so im new to spellcasting and i've been playing D&D for a month and i was wondering what the Attack/Save means when i open some spells, for example for Circle of death it says 16 CON, so if it's a DC for the saving throw for an enemy, then how much atk bonus would i have for spells like that? or any spell tbh
sorry if it's an idiotic question, just wanted to know the answer.
for a specific effect of a spell, if the description says that the target must make a saving throw, the spellcaster does not have to roll anything. For example, the spell frostbite makes the target roll a CON save, the spellcaster, in this case, does not have to do any roll. For the spell shocking grasp, the spellcaster makes an attack roll (the bonus is equal to the proficiency bonus + spellcasting ability modifier), the target does nothing.
In some cases, like ice knife, both the spellcaster and the target do an attack roll and a save, respectively. In other cases, like magic missile, no attack roll nor saving throws are needed.
Attack means that you roll a d20 and add you spell attack modifier to see if you hit your enemy. Save means they roll a d20 and try to resist your spell by getting better than you Save DC.
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"The mongoose blew out its candle and was asleep in bed before the room went dark." —Llanowar fable
Alright thanks <3, and one more thing: for warlock (i got a lvl 14 to catch up with the rest of my team) i have 3 5th lvl spell slots, so if i use a level one spell for example will it use the one slot? i found explanations confusing on other sources..
If you cast a first level spell, that spell will be cast as a fifth level spell, consuming one of those 3 slots. Some spells receive an upgrade when casting with a spell slot of higher level. See magic missile.
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so im new to spellcasting and i've been playing D&D for a month and i was wondering what the Attack/Save means when i open some spells, for example for Circle of death it says 16 CON, so if it's a DC for the saving throw for an enemy, then how much atk bonus would i have for spells like that? or any spell tbh
sorry if it's an idiotic question, just wanted to know the answer.
Hi Jadey,
for a specific effect of a spell, if the description says that the target must make a saving throw, the spellcaster does not have to roll anything. For example, the spell frostbite makes the target roll a CON save, the spellcaster, in this case, does not have to do any roll. For the spell shocking grasp, the spellcaster makes an attack roll (the bonus is equal to the proficiency bonus + spellcasting ability modifier), the target does nothing.
In some cases, like ice knife, both the spellcaster and the target do an attack roll and a save, respectively. In other cases, like magic missile, no attack roll nor saving throws are needed.
Attack means that you roll a d20 and add you spell attack modifier to see if you hit your enemy. Save means they roll a d20 and try to resist your spell by getting better than you Save DC.
oh so if i use "The finger of Death" it always hits but the damage depends on what Saving Throw they roll?
yes. the damage is halved if the target succeeds the save.
Alright thanks <3, and one more thing: for warlock (i got a lvl 14 to catch up with the rest of my team) i have 3 5th lvl spell slots, so if i use a level one spell for example will it use the one slot? i found explanations confusing on other sources..
If you cast a first level spell, that spell will be cast as a fifth level spell, consuming one of those 3 slots. Some spells receive an upgrade when casting with a spell slot of higher level. See magic missile.