I recall reading somewhere that spells cast as a readied action immediately consume a spell slot, but the spell "happens" when the condition is met or the start of your next turn. So what with readied spells cast outside of combat? "I cast banishment the next time i see a demon". Also, in combat, is it possible to continue to hold your action without costing an additional spell slot if the condition is not met" I cast counterspell the next time an enemy caster casts a spell at the party"
The 'Ready' action is for in-combat use only. Outside of combat, something like "I cast banishment the next time i see a demon" would generally just translate to an initiative roll as soon as you encounter a demon - potentially surprising the demon if it doesn't notice you or your companions.
Also, in combat, is it possible to continue to hold your action without costing an additional spell slot if the condition is not met" I cast counterspell the next time an enemy caster casts a spell at the party"
No. The Ready action only lets you hold an action until the start of your next turn. In the case of a spell, you cast the spell and expend the spell slot on your turn. If your stated trigger does not occur, or if you decide not to release the spell for some reason, you lose it.
Also, of note: Counterspell is already cast as a reaction there is no need to ready it at all, ever, nor could you because it isn't a spell with with a casting time of 1 action. You also can't ready Bonus Action cast spell either.
The Ready action only lets you hold an action until the start of your next turn. In the case of a spell, you cast the spell and expend the spell slot on your turn. If your stated trigger does not occur, or if you decide not to release the spell for some reason, you lose it.
Is that actually true? I'm not convinced it is. The line about acting before your next turn with your reaction doesn't actually apply to the readied spell, because the readied spell has its own text for what the readied action is doing.
Compare:
To do so, you can take the Ready action on your turn, which lets you act using your reaction before the start of your next turn.
When you ready a spell, you cast it as normal but hold its energy, which you release with your reaction when the trigger occurs.
The difference here is pretty clear. When you ready an action to do something, you use your reaction to do that thing. Except readying a spell, which is actually you casting it fully on your turn and then using your concentration to keep it from manifesting, and you can then release it as a reaction thereafter, so long as your concentration is maintained.
These are two different reaction triggers. One for spells, one for everything else. The one for everything else is the one that says it needs to be before your next turn.
The Ready action only lets you hold an action until the start of your next turn. In the case of a spell, you cast the spell and expend the spell slot on your turn. If your stated trigger does not occur, or if you decide not to release the spell for some reason, you lose it.
Is that actually true? I'm not convinced it is. The line about acting before your next turn with your reaction doesn't actually apply to the readied spell, because the readied spell has its own text for what the readied action is doing.
Compare:
To do so, you can take the Ready action on your turn, which lets you act using your reaction before the start of your next turn.
When you ready a spell, you cast it as normal but hold its energy, which you release with your reaction when the trigger occurs.
The difference here is pretty clear. When you ready an action to do something, you use your reaction to do that thing. Except readying a spell, which is actually you casting it fully on your turn and then using your concentration to keep it from manifesting, and you can then release it as a reaction thereafter, so long as your concentration is maintained.
These are two different reaction triggers. One for spells, one for everything else. The one for everything else is the one that says it needs to be before your next turn.
Readying a Spell is not a separate action from Readying an Action. It is a subset of the "Ready" action - namely, you are readying the "Cast a Spell" action. It contains additional rules baggage, but it still follows the rest of the rules of the "Ready" action, which state that the reaction must be taken before the start of your next turn.
To do so, you can take the Ready action on your turn, which lets you act using your reaction before the start of your next turn.
When you ready a spell, you cast it as normal but hold its energy, which you release with your reaction when the trigger occurs.
Readying a Spell is not a separate action from Readying an Action. It is a subset of the "Ready" action - namely, you are readying the "Cast a Spell" action. It contains additional rules baggage, but it still follows the rest of the rules of the "Ready" action, which state that the reaction must be taken before the start of your next turn.
Disagree. That first bullet point cannot be what is happening for the spell, because then the spell would be getting cast during the reaction, instead of on your turn. The "act" of casting is already done on your turn, however. "which lets you act using your reaction". Instead, when you hold a spell, you already have the spell cast, but you "release it as a reaction".
These are two different reactions. You only have one reaction to use. You can either use a reaction to act, or a reaction to release the already cast spell.
This is important, too, because otherwise it would be trivially easy to get around the Bonus Action level 1+ spell cast restriction that limits you to only cantrips afterwards. Because if you could ready the spell, and then used your reaction to "act" casting then, well, that isn't your turn anymore the the restriction no longer applies. So you'd be able to cast 2 leveled spells a round this way. It is an important distinction that the spell is for sure cast on your turn and you're not 'acting' to cast it as a reaction and instead are only releasing it as a reaction.
To do so, you can take the Ready action on your turn, which lets you act using your reaction before the start of your next turn.
When you ready a spell, you cast it as normal but hold its energy, which you release with your reaction when the trigger occurs.
Readying a Spell is not a separate action from Readying an Action. It is a subset of the "Ready" action - namely, you are readying the "Cast a Spell" action. It contains additional rules baggage, but it still follows the rest of the rules of the "Ready" action, which state that the reaction must be taken before the start of your next turn.
Disagree. That first bullet point cannot be what is happening for the spell, because then the spell would be getting cast during the reaction, instead of on your turn. The "act" of casting is already done on your turn, however. "which lets you act using your reaction". Instead, when you hold a spell, you already have the spell cast, but you "release it as a reaction".
These are two different reactions. You only have one reaction to use. You can either use a reaction to act, or a reaction to release the already cast spell.
This is important, too, because otherwise it would be trivially easy to get around the Bonus Action level 1+ spell cast restriction that limits you to only cantrips afterwards. Because if you could ready the spell, and then used your reaction to "act" casting then, well, that isn't your turn anymore the the restriction no longer applies. So you'd be able to cast 2 leveled spells a round this way. It is an important distinction that the spell is for sure cast on your turn and you're not 'acting' to cast it as a reaction and instead are only releasing it as a reaction.
IMO, you’re allowed to cast two spells this way, the Bonus Action restriction has never stated you can’t Ready an Action to cast the levelled spell immediately at any point after the end of your turn. The problem is it uses your reaction, that’s all.
I guess this may be up to the DM, but honestly either way, the opportunity cost of using a reaction to do it seems to be just fine for balance.
You keep quoting something with bullet points. The description of the Ready Action does not use bullet points, it uses a sequence of paragraphs.
When you ready a spell it uses the same rules that are in the earlier paragraphs, including defining the trigger.
The additional wording of "you cast it as normal but holds its energy" is why a readied spell doesn't allow you to get around the bonus action level 1+ spell issue.
I recall reading somewhere that spells cast as a readied action immediately consume a spell slot, but the spell "happens" when the condition is met or the start of your next turn. So what with readied spells cast outside of combat? "I cast banishment the next time i see a demon". Also, in combat, is it possible to continue to hold your action without costing an additional spell slot if the condition is not met" I cast counterspell the next time an enemy caster casts a spell at the party"
To give you an idea of developer intent, what you're looking for is basically the 6th-level spell contingency. This means that readying something indefinitely is considered to be very strong and definitely not something you can just do with no risk or resource expenditure.
You keep quoting something with bullet points. The description of the Ready Action does not use bullet points, it uses a sequence of paragraphs.
The bullet points are the two different reactions that the section describes. One to "act" later, and a different one to "release" later, since you already acted on your current turn to "cast" the spell already.
You only have one reaction. You can't do them both.
When you ready a spell it uses the same rules that are in the earlier paragraphs, including defining the trigger.
The two defined triggers are distinctly worded in function, and to what they reference. You can only do one reaction. Are you using it to act, or to release an already pre-cast spell?
The additional wording of "you cast it as normal but holds its energy" is why a readied spell doesn't allow you to get around the bonus action level 1+ spell issue.
Yes, because you "act" on your own turn, casting the spell on your ow turn, then use your reaction later to "release" it. Not to "act" and cast it again. No, just to "release" it.
So, 2 reactions are described, one for spells and one for everything else. What are those descriptions?
To do so, you can take the Ready action on your turn, which lets you actusing your reaction before the start of your next turn.
When you ready a spell, you cast it as normal but hold its energy, which you releasewith your reaction when the trigger occurs.
Ie. Pick: Act with reaction, or, Release with reaction.
To do so, you can take the Ready action on your turn, which lets you act using your reaction before the start of your next turn.
When you ready a spell, you cast it as normal but hold its energy, which you release with your reaction when the trigger occurs.
Readying a Spell is not a separate action from Readying an Action. It is a subset of the "Ready" action - namely, you are readying the "Cast a Spell" action. It contains additional rules baggage, but it still follows the rest of the rules of the "Ready" action, which state that the reaction must be taken before the start of your next turn.
Disagree. That first bullet point cannot be what is happening for the spell, because then the spell would be getting cast during the reaction, instead of on your turn. The "act" of casting is already done on your turn, however. "which lets you act using your reaction". Instead, when you hold a spell, you already have the spell cast, but you "release it as a reaction".
These are two different reactions. You only have one reaction to use. You can either use a reaction to act, or a reaction to release the already cast spell.
It doesn't work the way you think but you are free to disagree with the official ruling that was made in Sage Advice.
To do so, you can take the Ready action on your turn, which lets you act using your reaction before the start of your next turn.
When you ready a spell, you cast it as normal but hold its energy, which you release with your reaction when the trigger occurs.
Readying a Spell is not a separate action from Readying an Action. It is a subset of the "Ready" action - namely, you are readying the "Cast a Spell" action. It contains additional rules baggage, but it still follows the rest of the rules of the "Ready" action, which state that the reaction must be taken before the start of your next turn.
Disagree. That first bullet point cannot be what is happening for the spell, because then the spell would be getting cast during the reaction, instead of on your turn. The "act" of casting is already done on your turn, however. "which lets you act using your reaction". Instead, when you hold a spell, you already have the spell cast, but you "release it as a reaction".
These are two different reactions. You only have one reaction to use. You can either use a reaction to act, or a reaction to release the already cast spell.
It doesn't work the way you think but you are free to disagree with the official ruling that was made in Sage Advice.
It doesn't work the way you think but you are free to disagree with the official rules found in the PHB.
It doesn't work the way you think but you are free to disagree with the official rules found in the PHB.
It does work the way i and others think since there is an official ruling in favor of it. If you were arguing for a different interpretation, it's been ruled out but you can still houserule it if you prefer the way you interpret it.
So, 2 reactions are described, one for spells and one for everything else. What are those descriptions?
To do so, you can take the Ready action on your turn, which lets you actusing your reaction before the start of your next turn.
When you ready a spell, you cast it as normal but hold its energy, which you releasewith your reaction when the trigger occurs.
Ie. Pick: Act with reaction, or, Release with reaction.
Just because you've cast most of the spell on your own turn, doesn't mean that your reaction can't used for some other action instead of releasing your spell at a target (and if you do, then you lose the spell that you were holding).
You keep quoting something with bullet points. The description of the Ready Action does not use bullet points, it uses a sequence of paragraphs.
The bullet points are the two different reactions that the section describes. One to "act" later, and a different one to "release" later, since you already acted on your current turn to "cast" the spell already.
...
So, 2 reactions are described, one for spells and one for everything else. What are those descriptions?
To do so, you can take the Ready action on your turn, which lets you actusing your reaction before the start of your next turn.
When you ready a spell, you cast it as normal but hold its energy, which you releasewith your reaction when the trigger occurs.
Ie. Pick: Act with reaction, or, Release with reaction.
"Act" is not a rule-defined word like "Action". To release a spell is an act. To do anything is to act.
The ready action does not say in its earlier paragraphs that taking the Ready action means you don't act at all during your Action on your turn - it just says that taking this action uses up your Action and allows you to act in various ways using your Reaction before the start of your next turn.
A specific special way to use the Ready action is then laid out which involves casting a spell during the Action and then acting on your Reaction to release the spell (after the trigger and before your next turn as normal). Additional rules are added regarding concentration and the wasting of the spell slot, but nothing from the earlier paragraphs is overwritten at all.
You keep quoting something with bullet points. The description of the Ready Action does not use bullet points, it uses a sequence of paragraphs.
The bullet points are the two different reactions that the section describes. One to "act" later, and a different one to "release" later, since you already acted on your current turn to "cast" the spell already.
...
So, 2 reactions are described, one for spells and one for everything else. What are those descriptions?
To do so, you can take the Ready action on your turn, which lets you actusing your reaction before the start of your next turn.
When you ready a spell, you cast it as normal but hold its energy, which you releasewith your reaction when the trigger occurs.
Ie. Pick: Act with reaction, or, Release with reaction.
"Act" is not a rule-defined word like "Action". To release a spell is an act. To do anything is to act.
The ready action does not say in its earlier paragraphs that taking the Ready action means you don't act at all during your Action on your turn - it just says that taking this action uses up your Action and allows you to act in various ways using your Reaction before the start of your next turn.
A specific special way to use the Ready action is then laid out which involves casting a spell during the Action and then acting on your Reaction to release the spell (after the trigger and before your next turn as normal). Additional rules are added regarding concentration and the wasting of the spell slot, but nothing from the earlier paragraphs is overwritten at all.
I think it's used there as a synonym: Reading an action = getting ready to act.
The specifics of redying a spell are notably different:
When you ready a spell, you cast it as normal but hold its energy, which you release with your reaction when the trigger occurs. To be readied, a spell must have a casting time of 1 action, and holding onto the spell's magic requires concentration (explained in chapter 10).
Potentially, the 'act' that you do here to release may be little if anything more than just dropping your concentration. Perhaps you just drop it in such a way to release the spell.
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I recall reading somewhere that spells cast as a readied action immediately consume a spell slot, but the spell "happens" when the condition is met or the start of your next turn. So what with readied spells cast outside of combat? "I cast banishment the next time i see a demon". Also, in combat, is it possible to continue to hold your action without costing an additional spell slot if the condition is not met" I cast counterspell the next time an enemy caster casts a spell at the party"
The 'Ready' action is for in-combat use only. Outside of combat, something like "I cast banishment the next time i see a demon" would generally just translate to an initiative roll as soon as you encounter a demon - potentially surprising the demon if it doesn't notice you or your companions.
No. The Ready action only lets you hold an action until the start of your next turn. In the case of a spell, you cast the spell and expend the spell slot on your turn. If your stated trigger does not occur, or if you decide not to release the spell for some reason, you lose it.
Also, of note: Counterspell is already cast as a reaction there is no need to ready it at all, ever, nor could you because it isn't a spell with with a casting time of 1 action. You also can't ready Bonus Action cast spell either.
I got quotes!
Is that actually true? I'm not convinced it is. The line about acting before your next turn with your reaction doesn't actually apply to the readied spell, because the readied spell has its own text for what the readied action is doing.
Compare:
The difference here is pretty clear. When you ready an action to do something, you use your reaction to do that thing. Except readying a spell, which is actually you casting it fully on your turn and then using your concentration to keep it from manifesting, and you can then release it as a reaction thereafter, so long as your concentration is maintained.
These are two different reaction triggers. One for spells, one for everything else. The one for everything else is the one that says it needs to be before your next turn.
I got quotes!
Readying a Spell is not a separate action from Readying an Action. It is a subset of the "Ready" action - namely, you are readying the "Cast a Spell" action. It contains additional rules baggage, but it still follows the rest of the rules of the "Ready" action, which state that the reaction must be taken before the start of your next turn.
SAC entry
Readying a spell is still taking the Ready action and acting as a reaction, so it must be taken before the start of your next turn as well.
Disagree. That first bullet point cannot be what is happening for the spell, because then the spell would be getting cast during the reaction, instead of on your turn. The "act" of casting is already done on your turn, however. "which lets you act using your reaction". Instead, when you hold a spell, you already have the spell cast, but you "release it as a reaction".
These are two different reactions. You only have one reaction to use. You can either use a reaction to act, or a reaction to release the already cast spell.
This is important, too, because otherwise it would be trivially easy to get around the Bonus Action level 1+ spell cast restriction that limits you to only cantrips afterwards. Because if you could ready the spell, and then used your reaction to "act" casting then, well, that isn't your turn anymore the the restriction no longer applies. So you'd be able to cast 2 leveled spells a round this way. It is an important distinction that the spell is for sure cast on your turn and you're not 'acting' to cast it as a reaction and instead are only releasing it as a reaction.
I got quotes!
IMO, you’re allowed to cast two spells this way, the Bonus Action restriction has never stated you can’t Ready an Action to cast the levelled spell immediately at any point after the end of your turn. The problem is it uses your reaction, that’s all.
I guess this may be up to the DM, but honestly either way, the opportunity cost of using a reaction to do it seems to be just fine for balance.
Aethelwolf is correct.
You keep quoting something with bullet points. The description of the Ready Action does not use bullet points, it uses a sequence of paragraphs.
When you ready a spell it uses the same rules that are in the earlier paragraphs, including defining the trigger.
The additional wording of "you cast it as normal but holds its energy" is why a readied spell doesn't allow you to get around the bonus action level 1+ spell issue.
To give you an idea of developer intent, what you're looking for is basically the 6th-level spell contingency. This means that readying something indefinitely is considered to be very strong and definitely not something you can just do with no risk or resource expenditure.
My homebrew subclasses (full list here)
(Artificer) Swordmage | Glasswright | (Barbarian) Path of the Savage Embrace
(Bard) College of Dance | (Fighter) Warlord | Cannoneer
(Monk) Way of the Elements | (Ranger) Blade Dancer
(Rogue) DaggerMaster | Inquisitor | (Sorcerer) Riftwalker | Spellfist
(Warlock) The Swarm
The bullet points are the two different reactions that the section describes. One to "act" later, and a different one to "release" later, since you already acted on your current turn to "cast" the spell already.
You only have one reaction. You can't do them both.
The two defined triggers are distinctly worded in function, and to what they reference. You can only do one reaction. Are you using it to act, or to release an already pre-cast spell?
Yes, because you "act" on your own turn, casting the spell on your ow turn, then use your reaction later to "release" it. Not to "act" and cast it again. No, just to "release" it.
So, 2 reactions are described, one for spells and one for everything else. What are those descriptions?
Ie. Pick: Act with reaction, or, Release with reaction.
I got quotes!
It doesn't work the way you think but you are free to disagree with the official ruling that was made in Sage Advice.
It doesn't work the way you think but you are free to disagree with the official rules found in the PHB.
I got quotes!
It does work the way i and others think since there is an official ruling in favor of it. If you were arguing for a different interpretation, it's been ruled out but you can still houserule it if you prefer the way you interpret it.
Just because you've cast most of the spell on your own turn, doesn't mean that your reaction can't used for some other action instead of releasing your spell at a target (and if you do, then you lose the spell that you were holding).
"Act" is not a rule-defined word like "Action". To release a spell is an act. To do anything is to act.
The ready action does not say in its earlier paragraphs that taking the Ready action means you don't act at all during your Action on your turn - it just says that taking this action uses up your Action and allows you to act in various ways using your Reaction before the start of your next turn.
A specific special way to use the Ready action is then laid out which involves casting a spell during the Action and then acting on your Reaction to release the spell (after the trigger and before your next turn as normal). Additional rules are added regarding concentration and the wasting of the spell slot, but nothing from the earlier paragraphs is overwritten at all.
I think it's used there as a synonym:
Reading an action = getting ready to act.
The specifics of redying a spell are notably different:
Potentially, the 'act' that you do here to release may be little if anything more than just dropping your concentration. Perhaps you just drop it in such a way to release the spell.