Spellcasting

General

Which of a character's spells count as class spells? For example, if I'm playing a Sorcerer, which of my character's spells are Sorcerer spells?. A class's spell list specifies the spells that belong to the class. For example, a Sorcerer spell is a spell on the Sorcerer spell list, and if a Sorcerer knows spells that aren't on that list, those spells aren't Sorcerer spells unless a feature says otherwise.

Can a spellcaster cast spells off-target to minimize damage to party members from a spell like Shatter?. The spellcaster chooses where to place the point of origin of a spell like Shatter and may, therefore, choose a position that is advantageous to allies.

Can permanent magical effects be dispelled? Or are they no longer considered magical effects once permanent?. If the effect of a spell becomes permanent, it can be dispelled unless its description says otherwise (such as in the Wall of Stone spell).

Do spellcasters have to learn a Ritual version of a spell apart from the normal version, or are they the same?. If a spell has the Ritual tag and you have it prepared, you can cast it as a Ritual. You don't need to prepare it twice or learn a different version.

Can spellcasters prepare spells not all at once, but at various times throughout the adventure?. No. Your spellcasting feature specifies exactly when you can change your list of prepared spells and the number of spells you can change.

For example, if you're a Cleric, you change your list of prepared spells when you finish a Long Rest. You can't prepare some spells at the end of the rest and then prepare more later.

Spell Attacks

Is a touch range spell considered a melee attack for purposes of subduing foes rather than killing?. Having a range of touch doesn't mean a spell is a melee attack. A spell tells you if it delivers such an attack.

Can spell attacks score Critical Hits?. A spell attack can score a Critical Hit. The rule on Critical Hits applies to attack rolls of any sort.

When casting a spell that affects multiple targets, such as Scorching Ray or Eldritch Blast, do I fire one ray or beam, determine the result, and fire again? Or do I have to choose all the targets before making any attack rolls?. Even though the duration of each of these spells is instantaneous, you choose the targets and resolve the attacks consecutively, not all at once. If you want, you can declare all your targets before making any attacks, but you would still roll separately for each attack roll (and damage, if appropriate).

Can a spell with an attack roll be used as the attack in the Attack action or as part of the Extra Attack feature?. No. As explained in the Player's Handbook, you can take one action on your turn in combat, in addition to moving. You choose your action from the options available to everyone—options such as Attack, Dash, and Magic—or you choose from among the special actions you've gained from a class or another source.

To cast a spell on your turn, you take the Magic action. Doing so means you're not taking the Attack action or any other action. It is true that a number of spells, such as Fire Bolt and Ray of Frost, involve making an attack roll, but you can't make such an attack without first casting the spell that delivers it. In other words, just because something involves an attack roll doesn't mean the Attack action is being used.

By extension, the Extra Attack feature (given by several classes, including the Fighter and Paladin) doesn't let you cast extra attack spells. That feature specifically relies on the Attack action, not the Magic action or any other action.

In summary, to make a spell attack, you have to first cast a spell or use a feature that creates the spell's effect. A game feature, such as Extra Attack, that lets you make an attack doesn't let you cast a spell unless it says it does.

Can you use a melee spell attack to make an Opportunity Attack?. No, you can't cast a spell when a creature provokes an Opportunity Attack from you. This is because each spell has a casting time. For example, the Chill Touch spell has a casting time of an action. A game mechanic, such as Opportunity Attack, doesn't let you alter that casting time unless a feature says otherwise (see the War Caster feat for an example of this).

Some spells (like Guiding Bolt) target a creature. Some others (like Fire Bolt) target objects too. Does this mean that I can't attack the door with Guiding Bolt?. The target specifications (creature, object, or something else) in spells are intentional.

Spell Level

What level is a spell if you cast it without a spell slot?. Unless the text says otherwise, a spell cast without a spell slot is cast at its lowest possible level, which is the level that appears in its description.

An example of an exception to this is often found in monster stat blocks. A monster with the Spellcasting action may have spells listed with a "(level # version)" parenthetical. This means the spell is still cast without a spell slot, but its effects are equivalent to a version of the spell cast using a spell slot of the specified level.

Casting Time

Is there a limit on the number of spells you can cast on your turn?. There's no rule that states you can cast only X number of spells on your turn, but there are some practical limitations. The main limiting factor is your action. Many spells require an action to cast, and unless a feature says otherwise, you only have one action on your turn. You also must abide by the rule of only expending one spell slot to cast a spell on your turn.

So, for example, if you take your Bonus Action to cast Healing Word using a spell slot, you can also take the Magic action to cast Vicious Mockery—a cantrip which doesn't require a spell slot.

Can you cast a Reaction spell on your turn?. Yes, but you must abide by the rule of expending only one spell slot to cast a spell on your turn. For example, if you take a Magic action to cast Fireball using a spell slot and an enemy casts Counterspell, you can't also then expend a spell slot to cast Counterspell targeting that enemy.

Does casting a spell as a Ritual require Concentration if the spell doesn't normally require it?. Concentration is required when casting any spell, including a Ritual version, for longer than 1 action. Once the casting is complete, the spell requires Concentration only if its Duration entry says it does.

Components

Does a spell consume its Material components?. A spell doesn't consume its Material components unless its description says it does. For example, the pearl required by the Identify spell isn't consumed, whereas the diamond required by Raise Dead is consumed when you cast the spell.

If a spell's Material components are consumed, can a Spellcasting Focus still be used in place of the consumed component?. No. A Spellcasting Focus can be used in place of a Material component only if that component has no cost noted in the spell's description and if that component isn't consumed.

What's the amount of interaction needed to use a Spellcasting Focus? Does it have to be included in the Somatic component?. If a spell requires Material components, the spellcaster must have a hand free to access or hold them, but it can be the same hand used to perform Somatic components, if any. This latter rule holds true for using a Spellcasting Focus, which a spellcaster must hold unless its description says otherwise.

For example, a Cleric uses an Emblem on a Shield as their Holy Symbol. When in combat, this Cleric likes to wield a Mace in one hand and the emblazoned Shield in the other. This Cleric must have the Shield in hand when casting a Cleric spell that requires a Material component. If the spell, such as Aid, also requires a Somatic component, the Cleric can perform the Somatic component with the hand holding the Shield, allowing the Cleric to keep wielding the Mace. However, if this same Cleric were to later cast Cure Wounds—which has Somatic components but no Material components—they would need to unequip either their Shield or Mace to free a hand for the Somatic components.

Duration

If you're concentrating on a spell, do you need to maintain line of sight with the spell's target or the spell's effect?. You don't need to be within line of sight or within range to maintain Concentration on a spell unless a spell's description or other game feature says otherwise.

If I have 10 Temporary Hit Points and I take 30 damage from an attack while concentrating on a spell, what is the DC of the Constitution save to maintain my Concentration?. The DC is 15 in that case. When Temporary Hit Points absorb damage for you, you're still taking damage, just not to your real Hit Points.

In contrast, a feature like the Abjurer Wizard's Arcane Ward can take damage for you, potentially eliminating the need to make a Constitution saving throw or, at least, lowering the DC of that save.

Can a spellcaster dismiss a spell after casting it?. You can dismiss a non-instantaneous spell. See the "Duration" section of chapter 7 of the Player's Handbook for more information.

Specific Spells

Does casting Animate Objects during a Time Stop spell end the Time Stop?. No. Commanding the newly created creatures with your Bonus Action does end Time Stop, however.

Can you extend the duration of Armor of Agathys by gaining more Temporary Hit Points?. The spell requires you to have Temporary Hit Points, and they don't need to be from the spell.

How does Barkskin work with Shields, cover, and other modifiers to AC?. The target of Barkskin has an Armor Class of 17 if its AC is lower than that. This means the target effectively ignores any modifiers to its AC—including any armor, a Shield, or cover—unless its AC is higher than 17. For example, if you're the target of a Barkskin spell and your AC is normally 14, your AC is 17 while under the effects of the spell; however, if your AC is normally 16 and you have Half Cover, your AC is 18, and Barkskin's effect isn't relevant.

Is the Chill Touch spell intended as a way of foiling Regeneration?. Chill Touch does, indeed, stop the target it hits from regaining Hit Points until the end of your next turn. This is true even if the target takes none of the Necrotic damage, whether because of Immunity or some other reason.

Using 5-foot squares, does Cloud of Daggers affect a single square?. Cloud of Daggers (5-foot Cube) can affect more than one square on a grid unless the DM says effects snap to the grid. There are many ways to position that Cube.

Can a creature under the effect of Compelled Duel teleport more than 30 feet away from the caster?. No. You can't move farther than 30 feet away from the caster of Compelled Duel by any means, including teleportation.

If the damage from Disintegrate reduces an Orc to 0 Hit Points, can Relentless Endurance prevent the Orc from turning to ash?. Yes. The Disintegrate spell turns you into dust only if the spell's damage leaves you with 0 Hit Points. If you're an Orc, Relentless Endurance can turn the 0 into a 1 before the spell can disintegrate you.

Can you use Dispel Magic to dispel a magical effect like a Druid's Wild Shape?. Dispel Magic has a particular purpose: to break other spells. It has no effect on a magical effect that isn't created by a spell unless the text says otherwise (though the DM can always make exceptions).

Can you use Dispel Magic on the creations of a spell like Animate Dead or affect those creations with Antimagic Field?. Whenever you wonder whether a spell's effects can be dispelled or suspended, you need to answer one question: is the spell's duration instantaneous? If the answer is yes, there is nothing to dispel or suspend. Here's why: the effects of an instantaneous spell are brought into being by magic, but the effects aren't sustained by magic. The magic flares for a split second and then vanishes. For example, the instantaneous spell Animate Dead harnesses magical energy to turn a corpse or a pile of bones into an Undead creature. That necromantic magic is present for an instant and is then gone. The resulting creature now exists without the magic's help. Casting Dispel Magic on the creature can't end its mockery of life, and the Undead can wander into an Antimagic Field with no adverse effect.

Another example: Cure Wounds instantaneously restores Hit Points to a creature. Because the spell's duration is instantaneous, the restoration can't be later dispelled. And you don't suddenly lose Hit Points if you step into an Antimagic Field!

In contrast, a spell like Conjure Woodland Beings has a non-instantaneous duration, which means its effect can be ended by Dispel Magic and temporarily disappears within an Antimagic Field.

Can you take a Ready action to ready Dispel Magic to stop another spell from taking effect?. The easiest way to stop a spell is to cast Counterspell on its caster while it's being cast. If successful, Counterspell interrupts the other spell's casting, and that spell fails to take effect. Counterspell works against any spell, regardless of a spell's casting time or duration.

With the Ready action, Dispel Magic can be cast in response to another spell being cast, yet Dispel Magic can't substitute for Counterspell. The main reason is that Dispel Magic removes a spell that is already on a target, whether that target is a creature, an object, or some other phenomenon. Dispel Magic can't dispel something in advance. If a spell isn't already present on a target, Dispel Magic does nothing to that target. The best that a readied Dispel Magic can do is dispel a spell immediately after the spell has been cast to prevent it from having any effect after the action used to cast it. For example, on your turn you could say something like this: "I ready Dispel Magic, and if the high priest casts a spell on anyone, I cast Dispel Magic on the target if the spell takes hold." If the high priest then cast Hold Person on your companion who fails the save against it, you could unleash your readied Dispel Magic and end Hold Person.

Can Dispel Magic end Globe of Invulnerability?. Yes, Dispel Magic can dispel the barrier created by Globe of Invulnerability, but not any magical effects that are active inside the barrier.

If Dispel Magic targets the magical effect from Bless, does it remove the effect on all the targets?. Dispel Magic ends a spell on one target. It doesn't end the same spell on other targets.

Can the familiar you conjure with the Find Familiar spell use the Help action to grant you Advantage on your attack roll?. A familiar can't attack, but it can take non-Attack actions, including Help.

Does the familiar of Find Familiar count as an ally for the purposes of Sneak Attack?. A familiar is an ally. Its proximity to a target can allow you to use the Sneak Attack feature or any other feature that requires the presence of an ally.

When a creature succeeds on a saving throw against Guardian of Faith and takes 10 Radiant damage, how much damage does that count against the total amount of damage the spell can deal? Is it 20 because that's how much it dealt or 10 because that's how much the target took?. It dealt 10 damage to the creature, so 10 is subtracted from the total.

Do the Temporary Hit Points from Heroism accumulate each round?. Temporary Hit Points aren't cumulative. The spell would tell you if you were meant to add together the Temporary Hit Points it provides.

If the Heroism spell is cast on a character that already has the Frightened condition, does it remove that condition?. The Heroism spell suppresses the Frightened condition if it was already on the spell's target. When the spell ends, the target's immunity goes away and the Frightened condition resumes if it has not expired or been removed.

Can you use a Shield with Mage Armor?. Mage Armor works with a Shield. Shields are grouped with armor in the equipment rules in the Player's Handbook, but various game features distinguish between the armor you don and a Shield you wield. Take a look at the Monk's Unarmored Defense feature and compare it to the Barbarian's version. In the Monk's version, you must both forgo wearing armor and forgo wielding a Shield if you want to benefit from the feature, whereas a Barbarian must only forgo wearing armor.

Does Unarmored Defense work with a spell like Mage Armor?. Unarmored Defense doesn't work with Mage Armor. You might be asking yourself, "Why don't they work together? Mage Armor specifies that it works on a creature who isn't wearing armor." It's true that the target of Mage Armor must be unarmored, but Mage Armor gives you a new way to calculate your AC and is therefore incompatible with Unarmored Defense or any other feature that provides an AC calculation.

I find it confusing that the Mage Armor spell is named that when it doesn't count as armor.. Some spells and class features have figurative, not literal, names. The text of the spell or class feature explains what it does.

Can an object created with Minor Illusion move? For example, a wall sliding down a corridor?. An illusory object created by Minor Illusion doesn't move. Compare to spells like Major Image and Mislead, which talk about moving.

Could Minor Illusion create a fog cloud? If so, would shooting an arrow through it cancel the illusion?. An illusory object made by Minor Illusion is meant to be like a stool or a rock, not an atmospheric effect.

Does Planar Binding summon the creature to be bound, or is that done separately?. Planar Binding doesn't summon a creature. It attempts to bind a creature that is within the spell's range.

Can you concentrate on a spell while transformed by Polymorph?. You can't cast spells while you're transformed by Polymorph, but nothing in the spell prevents you from concentrating on a spell that you previously cast before being transformed.

Does a willing creature under the effects of Polymorph have to take the mental stats of the new form?. Yes. Unless a spell tells you otherwise, its effect is no different for a willing creature than it is for an unwilling one.

If a creature under the effects of Polymorph takes enough Fire damage to revert to its true form and that form has Resistance to Fire damage, does the true form take the full remaining damage or only half due to Resistance?. When the creature reverts to its true form, any leftover damage is subject to that form's damage Resistances, if any.

Can a creature under the effects of Polymorph have other spell effects on them, or are those game statistics also replaced by those of the beast form?. Polymorph replaces only the target's character sheet or stat block with the stat block of the chosen form. Other effects, such as other spells, still exist.

What kinds of things count as "nonmagical trinkets" for Prestidigitation?. Prestidigitation can create a little bauble, the nature of which is up to the spellcaster and the DM. See the Trinkets table in the Player's Handbook for examples.

If you grapple or shove an enemy, does that end a Sanctuary spell cast on you?. No. The Sanctuary spell ends only if the warded creature makes an attack roll, casts a spell, or deals damage. The Grapple and Shove options of an Unarmed Strike do none of these things.

If I cast Shillelagh on my Quarterstaff and have the Polearm Master feat, does the bonus attack use a d4 or a d8 for damage?. The benefit from Polearm Master applies to the opposite end of the weapon and always uses a d4 for damage rather than the weapon's normal damage die. This is true for a Quarterstaff enhanced with Shillelagh just as it is for a normal one.

Do the effects of Storm of Vengeance stack? Or do the effects change each turn?. In the spell Storm of Vengeance, each new effect replaces the effect of the previous round.

Is the sentence of suggestion in the Suggestion spell the Verbal component, or is the Verbal component separate?. Verbal components are mystic words, not normal speech. The spell's suggestion is an intelligible utterance that is separate from the Verbal component.

If you are affecting a target with Telekinesis and an ally put you inside Otiluke's Resilient Sphere, can you continue affecting the target or other targets with the existing Telekinesis spell?. You can maintain your telekinetic grip on a target you were already affecting, but you can't affect a new target. The sphere provides Total Cover that stops you from targeting anything outside it.

Can you use True Strike with Extra Attack, Opportunity Attack, Sneak Attack, and other weapon attack options?. True Strike doesn't work with Extra Attack or any other feature that requires the Attack action. Like other spells with a casting time of an action, casting True Strike requires you to take the Magic action, not the Attack action. Similarly, unless a special feature allows you to do so, you can't cast True Strike when making an Opportunity Attack.

However, an attack made as part of True Strike works with Sneak Attack so long as it fills the normal requirements for that feature. For example, if you have the Sneak Attack feature and cast True Strike with a Finesse weapon, you can deal Sneak Attack damage to the target of the attack if you have Advantage on the attack roll and hit.

Can I use Unseen Servant to act as an ally when using a class feature like Sneak Attack?. Unseen Servant creates an Invisible, mindless, shapeless force. In combat, it doesn't act as a creature, an enemy, or an ally.

Whenever you cast Wish, do you always have a 33 percent chance of never casting it again?. If you cast Wish to duplicate a spell of level 0–8, there are no detrimental effects. However, if you do anything other than duplicate a spell of level 0–8, you suffer the stress described in the final paragraph of the spell. As soon as that stress affects you, there is a 33 percent chance that you are unable to cast Wish again.