What spells can be prepared by a level 2 Cleric? I was under the impression that I could choose from the entire Cleric spell list. If I'm level 2, but I have no level 2 spell slots, I can't cast AID, can I?
as you'll see in the large chart, you do not get 2nd level spell slots until 3rd level. you'll see under 'preparing and casting spells' that you can pick any from your class's spell list.
as you'll see in the large chart, you do not get 2nd level spell slots until 3rd level. you'll see under 'preparing and casting spells' that you can pick any from your class's spell list.
Why does everyone keep saying that I can pick any from the Cleric Cleric spell list? The way you said it, it sounds like I cannot choose a 3rd level spell.
Maybe a better way is to say you can prepare any spell you can cast from the cleric spell list. Also, "prepare" and "know" each have specific meanings in this context.
As a second level cleric, you can only cast first level spells. You know (or maybe have access to is another way to think of it) every spell on the list of 1st level Cleric spells -- this is not true of all casters. Of those on the list, you can prepare a number of spells per day equal to your WIS modifier + level. So say you have a 16 WIS, that's a +3, so that plus your level (2), means at the end of a long rest, you can choose 5 level 1 spells to prepare, or have ready, for that day. You can switch them out freely at the end of each long rest (again, some casters don't have this option). In addition, there will be usually 2 level 1 spells granted by your domain. You always have those spells ready, and they do not count against the 5 you choose from the list. So you are walking around with probably 7 spells (plus 3 cantrips) that you can cast.
At second level, you have 3, 1st level spell slots. This means that you can only cast 3, level 1 spells per long rest. They can be any of the 7 you have prepared. They can be the same one 3 times, or three different ones, or two of the same and one different one, or whatever else works out, but you can't cast more than 3 per day.
Cantrips are the exception here; they don't follow the regular rules. You have 3 cantrips that you know. You may not change those, ever. You will add more as you level, but you can't swap them (some DM's may let you, but RAW, you can't). However, you can cast cantrips all day long, and they don't count against your spell slots (those 3 level 1 spells you get).
You can not choose a third level spell until you are a 5th level character. However, at that point, you can choose any of the spells from the third level list, plus, again, you'll get a couple domain spells.
For clerics, you can generally cast more powerful spells every time you hit an odd-numbered level. So next level, when you hit 3, you'll be able to cast 2nd level spells. At that point, your level will mean you can now prepare 6 spells per day (plus domain spells). For those six, you can choose any spells from the 1st or 2nd level list. These can be however works for you, 3 1st and 3 2nd, 4 and 2, 5 and 1, 1 and 5. all 6 from one list. Whatever you like. And at the end of each long rest, you can choose again. Most people, I think, have just a standard loadout of spells they keep prepared, and then switch one out if there is a special situation they know is going to happen on ay given day.
The wording in the PHB is (Bold added by me to a specific part):
Preparing and Casting Spells
The Cleric table shows how many spell slots you have to cast your spells of 1st level and higher. To cast one of these spells, you must expend a slot of the spell’s level or higher. You regain all expended spell slots when you finish a long rest. You prepare the list of cleric spells that are available for you to cast, choosing from the cleric spell list. When you do so, choose a number of cleric spells equal to your Wisdom modifier + your cleric level (minimum of one spell). The spells must be of a level for which you have spell slots. For example, if you are a 3rd-level cleric, you have four 1st-level and two 2nd-level spell slots. With a Wisdom of 16, your list of prepared spells can include six spells of 1st or 2nd level, in any combination. If you prepare the 1st-level spell cure wounds, you can cast it using a 1st-level or 2nd-level slot. Casting the spell doesn’t remove it from your list of prepared spells. You can change your list of prepared spells when you finish a long rest. Preparing a new list of cleric spells requires time spent in prayer and meditation: at least 1 minute per spell level for each spell on your list.
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What spells can be prepared by a level 2 Cleric? I was under the impression that I could choose from the entire Cleric spell list. If I'm level 2, but I have no level 2 spell slots, I can't cast AID, can I?
https://www.dndbeyond.com/classes/cleric
as you'll see in the large chart, you do not get 2nd level spell slots until 3rd level. you'll see under 'preparing and casting spells' that you can pick any from your class's spell list.
Guide to the Five Factions (PWYW)
Deck of Decks
Why does everyone keep saying that I can pick any from the Cleric Cleric spell list? The way you said it, it sounds like I cannot choose a 3rd level spell.
Maybe a better way is to say you can prepare any spell you can cast from the cleric spell list. Also, "prepare" and "know" each have specific meanings in this context.
As a second level cleric, you can only cast first level spells. You know (or maybe have access to is another way to think of it) every spell on the list of 1st level Cleric spells -- this is not true of all casters. Of those on the list, you can prepare a number of spells per day equal to your WIS modifier + level. So say you have a 16 WIS, that's a +3, so that plus your level (2), means at the end of a long rest, you can choose 5 level 1 spells to prepare, or have ready, for that day. You can switch them out freely at the end of each long rest (again, some casters don't have this option). In addition, there will be usually 2 level 1 spells granted by your domain. You always have those spells ready, and they do not count against the 5 you choose from the list. So you are walking around with probably 7 spells (plus 3 cantrips) that you can cast.
At second level, you have 3, 1st level spell slots. This means that you can only cast 3, level 1 spells per long rest. They can be any of the 7 you have prepared. They can be the same one 3 times, or three different ones, or two of the same and one different one, or whatever else works out, but you can't cast more than 3 per day.
Cantrips are the exception here; they don't follow the regular rules. You have 3 cantrips that you know. You may not change those, ever. You will add more as you level, but you can't swap them (some DM's may let you, but RAW, you can't). However, you can cast cantrips all day long, and they don't count against your spell slots (those 3 level 1 spells you get).
You can not choose a third level spell until you are a 5th level character. However, at that point, you can choose any of the spells from the third level list, plus, again, you'll get a couple domain spells.
For clerics, you can generally cast more powerful spells every time you hit an odd-numbered level. So next level, when you hit 3, you'll be able to cast 2nd level spells. At that point, your level will mean you can now prepare 6 spells per day (plus domain spells). For those six, you can choose any spells from the 1st or 2nd level list. These can be however works for you, 3 1st and 3 2nd, 4 and 2, 5 and 1, 1 and 5. all 6 from one list. Whatever you like. And at the end of each long rest, you can choose again. Most people, I think, have just a standard loadout of spells they keep prepared, and then switch one out if there is a special situation they know is going to happen on ay given day.
The wording in the PHB is (Bold added by me to a specific part):
Preparing and Casting Spells
The Cleric table shows how many spell slots you have to cast your spells of 1st level and higher. To cast one of these spells, you must expend a slot of the spell’s level or higher. You regain all expended spell slots when you finish a long rest. You prepare the list of cleric spells that are available for you to cast, choosing from the cleric spell list. When you do so, choose a number of cleric spells equal to your Wisdom modifier + your cleric level (minimum of one spell). The spells must be of a level for which you have spell slots. For example, if you are a 3rd-level cleric, you have four 1st-level and two 2nd-level spell slots. With a Wisdom of 16, your list of prepared spells can include six spells of 1st or 2nd level, in any combination. If you prepare the 1st-level spell cure wounds, you can cast it using a 1st-level or 2nd-level slot. Casting the spell doesn’t remove it from your list of prepared spells. You can change your list of prepared spells when you finish a long rest. Preparing a new list of cleric spells requires time spent in prayer and meditation: at least 1 minute per spell level for each spell on your list.