Edit: Again, Dispel Magic has rules for how it specifically works. And those are its rules. Traps have rules for specifically how they work, and those are the trap's rules. Dispel Magic doesn't need to say it can shut off a magic trap. The TRAP needs to say it can be shut off by Dispel Magic (and any other means to overcome it) This is a clearcut General vs Specific. Why does this particular case cause this confusion? It is standard rule vs rule interaction.
Because the rule accessible to players, and thus the one they should be using when making decisions about what might work, is the text of dispel magic. It should not be necessary for the player to access DM resources to understand how a player ability works.
Again
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Dispel Magic doesn't work to disable magical traps as a function of the spell.
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Some traps have a function in which they are disabled by Dispel Magic.
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The player has all the information they need to know how Dispel Magic works.
The DM has all the information for how traps work.
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I'm probably laughing.
It is apparently so hard to program Aberrant Mind and Clockwork Soul spell-swapping into dndbeyond they had to remake the game without it rather than implement it.
Just so you are aware. Dispel magic does not only remove spell effects. It can remove a single magical effect as well. Of which the druids shapeshift is classified as such.
Just so you are aware. Dispel magic does not only remove spell effects. It can remove a single magical effect as well. Of which the druids shapeshift is classified as such.
No, it doesn't remove just any magical effect. You may target one, but only a spell is affected by the rest of the text of dispel magic. If the magical effect that you target is caused by a spell, it may be ended by dispel magic; but if it is not a spell, then the next sentences say nothing about that magical effect ending.
Just so you are aware. Dispel magic does not only remove spell effects. It can remove a single magical effect as well. Of which the druids shapeshift is classified as such.
Choose one creature, object, or magical effect within range. Any spell of 3rd level or loweron the target ends. For each spell of 4th level or higher on the target, make an ability check using your spellcasting ability. The DC equals 10 + the spell's level. On a successful check, the spell ends.
At Higher Levels. When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 4th level or higher, you automatically end the effects of a spell on the target if the spell's level is equal to or less than the level of the spell slot you used.
You may target a magical effect but Dispel Magic only ends spells. There is nothing in the spell's description that says it ends magical effects in general.
Can you use dispel magic to dispel a magical effect like a vampire’s Charm ability or a druid’s Wild Shape?
Dispel magic has a particular purpose: to break other spells. It has no effect on a vampire’s Charm ability or any other magical effect that isn’t a spell. It also does nothing to the properties of a magic item. It can, however, end a spell cast from a magic item or from another source. Spells—they’re what dispel magic is about. For example, if you cast dispel magic on a staff of power, the spell fails to disrupt the staff’s magical properties, but if the staff’s wielder casts hold monster from the staff, dispel magic can end that spell if cast on the target of hold monster.
There are abilities and other spells that can end or suspend magical effects that aren’t spells. For example, the greater restoration spell can end a charm effect of any sort on a target (such as a vampire’s Charm or a dryad’s Fey Charm), and a paladin’s Aura of Devotion can prevent or suspend such an effect.
As per the Dispel Magic text and as per the Sage Advice written by the lead rules designer - no, you most assuredly cannot use Dispel Magic to end Wild Shape.
Click ✨ HERE ✨ For My Youtube Videos featuring Guides, Tips & Tricks for using D&D Beyond. Need help with Homebrew? Check out ✨ thisFAQ/Guide thread ✨ by IamSposta.
Subject, of course, to the problem of supplements moderately commonly ignoring the rules text for dispel magic, so the true correct answer is "dispel magic has no effect on a target that is not a spell unless the target specifies otherwise". For example, animated armor can be rendered unconscious for a minute by a dispel magic.
Subject, of course, to the problem of supplements moderately commonly ignoring the rules text for dispel magic, so the true correct answer is "dispel magic has no effect on a target that is not a spell unless the target specifies otherwise". For example, animated armor can be rendered unconscious for a minute by a dispel magic.
That should be a given though since that is a function of that monster/etc and not a function of dispel magic.
Animated Armour being affected by Dispel Magic is a feature of Animated Armour, it is not a feature of Dispel Magic.
A monster could have a feature if touched by a human it will explode - that is a feature of that monster not a feature of humans.
Specific beats general. An exception to a rule does not the negate the rule as a whole.
Those therefore have no relevance to whether Dispel Magic works on magical effects in general or whether it can suppress Wild Shape. So it should be assumed Dispel Magic will not work on non-spell stuff unless that stuff very specifically says it does, which Wild Shape does not.
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Click ✨ HERE ✨ For My Youtube Videos featuring Guides, Tips & Tricks for using D&D Beyond. Need help with Homebrew? Check out ✨ thisFAQ/Guide thread ✨ by IamSposta.
I remembered this thread while reading the new DMG. We were discussing on pages 1 and 2 about using Dispel Magic not only for spells (RAW), and we were saying one clear example was described in the 2014 DMG:
[...] In addition, dispel magic has a chance of disabling most magic traps. A magic trap's description provides the DC for the ability check made when you use dispel magic [...]
The description of a trap includes the following parts after the trap’s name: [...] Duration. Some traps have durations expressed in rounds, minutes, or hours. Others specify that their effects last until the trap is destroyed or dispelled. If a trap’s duration is instantaneous, its effect is resolved instantly.
"Dispelled" is mentioned, but not Dispel Magic directly.
Do you think this is intentional? An oversight? I guess Dispel Magic will keep being used by DMs/WotC not just for spells but also for things like traps or other magical effects, as shown in D&D adventures, if they think it's appropriate.
Spells do what they say they do...and also what another section of another book that you probably wouldn't think to check says they do.
"Not all those who wander are lost"
Again
...
Dispel Magic doesn't work to disable magical traps as a function of the spell.
...
Some traps have a function in which they are disabled by Dispel Magic.
...
The player has all the information they need to know how Dispel Magic works.
The DM has all the information for how traps work.
I'm probably laughing.
It is apparently so hard to program Aberrant Mind and Clockwork Soul spell-swapping into dndbeyond they had to remake the game without it rather than implement it.
Just so you are aware. Dispel magic does not only remove spell effects. It can remove a single magical effect as well. Of which the druids shapeshift is classified as such.
No, it doesn't remove just any magical effect. You may target one, but only a spell is affected by the rest of the text of dispel magic. If the magical effect that you target is caused by a spell, it may be ended by dispel magic; but if it is not a spell, then the next sentences say nothing about that magical effect ending.
Just so you are aware, that is completely false.
Dispel Magic:
Choose one creature, object, or magical effect within range. Any spell of 3rd level or lower on the target ends. For each spell of 4th level or higher on the target, make an ability check using your spellcasting ability. The DC equals 10 + the spell's level. On a successful check, the spell ends.
At Higher Levels. When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 4th level or higher, you automatically end the effects of a spell on the target if the spell's level is equal to or less than the level of the spell slot you used.
You may target a magical effect but Dispel Magic only ends spells. There is nothing in the spell's description that says it ends magical effects in general.
Also from Sage Advice:
As per the Dispel Magic text and as per the Sage Advice written by the lead rules designer - no, you most assuredly cannot use Dispel Magic to end Wild Shape.
Click ✨ HERE ✨ For My Youtube Videos featuring Guides, Tips & Tricks for using D&D Beyond.
Need help with Homebrew? Check out ✨ this FAQ/Guide thread ✨ by IamSposta.
Subject, of course, to the problem of supplements moderately commonly ignoring the rules text for dispel magic, so the true correct answer is "dispel magic has no effect on a target that is not a spell unless the target specifies otherwise". For example, animated armor can be rendered unconscious for a minute by a dispel magic.
That should be a given though since that is a function of that monster/etc and not a function of dispel magic.
Animated Armour being affected by Dispel Magic is a feature of Animated Armour, it is not a feature of Dispel Magic.
A monster could have a feature if touched by a human it will explode - that is a feature of that monster not a feature of humans.
Specific beats general. An exception to a rule does not the negate the rule as a whole.
Those therefore have no relevance to whether Dispel Magic works on magical effects in general or whether it can suppress Wild Shape. So it should be assumed Dispel Magic will not work on non-spell stuff unless that stuff very specifically says it does, which Wild Shape does not.
Click ✨ HERE ✨ For My Youtube Videos featuring Guides, Tips & Tricks for using D&D Beyond.
Need help with Homebrew? Check out ✨ this FAQ/Guide thread ✨ by IamSposta.
I remembered this thread while reading the new DMG. We were discussing on pages 1 and 2 about using Dispel Magic not only for spells (RAW), and we were saying one clear example was described in the 2014 DMG:
Now we have this in the new 2024 DMG:
"Dispelled" is mentioned, but not Dispel Magic directly.
I think the equivalent example for Fire-Breathing Statue (2014) would be Fire-Casting Statue. The Fire-Breathing Statue clearly says that Dispel Magic destroys the trap. The Fire-Casting Statue describes a glyph and an aura of Evocation magic around the statue, but the spell isn't mentioned.
Do you think this is intentional? An oversight? I guess Dispel Magic will keep being used by DMs/WotC not just for spells but also for things like traps or other magical effects, as shown in D&D adventures, if they think it's appropriate.