Does countering a spell with 2024 rules consume the opponent's daily spell uses, since they don't use slots?
Spellcasting. The sahuagin casts one of the following spells, requiring no Material components and using Wisdom as the spellcasting ability (spell save DC 12):
I think the Rules As Written are unclear on this point, but as a DM I'd probably be inclined to say that these "2/Day" uses of spells are enough like spell slots that they shouldn't be consumed when Counterspell is used against them.
I think the Rules As Written are unclear on this point, but as a DM I'd probably be inclined to say that these "2/Day" uses of spells are enough like spell slots that they shouldn't be consumed when Counterspell is used against them.
I'd say it's the opposite, as they aren't really spell slots. The spell should be lost, the same in case of magic item charges, for example.
EDIT: adding the rule.
You attempt to interrupt a creature in the process of casting a spell. The creature makes a Constitution saving throw. On a failed save, the spell dissipates with no effect, and the action, Bonus Action, or Reaction used to cast it is wasted. If that spell was cast with a spell slot, the slot isn’t expended.
It seems to me like the combination of the new wording for counterspell, along with the new way that monsters cast spells, results in the spell operating much like the 2014 counterspell, at least in terms of decrementing a monster's quantity of spells to use against your party in combat.
Under the 2014 rules, monsters mostly cast spells with spell slots and counterspell did not preserve the caster's spell slot.
Under the 2024 rules, counterspell preserves the spell slot, but most monsters don't cast spells with spell slots anymore.
So, unless you have PC vs PC combat, the spell slot aspect of counterspell doesn't really operate much differently than it used to.
Does countering a spell with 2024 rules consume the opponent's daily spell uses, since they don't use slots?
I think the Rules As Written are unclear on this point, but as a DM I'd probably be inclined to say that these "2/Day" uses of spells are enough like spell slots that they shouldn't be consumed when Counterspell is used against them.
pronouns: he/she/they
I'd say it's the opposite, as they aren't really spell slots. The spell should be lost, the same in case of magic item charges, for example.
EDIT: adding the rule.
There are a couple of related threads, for comparing opinions:
- Do Monster's "X per day" spells count as "Spell slots" 2024 - Rules & Game Mechanics
- Counterspell - Rules & Game Mechanics
- EDIT: Limitation on casting multiple spells per turn in 2024 - Rules & Game Mechanics
While spell slot and Limited Usage are different things, i could see ruling both directions.
Seeing as monsters are rarily encountered twice in the same day and usually live only in the moment so to speak, i wouldn't waste it. : )
It seems to me like the combination of the new wording for counterspell, along with the new way that monsters cast spells, results in the spell operating much like the 2014 counterspell, at least in terms of decrementing a monster's quantity of spells to use against your party in combat.
So, unless you have PC vs PC combat, the spell slot aspect of counterspell doesn't really operate much differently than it used to.
"Not all those who wander are lost"
RAW, it does burn the slot.
If you want to treat them like spell slots in your game, it'll be fine.
In practice, it's highly unlikely to matter, because monsters rarely live long enough to run out of spells.