Kinda a follow-up from . Actually, a more specific case, just to be sure.  About Spell Scrolls:     If the spell is on your class’s spell list, you can read the scroll and cast its spell without providing any material Components. Otherwise, the scroll is unintelligible.   From what I understand from the rulings and seems to be accepted by , creatures can only cast spells from spell scrolls if they have a Spellcasting ability linked to a class. Innate Spellcasters don't, so they can't. Is that right?  In particular, does it change if the Spell Scroll is specific to a Spell that the Creature knows? For example, can a Mind Flayer (the normal one, not the Arcanist Variant) cast Dominate Monster from a spell scroll? (Mind Flayers can otherwise innately cast the spell)  I can see it being house-ruled as a Yes, similar to  (depending on their domain), since the spells they learn from the domain are included on their "class' spell list", but from RAW I understand it as a No. Is my reading correct?
122499
The DMG outlines what it means to be a spellcaster:     If the prerequisite is to be a spellcaster, a creature qualifies if it can cast at least one spell using its traits or features, not using a magic item or the like.   The requirement to cast spells from scrolls as referenced by the Spell Scroll magic item (DMG pg. 200) says:     ...if the spell is on your class's spell list, you can use [it]...   But creatures don't typically have spells lists as they have traits or features for casting spells.  Does that mean that no creature is able to cast spells from scrolls even those categorized as spell casters? What creatures can cast spells from scrolls?  Note: This question differs from  as this question pertains to creatures specifically which that question does not address.
15786
How do you determine the Spellcasting ability and the spell attack bonus? I've tried searching for it in the player's handbook and searched for answers here, but I haven't found anything.
35919
I'm planning to play a multi-class bard/cleric character, and I wanted to verify how spell preparation and slots work across the two classes, particularly since they use different approaches for casting.     Can spell slots from the the total number available from the Multiclass Caster table (PHB pg165) be used to cast either known Bard spells or prepared Cleric spells? Is it correct that Cleric spells must still be prepared each day from the set of available Cleric spells for the character's level? Is it correct that Cleric spells must use Wis as the primary stat, and Bard spells must use Chr?   I'm sorry if this has already been asked before, I couldn't find an answer on first look.  Thanks.
20013
I'm a little bit confused with the whole spell system and additions to them. If I pick for instance Tempest Domain Spell, are the spells additional to the other ones? (2 at level 1) So do that make it 3 spells? Does the domain add slots too?  And also, I've read about people choosing multiple domains, is that possible?
34816
In the section Preparing and Casting Spells (PHB 114) it is said (emphasis mine):     You can change your list of prepared spells when you finish a long rest.  Preparing a new list of wizard spells requires time spent studying your spell book and memorizing the incantations and gestures you must make to cast the spell: at least 1 minute per spell level for each spell on your list.   The first highlighted segment makes it so that a wizard is essentially preparing their spells for the day (or a very large portion of the day with a good nap).  However, the second highlighted segment indicates that the preparation for each individual spell is not that onerous (6 first level spells would take less than 10 minutes).  The wizard in my group has realized that he would like to have two sets of spells, one when combat was unlikely (5 non-combat spells and 1 combat spell) and one when combat was likely (5 combat spells and 1 non-combat spell).  Sometimes, the nature of role playing makes this impossible.  However, when the party walks up to the mouth of the cave or the entrance to the cobwebbed dungeon, it seems reasonable that he asks the party for a short rest so that he can memorize new spells (not a rest for him, as he would be spending the hour memorizing).  Assumptions I make about the wording:   It is designed to limit the Wizard class's flexibility, and thereby its power The game mechanic of a long rest is intended to represent the erasure of a wizard's spell specific memory - and thus it is free to receive new spells   Can a wizard partially switch out his spell list?  In other words, can he trade rest duration to replace a smaller number of spells during a short rest?  Note: I have asked several questions here that are at the limits of printed rules.  I understand that I can modify the rules as I see fit as the DM.  The point here is that I am working with several young people, and I don't want them walking into a AL or other 5e game and not understanding the nuances of the game based on learning house rules the first time.
93089
The DMG contains spell scrolls (on page 200), with the following rule:     If the spell is on your class's spell list, you can use an action to read the scroll and cast its spell without having to provide any of the spell's components.   This is all well and good for spells with a casting time of 1 action (which admittedly is most of them), but for spells with a bonus action casting time, how is it supposed to work?  Does it require:   Both an action and a bonus action?  Just an action? Just a bonus action? Something else I haven't thought of?   In case it needs saying, I'm not interested in speculation here - only RAW-based answers or explicit statements of developer intent should apply.
118138
The Mastermind rogue in my game was well hidden when he threw a flask of holy water at a shadow demon that attacked his ally. In the moment, it made the most sense to me to allow him to use Sneak Attack while hitting the fiendish creature with the flask.  The description of  says:     As an action, you can splash the contents of this flask onto a creature within 5 feet of you or throw it up to 20 feet, shattering it on impact. In either case, make a ranged attack against a target creature, treating the holy water as an improvised weapon. If the target is a fiend or undead, it takes 2d6 radiant damage. [...]   The rogue's  feature says:     [...] Once per turn, you can deal an extra 1d6 damage to one creature you hit with an attack if you have advantage on the attack roll. The attack must use a finesse or a ranged weapon. [...]   Now, post-session, I'm wondering whether Sneak Attack can actually be applied to an improvised weapon. I ruled it as a ranged weapon attack since he threw it, but now that I'm thinking about it: an improvised weapon might not be considered as a ranged weapon. And that would mean that a Sneak Attack could not have triggered when hitting with the flask. Unless an improvised weapon is also a ranged weapon when used as such. In that case, it could trigger.   I'm not sure which interpretation is correct according to the books. So, can Sneak Attack be used when hitting with an improvised weapon?
6463
I'm sure your first thought is, that's perfectly clear.  Unfortunately my group who aren't normally rules lawyers disagree.  Party encounters a  (MM p.211).  It has:     Damage Immunities: bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical   attacks not made with silvered weapons.   My reading of that is if the weapon has to be magical and silvered to hurt it.  So a +1 silver dagger will hurt it, but a +1 regular dagger or a +0 silver dagger won't.  The group's interpretation was that all three of those weapons would hurt and only a +0 regular dagger would be ineffective.    I would also note my interpretation would mean something like blade barrier would also not harm it since you could argue they're magical blades but nothing indicates that they're silvered.    This also appears to be the same wording for some undead so I'm not looking for a lycanthrope specific interpretation but something general for every time that wording is used.    Thanks in advance.
23275
I'm multiclassing as a Wizard2/Cleric3. I'm wondering if it's possible to prepare a spell from the cleric spell list and then if it's also found in the Wizard spell list, would I be able to write it down in my wizard spellbook? I'm confused by this as the PHB states that if I find a scroll or a book, I can decipher it and boom, it's in my own book. I'm essentially my own walking book book. I've found this in the sidebar in the PHB under wizard regarding spellbooks.  Replacing the Book. You can copy a spell form your own spellbook into another book-for example, if you want too make a backup copy of your spellbook. This is just like copying a new spell into your spellbook, but faster and easier since you understand your own notation and already know how to cast the spell. You spend only 1 hour and 10gp for each level of the copied spell. If you lose your spellbook, you can use the same procedure to transcribe the spells that you have prepared into a new spellbook. Filling out the remainder of yourspellbook requires you to find new spells to do so, as normal. For this reason, many wizards keep backup spellbooks in a safe place.  Now, lets say that I prepare Protection from Evil and Good, which is a 1st level spell and can both be found in the Cleric spells list and in the Wizard spell list. Shouldn't it be possible for me to write it down into my spellbook by following the given formula in the &quot;Replacing the Book&quot;; 10gp + 1hour for each level of the copied spell. I understand that it  would have been very different if the holder of the spell I want to copy is another creature (party member or not) but now it's all me. I know the spells, I own the book, I am the Wizard.
57943
Many spells have "At higher levels" that provides for more targets or more damage.  For example Magic Missile can be cast as a second level spell and shoot 4 missiles instead of it's 3 as a first level spell.  Can a spell without that verbiage, such as Firestorm be cast in higher level slots for the same effect as the lower level spell?
76885
The new School of Invention tradition for Wizards () while still in playtesting (and indeed a bit silly in my opinion, more of a "chaos wizard"), got me thinking about its reckless casting ability. This allows the caster to cast magic they do not have prepared and get a random result. The random spells have different targeting criteria (Wall of Stone, Fireball, Feign Death , Mass Cure Wounds) and so it is not possible to decide the target of the spell until it has been cast, as you don't know what you are going to get until it is cast.  This suggests that the designer of the subclass has made the assumption that you don't actually target until you have cast the spell and release it, which makes sense from one point of view, strongly supported by the way a prepared action casting works, PHB p.193 where you cast the spell and hold the energy until the condition is met for the readied action at which point you target the spell.  While the Unearthed Arcana is not RAW or finalized and released, my question is not about this subclass, but about the official rules as a whole.  Is there was any direct RAW, or other supporting or opposing RAW, that states at what point a caster defines the target of a spell?  As a sub-question: are there any circumstances where it actually matters, other than the already defined Readied Action spell casting, in the official rules?
34925
Can you cast a spell learned from the Magic Initiate feat using spell slots? Say I play a wizard who learns cure wounds by taking the Magic Initiate feat. Could I cast that spell using the Wizard's spell slots?
32349
Several wands and other magic items in the DMG cite &quot;spellcaster&quot; as an attunement requirement, specifically &quot;requires attunement by a spellcaster&quot; while others list multiple spellcasting classes (e.g., a Staff of Fire &quot;requires attunement by a druid, sorcerer, warlock, or wizard&quot; p. 201). However, all the DMG states in this regard is:  Some magic items require a creature to form a bond with them before their magical properties can be used. This bond is called attunement, and certain items have a prerequisite for it. If the prerequisite is a class, a creature must be a member of that class to attune to the item.¹ (If the class is a spellcasting class, a monster qualifies if that monster has spell slots and uses that class's spell list. [emphasis and footnote added] (p. 136)  The language of the Mage Slayer feat describes a spellcaster as a creature casting or concentrating on a spell.  You have practiced techniques useful in melee combat against spellcasters [...] When a creature within 5 feet of you casts a spell ... [and] When you damage a creature that is concentrating on a spell ... (PHB, p. 168)  From the above, it does not appear that &quot;spellcaster&quot; would necessarily be considered a class or group of classes, so Are characters that can cast spells, regardless of their class(es), considered spellcasters? Or, put another way, Does &quot;spellcaster&quot; (as an attunement prerequisite) mean any creature who can cast a spell or does it mean all classes with the Spellcasting feature? I can think of five particular cases—innate abilities, two subclasses and two feats: High Elves know one wizard cantrip (0-level spell) of their choice. Drow can cast the dancing lights cantrip, 1st-level spell faerie fire and 2nd-level spell darkness. Forest Gnomes know the minor illusion cantrip, and Tieflings can cast the thaumaturgy cantrip and 2nd-level spells hellish rebuke and darkness. Also, many monsters have innate spellcasting abilities, which would trigger the Mage Slayer feat. Starting at 3rd level, both the Eldritch Knight (Fighter Martial Archetype) and Arcane Trickster (Roguish Archetype) gain the ability to cast wizard spells and gain wizard spell slots (potentially) up to 4th-level spells. PHB, pp. 75 &amp; 98. The latter's 17th-level Spell Thief feature also states &quot;you gain the ability to magically steal the knowledge of how to cast a spell from another spellcaster,&quot; (Ibid.) which strongly implies that (at least) the Arcane Trickster is a spellcaster, although neither subclass is specifically listed as a prerequisite for any magic item in the DMG. Eldritch Knight and Arcane Trickster are also found under Multiclassing, Spell Slots in the PHB:  You determine your available spell slots by adding together all your levels in the bard, cleric, druid, sorcerer, and wizard classes, half your levels (rounded down) in the paladin and ranger classes, and a third of your fighter or rogue levels (rounded down) if you have the Eldritch Knight or the Arcane Trickster feature. (p. 164)  With the Ritual Caster feat, a character chooses a spellcasting class (except paladin or ranger) and gains the ability to cast spells of that class with the ritual tag as rituals. The character immediately gets two 1st-level ritual spells of that class and has the potential to (eventually) learn all of the ritual spells of the chosen class. PHB, p. 169. With the Magic Initiate feat, a character chooses a particular spellcasting class (except paladin or ranger) and immediately learns two cantrips and one 1st-level spell from the class with no further advancement. PHB, p. 168. By definition, it seems all of the above would qualify as spellcasters, but I feel spellcaster typically (or maybe traditionally) refers to bard, cleric, druid, paladin, ranger, sorcerer, warlock and wizard.   I believe an exception would be a 13th level or higher Thief (Roguish Archetype) due to the Use Magic Device feature. PHB, p. 97.
56005
It is obvious that different wizards can cast spells with different power and/or effect (same for potions). But why?   Just some observations from my side - perhaps I'm wrong for some of them:  Spell casting seems to be like playing music or painting. More or less everyone can do it and the quality depends on some factors like:   knowledge - gained by studying experience - gained by practicing intelligence - innate and cannot be gained easily concentration at the moment (or ability to concentrate in general)   and last but not least   innate ability (talent) - you either have it or not   To me it looks like that the last one is determining everything. Some wizards like Dumbledore or Voldemort just "have it" and others will never be able to reach their power no matter how hard they try. Another example - Hermione is very intelligent and has read all the books but Harry beats her in defense against the dark arts nevertheless (and no - it's not Quidditch that helps him :) ).
28906
I'm not entirely sure I understand what the PHB is telling me about spell attacks.  Say I'm a wizard who's casting Fire Bolt (I could also be a Cleric casting Inflict Wounds or what-have-you), the spell itself doesn't say anything about making an attack roll or the enemy making a saving throw.    So do I make an attack roll and then add in my INT mod + proficiency bonus?  Or does the target have to make a saving throw against a DC of 8+ my INT mod + proficiency bonus?  And, assuming I hit, do I add my INT mod + proficiency bonus to the damage?
86632
I would like to know what happens if you use the Magic Jar spell to possess a creature which is capable of casting spells. Below are 3 different situations. I post all these questions in the same question because all of them are heavily related.  1st Situation: Creatures with Innate Spellcasting.  For example Kraken Priest (MM 215).  Would I be able to use its Innate Spellcasting? I mean, being able to cast its spells as the creature does (X uses per day). I don't say using my spell slots because that is impossible (eg. a Drow Elf Warlock can't use its spell slots to cast Darkness).  2nd Situation: Creatures with Spellcasting (similar to Pact Magic).  For Example Warlock of the Archfey (MM 219).  Would I be able to use its spellcasting? Note that this creature is an "11th-level spellcaster", not an "11th-level warlock" (its spellcasting isn't a class feature).  What would happen with the spell slots? Would I be able to cast its spells with my own slots? Would I be able to cast my spells with its slots?  3rd Situation: Creatures With Spellcasting (similar to Spellcasting of Clerics or Wizards)  For Example Diviner (MM 213).  Would I be able to use its spellcasting? Note that this creature is a "15th-level spellcaster", not a "15th-level wizard" (its spellcasting isn't a class feature).  What would happen with the spell slots (considering that for example, I'm a 16th-level Wizard)?   Would our spellcaster level sum (as if multiclassing)? Should I use the highest spellcaster level instead of summing them? Should I count the spellcaster level separated, each one with its spell slots separated? For example, Would I have 8 1st-level spell slots (4 + 4)?   Finally (without considering a specific situation):  Would I have to recalculate the spell's attack bonus and spell's DC if my mental stats are different from the creature's stats?  I know that these are a lot of multiple questions, but I don't think that posting them separately would be beneficial. If you think so, let me know and I will do that.
63478
For example,  says:  You create three glowing darts of magical force. Each dart hits a creature of your choice that you can see within range. A dart deals 1d4 + 1 force damage to its target. The darts all strike simultaneously, and you can direct them to hit one creature or several. At Higher Levels. When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 2nd level or higher, the spell creates one more dart for each slot level above 1st.  If a PC finds a scroll of Magic Missile, can it be cast as you would with a level 2 slot (and what are the conditions to do this)? Or will it always be level 1?