A SPELL FOR ALL DRAGON GEM HOW TO

What ruling is more fun at your table? Discuss with your DM. This is a variant rule, its application will need to be adjudicated by the DM. Who is to say that their spell level doesn't work like a warlock's? The DM. That's not strong argument, but it's a way to apply specific over general to a wide open variant rule.Īnd this is a dragon. A lower level spell cast at a higher level expands to fill the slot. The appeal to specific over general is that the text specific to the dragon only limits spells maximum level. The specified restriction on spell level is based on the dragon's CR. More nuanced ruling: yes they can be upcast

If not, go for the more nuanced ruling.ĭue to innate casting's general limitations, the simplest way to approach this is 'the dragon casts spells at their lowest level.' This is further supported by the lack of spell slots to assign to a given spell.

If it is a restriction, go for the simple ruling.

This all boils down to how the DM wants to treat the dragon's not having assigned spell slots. Most of the other spell casters (like the Archmage or the Cult Fanatic) have spell slots listed and depicted. We begin to see how wide open this variant rule is. Effectively, the spell expands to fill the slot it is put into. For instance, if Umara casts Magic Missile using one of her 2nd-level slots, that Magic Missile is 2nd level. When a spellcaster casts a spell using a slot that is of a higher level than the spell, the spell assumes the higher level for that casting. 'The spell’s level can be no higher than. For example, are the spells cast as a warlock's spells are cast, all at the same level? That's up to the DM to decide.

If they are not, then dragons are only limited by their CR for the level at which their spells are cast. That leaves open to DM ruling whether spell slots are even a thing for a dragon. Lightning Bolt spell can cast it as a 5th-level spell by using one of For example, a Drow Mage with the 3rd-level

Variant Dragons aren't described as having spell slotsĪ monster can Cast a Spell from its list at a higher level if it has You can make the case (as Szega does) that this isn't specific enough to override the general innate spellcasting rule. 5) that opens an exception to the general rule since it only limits the dragon spell levels at the upper end. The restriction is 'no higher than.' This can be looked at as specific over general (Basic Rules, p. The spell’s level can be no higher than one-third the dragon’s Challenge rating (rounded down)

You can argue that there's a 'noted otherwise' in the dragon's variant ability and thus innate spellcasting is not a hard restriction. This text suggests that the invisibility spell would be cast at 2d level and could not be up cast. Unless noted otherwise, an innate spell of 1st level or higher is always cast at its lowest possible level and can’t be cast at a higher level. But wait! Innate spell casting has a restrictionĪ monster with the innate ability to cast Spells has the Innate Spellcasting Special trait. Does the DM want to treat the dragon like a Warlock? There isn't guidance on that one way or the other, so the DM can treat all of this dragon's spells as third level spells. Since both of those spells can be up-cast per their spell text, and the dragon can cast spells at third level based on CR/3, the dragon could cast them at up to third level. Challenge Rating: 10 (young red dragon, MM) This is a variant rule, so make a ruling (or propose one to your DM)Īt first blush, casting the spell at its lowest level isn't a restriction. Each spell can be cast once per day, requiring no material Components, and the spell’s level can be no higher than one-third the dragon’s Challenge rating (rounded down).Ĭharisma Modifier: +4. A non-variant dragon does not have the Innate Spellcasting trait (thank you as Innate Spellcasters (MM)Ī young or older dragon can innately cast a number of Spells equal to its Charisma modifier.

A SPELL FOR ALL DRAGON GEM HOW TO

The Monster Manual is a DM tool, strictly speaking, and the DM has considerable latitude in how to implement a dragon's spellcasting ability if it is chosen. It is worth bearing in mind that the Monster Manual Variant Spellcasting for dragons is a DM option that lacks a great deal of specificity. Might be up-castable to third level (if the spell can be upcast)

A spell for all dragon gem