Chapter 7: Spells
Source Player Core pg. 295
Whether it comes in the form of eldritch artifacts, otherworldly beings, or witchwarpers altering reality with strange spells, magic brings fantasy and wonder to Starfinder. This chapter explains how spells work and how spellcasters prepare and cast their spells.
Even with the widespread presence of technology, spellcasters can be found in every corner of the galaxy. Some spellcasters draw magic from other realities, some from their mystical connections to cosmic forces, and others rewrite the underlying code of the universe to cast their spells.
With special gestures and utterances, a spellcaster can call forth mystic energies, warp the mind, protect themself against danger, or even create something from nothing. Each class has its own method of learning, preparing, and casting spells, and every individual spell produces a specific effect, so learning new spells gives a spellcaster an increasing array of options to accomplish their goals.
Even with the widespread presence of technology, spellcasters can be found in every corner of the galaxy. Some spellcasters draw magic from other realities, some from their mystical connections to cosmic forces, and others rewrite the underlying code of the universe to cast their spells.
With special gestures and utterances, a spellcaster can call forth mystic energies, warp the mind, protect themself against danger, or even create something from nothing. Each class has its own method of learning, preparing, and casting spells, and every individual spell produces a specific effect, so learning new spells gives a spellcaster an increasing array of options to accomplish their goals.
Spell Slots
Source Player Core pg. 295
Characters of spellcasting classes can cast a number of spells each day; the spells you can cast in a day are referred to as spell slots. At 1st level, a character has only a small number of 1st-rank spell slots per day, but as you advance in level, you gain more spell slots of higher rank. A spell's rank indicates its overall power, from 1 to 10.
Prepared Spells
Source Player Core pg. 295
If you're a prepared spellcaster—such as a technomancer (see Starfinder Tech Core)—you must spend time each day preparing spells for that day. At the start of your daily preparations, you select a number of spells of different spell ranks, determined by your character level and class. Your spells remain prepared until you cast them or until you prepare spells again.
Each prepared spell is expended after a single casting, so if you want to cast a particular spell more than once in a day, you need to prepare that spell multiple times. The exception to this rule is for spells with the cantrip trait; once you prepare a cantrip, you can cast it as many times as you want until the next time you prepare spells. See the Cantrips page for more information on cantrips.
You might gain an ability that allows you to swap prepared spells or perform other aspects of preparing spells at different times throughout the day, but only your daily preparation counts for the purpose of effects that last until the next time you prepare spells.
Each prepared spell is expended after a single casting, so if you want to cast a particular spell more than once in a day, you need to prepare that spell multiple times. The exception to this rule is for spells with the cantrip trait; once you prepare a cantrip, you can cast it as many times as you want until the next time you prepare spells. See the Cantrips page for more information on cantrips.
You might gain an ability that allows you to swap prepared spells or perform other aspects of preparing spells at different times throughout the day, but only your daily preparation counts for the purpose of effects that last until the next time you prepare spells.
Spontaneous Spells
Source Player Core pg. 295
If you're a spontaneous spellcaster—such as a mystic—you choose which spell from your spell repertoire that you're using a spell slot for at the moment you decide to cast it. This provides you with more freedom in your spellcasting, but you have fewer spells in your spell repertoire, as determined by your character level and class. When you make your daily preparations, all your spell slots are refreshed, but you don't get to change the spells in your repertoire.
Heightened Spells
Source Player Core pg. 295
Both prepared and spontaneous spellcasters can cast a spell at a higher spell rank than that listed for the spell. This is called heightening the spell. A prepared spellcaster can heighten a spell by preparing it in a higher-rank slot than its normal spell rank, while a spontaneous spellcaster can heighten a spell by casting it using a higher-rank spell slot, so long as they know the spell at that rank (see Heightened Spontaneous Spells below). When you heighten your spell, the spell's rank increases to match the higher rank of the spell slot you've prepared it in or used to cast it. This is useful for any spell, because some effects, such as counteracting, depend on the spell's rank.
In addition, many spells have additional specific benefits when they are heightened, such as increased damage. These extra benefits are described at the end of the spell's stat block. Some heightened entries specify one or more ranks at which the spell must be prepared or cast to gain these extra advantages. Each of these heightened entries states specifically which aspects of the spell change at the given rank. Read the heightened entry only for the spell rank you're using or preparing; if its benefits are meant to include any of the effects of a lower-rank heightened entry, those benefits will be included in the entry.
Other heightened entries give a number after a plus sign, indicating that heightening grants extra advantages over multiple ranks. The listed effect applies for every increment of ranks by which the spell is heightened above its lowest spell rank, and the benefit is cumulative. For example, slice reality says “Heightened (+1) The damage increases by 1d8.” Because slice reality deals 7d8 void damage at 6th rank, a 7th-rank slice reality would deal 8d8 void damage, an 8th-rank spell would deal 9d8 void damage, and so on.
In addition, many spells have additional specific benefits when they are heightened, such as increased damage. These extra benefits are described at the end of the spell's stat block. Some heightened entries specify one or more ranks at which the spell must be prepared or cast to gain these extra advantages. Each of these heightened entries states specifically which aspects of the spell change at the given rank. Read the heightened entry only for the spell rank you're using or preparing; if its benefits are meant to include any of the effects of a lower-rank heightened entry, those benefits will be included in the entry.
Other heightened entries give a number after a plus sign, indicating that heightening grants extra advantages over multiple ranks. The listed effect applies for every increment of ranks by which the spell is heightened above its lowest spell rank, and the benefit is cumulative. For example, slice reality says “Heightened (+1) The damage increases by 1d8.” Because slice reality deals 7d8 void damage at 6th rank, a 7th-rank slice reality would deal 8d8 void damage, an 8th-rank spell would deal 9d8 void damage, and so on.
Heightened Spontaneous Spells
Source Player Core pg. 296
If you're a spontaneous spellcaster, you must know a spell at the specific rank that you want to cast it in order to heighten it. You can add a spell to your spell repertoire at more than a single rank so that you have more options when casting it. For example, if you added skyfire wings to your repertoire as a 3rd-rank spell and again as a 7th-rank spell, you could cast it as a 3rd-rank or a 7th-rank spell; however, you couldn't cast it as a 5th-rank spell.
Many spontaneous spellcasting classes provide abilities like the signature spells class feature, which allows you to cast a limited number of spells as heightened versions even if you know the spell at only a single rank.
As a spontaneous caster, you can also choose to cast a lower-rank spell using a higher-rank spell slot without heightening it or knowing it at a higher rank. This casts the spell at the rank you know the spell, not the rank of the higher slot. The spell doesn't have any heightened effects, so it's usually not a very efficient use of your magic outside of highly specific circumstances. For instance, if your party was having trouble with an invisible enemy, and you had revealing light in your repertoire but had already spent all of your 2nd-rank spell slots, it might be worth it to use a 3rd-rank spell slot to cast the spell, even though it'd have no heightened benefit.
Many spontaneous spellcasting classes provide abilities like the signature spells class feature, which allows you to cast a limited number of spells as heightened versions even if you know the spell at only a single rank.
As a spontaneous caster, you can also choose to cast a lower-rank spell using a higher-rank spell slot without heightening it or knowing it at a higher rank. This casts the spell at the rank you know the spell, not the rank of the higher slot. The spell doesn't have any heightened effects, so it's usually not a very efficient use of your magic outside of highly specific circumstances. For instance, if your party was having trouble with an invisible enemy, and you had revealing light in your repertoire but had already spent all of your 2nd-rank spell slots, it might be worth it to use a 3rd-rank spell slot to cast the spell, even though it'd have no heightened benefit.
Cantrips
Source Player Core pg. 296
A cantrip is a special type of spell that's weaker than other spells but can be used with greater freedom and flexibility. The title of a cantrip's stat block says “Cantrip” instead of “Spell”, and the spell has the cantrip trait. Casting a cantrip doesn't use up your spell slots; you can cast a cantrip at will, any number of times per day. If you're a prepared caster, you can prepare a specific number of cantrips each day. You can't prepare a cantrip in a spell slot.
A cantrip is always automatically heightened to half your level, rounded up. For a typical spellcaster, this means its rank is equal to the highest rank of spell slot you have.
A cantrip is always automatically heightened to half your level, rounded up. For a typical spellcaster, this means its rank is equal to the highest rank of spell slot you have.
Focus Spells
Source Player Core pg. 296
Focus spells are a special type of spell attained directly from a specific source, such as a field of study, connection to a mystical force, or exposure to an alternate reality. You can learn focus spells only through special class features or feats, rather than choosing them from a spell list. Furthermore, you cast focus spells using a special pool of Focus Points—you can't prepare a focus spell in a spell slot or use your spell slots to cast focus spells; similarly, you can't spend your Focus Points to cast spells that aren't focus spells. Even some classes that don't normally grant spellcasting can grant focus spells. The title of a focus spell's stat block says “Focus” instead of “Spell”, and the spell has the focus trait.
Focus spells are automatically heightened to half your level rounded up, just like cantrips are. You can't cast a focus spell if its minimum rank is greater than half your level rounded up, even if you somehow gain access to it.
Casting any of your focus spells costs you 1 Focus Point. You automatically gain a focus pool the first time you gain an ability that gives you a focus spell. The maximum number of points in your pool is equal to the number of focus spells you know or 3, whichever is lower. This counts only spells that require Focus Points to cast.
You replenish all the Focus Points in your pool during your daily preparations. You can also use the Refocus activity to pray, study, meditate, or otherwise reattune yourself to the source of your focus magic and regain 1 Focus Point. You can Refocus multiple times to regain multiple points, up to your pool's maximum.
Focus spells are automatically heightened to half your level rounded up, just like cantrips are. You can't cast a focus spell if its minimum rank is greater than half your level rounded up, even if you somehow gain access to it.
Casting any of your focus spells costs you 1 Focus Point. You automatically gain a focus pool the first time you gain an ability that gives you a focus spell. The maximum number of points in your pool is equal to the number of focus spells you know or 3, whichever is lower. This counts only spells that require Focus Points to cast.
You replenish all the Focus Points in your pool during your daily preparations. You can also use the Refocus activity to pray, study, meditate, or otherwise reattune yourself to the source of your focus magic and regain 1 Focus Point. You can Refocus multiple times to regain multiple points, up to your pool's maximum.
Spellcasters with Focus Spells
Source Player Core pg. 296
If you are a spellcaster, your focus spells are the same tradition of spell as the class that gave you the focus spell. A mystic's are determined by their connection, and a witchwarper's are determined by their paradox.
Non-Spellcasters with Focus Spells
Source Player Core pg. 297
If you get focus spells from a class or other source that doesn't grant spellcasting ability, the ability that gives you focus spells also provides your proficiency for your spell attack modifier and spell DC, as well as the magical tradition of your focus spells. Though you can cast your focus spells, you don't qualify for feats and other rules that require you to be a spellcaster or have a spellcasting class feature—those require you to have spell slots.
Focus Points from Multiple Sources
Source Player Core pg. 297
It's possible, especially through archetypes, to gain focus spells from more than one source. If this happens, you have just one focus pool, counting all your focus spells to determine the points in your pool. You can spend any of your Focus Points on any of your focus spells. Likewise, when you Refocus, you get back a point as long as you follow the guidelines of any abilities that granted you focus spells. Having Focus Points from multiple sources doesn't change the tradition of your spells; if you had both healing epiphany spells and precog warp spells, your mystic spells would remain divine and the witchwarper spells occult. Similarly, you need to use the attribute modifier determined by the source of the focus spell.
Innate Spells
Source Player Core pg. 297
Certain spells are natural to your character, typically coming from your ancestry or a magic item. They're called innate spells. Innate spells don't let you qualify for abilities that require you to be a spellcaster—those require you to have spell slots. The ability that gives you an innate spell tells you how often you can cast it—usually once per day—and its magical tradition. Innate spells are refreshed during your daily preparations. Innate cantrips are cast at will and automatically heightened as normal for cantrips unless otherwise specified.
When you gain an innate spell, you become trained in the spell attack modifier and spell DC statistics. At 12th level, these proficiencies increase to expert. Unless noted otherwise, Charisma is your spellcasting attribute modifier for innate spells.
If you have an innate spell, you can cast it even if it's not of a spell rank you can normally cast. This is especially common for monsters.
You can't use your spell slots to cast your innate spells, but you might have an innate spell and also be able to prepare or cast the same spell through your class. You also can't heighten innate spells, but some abilities that grant innate spells might give you the spell at a higher rank than its base rank or change the rank at which you cast the spell.
When you gain an innate spell, you become trained in the spell attack modifier and spell DC statistics. At 12th level, these proficiencies increase to expert. Unless noted otherwise, Charisma is your spellcasting attribute modifier for innate spells.
If you have an innate spell, you can cast it even if it's not of a spell rank you can normally cast. This is especially common for monsters.
You can't use your spell slots to cast your innate spells, but you might have an innate spell and also be able to prepare or cast the same spell through your class. You also can't heighten innate spells, but some abilities that grant innate spells might give you the spell at a higher rank than its base rank or change the rank at which you cast the spell.
Casting Spells
Source Player Core pg. 298
The casting of a spell can range from a simple word of magical might that creates a fleeting effect to a complex process taking hours to cast and producing a long-term impact. Casting a spell requires the caster to make gestures and utter incantations, so being unable to speak prevents spellcasting for most casters. If your character has a long-term disability that prevents or complicates them from speaking (as described in GM Core), work with the GM to determine an analogous way they cast their spells, such as tapping in code on their comm unit or whistling.
Spellcasting creates obvious sensory manifestations, such as bright lights, crackling sounds, and sharp smells from the gathering magic. Nearly all spells manifest a spell signature—a colorful, glowing ring of magical runes or circuitry that appears in midair, typically around your hands, though what kind of spellcaster you are can affect this—witchwarpers' signatures often look like ripples or winkles in reality, and a mystic's might be inspired by their connection. How spellcasting looks can vary from one spellcasting tradition or class to another, or even from person to person. You have a great deal of freedom in flavoring your character's magic however you wish!
Spells can vary in how many actions they take, as shown in the spell's stat block. You cast cantrips, spells from spell slots, and focus spells using the same process, but must expend the spell when casting a spell from a spell slot and must spend 1 Focus Point to cast a focus spell. Some rules will refer to the Cast a Spell activity, such as “if the next action you use is to Cast a Spell.” Any spell qualifies as a Cast a Spell activity, and any characteristics of the spell use those of the specific spell you're casting.
Spellcasting creates obvious sensory manifestations, such as bright lights, crackling sounds, and sharp smells from the gathering magic. Nearly all spells manifest a spell signature—a colorful, glowing ring of magical runes or circuitry that appears in midair, typically around your hands, though what kind of spellcaster you are can affect this—witchwarpers' signatures often look like ripples or winkles in reality, and a mystic's might be inspired by their connection. How spellcasting looks can vary from one spellcasting tradition or class to another, or even from person to person. You have a great deal of freedom in flavoring your character's magic however you wish!
Spells can vary in how many actions they take, as shown in the spell's stat block. You cast cantrips, spells from spell slots, and focus spells using the same process, but must expend the spell when casting a spell from a spell slot and must spend 1 Focus Point to cast a focus spell. Some rules will refer to the Cast a Spell activity, such as “if the next action you use is to Cast a Spell.” Any spell qualifies as a Cast a Spell activity, and any characteristics of the spell use those of the specific spell you're casting.
Costs and Loci
Source Player Core pg. 298
Some spells require you to pay a cost or provide a locus. If the spell lists a cost, you must have the listed money, valuable materials, or other resources to cast the spell (such as gems or magical reagents), and they're expended during the casting.
A locus is an object that funnels or directs the magical energy of the spell but is not consumed in its casting. As part of Casting the Spell, you retrieve the locus (if necessary, and if you have a free hand), and you can put it away again if you so choose. Loci tend to be expensive, and you need to acquire them in advance to cast the spell, but they aren't expended like costs are. Unless noted otherwise, a locus has negligible Bulk.
A locus is an object that funnels or directs the magical energy of the spell but is not consumed in its casting. As part of Casting the Spell, you retrieve the locus (if necessary, and if you have a free hand), and you can put it away again if you so choose. Loci tend to be expensive, and you need to acquire them in advance to cast the spell, but they aren't expended like costs are. Unless noted otherwise, a locus has negligible Bulk.
Long Casting Times
Source Player Core pg. 298
Some spells take minutes or hours to cast. You can't use other actions or reactions while casting such a spell, though at the GM's discretion, you might be able to speak a few sentences. As with other activities that take a long time, these spells have the exploration trait, and you can't cast them in an encounter. If combat breaks out while you're casting one, your spell is disrupted (see Disrupted and Lost Spells).
Disrupted and Lost Spells
Source Player Core pg. 298
Some abilities and spells can disrupt a spell, causing it to have no effect and be lost. When you lose a spell, you've already expended the spell slot and spent the spell's costs and actions. If a spell is disrupted during a Sustain action, the spell immediately ends. The full rules for disrupting actions appear on the Disrupting Actions page.
Ranges, Areas, and Targets
Source Player Core pg. 298
Spells with a range can affect targets, create areas, or make things appear only within that range. Most spell ranges are measured in feet, though some can stretch over miles, reach anywhere on the planet, or go even farther!
Touch Range
Source Player Core pg. 298
A spell with a touch range requires you to physically touch the target. You use your unarmed reach to determine whether you can touch the creature. You can usually touch them automatically, though the spell might specify that they can attempt a saving throw or that you must attempt a spell attack roll. If an ability increases the range of a touch spell, start at 0 feet and increase from there.
Areas
Source Player Core pg. 298
Sometimes a spell has an area, which can be a burst, cone, emanation, or line. If the spell originates from your position, the spell has only an area; if you can cause the spell's area to appear farther away from you, the spell has both a range and an area.
Targets
Source Player Core pg. 298
Some spells allow you to target a creature, an object, or something more specific. The target must be within the spell's range, and you must be able to see it (or otherwise perceive it with a precise sense) to target it. At the GM's discretion, you can attempt to target a creature you can't see, as described in Detecting Creatures. If you fail to target a particular creature, this doesn't change how the spell affects any other targets the spell has.
If you choose a target that isn't valid, such as if you thought a driftdead was a living creature and targeted it with a spell that can target only living creatures, your spell fails to target that creature. If a creature starts out as a valid target but ceases to be one during a spell's duration, the spell typically ends, but the GM might decide otherwise in certain situations. Some spells restrict you to willing targets. A player can declare their character a willing or unwilling target at any time, regardless of turn order or their character's condition (such as when a character is paralyzed, unconscious, or even dead).
Spells that affect multiple creatures in an area can have both an Area entry and a Targets entry. A spell that has an area but no targets listed usually affects all creatures in the area indiscriminately.
If you choose a target that isn't valid, such as if you thought a driftdead was a living creature and targeted it with a spell that can target only living creatures, your spell fails to target that creature. If a creature starts out as a valid target but ceases to be one during a spell's duration, the spell typically ends, but the GM might decide otherwise in certain situations. Some spells restrict you to willing targets. A player can declare their character a willing or unwilling target at any time, regardless of turn order or their character's condition (such as when a character is paralyzed, unconscious, or even dead).
Spells that affect multiple creatures in an area can have both an Area entry and a Targets entry. A spell that has an area but no targets listed usually affects all creatures in the area indiscriminately.
Line of Effect
Source Player Core pg. 300
You usually need an unobstructed path to the target of a spell, the origin point of an area, or the place where you create something with a spell. You can find more information on line of effect here.
Durations
Source Player Core pg. 300
The duration of a spell is how long the spell effect lasts. Spells that last for more than an instant have a Duration entry. A spell might last until the start or end of a turn, for some number of rounds, for minutes, or even longer. If a spell's duration is given in rounds, the number of rounds remaining decreases by 1 at the start of each of the spellcaster's turns, ending when the duration reaches 0.
Some spells have effects that remain even after the spell's magic is gone. Any ongoing effect that isn't part of the spell's duration entry isn't magical. For instance, a spell such as sunburst that creates a brief, intensely bright flash of light might blind someone for a time, even permanently. This blindness couldn't be counteracted because it is not itself magical (though it might be cured by other magic, such as sound body).
If a spell's caster dies or is incapacitated during the spell's duration, the spell remains in effect until its duration ends, using the caster's initiative order.
Some spells have effects that remain even after the spell's magic is gone. Any ongoing effect that isn't part of the spell's duration entry isn't magical. For instance, a spell such as sunburst that creates a brief, intensely bright flash of light might blind someone for a time, even permanently. This blindness couldn't be counteracted because it is not itself magical (though it might be cured by other magic, such as sound body).
If a spell's caster dies or is incapacitated during the spell's duration, the spell remains in effect until its duration ends, using the caster's initiative order.
Sustaining Spells
Source Player Core pg. 300
If the spell's duration is “sustained,” it lasts until the end of your next turn unless you use the Sustain action on that turn to extend the duration of that spell.
Long Durations
Source Player Core pg. 300
If a spell's duration says it lasts until your next daily preparations, on the next day you can refrain from preparing a new spell in that spell's slot. (If you are a spontaneous caster, you can instead expend a spell slot during your preparations.) Doing so extends the spell's duration until your next daily preparations. This effectively Sustains the spell over a long period of time. If you prepare a new spell in the slot (or don't expend a spell slot), the spell ends. You can't do this if the spell didn't come from one of your spell slots. If you are dead or otherwise incapacitated at the 24-hour mark after the time you Cast the Spell or the last time you extended its duration, the spell ends. Spells with an unlimited duration last until counteracted or Dismissed. You don't need to keep a spell slot open for these spells.
Dismissing
Source Player Core pg. 300
Some spells can be dismissed, ending the duration early. This requires the caster or target to use the Dismiss action.
Defenses
Source Player Core pg. 300
If a spell allows the target to attempt a saving throw or use their AC to defend against it, the type of defense is listed in the stat block. Any details on the particular results and timing of the save appear in the text unless the entry specifies a basic saving throw, which follows a standard rule. If a spell allows a defense only under certain circumstances or at a certain time, the Defenses entry is omitted, since the text needs to explain it in more detail. Whenever a spell allows a saving throw, it uses the caster's spell DC, and one that allows AC as a defense typically requires a spell attack. More information on how to calculate your spell DC and spell attack modifier appear in the links.
Basic Saving Throws
Source Player Core pg. 300
If a spell's Defenses entry specifies a “basic” saving throw, the spell's potential effects all relate to the damage listed in the spell's description. The target takes no damage on a critical success, half damage on a success, full damage on a failure, or double damage on a critical failure. The rules for basic saving throws are found here.
Spell Attacks
Source Player Core pg. 300
Some spells require you to succeed at a spell attack roll to affect the target. This is usually because they require you to precisely aim a ray or otherwise make an accurate attack. A spell attack roll is compared to the target's AC. Spell attack rolls benefit from any bonuses or penalties to attack rolls, including your multiple attack penalty, but not any special benefits or penalties that apply only to weapon or unarmed attacks. Spell attacks don't deal any damage beyond what's listed in the spell description.
In rare cases, a spell might have you make some other type of attack, such as a weapon Strike. Such attacks use the normal rules and attack bonus for that type of attack.
In rare cases, a spell might have you make some other type of attack, such as a weapon Strike. Such attacks use the normal rules and attack bonus for that type of attack.
Identifying Spells
Source Player Core pg. 301
Sometimes you need to identify a spell, especially if its effects aren't obvious right away. If you notice a spell being cast, and you have that spell in your repertoire or prepared it that day (even if you already cast it), you automatically know what the spell is, including the rank to which it is heightened.
If you want to identify a spell but don't have it prepared or in your repertoire, you must spend an action on your turn attempting to identify it using Recall Knowledge. You typically notice a spell being cast due to its sensory spell manifestations. Identifying long-lasting spells that are already in place requires using Identify Magic instead of Recall Knowledge because you don't have the advantage of watching the spell being cast.
If you want to identify a spell but don't have it prepared or in your repertoire, you must spend an action on your turn attempting to identify it using Recall Knowledge. You typically notice a spell being cast due to its sensory spell manifestations. Identifying long-lasting spells that are already in place requires using Identify Magic instead of Recall Knowledge because you don't have the advantage of watching the spell being cast.
Counteracting
Source Player Core pg. 301
Some spells, such as dispel magic, can be used to eliminate the effects of other spells. At least one creature, object, or manifestation of the spell you are trying to counteract must be within range of the spell that you are using. You attempt a counteract check using your Charisma (or other spellcasting attribute modifier) and your proficiency bonus for spell attack rolls.
Hostile Actions
Source Player Core pg. 301
Sometimes spells prevent a target from using hostile actions, or the spell ends if a creature uses any hostile actions. A hostile action is one that can harm or damage another creature, whether directly or indirectly, but not one that a creature is unaware could cause harm. For instance, casting sonic scream into a crowd would be a hostile action, but opening a door and accidentally freeing a horrible monster wouldn't be. The GM is the final arbitrator of what is a hostile action.
Setting Triggers
Source Player Core pg. 301
If a spell is meant to respond only to certain events or under certain conditions, it might require you to set a trigger. This is a simple sensory cue that causes the spell to activate. The spell activates as a reaction when the spell's sensor observes something that fits its trigger. Depending on the spell, the trigger might be the presence of a type of creature, such as “creatures with six or more tentacles,” or it could be an observed action, such as “whenever someone enters the spell's area.”
Disguises and illusions fool the spell as long as they appear to match its parameters. For a spell to detect something visually, the spell's origin point must have line of sight. Darkness doesn't prevent this, but invisibility does, as does a successful Stealth check to Hide (against the spell's DC). For auditory detection, line of sight isn't necessary, though the sound must be audible at the spell's origin point. A Stealth check to Sneak can fool the sensor.
Disguises and illusions fool the spell as long as they appear to match its parameters. For a spell to detect something visually, the spell's origin point must have line of sight. Darkness doesn't prevent this, but invisibility does, as does a successful Stealth check to Hide (against the spell's DC). For auditory detection, line of sight isn't necessary, though the sound must be audible at the spell's origin point. A Stealth check to Sneak can fool the sensor.
Walls
Source Player Core pg. 301
Spells that create walls, such as wall of plasma, list the depth, length, and height of the wall, also specifying how it can be positioned. Some walls can be shaped; you can manipulate the wall into a form other than a straight line, choosing its contiguous path square by square. The path of a shaped wall can't enter the same space more than once, but it can double back so one section is adjacent to another section of the wall.
Reading Spells
Source Player Core pg. 301
Each spell uses the following format. Entries appear only when applicable, so not all spells will have every entry described here. The spell's name line also lists the type of spell if it's a cantrip or focus spell, as well as the rank.
Tradition This entry lists the magical traditions the spell belongs to. Some feats or other abilities might add a spell to your spell list even if you don't follow the listed traditions.
Cast Spells that take longer than a single turn to cast include this entry to list the time required, such as “1 minute.” If the spell has a cost, locus, requirements, or a trigger, that information is also listed in this section.
Range, Area, and Targets This entry lists the range of the spell, the area it affects, and the targets it can affect, if any. If none of these entries are present, the spell affects only the caster.
Defense and Duration If a spell allows the target to attempt a saving throw or use their AC to defend against it, the type of defense appears here (see Defenses for details). A Duration entry appears if the spell has one. A spell that doesn't list a duration takes place instantaneously, and anything created by it persists after the spell.
A horizontal line follows defense and duration, and the effects of the spell are described after this line. This section might also detail the possible results of a saving throw: critical success, success, failure, and critical failure.
Heightened (rank) If the spell has special effects when heightened, those effects appear at the end of the stat block.
Spell Name [one-action] Spell [Rank]
TraitTradition This entry lists the magical traditions the spell belongs to. Some feats or other abilities might add a spell to your spell list even if you don't follow the listed traditions.
Cast Spells that take longer than a single turn to cast include this entry to list the time required, such as “1 minute.” If the spell has a cost, locus, requirements, or a trigger, that information is also listed in this section.
Range, Area, and Targets This entry lists the range of the spell, the area it affects, and the targets it can affect, if any. If none of these entries are present, the spell affects only the caster.
Defense and Duration If a spell allows the target to attempt a saving throw or use their AC to defend against it, the type of defense appears here (see Defenses for details). A Duration entry appears if the spell has one. A spell that doesn't list a duration takes place instantaneously, and anything created by it persists after the spell.
A horizontal line follows defense and duration, and the effects of the spell are described after this line. This section might also detail the possible results of a saving throw: critical success, success, failure, and critical failure.
Heightened (rank) If the spell has special effects when heightened, those effects appear at the end of the stat block.
Rituals
Source Player Core pg. 381
A ritual is an esoteric and complex spell that anyone can cast. It takes much longer to cast a ritual than a normal spell, but rituals can have more powerful effects.
Casting Rituals
Source Player Core pg. 381
When you take charge of a ritual, you are its primary caster, and others assisting you are secondary casters. You can be a primary caster for a ritual even if you can't cast spells. You must know the ritual, and the ritual's spell rank can be no higher than half your level rounded up. You must also have the required proficiency rank in the skill used for the ritual's primary check, and as the primary caster, you must attempt this skill check to determine the ritual's effects. The primary skill check determines the tradition.
Rituals do not require spell slots to cast. You can heighten a ritual up to half your level rounded up, decided when the ritual is initiated. A ritual always takes at least 1 hour to perform, and often longer. While a ritual is a downtime activity, it's possible—albeit risky—to perform a ritual during exploration with enough uninterrupted time. A ritual's casting time is usually listed in days. Each day of casting requires 8 hours of participation in the ritual from all casters, with breaks during multiday rituals to allow rest. One caster can continue a multiday ritual, usually with some light chanting or meditation, while the other casters rest. All rituals require repeated spellcasting words and gestures throughout their casting time.
Rituals do not require spell slots to cast. You can heighten a ritual up to half your level rounded up, decided when the ritual is initiated. A ritual always takes at least 1 hour to perform, and often longer. While a ritual is a downtime activity, it's possible—albeit risky—to perform a ritual during exploration with enough uninterrupted time. A ritual's casting time is usually listed in days. Each day of casting requires 8 hours of participation in the ritual from all casters, with breaks during multiday rituals to allow rest. One caster can continue a multiday ritual, usually with some light chanting or meditation, while the other casters rest. All rituals require repeated spellcasting words and gestures throughout their casting time.
Learning Rituals
Source Player Core pg. 381
Learning a ritual does not count against any limits on spells in your spell repertoire or on any other normal spellcasting ability. Rituals are never common, though if you look hard, you can probably find someone who can perform an uncommon ritual for you. They may still be unwilling to teach it to you.
Cost
Source Player Core pg. 381
A ritual's Cost entry lists valuable components required to cast the ritual. If a ritual doesn't have any such components, it won't have a Cost entry. The cost is consumed when you attempt the primary skill check. Costs are often presented as a base cost multiplied by the target's level and sometimes the spell's rank. If the target's level is lower than 1, multiply the cost by 1 instead. Heightened versions that increase the base cost multiply it by the target's level or another value as appropriate. Most rituals that create permanent creatures, such as create undead, use costs based on the level of the creature, as presented on Creature Creations Ritual Table.
Creature Creation Rituals
| Creature Level | Ritual Rank Required | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| –1 or 0 | 2 | 150 credits |
| 1 | 2 | 600 credits |
| 2 | 3 | 1,050 credits |
| 3 | 3 | 1,800 credits |
| 4 | 4 | 3,000 credits |
| 5 | 4 | 4,800 credits |
| 6 | 5 | 7,500 credits |
| 7 | 5 | 10,800 credits |
| 8 | 6 | 15,000 credits |
| 9 | 6 | 21,000 credits |
| 10 | 7 | 30,000 credits |
| 11 | 7 | 42,000 credits |
| 12 | 8 | 60,000 credits |
| 13 | 8 | 90,000 credits |
| 14 | 9 | 135,000 credits |
| 15 | 9 | 195,000 credits |
| 16 | 10 | 300,000 credits |
| 17 | 10 | 450,000 credits |
Secondary Casters
Source Player Core pg. 381
Many rituals need additional secondary casters, who also don't need to be able to cast spells. Unlike a primary caster, a secondary caster doesn't need a minimum level or skill proficiency. The Secondary Casters entry, if present, indicates the minimum number of secondary casters required.
Checks
Source Player Core pg. 381
At the ritual's culmination, you must attempt the skill check listed in the Primary Check entry to determine the ritual's outcome. Primary checks usually have a very hard DC for a level that's twice the ritual's spell rank. As with other downtime activities, fortune and misfortune effects can't modify your checks for the ritual, nor can bonuses or penalties that aren't active throughout the process.
The GM can adjust the DCs of rituals, add or change primary or secondary checks, or even waive requirements to fit specific circumstances. For example, performing a ritual in a location where ley lines converge on the night of a new moon might make a normally difficult ritual drastically easier.
The GM can adjust the DCs of rituals, add or change primary or secondary checks, or even waive requirements to fit specific circumstances. For example, performing a ritual in a location where ley lines converge on the night of a new moon might make a normally difficult ritual drastically easier.
Secondary checks
Source Player Core pg. 382
Often, a ritual requires secondary checks to represent aspects of its casting, usually with a standard DC for a level twice the ritual's spell rank. A different secondary caster must attempt each secondary check. If there are more secondary casters than checks, the others don't attempt any.
Secondary casters attempt their checks before you attempt the primary check; no matter their results, the ritual proceeds to the primary check. Secondary checks affect the primary check depending on their results.
Secondary casters attempt their checks before you attempt the primary check; no matter their results, the ritual proceeds to the primary check. Secondary checks affect the primary check depending on their results.
Critical SuccessYou gain a +2 circumstance bonus to the primary check.
SuccessNo bonus or penalty.
FailureYou take a –4 circumstance penalty to the primary check.
Critical FailureAs failure, and you reduce the degree of success of the primary skill check by one step.
Effect
Source Player Core pg. 382
A ritual's effect depends on the result of the primary check. If an effect lists a save DC, use your spell DC for the ritual's magic tradition (or 12 + your level + your highest mental attribute modifier, if you don't have a spell DC).