If I have 3 Levels in Cleric and 3 Levels in Sorcerer can I cast Fireball with my 3rd-level spell slots?
For Sorcerer it says:
Changing Your Prepared Spells. "Whenever you gain a Sorcerer level, you can replace one spell on your list with another Sorcerer spell for which you have spell slots." (2024 PHB)
Spells Prepared. You determine what spells you can prepare for each class individually, as if you were a single-classed member of that class. If you are a level 4 Ranger / level 3 Sorcerer, for example, you can prepare five level 1 Ranger spells, and you can prepare six Sorcerer spells of level 1 or 2 (as well as four Sorcerer cantrips).
Each spell you prepare is associated with one of your classes, and you use the spellcasting ability of that class when you cast the spell.
No. Once you multiclass with 2 spell casting classes you have to follow the multiclass spellcasting rules. Those rules state:
Spells Prepared. You determine what spells you can prepare for each class individually, as if you were a single-classed member of that class. If you are a level 4 Ranger / level 3 Sorcerer, for example, you can prepare five level 1 Ranger spells, and you can prepare six Sorcerer spells of level 1 or 2 (as well as four Sorcerer cantrips).
So you would have to prepare spells as if you were a level 3 sorcerer which would not have access to 3rd level spell slots.
Changing Your Prepared Spells. "Whenever you gain a Sorcerer level, you can replace one spell on your list with another Sorcerer spell for which you have spell slots." (2024 PHB)
Fireball is a 3rd-level spell, so as @MeatLuggin said, you can't prepare it until you're a level 5 Sorcerer because "You determine what spells you can prepare for each class individually, as if you were a single-classed member of that class."
However, if you have 3 levels in Cleric and 3 levels in Sorcerer, you count as a 6 level character when determining your spell slots:
Spell Slots. You determine your available spell slots by adding together the following:
All your levels in the Bard, Cleric, Druid, Sorcerer, and Wizard classes
Half your levels (round up) in the Paladin and Ranger classes
One third of your Fighter or Rogue levels (round down) if you have the Eldritch Knight or Arcane Trickster subclass.
As shown in the Multiclass Spellcaster table, you have four level 1 spell slots, three level 2 slots, and three level 3 slots.
Level
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
1
2
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
2
3
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
3
4
2
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
4
4
3
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
5
4
3
2
—
—
—
—
—
—
6
4
3
3
—
—
—
—
—
—
You could use the three level 3 slots for upcasting your spells, but not for preparing them:
This table might give you spell slots of a higher level than the spells you prepare. You can use those slots but only to cast your lower-level spells.
Also, this is relevant for your cantrips:
Cantrips. If a cantrip of yours increases in power at higher levels, the increase is based on your total character level, not your level in a particular class, unless the spell says otherwise.
Changing Your Prepared Spells. "Whenever you gain a Sorcerer level, you can replace one spell on your list with another Sorcerer spell for which you have spell slots." (2024 PHB)
Yes, ignore that, because:
Exceptions Supersede General Rules. General rules govern each part of the game, but the game also includes class features, spells, magic items, monster abilities, and other elements that can contradict a general rule. When an exception and a general rule disagree, the exception wins. For example, it’s a general rule that melee weapon attacks use the attacking character’s Strength modifier. But if a feature says that a character can make melee weapon attacks using Charisma, that exception supersedes the general rule.
So use the rules from Multiclassing instead of Classes.
To add even more that what you propose is not RAW, the example that the multiclass spellcasting rules offers causes a near identical scenario even using 3 levels in sorcerer. This example leads to a 5th level caster in terms of spell slots so it has 3rd level spell slots. Even so, it explains you can only prepare up to 2nd level sorcerer spells.
"Spells Prepared. You determine what spells you can prepare for each class individually, as if you were a single-classed member of that class. If you are a level 4 Ranger / level 3 Sorcerer, for example, you can prepare five level 1 Ranger spells, and you can prepare six Sorcerer spells of level 1 or 2 (as well as four Sorcerer cantrips)."
Fireball is a 3rd-level spell, so as @MeatLuggin said, you can't prepare it until you're a level 5 Sorcerer because "You determine what spells you can prepare for each class individually, as if you were a single-classed member of that class."
However, if you have 3 levels in Cleric and 3 levels in Sorcerer, you count as a 6 level character when determining your spell slots:
Spell Slots. You determine your available spell slots by adding together the following:
All your levels in the Bard, Cleric, Druid, Sorcerer, and Wizard classes
Half your levels (round up) in the Paladin and Ranger classes
One third of your Fighter or Rogue levels (round down) if you have the Eldritch Knight or Arcane Trickster subclass.
As shown in the Multiclass Spellcaster table, you have four level 1 spell slots, three level 2 slots, and three level 3 slots.
Level
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
1
2
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
2
3
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
3
4
2
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
4
4
3
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
5
4
3
2
—
—
—
—
—
—
6
4
3
3
—
—
—
—
—
—
You could use the three level 3 slots for upcasting your spells, but not for preparing them:
This table might give you spell slots of a higher level than the spells you prepare. You can use those slots but only to cast your lower-level spells.
Also, this is relevant for your cantrips:
Cantrips. If a cantrip of yours increases in power at higher levels, the increase is based on your total character level, not your level in a particular class, unless the spell says otherwise.
EDIT: edited for clarity.
Ayyyy, my boy. I completely missed that whole paragraph in the PBH. IT still kind of clashes with what the class says but i suppose the general rule takes priority over the specific rule. Thank you.
For Others:
"For example, if you are a level 4 Ranger / level 3 Sorcerer, you count as a level 5 character when determining your spell slots, counting all your levels as a Sorcerer and half your Ranger levels. As shown in the Multiclass Spellcaster table, you have four level 1 spell slots, three level 2 slots, and two level 3 slots. However, you can’t prepare any level 3 spells, nor can you prepare any level 2 Ranger spells. You can use the spell slots of those levels to cast the spells you do prepare—and potentially enhance their effects."
(2024 PHB Multiclassing Section under the "Spell Slots" subheading not the "Spells Prepared" subheading)
Ayyyy, my boy. I completely missed that whole paragraph in the PBH. IT still kind of clashes with what the class says but i suppose the general rule takes priority over the specific rule. Thank you.
For Others:
"For example, if you are a level 4 Ranger / level 3 Sorcerer, you count as a level 5 character when determining your spell slots, counting all your levels as a Sorcerer and half your Ranger levels. As shown in the Multiclass Spellcaster table, you have four level 1 spell slots, three level 2 slots, and two level 3 slots. However, you can’t prepare any level 3 spells, nor can you prepare any level 2 Ranger spells. You can use the spell slots of those levels to cast the spells you do prepare—and potentially enhance their effects."
(2024 PHB Multiclassing Section under the "Spell Slots" subheading not the "Spells Prepared" subheading)
Couple of notes.
1: It's a specific rule beating general, as always. (Multiclassing being more specific than general spellcasting rules.) 2: As a side note, if you have spells known from a different source (such as a feat or magic item) that allows you to use spell slots to cast, you can use them in this way.
2: As a side note, if you have spells known from a different source (such as a feat or magic item) that allows you to use spell slots to cast, you can use them in this way.
Dragonmark Preparation. You always have the spells on your Dragonmark feat’s Spells of the Mark list (if any) prepared.
It’s crucial to note the inclusion of “always… prepared”. Without this clause, features like Mark of Storm (feat), Izzet Engineer, or Quandrix Student (backgrounds) would fail to prepare these spells (on the spell slots of a higher level than the spells you can prepare from your classes) due to the Multiclassing rules’ Spells Prepared requirements.
Spells of the Mark. If you have the Spellcasting or Pact Magic feature, the spells on the Mark of Storm Spells table are added to that feature’s spell list.
These spells are only added to your Spellcasting feature’s spell list, while the PHB 2024 Spells chapter mandates that spells must be prepared before casting:
Before you can cast a spell, you must have the spell prepared in your mind or have access to the spell from a magic item, such as a Spell Scroll. Your features specify which spells you have access to, if any; whether you always have certain spells prepared; and whether you can change the list of spells you have prepared.
Changing Your Prepared Spells. "Whenever you gain a Sorcerer level, you can replace one spell on your list with another Sorcerer spell for which you have spell slots." (2024 PHB)
Yes, ignore that, because:
Exceptions Supersede General Rules. General rules govern each part of the game, but the game also includes class features, spells, magic items, monster abilities, and other elements that can contradict a general rule. When an exception and a general rule disagree, the exception wins. For example, it’s a general rule that melee weapon attacks use the attacking character’s Strength modifier. But if a feature says that a character can make melee weapon attacks using Charisma, that exception supersedes the general rule.
So use the rules from Multiclassing instead of Classes.
Although it doesn't really change the overall answers that are given in this thread, I'll just quickly point out that this is not an accurate explanation as to why it works the way that it does.
The Multiclassing rules in 5e 2024 are not "specific" rules. They are general rules for the game. They exist within the same "general-ness" as the rules for single-classed characters.
All of these rules are just part of character creation. The rules for leveling up in a single class are listed first, then the rules for leveling up in a new class are listed after that. Leading up to that, it is clear that it is just a branching pathway. If you level up in the same class, you use one set of rules. If instead you level up in a new class, you use the other set of rules. One is not an "exception" for the other. They both exist together in parallel, and you apply whichever rule fits the situation depending on whether you are choosing to level up in the same class or in a new class.
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If I have 3 Levels in Cleric and 3 Levels in Sorcerer can I cast Fireball with my 3rd-level spell slots?
For Sorcerer it says:
Changing Your Prepared Spells. "Whenever you gain a Sorcerer level, you can replace one spell on your list with another Sorcerer spell for which you have spell slots." (2024 PHB)
See PHB2024 Multiclassing:
Edit: beat by argenix
No. Once you multiclass with 2 spell casting classes you have to follow the multiclass spellcasting rules. Those rules state:
Spells Prepared. You determine what spells you can prepare for each class individually, as if you were a single-classed member of that class. If you are a level 4 Ranger / level 3 Sorcerer, for example, you can prepare five level 1 Ranger spells, and you can prepare six Sorcerer spells of level 1 or 2 (as well as four Sorcerer cantrips).
So you would have to prepare spells as if you were a level 3 sorcerer which would not have access to 3rd level spell slots.
So we just ignore this?
Changing Your Prepared Spells. "Whenever you gain a Sorcerer level, you can replace one spell on your list with another Sorcerer spell for which you have spell slots." (2024 PHB)
Let me add a few details then.
Fireball is a 3rd-level spell, so as @MeatLuggin said, you can't prepare it until you're a level 5 Sorcerer because "You determine what spells you can prepare for each class individually, as if you were a single-classed member of that class."
However, if you have 3 levels in Cleric and 3 levels in Sorcerer, you count as a 6 level character when determining your spell slots:
As shown in the Multiclass Spellcaster table, you have four level 1 spell slots, three level 2 slots, and three level 3 slots.
You could use the three level 3 slots for upcasting your spells, but not for preparing them:
Also, this is relevant for your cantrips:
EDIT: edited for clarity.
Yes, ignore that, because:
So use the rules from Multiclassing instead of Classes.
To add even more that what you propose is not RAW, the example that the multiclass spellcasting rules offers causes a near identical scenario even using 3 levels in sorcerer. This example leads to a 5th level caster in terms of spell slots so it has 3rd level spell slots. Even so, it explains you can only prepare up to 2nd level sorcerer spells.
"Spells Prepared. You determine what spells you can prepare for each class individually, as if you were a single-classed member of that class. If you are a level 4 Ranger / level 3 Sorcerer, for example, you can prepare five level 1 Ranger spells, and you can prepare six Sorcerer spells of level 1 or 2 (as well as four Sorcerer cantrips)."
Ayyyy, my boy. I completely missed that whole paragraph in the PBH. IT still kind of clashes with what the class says but i suppose the general rule takes priority over the specific rule. Thank you.
For Others:
"For example, if you are a level 4 Ranger / level 3 Sorcerer, you count as a level 5 character when determining your spell slots, counting all your levels as a Sorcerer and half your Ranger levels. As shown in the Multiclass Spellcaster table, you have four level 1 spell slots, three level 2 slots, and two level 3 slots. However, you can’t prepare any level 3 spells, nor can you prepare any level 2 Ranger spells. You can use the spell slots of those levels to cast the spells you do prepare—and potentially enhance their effects."
(2024 PHB Multiclassing Section under the "Spell Slots" subheading not the "Spells Prepared" subheading)
Couple of notes.
1: It's a specific rule beating general, as always. (Multiclassing being more specific than general spellcasting rules.)
2: As a side note, if you have spells known from a different source (such as a feat or magic item) that allows you to use spell slots to cast, you can use them in this way.
Yes, I would like to add a minor clarification.
For example, the UA Potent Dragonmark feat states:
It’s crucial to note the inclusion of “always… prepared”. Without this clause, features like Mark of Storm (feat), Izzet Engineer, or Quandrix Student (backgrounds) would fail to prepare these spells (on the spell slots of a higher level than the spells you can prepare from your classes) due to the Multiclassing rules’ Spells Prepared requirements.
These spells are only added to your Spellcasting feature’s spell list, while the PHB 2024 Spells chapter mandates that spells must be prepared before casting:
Correct. Basically a longer-form version of what I stated, because I stated known, not just on the spell list.
Although it doesn't really change the overall answers that are given in this thread, I'll just quickly point out that this is not an accurate explanation as to why it works the way that it does.
The Multiclassing rules in 5e 2024 are not "specific" rules. They are general rules for the game. They exist within the same "general-ness" as the rules for single-classed characters.
All of these rules are just part of character creation. The rules for leveling up in a single class are listed first, then the rules for leveling up in a new class are listed after that. Leading up to that, it is clear that it is just a branching pathway. If you level up in the same class, you use one set of rules. If instead you level up in a new class, you use the other set of rules. One is not an "exception" for the other. They both exist together in parallel, and you apply whichever rule fits the situation depending on whether you are choosing to level up in the same class or in a new class.