Mending

← Back to Spell List

• Level: Cantrip
• School: Transmutation
• Class: Bard, Cleric, Druid, Sorcerer, Wizard
• Casting Time: 1 minute
• Range: Touch
• Components: V, S, M (two lodestones)
• Duration: Instantaneous

This spell repairs a single break or tear in an object you touch, such as a broken chain link, two halves of a broken key, a torn cloak, or a leaking wineskin. As long as the break or tear is no larger than 1 foot in any dimension, you mend it, leaving no trace of the former damage.

This spell can physically repair a magic item, but it can't restore magic to such an object.

Tactical Usage

Mending provides essential utility for maintaining equipment integrity and solving problems that require precise repair work, making it invaluable for extended adventures where equipment damage accumulates over time. Use it to repair weapons, armor, and tools that have suffered battle damage, maintaining combat effectiveness without needing to purchase replacements or visit settlements. The spell excels at fixing critical equipment failures that could compromise party safety, such as damaged rope, broken climbing gear, or cracked containers holding important supplies. Apply it to restore functionality to puzzle mechanisms, door locks, or other mechanical devices that need to work properly for progress through dungeons or challenges. The cantrip nature means unlimited use without resource expenditure, making it cost-effective for routine maintenance and minor repairs throughout adventures. Use it for investigative purposes by repairing damaged documents, broken artifacts, or shattered evidence that might provide crucial information. The spell proves particularly valuable in survival situations where equipment failure could mean the difference between life and death.

Spell Combinations

Mending synergizes well with detection spells like Identify or Detect Magic, allowing you to assess magical items before attempting repairs and understanding what can be safely fixed. Combine it with other utility cantrips like Prestidigitation for comprehensive equipment maintenance, addressing both mechanical repairs and cleanliness issues simultaneously. The spell works excellently with crafting magic or mundane skills, providing the fine detail work needed to complete complex construction or repair projects. Use it alongside divination magic to locate all damaged components or understand the extent of repairs needed for complex objects or mechanisms. Pair it with transmutation spells that alter material properties, preparing substances for repair or strengthening materials before attempting fixes. The spell complements creation magic by repairing summoned or conjured items that might suffer damage during use. Combine with investigation abilities to understand how objects were damaged, helping prevent similar problems in the future.

Material Component Details

Mending requires two lodestones as material components, representing the magnetic attraction needed to draw broken pieces back together into unified wholes. The lodestones must be actual magnetic stones rather than simple iron or other ferrous metals, though they don't need to be particularly large or valuable specimens. Many practitioners keep small lodestones in component pouches or toolkits, as the stones are reusable and don't deteriorate with repeated casting. The magnetic properties of the lodestones symbolically represent the spell's ability to draw separated materials back into their original unified state. Some crafters prefer lodestones from specific regions or with particular magnetic strengths, believing they enhance the spell's effectiveness on different materials. The component requirement encourages preparation and resource management, as losing lodestones temporarily prevents access to the spell until replacements are acquired. The stones can be incorporated into jewelry, tools, or magical focuses, allowing discrete access during repair work.

Creator Notes

Mending provides excellent utility without overwhelming game balance, encouraging problem-solving and preparation while maintaining the importance of equipment care and resource management. The spell's limitations prevent it from trivializing equipment damage or magical item destruction, maintaining stakes for dangerous encounters and careful play. When designing adventures, consider how the spell affects puzzle design and whether broken objects should require multiple castings or have breaks larger than 1 foot. The cantrip level ensures availability to most spellcasters without significant resource investment, making it accessible for utility purposes throughout character progression. Be mindful of how the spell interacts with magical items and whether certain repairs might have unintended consequences or require additional considerations. The spell encourages creative problem-solving and provides opportunities for character moments around equipment care and maintenance.

Environmental Interactions

The spell functions normally in most environmental conditions, unaffected by temperature, humidity, or atmospheric pressure that might complicate mundane repair attempts. Extreme magical environments might interfere with the transmutation energy, potentially causing repairs to be less permanent or requiring multiple attempts in areas of wild magic. The spell works on objects regardless of their original creation method, repairing both crafted items and naturally formed objects that have been broken or damaged. Underwater casting presents no particular difficulties, as the magical nature of the repair transcends normal adhesive or mechanical limitations. Areas of anti-magic completely prevent the spell's function, while zones of concentrated transmutation energy might enhance its effectiveness or allow repairs beyond normal limitations. The spell's instantaneous duration means environmental conditions during casting matter less than for sustained magical effects.

Common Rulings & Clarifications

The spell repairs a single break or tear no larger than 1 foot in any dimension, requiring multiple castings for objects with multiple damage points or extensive destruction. The repair leaves no trace of the former damage, completely restoring the object to its original condition rather than leaving visible seams or weak points. You must touch the object being repaired, requiring physical access to damaged items and preventing remote repair of inaccessible objects. The spell can physically repair magical items but cannot restore lost magical properties, meaning broken magic items regain structural integrity but not necessarily their enchantments. The 1-minute casting time prevents use during combat but allows careful application during exploration or rest periods when precision repairs are needed. Objects that have been completely destroyed or reduced to component materials cannot be repaired, as the spell fixes breaks rather than recreating objects from raw materials. The spell works on any material including metal, wood, stone, fabric, leather, and other substances commonly used in equipment construction.

Alternative Applications

Beyond equipment maintenance, Mending serves numerous creative and strategic purposes throughout different campaign scenarios and problem-solving situations. Use it to repair important documents, books, or scrolls that have been damaged by age, weather, or deliberate destruction, potentially recovering crucial information. The spell proves valuable for archaeological work, allowing restoration of broken artifacts or ancient items to better understand their original form and function. Apply it to fix damaged art objects, sculptures, or decorative items that might have cultural, historical, or monetary value requiring preservation. The spell can repair damaged containers, vehicles, or transportation equipment that affects party mobility or cargo capacity during travel. Use it for social purposes by offering repair services to NPCs, building relationships and demonstrating useful skills that create positive impressions. The spell serves investigative purposes by repairing broken evidence or crime scene materials that might reveal important clues about events or perpetrators.

Related Spells

Mending belongs to the transmutation school's tradition of object manipulation and material alteration, sharing thematic elements with other utility magic focused on practical problem-solving. Compare it to Fabricate, which creates objects rather than repairing them, and Stone Shape, which alters materials rather than fixing damage. The spell relates to other cantrips that provide utility functions like Prestidigitation, Light, or Guidance, representing the foundational magical abilities available to most spellcasters. Consider it alongside other maintenance and creation magic for comprehensive equipment care strategies that address different aspects of gear preservation and improvement. The spell shares practical applications with mundane crafting skills and tool proficiencies, often working in conjunction with traditional repair methods. Creation magic like Minor Conjuration or Conjure Objects provides alternative approaches to equipment needs but with different resource costs and limitations. The spell connects to preservation magic that maintains or protects objects from damage rather than repairing existing harm.

Scaling Analysis

Mending does not scale with character level or spell slot expenditure, maintaining consistent utility as a cantrip throughout character progression from beginning to end game. The spell's value increases with adventure complexity and equipment dependency, becoming more important as characters acquire valuable or specialized gear that benefits from maintenance. Its utility scales with campaign style and environmental challenges, proving more valuable in survival-focused adventures or exploration campaigns where equipment failure has serious consequences. At higher levels, the spell remains relevant for maintaining magical items, rare equipment, and specialized tools that become increasingly important for character effectiveness. The cantrip's unlimited use becomes more valuable as characters face more frequent equipment stress from powerful enemies and dangerous environments. Consider the spell's strategic importance compared to other cantrip choices, particularly for characters who rely heavily on equipment or engage in crafting activities.

Narrative Flavor

When cast, Mending begins with the caster carefully examining the damaged object while speaking words of restoration and unity that resonate with the item's original creation and intended purpose. The spell manifests as the lodestones in the caster's hands beginning to glow with soft magnetic energy that extends toward the broken object like invisible threads seeking their counterparts. The damaged pieces begin to move slowly toward each other, drawn by magical forces that overcome gravity and friction, aligning perfectly as if guided by memory of their original configuration. As the repair progresses, the break point glows with warm light that seems to weave the separated materials back together at a molecular level, erasing all evidence of the damage. The magical energy appears differently based on the object's material: metal items might show brief sparks as molecular bonds reform, wooden objects could display flowing grain patterns, while fabric or leather shows threads reweaving themselves with remarkable precision. The lodestones' magnetic pull creates a satisfying sense of completion as the final connections form, leaving the object completely restored with no trace of its former damage. When the spell concludes, the repaired item often appears slightly renewed, as if the magical restoration has removed not just the recent break but also minor wear and stress that had accumulated over time.