Magic Circle

← Back to Spell List

• Level: 3
• School: Abjuration
• Class: Cleric, Paladin, Warlock, Wizard
• Casting Time: 1 minute
• Range: 10 feet
• Components: V, S, M (salt and powdered silver worth 100+ GP, which the spell consumes)
• Duration: 1 hour

You create a 10-foot-radius, 20-foot-tall Cylinder of magical energy centered on a point on the ground that you can see within range. Glowing runes appear wherever the Cylinder intersects with the floor or other surface.

Choose one or more of the following types of creatures: Celestials, Elementals, Fey, Fiends, or Undead. The circle affects a creature of the chosen type in the following ways:

• The creature can't willingly enter the Cylinder by nonmagical means. If the creature tries to use teleportation or interplanar travel to do so, it must first succeed on a Charisma saving throw.
• The creature has Disadvantage on attack rolls against targets within the Cylinder.
• Targets within the Cylinder can't be possessed by or gain the Charmed or Frightened condition from the creature.

Each time you cast this spell, you can cause its magic to operate in the reverse direction, preventing a creature of the specified type from leaving the Cylinder and protecting targets outside it.

Using a Higher-Level Spell Slot. The duration increases by 1 hour for each spell slot level above 3.

Tactical Usage

Magic Circle serves as both a powerful defensive barrier and a binding tool for extraplanar creatures, making it invaluable for dealing with summoned enemies or protecting against specific creature types. Cast it proactively when expecting encounters with fiends, undead, or other specified creature types to create a safe zone for your party. The spell's 1-minute casting time requires careful positioning and timing, typically cast during preparation phases or when sufficient battlefield control exists. Use the protective mode to shield spellcasters, wounded allies, or important NPCs while the party engages threats. The binding mode proves essential for interrogating or containing summoned creatures, preventing their escape while maintaining tactical advantages. Position the circle to control enemy movement, forcing creatures to find alternative routes or waste actions attempting to enter. The disadvantage on attack rolls makes the circle valuable even against creatures that can enter it.

Spell Combinations

Magic Circle synergizes exceptionally well with summoning spells, allowing safe summoning of creatures within the circle's protection or binding hostile summoned creatures already present. Combine it with banishment spells to create a secure area before sending enemies to other planes. The spell works excellently with healing and support spells, providing protected space for extended magical assistance. Pair it with planar binding or similar effects to create comprehensive magical containment for extraplanar entities. Use alongside dimensional anchor or similar effects to prevent teleportation escapes from the binding version. The spell complements scrying or divination magic, providing protected space for extended magical observation. Combine with wall spells to create layered defensive positions with both magical and physical barriers. The circle works well with ritual spells, providing protection during lengthy casting times for complex magical workings.

Material Component Details

The spell requires salt and powdered silver worth at least 100 gold pieces, both of which are consumed during casting, making this a significant resource investment. The salt must be pure and finely ground, typically obtained from specialized alchemical suppliers or prepared through magical purification processes. The powdered silver requires grinding precious silver into the finest possible consistency, often requiring specialized tools or magical assistance. The components must be mixed in precise proportions and scattered in specific patterns during the casting process. Many practitioners prepare these components in advance, storing premixed portions in specially sealed containers to prevent contamination. The quality and purity of materials can affect the spell's reliability, with some casters preferring silver from specific sources or blessed salt from holy sites. The consumed nature of the components means regular resupply is necessary for frequent users of the spell.

Creator Notes

Magic Circle represents a significant strategic tool that can dramatically alter encounter dynamics, requiring careful consideration when introducing creatures of the affected types. The spell's long casting time means it cannot be used reactively, forcing players to anticipate threats and prepare accordingly. When designing encounters, consider whether enemies might have knowledge of the spell and take countermeasures like dispel magic or indirect attack methods. The binding mode creates interesting roleplay opportunities for interrogation or negotiation with contained creatures. Be prepared for creative applications that use the circle as area denial or tactical positioning tool rather than simple protection. The spell's material cost creates resource management decisions, particularly for parties operating in remote areas or with limited funds. Consider environmental factors that might complicate circle placement or make the spell less effective in certain terrain types.

Environmental Interactions

The magical circle must be placed on solid ground or surface, making it ineffective on shifting terrain, unstable surfaces, or areas where the foundation might be compromised. The glowing runes that mark the circle's boundaries are visible and may attract unwanted attention or reveal the party's position to enemies. Strong magical fields or areas of planar instability might interfere with the circle's effectiveness or require additional concentration to maintain. The circle's cylindrical shape extends vertically, so creatures cannot simply fly over it, but underground movement might circumvent its effects. Weather conditions like rain or wind don't typically affect the circle, but extreme environmental magic might cause interference. The spell's interaction with existing magical effects on the terrain can create complex magical resonances or conflicts. Areas with significant divine or fiendish influence might enhance or diminish the circle's effectiveness against related creature types.

Common Rulings & Clarifications

The circle affects creature types, not individual creatures, so specifying Fiends affects all fiendish creatures regardless of their specific nature or origin. Creatures must be entirely of the specified type; creatures with mixed heritage like half-fiends might not be fully affected. The spell's effects apply to creatures attempting to cross the boundary, not those already inside when cast. Teleportation and interplanar travel allow Charisma saving throws, but success still requires the creature to have some means of appearing within the circle. The disadvantage on attack rolls applies to all attacks, including spells and special abilities that require attack rolls. Possession and charm/fear immunity protects creatures within the circle but doesn't end existing conditions applied before entering. The reverse mode prevents creatures from leaving but doesn't force them to enter the circle initially.

Alternative Applications

Beyond direct protection, Magic Circle serves numerous strategic and utility purposes throughout various scenarios. Use it to create secure negotiation spaces when dealing with extraplanar entities, ensuring neither side can easily break agreement through magical compulsion. The circle provides excellent protection for extended ritual casting, research, or rest periods in dangerous planar locations. Create temporary safe zones in hostile territory, allowing the party to regroup and plan without fear of specific creature types. Use the binding mode to contain and study dangerous creatures for research purposes or to prevent escape during interrogation. The spell proves valuable for protecting innocent bystanders during encounters with extraplanar threats. Apply it to secure important locations like shrines, artifacts, or portal sites against specific creature types. The circle can serve as a deterrent, discouraging certain creatures from approaching even if they might overcome its effects.

Related Spells

Magic Circle belongs to the family of protective abjuration spells, sharing thematic elements with Protection from Evil and Good, Banishment, and Planar Binding. Compare it to Protection from Evil and Good, which provides similar but more limited protections for single targets. The spell relates mechanically to Banishment and Planar Binding, often used in combination for comprehensive extraplanar creature management. Consider it alongside Dispel Evil and Good for broader anti-extraplanar tactics. The spell shares area-effect protection concepts with spells like Forbiddance and Hallow, though with different focuses and mechanics. Globe of Invulnerability provides different but complementary area protection against magical effects. The spell connects thematically to summoning spells like Conjure Celestial or Infernal Calling, often serving as a safety measure for such magic. Dimensional Anchor and similar spells complement the circle's teleportation restrictions.

Scaling Analysis

Magic Circle scales effectively with higher spell slots, gaining additional hours of duration that significantly improve its strategic value for extended encounters or exploration. At base level, the 1-hour duration covers most single encounters, while higher-level slots allow for multiple encounters or extended utility applications. The spell's effectiveness increases as characters face more powerful extraplanar threats that justify the significant resource investment. At higher levels, the 100+ gold piece component cost becomes more manageable, allowing for more frequent use as a tactical tool. The spell maintains relevance throughout character progression because extraplanar creatures remain significant threats regardless of character level. Consider the spell's utility for high-level planar adventures where encounters with specified creature types are more common. The spell's protective benefits scale with the party's tactical sophistication, becoming more valuable as players develop complex strategies that utilize its unique properties.

Narrative Flavor

When cast, Magic Circle manifests as an intricate array of glowing runes and symbols that etch themselves into the ground with crackling magical energy, creating a perfect circle of arcane protection. The barrier itself appears as a faint, shimmering curtain of energy that extends upward like a translucent cylinder, pulsing gently with protective power. The runes typically reflect the caster's magical tradition and intended targets, displaying holy symbols against fiends, natural patterns against aberrations, or geometric forms against elementals. As the spell takes effect, the air within the circle feels charged with protective energy, providing a sense of safety and security to those within. When creatures of the specified type approach, the barrier flares more brightly, creating visible resistance that ripples across the cylindrical surface. The binding version appears more ominous, with the runes glowing in darker colors and the barrier seeming to press inward rather than expand outward. Throughout the spell's duration, the circle maintains a subtle humming or chanting sound that reflects the magical forces holding the barrier in place.