Spells: Difference between revisions

'''Spells''' are magical effects that are created by creatures via '''spellcasting'''.{{note|The term ''spellcasting'' refers {{em|both}} to the act of casting spells, as well as the Spellcasting class feature. The latter is always capitalised, whereas the former is generally not.}} Spells are frequently cast to deal [[Damage mechanics|damage]] and provide [[healing]], or to inflict [[condition|conditions]] on the targets.

All spells have levels, which is a measure of how powerful the spell is, as well as how difficult it is to cast is.

Most spells are cast by taking an {{action}}, but others are cast by taking a {{action|bonus}} or a {{action|reaction}}.

The spell {{SAI|Counterspell}} can interrupt spells before they can be cast, and many spells cannot be cast by {{Cond|Silenced}} creatures.

=== Spellcasting ability ===

Every class – including those without the Spellcasting feature – has a designated [[Ability scores|ability]] known as their ''spellcasting ability'', which represents their capacity to cast spells.{{note|Some spells designate a specific spellcasting ability regardless of the class casting them. This is most commonly a result of spells obtained via racial features.}}

; Intelligence : {{Class|Wizard}}s, {{Class|Fighter}}s, {{Class|Rogue}}s.

Spells learned from taking levels in a class will use that class' spellcasting ability modifier. Spells from other sources use the spellcasting ability of the class the creature most recently took a {{em|first}} level in.{{note|A level 5 wizard that takes 1 level in sorcerer will use Charisma as their spellcasting ability for non-wizard spells, even if they later take more levels in wizard. However, if they take a level in cleric, they will use Wisdom as their spellcasting ability modifier instead, as this is their most recently acquired class.}}{{note|Fighters and rogues will only provide their spellcasting ability if they are level 3 and have the appropriate subclass ([[Eldritch Knight]] and [[Arcane Trickster]] respectively).}}

While some spells automatically hit their targets ({{SAI|Magic Missile}}, {{SAI|Sleep}}), others either allow targeted creatures to attempt to [[Saving throw|save]] against the spell, or require the caster to make an [[Attack roll|attack roll]] against the target's [[Armour Class|AC]].

Harmful spells which create a surface, target an area or a specific  point in space ({{SAI|Fireball}}), or affect a character directly ({{SAI|Hold Person}}), usually allow targeted creatures to attempt to save against the spell, ignoring or reducing the spell's effect.

The [[Difficulty Class]] (DC) of these saves (called ''spell save DC'') is generally based on the caster's spellcasting DC:

<div style="text-align: center; font-weight:bold;">{{InfoBlob|8 + proficiency bonus + spellcasting ability modifier}}</div>

Some harmful spells require the caster to make an attack roll in order to determine if it's a hit or miss.  

TSpells in the form of rays (like {{SAI|Ray of Enfeeblement}}) or projectiles (like {{SAI|Fire Bolt}} or {{SAI|Eldritch Blast}}) often require attacks rolls.

The caster adds their spellcasting ability modifier, as well as their proficiency bonus, to the results of the attack roll:

<div style="text-align: center; font-weight:bold;">{{InfoBlob|{{D20}} + proficiency bonus + spellcasting ability modifier}}</div>

Spells with the {{Concentration}} tag require the caster to focus on that spell for its duration. A caster may only maintain the effect of one concentration spell at a time.

When a creature concentrating on a spell takes damage, they make a Constitution save against a DC equal to half the damage taken, or 10, whichever is higher.{{note|Constitution saves are sometimes erroneously referred to as a ''Constitution checks''.}} If the save fails, the spell is interrupted, and its effects ended.

Some conditions – such as {{Cond|Downed}} or {{Cond|Sleeping}} – also interrupt conditions, without allowing a save.

Concentration is also ended when another concentration spell is cast, or when a long rest is taken.

Concentration can be manually interrupted at any time via the ''x'' on the concentrated spell's icon, next to the caster's main portrait.

[[File:Concentration_Example.webp|thumb|200px|center|Concentration icon in the hotbar. Clicking "X" will end concentration.]]

Spellcasters can either be ''full casters'' – meaning they can learn spells up to 6th level spells, ''half casters'' – meaning they can learn spells up to 3rd level spells, or ''one-third casters'' – meaning they can learn spells up to 2nd level spells.

* {{class|Bard}}

* {{class|Cleric}}

* {{class|Druid}}

* {{class|Sorcerer}}

* {{Class|Warlock}}{{note|Warlocks have the Pact Magic feature, which functions similarly to Spellcasting.}}

* {{Class|Paladin}}

* {{class|Ranger}}

One-third casters:

* {{class|Arcane Trickster}}

* {{class|Eldritch Knight}}

All spellcasters have spell slots, which they expend to cast their known spells. Cantrips {{SpellSlot|cantrip|w=24}} do not expend spell slots and can be cast at will. Depleted spell slots are generally replenished by taking a [[long rest]] or – for warlocks – a [[short rest]].

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 {{Icon|Upcast Icon.png|24px}} [[Upcasting|upcast]] when cast with a higher spell slot, and are then cast as more powerful versions of themselves.

==== Spellcasting spell slots ====

When multiple classes with the Spellcasting feature are chosen for a character, the character's ESL is instead the ESL of every individual spellcasting class that the character has, each rounded down, and then summed up.

Warlocks do not cast spells through the Spellcasting feature, but through their unique Pact Magic feature. Spells casted via Pact Magic are always cast at the highest available Pact Magic spell slots, which are replenished on a short rest.

Distinguishing them from Spellcasting spell slots, Pact Magic spell slots have a unique colour: {{SpellSlot|1 Warlock|2|w=24}}

Spell slots gained from Pact Magic are calculated differently than those gained from Spellcasting. As such, levels taken in warlock are ignored when calculating ESL.

==== Ritual spells ====

 

 

=== Known spells ===

==== Prepared spells ====

== Spell list ==