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The Sage Advice Compendium collects questions and
answers about the rules of
edition). The document’s version number changes when
substantive additions or revisions have been made to the
text. The newest material is preceded by the tag “[NEW].”
Rules References
• Player’s Handbook (abbreviated PH)
• Monster Manual (abbreviated MM)
• Dungeon Master’s Guide (abbreviated DMG)
The free Basic Rules contains portions of those three
https://dnd.wizards.com/articles/features/basicrules
Play in the Adventurers League is also governed by the
Adventurers League Player’s Guide.
Errata
can be downloaded at the following locations.
[NEW] Player’s Handbook
https://media.wizards.com/2021/dnd/downloads/PH-Errata.pdf
Monster Manual
https://media.wizards.com/2018/dnd/downloads/MM-Errata.pdf
[NEW] Dungeon Master’s Guide
https://media.wizards.com/2021/dnd/downloads/DMG-Errata.pdf
[NEW] Curse of Strahd
https://media.wizards.com/2021/dnd/downloads/CoS-Errata.pdf
Eberron: Rising from the Last War
https://media.wizards.com/2020/dnd/downloads/ERftLW-Errata.pdf
Ghosts of Saltmarsh
https://media.wizards.com/2020/dnd/downloads/GoS-Errata.pdf
Hoard of the Dragon Queen
https://media.wizards.com/2016/downloads/DND/HotDQ-Errata.pdf
Mordenkainen’s Tome of Foes
https://media.wizards.com/2020/dnd/downloads/MTF-Errata.pdf
Out of the Abyss
https://media.wizards.com/2020/dnd/downloads/OotA-Errata.pdf
Princes of the Apocalypse
https://media.wizards.com/2016/downloads/DND/PotA-Errata.pdf
[NEW] Storm King’s Thunder
https://media.wizards.com/2021/dnd/downloads/SKT-Errata.pdf
[NEW] Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide
https://media.wizards.com/2021/dnd/downloads/SCAG-Errata.pdf
[NEW] Tales from the Yawning Portal
https://media.wizards.com/2021/dnd/downloads/TftYP-Errata.pdf
[NEW] Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything
https://media.wizards.com/2021/dnd/downloads/TCE-Errata.pdf
[NEW] Tomb of Annihilation
https://media.wizards.com/2021/dnd/downloads/ToA-Errata.pdf
[NEW] Volo’s Guide to Monsters
https://media.wizards.com/2021/dnd/downloads/VGtM-Errata.pdf
Xanathar’s Guide to Everything
https://media.wizards.com/2020/dnd/downloads/XGtE-Errata.pdf
Official Rulings
the Sage Advice Compendium. A Dungeon Master adjudi-
questions.
advice. The tweets of Jeremy Crawford (@JeremyECraw-
preview of rulings that appear here.
Compiled Answers
Sage Advice answers that are relevant to the current state
of the rules are compiled here.
The Role of Rules
Why even have a column like Sage Advice when a DM
can just make a ruling? Rules are a big part of what
-
group of players to bring them to life and a DM to guide
their use.
the game would become unplayable. An alternative would
The direction we chose for the current edition was to lay a
-
braced the DM’s role as the bridge between the things the
rules address and the things they don’t.
decisions—some barely noticeable and others quite obvi-
Sage Advice CompendiumSage Advice Compendium
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the design intent of a rule isn’t clear or when one rule
seems to contradict another.
Dealing with those situations is where Sage Advice
comes in. This column doesn’t replace a DM’s adjudica-
their tastes. The column should also reveal some perspec-
tives that help you see parts of the game in a new light and
RAW. “Rules as written”—that’s what RAW stands
-
gard to the designers’ intent. The text is forced to stand
on its own.
-
wished we’d published or thought we’d published.
RAI.-
“rules as intended.” This approach is all about what the
designers meant when they wrote something. In a perfect
words on the page don’t succeed at communicating the
designers’ intent. Or perhaps the words succeed with one
group of players but not with another.
R A F. Regardless of what’s on the page or what the de-
the ringmaster at each game table. The best DMs shape
-
We expect DMs to depart from the rules when running
-
piness for a certain group of players. Sometimes my rules
answers will include advice on achieving the RAF inter-
pretation of a rule for your group.
Character Creation
How do you calculate a creature’s Armor Class (AC)?
Player’s Handbook
Unarmored:
Armored: Use the AC entry for the armor you’re wearing
(see PH-
Unarmored Defense (Barbarian):
Unarmored Defense (Monk):-
Draconic Resilience (Sorcerer):-
Natural Armor:-
ral armor bonus. This is a calculation method typically
relevant to a druid or another character who assumes a
form that has natural armor.
These methods—along with any others that give you a
druid/barbarian who transforms into a beast form that has
natural armor can use either the beast’s natural armor or
Unarmored Defense (you aren’t considered to be wearing
armor when you use natural armor).
-
-
modify AC as well. Shield of faith
Magic items can also enhance your AC. Here are a few
+1 chain mailring of
protection
bracers of defense-
nus to AC if you’re not wearing armor or using a shield.
Racial Traits
Does the Trance trait allow an elf to nish a long rest
in 4 hours? If an elf meditates during a long rest (as de-
Do the lightfoot haling and wood elf hiding racial
traits allow them to hide while observed? The lightfoot
of the Wild—do allow members of those subraces to try
to hide in their special circumstances even when observ-
and a wood elf can try to hide simply by being in heavy
-
capable of hiding in situations when most other creatures
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Can a dragonborn sorcerer with a draconic bloodline
have two dierent kinds of Draconic Ancestry? A drag-
-
cial trait and for the Dragon Ancestor feature. Your choice
the type of dragon that bestowed magic upon you or your
you with magical energy.
How long do a shifter’s temporary hit points last? Un-
PH,
Does all magical darkness block darkvision? Magical
the darkness
Class Features
When you use Extra Attack, do you have to use the
same weapon for all the attacks?
Artificer
What is the timing of Flash of Genius? You use Flash of
after its trigger.
Which action is used to activate a Spell-Storing Item?
Activating a Spell-Storing Item uses the Use an Ob-
ject action.
Can an articer dismiss one of their infusions on an
object early? No. An infusion lasts until one of the circum-
stances described in the “Infusing an Item” section of the
Infuse Item feature.
Barbarian
Does the barbarian’s Danger Sense work against
breath weapons and enemies’ special abilities? A bar-
For the barbarian’s Reckless Attack, do you grant ad-
vantage to all enemies, or only to the target of your at-
tack?
rolls have advantage against you until the start of your
next turn.
Bard
Do the benets from Bardic Inspiration and the guid-
ance spell stack? Can they be applied to the same roll?
-
guidance-
Is the intent that a bard gets to know the number
rolled on an attack roll or ability check before using
Cutting Words, or should they always guess? If used on
a damage roll, does Cutting Words apply to any kind
of damage roll including an auto-hit spell like magic
missile?
a failure. You can use Cutting Words to reduce the dam-
magic missile) even if the damage roll is not preceded by
Can a bard replace spells gained through Magical Se-
crets?
Spellcasting feature lets you replace one bard spell you
spell learned through your Magical Secrets feature counts
according to the rule in the Spellcasting feature.
Which spell scrolls can bards understand—spells from
the bard list only, or spells from the bard list plus spells
from Magical Secrets? A bard can use any spell scroll
that has a bard spell on it—including spells gained from
spells for that character.
Does using College of Valor’s Combat Inspiration add to
the damage of an attack count as a damage die for pur-
poses of critical hits? Yes.
Cleric
When a cleric uses the Destructive Wrath feature, does
it maximize all damage getting rolled, as long as some
of it is lightning or thunder? Destructive Wrath is meant
to maximize lightning and thunder damage only.
If a Grave Domain cleric casts a spell that restores hit
points to multiple creatures and one of those creatures
has 0 hit points, does the spell restore the maximum
number of hit points to all targets of the spell? No. Only
-
toration portion of the Circle of Mortality feature.
Druid
What happens if a druid wears metal armor? The
druid explodes.
metal armor and wielding a metal shield. The taboo has
in Eldritch WizardryPlayer’s
Handbook-
-
They choose not to wear it. This choice is part of their
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-
some classes than in others. Druids and paladins have an
especially strong dose of story in their design. If you want
on how far you can go and still be considered a member
of the class. As long as you abide by your character’s pro-
being created in your campaign.
Can a bound and gagged druid simply use Wild Shape
to get out? It’s hard to capture someone who can turn
into a mouse at will.
-
stash the prisoner in a room with an opening only large
enough for air to enter.
Does the druid’s Elemental Wild Shape limit you to the
four creatures listed, or can you turn into any creature
with the elemental type? The creatures listed in Elemen-
Monster Manual
types or subtypes. Elemental Wild Shape allows you to
transform into one of those creatures.
Can a Circle of the Moon druid speak the languages it
knows while in the form of an elemental?
A literal interpretation (RAW) of Wild Shape could
If a druid in elemental form can speak, can the druid
cast spells? A druid can cast spells in a Wild Shape form
If a druid takes the Magic Initiate feat and chooses
detect magic as their one spell, can the druid cast that
spell as a ritual? A druid’s Ritual Casting requires a ritual
not prepared.
Fighter
Does the ghter’s Action Surge feature let you take an
extra bonus action, in addition to an extra action? Ac-
action. (Recent printings of the Player’s Handbook no lon-
Can a ghter have two ghting styles active at once?
Dueling and Defense, for example.
Great Weapon Fighting do.
Does the Archery ghting style work with a melee
weapon that you throw?
Is the Dueling ghting style intended to support a
shield? Yes. A character with the Dueling option usually
If you use Great Weapon Fighting with a feature like
Divine Smite or a spell like hex, do you get to reroll
any 1 or 2 you roll for the extra damage? The Great
-
of Divine Smite.
If my Battle Master ghter provokes an opportunity
attack and it misses, can I use Riposte?
the Riposte maneuver in response to an opportunity at-
Does the “when” in the Eldritch Knight’s War Magic
feature mean the bonus attack comes after you cast the
cantrip, or can it come before? The bonus action comes
If my Eldritch Knight casts true strike and has the War
Magic feature, is the attack granted by War Magic made
with advantage because of true strike?
of true strike on your next turn if the spell hasn’t ended.
Can the Disarming Attack maneuver disarm a creature
of a shield it has donned?
a creature to drop an object it is holding. Donned shields
aren’t merely held.
Monk
If a monk uses a sta or another versatile weapon two-
handed, does it still count as a monk weapon? Yes. A
The dart is not classied as a monk weapon, yet a monk
gets 10 darts as starting equipment. Why is that? Start-
ing equipment often lends versatility to a character. In this
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Martial Arts option.
Does the Martial Arts feature turn monk weapons and
unarmed strikes into nesse weapons? No. The feature
the feature doesn’t confer that property.
When a monk using Deect Missiles catches and
throws a projectile, what is the damage of the attack? A
-
Can a monk use Stunning Strike with an unarmed
strike, even though unarmed strikes aren’t weap-
ons?
When a monk uses Empty Body, does the invisibility
remain in eect after the monk attacks? Yes. The invis-
Does a monk’s Purity of Body feature grant immunity
to poison damage, the poisoned condition, or both?
-
-
fected by ray of sickness
and imposes the poisoned condition.
Can the monk’s Open Hand Technique push a Large
or larger creature or knock it prone? The Open Hand
Does a monk need to spend any ki points to cast the
minor illusion cantrip granted by the Shadow Arts fea-
ture?
the other spells in it.
For a Way of Shadow monk, can their silence be dis-
pelled?
otherwise.
Can a monk of the Way of the Four Elements replace El-
emental Attunement with another elemental discipline?
-
Paladin
Would a Paladin’s Divine Sense register a tieing due
to their infernal heritage?
or undead creature type.
Can my paladin use a smite spell along with Divine
Smite? As in, I cast wrathful smite, hit, then use Di-
vine Smite on the same attack?
wrathful smite
[NEW] Can a paladin use Divine Smite when they hit
using an unarmed strike? No. Divine Smite isn’t intended
-
-
created. Tying Divine Smite to weapons was a thematic
choice on our part—paladins being traditionally associated
with weapons. It was not a game balance choice.
Ranger
There is no component pouch option in the ranger’s
starting equipment. Does the class not need one, nor a
focus for spells?-
Player’s
Handbook. A ranger typically uses a component pouch for
Can a ranger move between the attack rolls of the
Whirlwind Attack feature?-
PH
Does a Monster Slayer ranger’s Supernatural Defense
feature apply if a creature damages the ranger, thus
causing the ranger to make a Constitution saving throw
to maintain concentration on a spell? Yes.
Rogue
Can a rogue use Sneak Attack more than once per
round?
your turn. The feature also doesn’t limit the number of
times you can use it in a round.
someone else’s turn. The most common way for this to
-
once with your action and once with your reaction.
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For Sneak Attack, what if another enemy of your target
was 10 feet away with a polearm (which has a reach
of 10 feet), instead of 5 feet away? Would you still be
able to use Sneak Attack?
-
gardless of the weapon in hand.
Does Uncanny Dodge work automatically against every
attack a rogue or ranger gets hit by? Spell attacks too?
-
reball-
Can a rogue use Evasion if they are surprised? The rule
-
Can the rogue’s Reliable Talent feature be used in con-
junction with Remarkable Athlete or Jack of All Trades?
-
Can a thief use the Fast Hands feature to activate a
magic item?-
explained in the Dungeon Master’s Guide-
the domain of Use an Object.
For triggering the rogue’s Assassinate ability, when
does a creature stop being surprised? After their turn
in the round, or at the end of the round? A surprised
in combat.
Does the Thief’s Use Magic Device feature allow them
to use spell scrolls? Yes. The intent is that a Thief can use
spell scrolls with Use Magic Device.
Can a Thief use Fast Hands to use or apply poisons?
Yes. Administering poison uses the Use an Object action.
Sorcerer
If a sorcerer casts a spell with only verbal or somatic
components using Subtle Spell, can an opponent use
counterspell against it? If a spell that’s altered by Subtle
counterspell is of no use.
Metamagic rules state you can’t use multiple Metam-
agic options on a single spell. Can you use one option
multiple times? A sorcerer can use one Metamagic option
-
tended Spell.
Elemental Anity improves one damage roll of a spell,
not multiple rolls? So with scorching ray, I don’t add my
Charisma modier to each ray that hits? That’s correct.
scorch-
ing ray spell or one of the beams of an eldritch blast spell.
Can Empowered Spell aect all the rays of a scorching
ray spell, or just one? A sorcerer’s Empowered Spell
scorching ray
two of the damage dice for one ray and one of the damage
dice for another one.
Does Quickened Spell allow a sorcerer to cast two
spells a round of 1st level or higher?
must follow the rule for casting a spell as a bonus action
Can my sorcerer use Twinned Spell on a spell dupli-
cated by the casting of a wish spell? And if so, how
many sorcery points does it cost?
the number of sorcery points appropriate for the level of
the spell you’re duplicating.
Does a sorcerer’s Wild Magic Surge eect replace the
eect of the spell that triggered it, or do both eects
happen?
Player’s Hand-
book
does not require concentration in this case.
Can my sorcerer use Twinned Spell to aect a particu-
lar spell? You can use Twinned Spell on a spell that …
• targets only one creature
• doesn’t have a range of self
• is incapable of targeting more than one creature at the
spell’s current level
-
-
• The spell has a range of self.
• The spell can target an object.
• The spell allows you to choose more than one creature
the spell. Some spells increase their number of potential
targets when you cast them at a higher level.
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•
saving throw before the spell’s duration expires.
•
-
tion expires.
Warl ock
Do warlock spells granted by the Expanded Spell List
feature count against the number of spells known? The
such a spell does count against the number of spells the
Does the Eyes of the Rune Keeper invocation work on
magical runes?
If a warlock uses Pact of the Blade to bond with a magic
weapon, does that weapon have to be a melee weapon,
and can the warlock change the weapon’s form? The
PH
create a melee weapon out of nothing. Whenever you do
melee weapon options in the Weapons table in the Player’s
Handbook-
which causes the greataxe to disappear.
use the feature on a +1 longbow
if you bond with a ame tongue (longsword) and send
a dagger of venom-
ways a dagger.
The feature allows the conjuring forth of a melee
magic weapons. We didn’t want a narrow focus in this fea-
weapons appear in a campaign. Does this versatility ex-
but we’re willing to occasionally bend a design concept if
If you’re a Pact of the Blade warlock, can someone
else wield your pact weapon? Yes. Someone other than
disappears.
Does the warlock’s Awakened Mind feature allow two-
way telepathic communication? The feature is intended
feature doesn’t give that creature the ability to telepath-
monsters have (MM-
tion possible.
Does using a bonus action break invisibility from a war-
lock’s One with Shadows invocation?
-
ows. A bonus action is an action.
Wizard
Is an abjurer’s Arcane Ward healed only when the ward
has 0 hit points? The ward regains hit points whenever
Does casting alarm as a ritual heal Arcane Ward? Any
Arcane Ward.
How does Arcane Ward interact with temporary hit
points and damage resistance that an abjurer might
have? An Arcane Ward is not an extension of the wizard
the wizard has don’t apply to the ward.
An abjurer gains resistance to spell damage at 14th
level. Does the abjurer’s Arcane Ward gain this resis-
tance when a spell hits the abjurer?
Does the evoker’s Potent Cantrip feature apply to can-
trips with attack rolls or only to saves? Potent Cantrip
acid splash and poison spray.
Does the 14th-level illusionist ability let you make
something real every round, or just once? Illusory Re-
-
sion spell.
For the Shapechanger feature of the School of Trans-
mutation, does polymorph need to be prepared if I only
want to cast it without using a spell slot? A transmuter
must have polymorph
the Shapechanger feature.
Can Minor Conjuration create a copy of a book, com-
plete with all its text, if the wizard hasn’t seen all the
text?
that you must have seen all parts of the object to duplicate
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Can a School of Divination wizard on the Ethereal
Plane use Portent on a creature that the wizard can see
on the Material Plane? Yes. Portent requires you to be
For a wizard to cast a ritual spell contained in their
spellbook, do they need to read from the book or use
it as part of the ritual?
the only mechanical requirement is that the wizard has
Backgrounds
Can you have more than one background? No. You can
-
Player’s Handbook to customize your own
Equipment
Does heavy armor reduce Dexterity saving throws or
ability checks other than Stealth?
If you attack with a shield—most likely as an impro-
vised weapon—do you keep the +2 bonus to AC? At-
bonus to AC.
Multiclassing
Are ability score improvements class-level dependent,
rather than total level? Ability score improvements are
Ability Score Improvement feature because you haven’t
Would a temporary stat bump fulll a multiclass pre-
requisite, or does the base score have to meet the re-
quirement?
to meet a multiclassing prerequisite.
When multiclassing, do you get the cantrips from all
your classes?
you get all of them.
Do you gain prociency in more saving throws when
multiclassing? -
(PH
that table.
Can a barbarian/cleric use spiritual weapon to attack
while raging, if it is cast before entering rage? A barbar-
spiritual weapon
require concentration.
Can a barbarian/ghter (Battle Master) use maneuvers
while raging? Nothing in the barbarian’s Rage feature
precludes the use of maneuvers.
Can a rogue/monk use Sneak Attack with unarmed
strikes?
-
quired properties.
A wizard multiclasses into Wild Magic sorcerer. Do
spells cast from their spellbook trigger Wild Magic
Surge if they are on the sorcerer spell list, or do they
have to gain them from sorcerer to trigger? From the
associated with one of your classes” (PH
means only the spells gained from levels in sorcerer trig-
ger Wild Magic Surge.
Feats
Charger
If you have the Charger feat, can you make your charge
attack when your mount takes the Dash action? The
Dash action.
Crossbow Expert
Is it intentional that the second benet of Crossbow
Expert helps ranged spell attacks?
PH
-
is with a crossbow.
more broadly—a bit of mastery that your character brings
-
Expert shows that some of the character’s expertise with
other things.
Do the rst and third benets of Crossbow Expert turn
a hand crossbow into a semiautomatic weapon? The
short answer is no.
property (PH-
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has the ammunition property (PH-
-
-
less it’s magical or a gnomish invention). You need to load
own action and doesn’t use up your free interaction with
an object on your turn.
What does that all mean for a hand crossbow? It means
-
-
vided that you have enough ammunition and you have a
hand free to load it for each shot.
Does Crossbow Expert let you re a hand crossbow
and then re it again as a bonus action?
-
Dual Wielder
Can my character wield two heavy weapons if she has
the Dual Wielder feat? No. The Dual Wielder feat lets you
wield two one-handed weapons. Every heavy weapon in
the Player’s Handbook also has the two-handed property.
Elemental Adept
Is Elemental Adept the only feat you can take more
than once? Elemental Adept is the only feat in the Player’s
Handbook
Great Weapon Master
With the Great Weapon Master feat, do you have to take
the bonus action immediately, or could you move and
then use it on the same turn?
-
ing the bonus action (if you have movement remaining).
Lucky
How does the Lucky feat interact with advantage and
disadvantage?
-
-
general rule. The general rule in this case is the one that
PH
each other (PH
If a DM wants advantage and disadvantage to play their
and then use the higher (for advantage) or lower (for disad-
vantage) of the two dice that remain.
Magic Initiate
If you’re a spellcaster, can you pick your own class
when you gain the Magic Initiate feat?
level wizard spell.
If you have spell slots, can you use them to cast the
1st-level spell you learn with the Magic Initiate feat?
you that you can use your spell slots to cast the sorcerer
-
Magic Initiate.
Polearm Master
Can I add my Strength modier to the damage of the
bonus attack that Polearm Master gives me? Yes. If you
the weapon’s opposite end as a bonus action. For that bo-
PH
(PH
-
ter doesn’t have such a rule.
Does Polearm Master let me make an opportunity at-
tack against a target that is being forced to approach
me?
antipathy/sympathy
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dissonant whispers requires the target to
pushed by a gust of wind-
Savage Attacker
Does the Savage Attacker feat work with unarmed
strikes?
Player’s Handbook errata).
Does the benet of the Savage Attacker feat apply to
additional eects like the rogue’s Sneak Attack or the
paladin’s Divine Smite?-
not to any extra damage that a feature or other ability
might grant.
Sentinel
Does the attack granted by the third benet of the
Sentinel feat take place before or after the triggering
attack?
-
DMG
creature leaves your reach (PH
How does the Sentinel feat work against an enemy that
has Fancy Footwork or the Mobile feat? Does the char-
acter with the Sentinel feat still get the opportunity at-
tack?
counteract the Disengage action only. An enemy with the
Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide)
-
Shield Master
The Shield Master feat lets you shove someone as a
bonus action if you take the Attack action. Can you
take that bonus action before the Attack action? No.
The bonus action provided by the Shield Master feat has a
-
-
This sort of if-then setup appears in many of the game’s
into play.
Tough
Does the Tough feat have an eect for a druid while in
beast form?-
while using Wild Shape.
Ability Checks
Are attack rolls and saving throws basically specialized
ability checks?
-
procedure for determining success or failure.
-
guidance
questions touch on this point again.
Can you get a critical hit on an ability check? For ex-
ample, on a grapple attempt, does a critical win, or the
highest number?
Is a 1 on an ability check an automatic failure? Rolling a
If you cast the hex spell and choose Strength as the
aected ability, does the target also have disadvantage
on attack rolls and saving throws that use Strength?
hex
that use the chosen ability. The description says nothing
Curious about the spell’s intent? The spell is meant to
Does the bard’s Jack of All Trades feature apply to at-
tack rolls and saving throws that don’t use the bard’s
prociency bonus?
-
ciency bonus to it.
When you make a Strength (Athletics) check to grap-
ple or shove someone, are you making an attack roll?
-
hex spell could be used to diminish a grappler’s
Adventuring
Is there a hard limit on how many short rests charac-
ters can take in a day, or is this purely up to the DM to
decide? The only hard limit on the number of short rests
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you’re also limited by time pressures in the story and foes
interrupting.
Are extradimensional spaces, such as a demiplane or
the space created by rope trick, considered to be on a
dierent plane of existence? An extradimensional space
-
plane of existence.
How do I tell if something in the game is magical? For
the breath weapon of a dragon magical?” in the “Mon-
sters” section below.
What’s an example of an eect that can reduce exhaus-
tion? The greater restoration spell can reduce exhaustion.
Is there a way to get lost Intelligence back, such as after
an intellect devourer zeroes it? The greater restoration
spell can remove the reduction to an ability score.
What happens after 20th level? Is there a cap to char-
acter levels?
section in the Dungeon Master’s Guide
ideas for further advancement.
The frightened condition says “while the source of its
fear is within line of sight.” Does that mean you have
disadvantage on attack rolls and ability checks even
if the source is invisible but you have a clear line to its
space?
-
ing in the rules.
Does casting a spell while taking a short rest interrupt
the rest? Yes. Spellcasting is more strenuous than the ac-
Player’s Handbook-
Combat
Does surprise happen outside the initiative order as a
special surprise round?
whether anyone in the combat is surprised (reread “Com-
Player’s Handbook).
-
Player’s
Handbook).
because you failed to notice foes being stealthy or you
-
ceptionally surprising. You can be surprised even if your
your foes fails to catch you unawares.
-
surprised.
-
factor. You can still try to hide from your foes and gain the
your foes of their turns when you do so.
Surprise rules work for two opposing sides. What hap-
pens with surprise when a third group of combatants
sneaks up, hidden from the melee, and ambushes? The
surprise rule is relevant only when a combat is starting.
If a wizard casts a spell like reball during a surprise
round, do the enemies get disadvantage on their saving
throw?
turn ends (PH
Can you delay your turn and take it later in the round?
protection. If you want to wait to act in response to some-
your turn later.
•
analysis by the number of characters and monsters in
-
downs in play.
• -
the initiative order. If combatants can change their place
-
•
any of them that last until your next turn. Simply by
the length of certain spells. The way to guard against
such abuse would be to create a set of additional rules
Version 2.7 ©2021 Wizards of the Coast LLC. Permission granted to print and photocopy this document for personal use only.
that would limit your ability to change durations. The
slower play.
Two of our goals for combat were for it to be speedy
and for initiative to matter. We didn’t want to start every
combat by rolling initiative and then undermine turn order
-
the dramatic actions of the combatants should be the fo-
I have a readied action. Can I stop readying to take an
opportunity attack? Or is ready a full turn commit-
ment?-
Can a bonus action be used as an action or vice versa?
For example, can a bard use a bonus action to grant
a Bardic Inspiration die and an action to cast healing
word? No. Actions and bonus actions aren’t interchange-
or healing word
Can a ying creature without the hover trait stay in
one place while airborne, or does it need to move each
round?-
out moving each round.
Can you move through the space of a prone enemy? The
prone condition doesn’t override the rule that prevents you
is at least two sizes larger or two sizes smaller than you.
If you do move through the space of another creature—
the Player’s Handbook-
ment in combat.
Does travel pace apply to movement in combat, or just
when traveling? The travel pace rule (PH
apply in combat.
If you have a feature like Cunning Action or Step of the
Wind, can you take the Dash action more than once
on your turn?
Dash action with your regular action too. The same prin-
My rogue/wizard can get a bonus action to Dash by us-
ing Cunning Action, and I can cast expeditious retreat
on myself to get a bonus action to Dash. Do I get two
bonus actions to Dash?
action on your turn (PH
any) you want to employ on your turn.
If you use the Help action to distract a foe, do you have
to stay within 5 feet of it for the action to work?
to the foe.
If I’m invisible and I become visible when I shoot an
arrow at a target, does hiding again require an action?
Hide action.
If I use the Ready action to deal damage to someone
who’s moving, do I deny the target the rest of its move-
ment? Dealing damage to a moving target doesn’t halt its
-
Can you use the Ready action to take the Dash action
on someone else’s turn and then combine the Charger
feat with it?
someone else’s turn.
For readying a spell or other action, does the target
have to be in range? Your target must be within range
How does readying a spell work? Do you lose your spell
slot if the trigger never occurs? A readied spell’s slot is
lost if you don’t release the spell with your reaction before
the start of your next turn.
Can a readied action occur during an enemy’s trigger-
ing action, such as between its rst and second attacks
when it uses Multiattack? A readied action occurs im-
How do I know which ability modier to use with an
attack roll and its damage roll? The Player’s Handbook
-
Attack Type Attack Roll Damage Roll
Melee weapon attack Strength mod.* Strength mod.
Ranged weapon
attack
Dexterity mod.* Dexterity mod.
Spell attack Spellcasting ability
mod.**
Depends on eect
* Add your prociency bonus if you’re using a weapon with which
you’re procient.
** Add your prociency bonus. Your spellcasting ability is deter-
mined by your class or whatever feature gave you the ability to
make the spell attack.
re bolt-
-
Fire bolt doesn’t tell you to add your modi-
property lets you choose whether to use your Strength or
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Player’s Handbook
you follow the general rule until an exception in the game
tells you not to.
green-ame blade
Sword Coast Ad-
venturer’s Guide
re bolt and ray of frost
What does “melee weapon attack” mean: a melee at-
tack with a weapon or an attack with a melee weapon?
considered a weapon.
-
How does a reach weapon work with opportunity at-
tacks?
creature you can see moves beyond your reach (PH
a creature leaves the reach you have with that weapon.
-
Can a blinded creature make an opportunity attack? An
can see” (PH
-
ity lets those creatures “see” within a certain radius.
Can an opportunity attack be used to make a grapple or
a shove
PH
want to attempt a grapple or a shove as a reaction.
When you use two-weapon ghting, can you draw and
throw two weapons on your turn? You can throw two
PH
doesn’t give you the ability to draw two weapons for free.
either during your move or during an action (PH
One of the most common object interactions is drawing
or stowing a weapon. Interacting with a second object
on the same turn requires an action. You need a fea-
weapon for free.
With two-weapon ghting, can I use both attacks (nor-
mal and bonus) to shove a creature? No. Two-weapon
PH
-
-
volve the use of a weapon.
If a creature is grappled, can it still attack and use its
special abilities? The grappled condition limits move-
Is the grappling rule in the Player’s Handbook usable
by a handless creature? The grappling rule (PH
DM can easily adapt the rule for a handless creature that
onto the person.
Player’s
Handbook
-
Does a grapple or a shove trigger the Tempest cleric’s
Wrath of the Storm or a Battle Master’s Riposte? The
answer to both questions is no. The grappling and shoving
options (PH
Say I grapple you, then I drop prone. Are we now prone
together?
prone if you become prone. You’re now holding onto the
creature from a prone position.
Target at range caught in melee combat—does that
target get some kind of cover or do I get disadvantage?
Your target has half-cover if another creature is between
you and the target (PH
Can damage be reduced to 0 by resistance or another
form of damage reduction? There is no damage mini-
A dragon uses a breath weapon against me. I succeed
on the save, and I have resistance to the damage. Do I
take only one-quarter of the damage?-
PH
damage is halved if you have the right resistance.
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Is the intent that only melee weapon attacks can knock
foes unconscious, or can melee spell attacks as well? If
PH-
Are attacks with a net always made with disadvantage?
feet of your target (see PH
Can a non-Battle Master attempt to disarm someone?
Disarm action option (DMG
might adjudicate the activity.
Are natural weapons considered weapons? Things des-
-
not weapons. They are something you do with an unarmed
part of your body.
Can I make an attack with one weapon, then draw a
second weapon with my other hand and qualify to use
two-weapon ghting?
bonus action (PH
action doesn’t apply. The rule for that bonus action applies
in the game.
Spellcasting
Can a spellcaster cast spells o-target to minimize
damage to party members from a spell like shatter?
The spellcaster chooses where to place the point of origin
shatter
that is advantageous to allies.
Can permanent magical eects be dispelled? Or are
they no longer considered magical eects once perma-
nent?
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?
to cast the spell as a ritual. You don’t need to also learn a
special version of the spell.
Can spellcasters prepare spells not all at once, but pre-
pare spells at various times in the day? You prepare your
list of spells only at the end of a long rest. You can’t pre-
pare some spells at the end of the rest and then prepare
more later.
Do you always know when you’re under the eect of a
spell?
PH
reballcure wounds
command forces you to suddenly do something you didn’t
-
tion. Charm person and detect thoughts are examples of
such spells.
sort of spell is suggestion. Assuming you failed to notice
-
You and your companions might deduce that you were
beguiled if evidence of the spell is found. It’s ultimately up
to the DM whether you discover the presence of inconspic-
uous spells. Discovery usually comes through the use of
detect magic.
If I’m concentrating on a spell and I cast another spell
that requires concentration, when does my concentra-
tion on the rst spell end? If you’re concentrating on a
start casting another spell that requires concentration.
Spell Attacks
Is a touch range spell considered a melee attack for
purposes of subduing foes rather than killing? Having
Can spell attacks score critical hits?
-
When casting a spell that aects multiple targets, such
as scorching ray or eldritch blast, do I re one ray or
beam, determine the result, and re again? Or do I
have to choose all the targets before making any attack
rolls? Even though the duration of each of these spells
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?
The short answer is no.
As explained in the Player’s Handbook
choose your action from the options available to every-
you choose from among the special actions you’ve gained
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re bolt and ray of frost-
other action.
Can you use a melee spell attack to make an opportu-
nity attack?-
shocking grasp.
feat is an example of a feature that does let you bypass a
-
Some spells (like eldritch blast) target a creature. Some
others (like re bolt) target objects too. Does this mean
that I can’t attack the door with eldritch blast? The tar-
spells are intentional.
Does a melee spell attack count as a melee attack for
Touch of Death?-
Death feature.
Spell Level
What level is a spell if you cast it without a spell slot?
level that appears near the top of its description. Unless
to increase the level of a spell is to expend a higher-level
spell slot when you cast it.
•
cast hold monster without using a spell slot. That cast-
ing of hold monster
lowest possible level for that spell.
•
cast bane
expends to cast it.
•
increase the level of a spell.
which is why the innate spellcasters in the Monster Man-
ual must cast an innate spell at its lowest possible level.
Casting Time
Is there a limit on the number of spells you can cast
on your turn? There’s no rule that says you can cast
practical limits. The main limiting factor is your action.
action on your turn.
healing word
-
Does the rule on casting a bonus action spell apply
when you take a bonus action granted by a spell? The
rule on casting a spell as a bonus action (see PH
spiritual weapon
spiritual weapon
gives you the option of controlling its spectral weapon as
a bonus action. That bonus action does not involve casting
on the same turn.
Can you cast a reaction spell on your turn? You sure
wizard is casting reball
counterspell on him. Cornelius also has counterspell pre-
counterspell before it can stop reball.
Does casting a spell as a ritual require concentration if
the spell doesn’t normally require it? Concentration is
PH
-
tion entry says it does.
Components
Does a spell consume its material components? A spell
doesn’t consume its material components unless its de-
the identify
required by raise dead is used up when you cast the spell.
If a spell’s material components are consumed, can
a spellcasting focus still be used in place of the con-
sumed component? No. A spellcasting focus can be used
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in place of a material component only if that component
has no cost noted in the spell’s description and if that com-
ponent 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?
you need to handle that component when you cast the
spell (PH
spellcasting focus as the material component.
that performs the somatic component to also handle the
lightning
bolt by using the orb as the spell’s material component and
the orb hand to perform the spell’s somatic component.
mace in one hand and a shield in the other. She uses the
the shield in hand when she casts a cleric spell that has
aid
If the same cleric casts cure wounds
have a material component but does have a somatic com-
this restriction.
Duration
If you’re concentrating on a spell, do you need to main-
tain line of sight with the spell’s target or the spell’s
eect? You don’t need to be within line of sight or within
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 concen-
tration?
just not to your real hit points.
DC of that save.
Can a spellcaster dismiss a spell after casting it? You
can’t normally dismiss a spell that you cast unless (a) its
description says you can or (b) it requires concentration
dispel magic on it.
Specific Spells
[NEW] Can I cast animate dead on the human-
oid-shaped corpse of an undead creature such as
a zombie or a ghast? When animate dead targets a
humanoid creature type.
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
Can you extend the duration of armor of Agathys by
gaining more temporary hit points? The spell is meant
that the spell grants. When those temporary hit points are
(see PH
feature says you can. You decide which temporary hit
-
ing from armor of Agathys
-
place the ones from armor of Agathys
damage it delivers.
How does barkskin work with shields, cover, and other
modiers to AC? Barkskin
-
barkskin is on you. If
barkskin isn’t relevant in this case.
Does the blinding smite spell deal extra radiant damage
on every successful attack I make while I’m concentrat-
ing on the spell, or only on the rst one? “The next time”
in the spell description indicates that the extra damage
Is the chill touch spell intended as a way of foiling any
creature that has Regeneration? Chill touch-
some other reason.
Using 5-foot squares, does cloud of daggers aect a sin-
gle square? Cloud of daggers
to the grid. There are many ways to position that cube.
Can a creature under the eect of compelled duel tele-
port more than 30 feet away from the caster? No. You
compelled duel
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Is the damage dealt by a beast from conjure animals
considered magical?-
-
less the spell says otherwise.
Can conjure animals summon a swarm? No. Conjure
animals
groups of creatures.
When you cast a spell like conjure woodland beings,
does the spellcaster or the DM choose the creatures
that are conjured? A number of spells in the game let you
summon creatures. Conjure animalsconjure celestial
conjure minor elementalsconjure woodland beings
are just a few examples.
Some spells of this sort specify that the spellcaster
nd familiar
gives the caster a list of animals to choose from.
Other spells of this sort let the spellcaster choose from
conjure minor
elementals
•
•
-
-
A spellcaster can certainly express a preference for what
if they do. The DM will often choose creatures that are
appropriate for the campaign and that will be fun to intro-
duce in a scene.
Does counterspell target the caster or the spell you’re
trying to counter? Counterspell targets the other
spellcaster.
If a wizard with Inured to Undeath spends Hit Dice to
raise the hit point maximum of a homunculus created
by the create homunculus spell, does it still decrease
the wizard’s hit point maximum? Spending the Hit Dice
wizard’s hit point maximum isn’t decreased.
Can you cast darkness with a higher-level slot to end a
spell of 3rd level or higher that creates light? No. The
darkness
dark-
nessdaylight-
spell slot used.
If the damage from disintegrate reduces a half-orc to
0 hit points, can Relentless Endurance prevent the orc
from turning to ash? Yes. The disintegrate spell turns you
What happens if a druid using Wild Shape is reduced
to 0 hit points by disintegrate? Does the druid simply
leave beast form?
any leftover damage then applies to the druid’s normal hit
Can you use dispel magic to dispel a magical eect like
a vampire’s Charm ability or a druid’s Wild Shape? Dis-
pel magic
cast from a magic item or from another source. Spells—
they’re what dispel magic
dispel magic on a sta of power
casts hold monsterdispel magic can end
that spell if cast on the target of hold monster.
There are abilities and other spells that can end or sus-
greater restoration
on a target (such as a vampire’s Charm or a dryad’s Fey
Three of the most versatile spells for ending certain
lesser restorationgreater restoration
and remove curse.
Can you use dispel magic on the creations of a spell like
animate dead or aect those creations with antimagic
eld?
-
PH
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
undead now exists without the magic’s help. Casting dis-
pel magic
the undead can wander into an antimagic eld with no
cure wounds instantaneously restores
you don’t suddenly lose hit points if you step into an anti-
magic eld
conjure woodland beings has a
can be ended by dispel magic and they temporarily disap-
pear within an antimagic eld.
Can you ready dispel magic to stop another spell from
taking eect? The easiest way to stop a spell is to cast
counterspell on its caster while it’s being cast. If success-
counterspell
Counterspell
dispel magic can be cast in re-
dispel magic can’t
Version 2.7 ©2021 Wizards of the Coast LLC. Permission granted to print and photocopy this document for personal use only.
substitute for counterspell. The main reason is that dispel
magic
-
enon. Dispel magic can’t dispel something in advance.
dispel magic
does nothing to that target. The best that a readied dispel
magic can do is dispel a spell immediately after the spell
dispel magic
dispel magic on
cast hold person on your companion who fails the save
dispel magic
and end hold person.
Can dispel magic end globe of invulnerability?dis-
pel magic can dispel the barrier created by globe of invul-
nerability
the barrier.
If dispel magic targets the magical eect from bless
cast by a cleric, does it remove the eect on all the tar-
gets? 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 nd familiar spell
use the Help action to grant you advantage on your
attack roll? -
indicates (PH
sort of distraction.
Does the familiar of nd familiar count as an ally for
the purposes of Sneak Attack? A familiar is an allied
creature. Its proximity to a target can allow you to use the
presence of an ally.
When you dismiss the familiar you conjure with the
nd familiar spell to its pocket dimension, can it take
any objects it’s wearing or carrying with it?
intent of nd familiar is that any objects are left behind
future printings of the Player’s Handbook.
Can a spell such as reball go past its 20-foot radius
if the point of origin is set in an enclosed space that’s
less than 40 feet across?reball spell can
point of origin no matter where it is cast.
If I’m a cleric/druid with the Disciple of Life feature,
does the goodberry spell benet from the feature?
good-
berry
Can you use green-ame blade and booming blade with
Extra Attack, opportunity attacks, Sneak Attack, and
other weapon attack options? Introduced in the Sword
Coast Adventurer’s Guidegreen-ame blade and
booming blade
green-
ame blade-
green-ame blade nor booming blade
-
cial feature allows you to do so.
green-ame blade
When a creature successfully saves 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
the total.
For the spell hail of thorns, does it last for the initial
attack or as long as you maintain concentration? Hail of
thorns lasts until you hit a creature with a ranged weapon
Can the extra action granted by haste be used to ac-
tivate a magic item? No. Activating a magic item isn’t a
function of the Use an Object action (DMG
Does the heroes’ feast spell grant immunity to poison
damage or just the poison condition? The heroes’ feast
spell grants immunity to poison in any form—damage and
the condition.
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. At the start of each
If the heroism spell is cast on a character that is al-
ready frightened, does it remove the frightened eect?
The heroism
it has not expired or been removed.
Version 2.7 ©2021 Wizards of the Coast LLC. Permission granted to print and photocopy this document for personal use only.
Does the extra damage from hex only apply if there is
an attack roll? The extra damage in the hex spell requires
Since resting identies magic items, and the identify
spell doesn’t spot curses, what is the role of the identify
spell? The most important factors are time and conve-
the properties of one magic item (see “Identifying a Magic
Dungeon Master’s Guide). In
identify
What happens when a jump spell gives a creature a
jump distance greater than its walking speed? Your
you want to extend how far you can move on your turn.
jump
Can you use a shield with mage armor? Mage armor
the equipment rules in the Player’s Handbook
game features distinguish between the armor you wear
-
mored Defense feature and compare it to the barbarian’s
-
ing armor and forgo wielding a shield if you want to bene-
wearing armor.
Does Unarmored Defense work with a spell like mage
armor?mage ar-
mor
together? Mage armor
who isn’t wearing armor.” It’s true that the target of mage
armormage armor gives you a
-
-
fense or any other feature that provides an AC calculation.
I nd it confusing that the mage armor spell is named
that when it doesn’t count as armor. Some spells and
of the spell or class feature explains what it does. In this
mage armor (PH
Can an object created with minor illusion move? For ex-
ample, a wall sliding down a corridor? An illusory object
created by minor illusion doesn’t move. Compare to spells
major image and mislead
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
Misty step doesn’t say the caster can bring worn or car-
ried equipment with them. Are they intended to leave
everything, including their clothes, behind?
caster’s worn and carried equipment are intended to go
with them.
just as the general movement rules don’t assume that you
Does moonbeam deal damage when you cast it? What
about when its eect moves onto a creature? The an-
swer to both questions is no. Here’s some elaboration on
that answer.
Some spells and other game features create an area of
its turn in that area. On the turn when you cast such a
turns. Moonbeam
that can damage a creature who enters the beam or who
starts its turn in the beam.
Here are some spells with the same timing as moon-
beam
blade barrier
cloudkill
cloud of daggers
Evard’s black tentacles
forbiddance
moonbeam
sleet storm
spirit guardians
wonder whether a creature is considered to be entering
-
beam of moonbeam can—does moving it into a creature’s
space count as the creature entering the area? Our design
doesn’t count. If the creature is still in the area at the start
thunderwave. We
on a turn. You can’t move a creature in and out of it to
damage it over and over again on the same turn.
Version 2.7 ©2021 Wizards of the Coast LLC. Permission granted to print and photocopy this document for personal use only.
moonbeam
when the creature starts its turn there. You’re essentially
What happens to objects brought inside and left inside
Mordenkainen’s magnicent mansion when the spell
ends? The intent is that the objects are ejected from the
mansion when the spell ends and appear in unoccupied
spaces closest to where the door was. This intent will be
Player’s Handbook.
Does planar binding summon the creature to be bound,
or is that done separately? Planar binding doesn’t sum-
mon 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 trans-
formed by polymorph
you from concentrating on a spell that you previously cast
before being transformed.
Does a willing creature under the eects of polymorph
have to take the mental stats of the new form? Yes. Un-
a willing creature than it is for an unwilling one.
If a creature under the eects of polymorph takes
enough re damage to revert to its true form and
that form has re resistance, does the true form take
the full remaining damage or only half due to resis-
tance?
leftover damage is subject to that form’s damage resis-
Can a creature under the eects of polymorph have
other spell eects on them, or are those game statistics
also replaced by the those of the beast form? Polymorph
What happens if I’m polymorphed or Wild Shaped into
a creature with fewer than 100 hit points and then I’m
targeted by power word kill? You die.
What kinds of things count as “nonmagical trinkets”
for prestidigitation? Prestidigitation can create a little
Player’s Handbook (p.
If you grapple or shove an enemy creature, does that
end a sanctuary spell cast on you? If you use the grapple
or shove option in the combat rules (PHsanctu-
ary
Can I hand a shadow blade to another PC? It only says
the blade dissipates as I throw or drop it. No. The intent
is the blade vanishes when you let go of it (that’s one of the
meanings of the word “drop”).
If I cast shillelagh on my quartersta and have the
Polearm Master feat, does the bonus attack use a d4
or a d8 for damage?
applies to the opposite end of the weapon and always uses
shillelagh
just as it is for a normal one.
If a spellcaster is aected by slow and takes two turns
to nish casting a spell, what happens if their target has
moved out of range or out of sight? You choose the tar-
you start.
The stinking cloud spell says that a creature wastes
its action on a failed save. So can it still use a move or
a bonus action or a reaction? Correct. The gas doesn’t
while the cloud lingers.
Do the eects of storm of vengeance stack? Or do the ef-
fects change each turn? In the spell storm of vengeance
Is the sentence of suggestion in the suggestion spell
the verbal component, or is the verbal component sep-
arate? Verbal components are mystic words (PH
not normal speech. The spell’s suggestion is an intelligible
utterance that is separate from the verbal component. The
command spell is the simplest example of this principle.
The wording in Tasha’s hideous laughter implies that
the incapacitated eect applies only if the target is
made prone. Is this right? Failing a save against Tasha’s
hideous laughter means you’re incapacitated even if you
can’t fall prone.
If you are aecting a target with telekinesis and an ally
put you inside Otiluke’s resilient sphere, can you con-
tinue aecting the target or other targets with the exist-
ing telekinesis spell?
stops you from targeting anything outside it.
If two creatures are under the eect of tether essence
and they are both damaged by an area eect such
as a dragon’s breath, do they each take the damage
twice? Yes.
Can I use unseen servant to act as an ally when using a
class feature like Sneak Attack? Unseen servant creates
PH
Whenever you cast wish, do you always have a 33 per-
cent chance of never casting it again? If you cast wish
cast wish again.
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Monsters
Is natural armor considered light armor? No. Natural
an armor you’re wearing.
Does natural armor cap a creature’s Dexterity bonus?
Natural armor doesn’t limit a creature’s Dexterity bonus.
A monster is immune to damage from nonmagical
bludgeoning weapons. Does it still take damage from
falling?
What actions can monsters use to make opportunity
attacks? Are Multiattack and breath weapon actions
allowed?
rules (PH-
MM
The bite attacks of ghouls and ghasts don’t appear to
have prociency bonus added in. Intentional or mis-
take?-
-
The Monster Manual says gnolls speak Gnoll, but the
Player’s Handbook doesn’t mention that language.
What is correct? The Player’s Handbook language tables
Mon-
ster Manual
Does a monster with at-will spellcasting ability mean
it can cast a spell as an action or as a bonus action? If a
cast using its normal casting time.
If a monster makes a melee attack that uses its Dex-
terity modier, is it considered to have used a nesse
weapon?
-
ity with it.
The Monster Manual notes that a mezzoloth exhales
toxic fumes that can choke and kill whole groups of
creatures. However, its cloudkill is listed under Innate
Spellcasting. Because of that, would a paladin’s Aura of
Warding resist it? cloudkill
of Warding would be able to grant you and friendly crea-
Is the breath weapon of a dragon magical? If you cast
antimagic eldarmor of invulnerability-
other feature of the game that protects against magical
protect me against a dragon’s breath?” The breath weapon
antimagic
eld won’t help you but armor of invulnerability will.
-
•
multiverse’s physics and the physiology of many
• the concentrated magical energy that is contained in
a magic item or channeled to create a spell or other
exists because of that magic-enhanced nature. The second
type of magic is what the rules are concerned about. When
that second type. Determining whether a game feature is
• Is it a magic item?
•
that’s mentioned in its description?
•
• Is it fueled by the use of spell slots?
• Does its description say it’s magical?
is magical.
-
Does the movement from a dragon’s Wing Attack leg-
endary action draw attacks of opportunity if it moves
out of reach?
Does a creature with Magic Resistance have advantage
on saving throws against Channel Divinity abilities,
such as Turn the Faithless? Channel Divinity creates
-
din). Magic Resistance applies.
Do air, re, and water elementals suer any penalties
for ghting or using skills while they are squeezing into
a space that’s 5 feet wide or less?-
mental ignores the movement part of the squeezing rule
(PH
Can an earth elemental grapple with a creature and
then pull it underground and leave it there to die? No.
An earth elemental’s Earth Glide is meant to apply to itself
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when it moves in this way.
Does the lich’s Disrupt Life ability aect animated ob-
jects and other constructs? The ability targets creatures
If a shadow rolls a critical hit, does it reduce the target’s
Strength by 2d4, as well dealing the extra necrotic dam-
age? No. A critical hit lets you roll damage dice twice. An
Since game features of the same name don’t stack,
does that mean a target can’t be aected by a shadow’s
Strength Drain more than once between rests? The
Is a vampire aected by hold person or calm emotions?
Hold person and calm
emotions
a humanoid.
Is there a limit to the number of creatures a vampire
can charm at once?
of creatures a vampire can have charmed at once. A vam-
enemies to become charmed if their saving throws aren’t
successful.
How does a monster’s Leadership ability work? A crea-
Does a gauth’s Devour Magic eye ray end a creature’s
attunement to an attuned magic item the ray af-
fects? No.
Can a creature that burrows grapple a target and drag
them into the ground by burrowing? No. A burrowing
creature can drag another creature with them only if they
creature into a tunnel it creates when burrowing. Con-
ground with it.
Can a hydra use Reactive Heads to make multiple op-
portunity attacks against one creature at the same time
when it provokes?
away from a hydra.
Magic Items
Can potions be administered to unconscious characters
as an action?
else as an action (DMG
If a potion doesn’t duplicate a spell, does it require
concentration?
only if its description says so or if it duplicates a spell that
requires concentration.
For the hat of disguise, how do I set the spell save DC
for disguise self? Does the wearer have to be a caster?
-
DMG
“Spells”).
Which is correct in the Dungeon Master’s Guide, the
rule for scrolls or the rule for a spell scroll? They’re
scroll of protection
to try to activate a spell if you’re literate. The rule for a
spell scroll
on your class’s spell list for you to read the scroll.
A spell scrollspell
scrollscroll of X (where Xspell
scroll of X (where X
spell scroll follows the
same rule.
For you to meet a spell scroll
on the scroll needs to be on whatever spell list is used by
your class.
Do the AC bonuses from a ring of protection and brac-
ers of defense stack? -
less they’re from the same spell (see “Combining Magical
Player’s Handbook
ring of protection
since you can’t attune to more than one copy of an item
at a time.
Do magic weapons give you a bonus to attack and dam-
age rolls?
rolls and damage rolls only if its description says it does.
Every magic weapon can bypass resistances and immuni-
magic weapons are more accurate and damaging than
+1 long-
sword and a giant slayer
ame tongue
nor a frost brand
-
-
-
thing that all magic weapons provide automatically.
My ghter attacks a creature with a magical longbow
and nonmagical arrows. Is the attack magical? The at-
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in the errata for the Dungeon Master’s Guide.)
Are magic weapons with the thrown property (javelins
and the like) assumed to return to their owner after
being thrown? If a magic weapon returns to you after you
dwarven thrower
(DMG
If a rogue with the Assassinate feature uses a vorpal
sword, isn’t the surprise attack an instant kill? No. A
vorpal sword
decapitate someone. A rogue with the Assassin archetype
vorpal sword scores
its head.
Would an elf get a saving throw versus a philter of love
as it’s a charm? The description implies there is no
save. There is no save against the philter of love. The love
is just that strong.
Does the ring of the ram use spell attacks or weapon
attacks? ring
of the ram
Dungeon Master’s Guide
When using a rope of entanglement, do I keep hold-
ing one end in my hand, or does the entire rope wrap
around the target? You are still holding the rope while the
other end entangles the target.
Can a sphere of annihilation enter a Leomund’s tiny
hut? Yes. The sphere destroys the dome.
Can you gain the magical bonus of a +2 shield if you are
holding the shield without taking an action to don it?
AC bonus only if you use your action to don the shield as
of the Player’s Handbook).
If a character hits a monk with a dwarven thrower and
the monk uses Deect Missiles, does the hammer re-
turn to the attacker rst, or can the monk catch it? The
