Page 202 - Player's Handbook

CHAPTER 10: SPELLCASTING

AGIC PERMEATES THE WORLDS OF D&D AND In every case, the number of spells a caster can
most often appears in the form of a spell. have fixed in mind at any given time depends on the
This chapter provides the rules for character's leveI.
casting spells. Different character
classes have distinctive ways of learning SPELL SLOTS
and preparing their spells, and monsters Regardless of how many spells a caster knows or
use spells in unique ways. Regardless of its source, prepares, he or she can cast only a limited number of
a spell follows the rules here. spells before resting. Manipulating the fabric of magic
and channeling its energy into even a simple spell is
WHAT 1s A SPELL? physically and mentally taxing, and higher-Ievel spells

A spell is a discrete magical effect, a single shaping are even more so. Thus, each spellcasting class's
of the magical energies that suffuse the multiverse description (except that of the warlock) includes a table
into a specific, limited expression. In casting a spell, showing how many spell slots of each spelllevel a
a character carefully plucks at the invisible strands of character can use at each character leveI. For example,
raw magic suffusing the world, pins them in place in a the 3rd-level wizard Umara has four 1st-levei spell slots
particular pattern, sets them vibrating in a specific way, and two 2nd-levei slots.
and then releases them to unleash the desired effect-in When a character casts a spell, he or she expends
most cases, ali in the span of seconds. a slot of that spell's levei or higher, effectively "filling"
Spells can be versatile tools, weapons, or protective a slot with the spell. Vou can think of a spell slot as a
wards. They can deal damage or undo it, impose or groove of a certain size-small for a 1st-levei slot,larger
remove conditions (see appendix A), drain life energy for a spell of higher leveI. A 1st-levei spell fits into a slot
away, and restore life to the dead. of any size, but a 9th-levei spell fits only in a 9th-levei
Uncounted thousands of spells have been created si01. So when Umara casts magic missile, a 1st-levei
over the course of the multiverse's history, and many of spell, she spends one of her four 1st-levei slots and has
them are long forgotten. Some might yet lie recorded in three remaining.
crumbling spellbooks hidden in ancient ruins or trapped Finishing a long rest restores any expended spell slots
in the minds of dead gods. Or they might someday be (see chapter 8 for the rules on resting).
reinvented by a character who has amassed enough Some characters and monsters have special abilities
power and wisdom to do sO. that let them cast spells without using spell slots. For
example, a monk who follows the Way of the Four
SPELL LEVEL Elements, a warlock who chooses certain eldritch
invocations, and a pit fiend from the Nine Hells can ali
Every spell has a levei from O to 9. A spell's levei is a
general indicator of how powerful it is. with the lowly cast spells in such a way.
(but still impressive) magic missile at 1st levei and CASTlNG A SPELL AT A HIGHER LEVEL
the earth-shaking wish at 9th. Cantrips-simple but When a spellcaster casts a spell using a slot that is of a
powerful spells that characters can cast almost by rote- higher levei than the spell, the spell assumes the higher
are levei O. The higher a spell's levei, the higher levei a levei for that casting. For instance, if Umara casts magic
spellcaster must be to use that spell. missile using one of her 2nd-levei slots, that magic
Spelllevel and character levei don't correspond missile is 2nd leveI. Effectively, the spell expands to fill
directly. Typically, a character has to be at least 17th the slot it is put into.
levei, not 9th levei, to cast a 9th-leveI spell.
Some spells, sue h as magic missile and cure wounds,
have more powerful effects when cast at a higher levei,
KNOWN AND PREPARED SPELLS
as detailed in a spell's description.
Before a spellcaster can use a spell, he or she must
have the spell firmly fixed in mind, or must have access CANTRIPS
to the spell in a magic item. Members of a few classes, A cantrip is a spell that can be cast at will, without
including bards and sorcerers, have a limited list of using a spell slot and without being prepared in
spells they know that are always fixed in mind. The advance. Repeated practice has fixed the spell in the
same thing is true of many magic-using monsters. Other caster's mind and infused the caster with the magic
spellcasters, such as clerics and wizards, undergo a needed to produce the effect over and over. A cantrip's
process of preparing spells. This process varies for spelllevel is O.
different classes, as detailed in their descriptions.
4 • RITUALS
CASTING IN ARMOR Certain spells have a special tag: ritual. Such a spell
Because ofthe mental focus and precise gestures required ean be cast following the normal rules for spelleasting,
for spellcasting, you must be proncient with the armor you
are wearing to cast a spell. Vou are otherwise too distracted or the spell can be cast as a ritual. The ritual version of
and physically hampered by your armor for spellcasting. a spell takes 10 minutes longer to cast than normal.
~ r

PART 3 SPELU ...\STI "G
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