Dispel Magic
- Level: 3
- School: Abjuration
- Class: Bard, Cleric, Druid, Paladin, Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard
- Casting Time: Action
- Range: 120 feet
- Components: V, S
- Duration: Instantaneous
Choose one creature, object, or magical effect within range. Any spell of 3rd level or lower on the target ends. For each spell of 4th level or higher on the target, make an ability check using your spellcasting ability. The DC equals 10 + the spell's level. On a successful check, the spell ends.
Using a Higher-Level Spell Slot. You automatically end the effects of a spell on the target if the spell's level is equal to or less than the level of the spell slot you used.
Tactical Usage
Magic Disruption: Dispel Magic provides crucial magical countermeasures and cleansing capabilities. This 3rd-level abjuration spell excels at removing harmful enchantments and neutralizing magical threats.
Optimal Timing: Most effective against buffed enemies, when party members are affected by harmful magic, or when magical obstacles block progress.
Resource Management: Uses a 3rd-level spell slot - available from character level 5+. Wide class availability makes this accessible to most spellcasters.
Target Selection: Choose targets with multiple magical effects for maximum value. Consider enemy buffs, ally curses, or environmental magical obstacles.
Spell Combinations
Synergistic Spells:
- Detection Magic: Combine with detect magic to identify targets for dispelling
- Counterspell: Layer with counterspell for comprehensive magical defense
- Protection Spells: Clear harmful effects before applying protective magic
Class Feature Interactions:
- Spell Save DC: Higher spellcasting ability improves success against high-level magic
- Metamagic: Sorcerers can extend range or apply other enhancements
- Abjuration Focus: Wizards specializing in abjuration gain enhanced dispelling power
Multi-Caster Coordination: Multiple casters can target different magical effects or guarantee dispelling success.
Material Component Details
Component Acquisition: No material components required - only verbal and somatic components needed.
Component Handling: Simple V, S casting allows quick deployment during combat or crisis situations.
Roleplay Opportunities: Different dispelling manifestations reflect magical traditions or countermagic techniques.
Economic Considerations: No costs make this economically viable for regular magical threat neutralization.
Creator Notes
Encounter Balancing: Dispel magic significantly affects encounters with buffed enemies or magical environmental challenges.
NPC Usage: Enemy spellcasters can dispel party buffs, while allied casters provide magical cleansing services.
Environmental Considerations: 120-foot range allows targeting of distant magical effects or obstacles.
Campaign Integration: Essential anti-magic tool for campaigns featuring heavy magical opposition or environmental enchantments.
Environmental Interactions
Terrain Effects: 120-foot range allows flexible targeting across most encounter areas.
Weather Influence: Unaffected by weather conditions, providing reliable magical countermeasures regardless of environment.
Structural Interactions: Can target magical effects on objects, creatures, or environmental features.
Elemental Interactions: Neutralizes magical effects regardless of their elemental or supernatural origin.
Common Rulings & Clarifications
Timing Questions: Action casting time with instantaneous effect. No concentration required.
Target Limitations: Single target within 120 feet. Automatically dispels 3rd level or lower, requires ability check for higher levels.
Duration Interactions: Instantaneous dispelling with permanent effect removal until reapplied.
Mechanical Interactions: Upcast slots automatically dispel equal or lower level effects without ability checks.
Alternative Applications
Non-Combat Uses: Remove persistent magical effects, clear magical obstacles, dispel illusions, or cleanse cursed items.
Social Encounters: Dispel charm effects, remove disguise magic, or clear magical deceptions during negotiations.
Exploration Applications: Clear magical barriers, dispel persistent illusions, or remove magical traps and obstacles.
Utility Functions: Magical item testing, curse removal, enchantment cleansing, or magical research applications.
Related Spells
Same School: Other abjuration spells like counterspell (3rd level spell prevention), protection from evil and good (1st level creature defense), antimagic field (8th level magic suppression).
Similar Effects: counterspell (3rd level prevention), greater dispel magic (higher level variant), antimagic field (8th level area suppression).
Progression Options: dispel magic (3rd level targeted), greater dispel magic (enhanced targeting), antimagic field (8th level area denial).
Complementary Magic: detect magic (identify targets), counterspell (prevent casting), remove curse (specialized curse removal).
Scaling Analysis
Level Progression: Remains consistently valuable throughout campaigns for magical threat management.
Upcast Benefits: Higher spell slots automatically succeed against equal or lower level magic, eliminating ability check requirements.
Campaign Phases: Peak effectiveness in magic-heavy campaigns where dispelling becomes tactically crucial.
Comparative Value: Excellent utility magic that justifies 3rd-level slot investment for crucial magical countermeasures.
Narrative Flavor
Casting Description: Disruptive energy flows toward the target as magical formulae unravel and enchantments dissolve under your countermagic.
Effect Manifestation: Magical auras flicker and fade as spell effects unravel, returning targets to their natural, unenchanted state.
Personal Style: Wizards use analytical dispelling techniques, clerics channel divine purification, while druids restore natural balance by removing artificial magic.
World Integration: Represents fundamental countermagic available to most spellcasting traditions, often associated with magical defense, purification, or anti-magic specialization.