called the spell save DC – is generally based on the caster's spellcasting DC:
- Examples of spells that require saves
Certain equipment worn by the caster can also affect their spell save DCs.
Spell attack rolls[edit | edit source]
Some harmful spells – typically those cast in the form of rays or projectiles – require the caster to make an attack roll against the target's Armour Class (AC) in order to determine if their spell attack hits or misses.
The caster adds their spellcasting ability modifier, as well as their proficiency bonus, to the results of the attack roll:
d20 + proficiency bonus + spellcasting ability modifier- Examples of spells that require spell attacks
Concentration[edit | edit source]
Most spells with a duration require 
concentration to maintain them. A caster may only maintain the effect of one concentration spell at a time. If concentration on a spell is broken, the spell's effects are ended immediately.
Ending concentration[edit | edit source]
Although concentration typically lasts for a spell's full duration, or until another concentration spell is cast, there are multiple ways for concentration to break:
- Manually
- Concentration can be ended by the player at any time via the "X" on the current concentration spell's icon, displayed next to the caster's main portrait.
- Taking damage
- Any time a creature concentrating on a spell takes damage, they make a Constitution saving throw against a DC equal to half the damage taken, or 10, whichever is higher.[6] If the save fails, concentration ends.
- Conditions
- Some conditions – such as
Downed or 
Sleeping – also end concentration, without allowing a save. - Long rests
- Taking a long rest ends concentration.
- Dismissing companions
- Sending a companion to camp or otherwise removing them from the active party ends their concentration.
Spellcasters[edit | edit source]
Spellcasters can be full casters – meaning they can learn up to 6th level spells, half casters – meaning they can learn up to 3rd level spells, or one-third casters – meaning they can learn up to 2nd level spells. Non-spellcasters do not gain or add spell slots.
Full casters[edit | edit source]
![Warlock[7]](/w/images/thumb/6/66/Class_Warlock_Badge_Icon.png/120px-Class_Warlock_Badge_Icon.png){kind=icon}
Half casters[edit | edit source]
One-third casters[edit | edit source]
Non-spellcasters[edit | edit source]
Barbarian including subclasses
Fighter (other than Eldritch Knight)
Monk including subclasses
Rogue (other than Arcane Trickster)
Known spells[edit | edit source]
Known spells are generally spells learned from taking levels in a class with the Spellcasting or Pact Magic features. Each caster class has access to its own list of spells, though there can be significant overlap between classes.
The following classes must learn spells through levelling up:
These classes, with the exception of wizard, also have access to the Replacement Spell feature, which allows them to swap a known spell each time a new level is taken in them. Wizards can instead learn new spells from scrolls, without needing to give up an already known spell.
The following classes automatically learn all their available spells when a level is taken in them:
Prepared spells[edit | edit source]
Some casters – known as prepared spellcasters – must prepare a smaller selection of their class's spells to cast them. Spells can be prepared at any time except during combat.
Prepared spellcasters include:
The number of prepared spells each class can have at a time is equal to spellcasting ability modifier + class level (minimum of 1).
Additionally, spells granted by racial features or by certain class features (such as a cleric's Domain Spells) are always prepared and do not count towards a class's maximum number of prepared spells.
Some spells with ongoing effects that do not require concentration, like 
Speak with Animals or 
Aid, must remain in the caster's prepared spells list after being cast, or their effects will end.
Spell slots[edit | edit source]
All spellcasters have spell slots, which they expend to cast their known spells. 
Cantrips do not expend spell slots and can be cast at will. Depleted spell slots are generally replenished by taking a long rest (short rest for warlocks), though there are methods of creating additional slots or replenishing expended ones.
A spell of a given level requires a spell slot of the same level or higher to be expended to cast it. Many spells will be 
upcast when cast with a higher-level spell slot, making them more powerful. Even if it gains no other benefit, a spell always counts as the level of the slot used to cast it (for effects such as Counterspell).
Spellcasting[edit | edit source]
| ESL | 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | - | - | - | - | - |
| 2 | 3 | - | - | - | - | - |
| 3 | 4 | 2 | - | - | - | - |
| 4 | 4 | 3 | - | - | - | - |
| 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | - | - | - |
| 6 | 4 | 3 | 3 | - | - | - |
| 7 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | - | - |
| 8 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | - | - |
| 9 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | - |
| 10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | - |
| 11 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| 12 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
A caster's available Spellcasting spell slots are determined by the caster's effective spellcaster level (ESL). A full caster's ESL is exactly their class level, whereas the ESL of half-casters and one-third casters is equal to half or one-third their level, rounded up.
When multiple classes with the Spellcasting feature are chosen for a character, the creature's total ESL is instead the summed fractional spellcaster level of every individual spellcasting class they have taken a level in, rounded down. For example, a character who has taken five levels in 
Eldritch Knight and five levels in 
Arcane Trickster would have an ESL of 3 (, rounded down).
Pact Magic[edit | edit source]
Warlocks do not cast spells through the Spellcasting feature, but through their unique Pact Magic feature. Spell slots granted by Pact Magic are always of the highest level the warlock can cast, and are replenished on a short rest. Spells cast using Pact Magic are always upcast at the highest possible level.
To distinguish them from Spellcasting spell slots, Pact Magic spell slots have a unique colour: 
Spell slots gained from Pact Magic are calculated differently from those gained from Spellcasting. As such, levels taken in warlock are ignored when calculating ESL.
Shadow Spell Slot[edit | edit source]
Playing as Gale origin can grant him a 
Level 3 Shadow Spell Slot, which functions as an additional level three spell slot, separate from regular spell slots. It recharges per long rest.
See Consumed Shadow Weave for more information.
Other uses of spell slots[edit | edit source]
Some wizard subclass features (such as 
Arcane Ward, 
Song of Defence, and 
Grim Harvest) and the paladin's 
Divine Smite ability have varying effects depending on the level of the spell or spell slot used to power them.
Ritual spells[edit | edit source]
When a 
ritual spell is cast outside of combat or turn-based mode, it does not consume spell slots and is effectively free to cast. Ritual spells consume spell slots as normal in combat or turn-based mode.
Scrolls[edit | edit source]
Spells can be cast from scrolls that are bought, found or looted. Spells cast from scrolls cannot be upcast (cast with a higher-level spell slot for additional benefits), but they can benefit from metamagic. Unlike in D&D 5e, scrolls cannot be created. Wizards can learn spells from scrolls (scribe the spell from a scroll into their Spellbook), consuming the scroll in the process. See Spell Scribing.
See also[edit | edit source]
Notes[edit | edit source]
- ↑ The term spellcasting refers both to the act of casting spells and to the Spellcasting class feature. The latter is always capitalised, whereas the former is generally not.
- ↑ Some cantrips, such as
Howl of the Dead, 
Mage Hand, and duergar 
Invisibility, have limitations on when or how often they can be cast.
- ↑ Some spells designate a specific spellcasting ability regardless of the class casting them, most commonly spells obtained via racial features.
- ↑ Arcane Trickster Rogues and Eldritch Knight Fighters gain the Spellcasting feature as part of the subclass when selected at level 3.
- ↑ A character who starts with 5 levels in sorcerer will use Charisma for all of their sorcerer spells, as well as spells granted by equipment (e.g. the
Fire Bolt cantrip granted by the 
Gold Wyrmling Staff) and spell scrolls. If this character at level 6 takes their first level in wizard, then their wizard spells (including spell scrolls scribed into their Spellbook) will use Intelligence, their sorcerer spells will continue to use Charisma, but spells granted from equipment and spell scrolls cast directly will now use Intelligence. If the character at level 7 takes their sixth level in sorcerer, then nothing changes, because sorcerer is not a "new" class on this character. However, if the character at level 8 now takes their first level in druid, then their sorcerer spells continue to use Charisma, their wizard spells (including scrolls scribed into their Spellbook) continue to use Intelligence, their druid spells now use Wisdom, and spells granted by equipment and scrolls cast directly now use Wisdom since druid is a new class on this character.
Fighter and rogue are exceptions, as these two classes only gain a spellcasting ability if levelled up into Eldritch Knight or Arcane Trickster at level 3. Despite only receiving a spellcasting ability at level 3, it still only matters when the first level was taken in either class. - ↑ Constitution saves are sometimes erroneously referred to as Constitution checks.
- ↑ Warlocks have the Pact Magic feature, which functions similarly to Spellcasting.
External links[edit | edit source]
Spell on the Forgotten Realms Wiki
