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Enhance Ability

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Enhance Ability
  • Level: 2
  • School: Transmutation
  • Class: Bard, Cleric, Druid, Ranger, Sorcerer, Wizard
  • Casting Time: Action
  • Range: Touch
  • Components: V, S, M (fur or a feather)
  • Duration: Concentration, up to 1 hour

You touch a creature and choose Strength, Dexterity, Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma. For the duration, the target has Advantage on ability checks using the chosen ability.

Using a Higher-Level Spell Slot. You can target one additional creature for each spell slot level above 2. You can choose a different ability for each target.

Tactical Usage​

Ability Enhancement: Enhance Ability provides significant bonuses to specific ability scores and related functions. This 2nd-level transmutation spell excels at optimizing characters for specific tasks or challenges.

Optimal Timing: Cast before skill challenges, when specific abilities are crucial, or to optimize party members for upcoming tasks.

Resource Management: Uses a 2nd-level spell slot - available from character level 3+. 1-hour concentration provides substantial enhancement duration.

Target Selection: Single creature within touch range gains chosen ability enhancement.

Spell Combinations​

Synergistic Spells:

  • Enhancement Magic: Combine with guidance or bardic inspiration for comprehensive ability improvement
  • Protection Magic: Layer with shield of faith for well-rounded character enhancement
  • Utility Magic: Pair with skills-focused spells for specialized task optimization

Class Feature Interactions:

  • Expertise: Doubled proficiency bonuses stack with enhance ability for exceptional skill performance
  • Jack of All Trades: Bard features complement ability score improvements
  • Skill Enhancement: Any features that improve skills benefit from ability score bonuses

Multi-Caster Coordination: Multiple enhance ability effects can optimize different party members for specialized roles.

Material Component Details​

Component Acquisition: Fur or feather from beast corresponding to chosen ability enhancement.

Component Handling: Animal components represent the natural capabilities being enhanced.

Roleplay Opportunities: Different animal components might reflect character preferences, regional availability, or magical traditions.

Economic Considerations: Minimal component costs for significant ability enhancement benefits.

Creator Notes​

Encounter Balancing: Ability score bonuses affect skill checks, saves, and related mechanics significantly.

NPC Usage: Support casters might enhance allies before important skill challenges or specialized tasks.

Environmental Considerations: Touch range requires close positioning but provides powerful enhancement.

Campaign Integration: Excellent utility magic for skill-heavy campaigns or specialized challenge preparation.

Environmental Interactions​

Terrain Effects: Touch range works in any environment where physical contact is possible.

Weather Influence: Unaffected by weather conditions, providing reliable enhancement regardless of environment.

Structural Interactions: Works in any environment where touch contact can be achieved.

Elemental Interactions: Enhancement magic unaffected by elemental conditions affecting the enhanced character.

Common Rulings & Clarifications​

Timing Questions: Action casting time with 1-hour concentration. Enhancement applies immediately.

Target Limitations: Single creature within touch range. Choose specific ability score for enhancement.

Duration Interactions: Concentration required for full hour. Advantage on all checks using chosen ability.

Mechanical Interactions: Target gains advantage on all ability checks using enhanced ability. Some options provide additional benefits.

Alternative Applications​

Non-Combat Uses: Skill challenge preparation, ability optimization, specialized task enhancement, or character improvement.

Social Encounters: Enhanced Charisma for negotiations, improved Wisdom for insight, or boosted Intelligence for knowledge.

Exploration Applications: Enhanced Strength for climbing, improved Dexterity for stealth, or boosted Constitution for endurance.

Utility Functions: Skill optimization, ability enhancement, task preparation, or character specialization.

Same School: Other transmutation spells like alter self (2nd level form change), enlarge/reduce (2nd level size change), polymorph (4th level creature transformation).

Similar Effects: guidance (cantrip skill bonus), bardic inspiration (feature-based bonus), bless (1st level multiple bonuses).

Progression Options: guidance (cantrip minor bonus), enhance ability (2nd level major enhancement), higher-level transformation magic.

Complementary Magic: guidance (additional skill bonus), bless (attack and save bonuses), bardic inspiration (versatile bonuses).

Scaling Analysis​

Level Progression: Remains valuable throughout campaigns for skill challenges and ability-dependent tasks.

Upcast Benefits: Higher spell slots extend duration significantly - 3rd level for 2 hours, etc.

Campaign Phases: Most valuable in skill-heavy campaigns where ability checks determine success.

Comparative Value: Excellent utility magic that provides significant advantage for ability-dependent challenges.

Narrative Flavor​

Casting Description: Magical energy flows into the target as their chosen ability becomes enhanced beyond normal mortal limits.

Effect Manifestation: The enhanced ability manifests through improved capability - greater strength, enhanced intelligence, improved charisma, etc.

Personal Style: Different casters manifest enhancement through unique methods - divine blessing, arcane amplification, or natural empowerment.

World Integration: Represents ability enhancement magic available to various casters, often associated with preparation, optimization, or temporary empowerment for specific challenges.