If,for example,l had a sorcerer 3 forge cleric 1,could l cast heat metal? Or would l have to be a level 3 forge cleric to cast the second level spells (as a 6th level PC at this point)
If,for example,l had a sorcerer 3 forge cleric 1,could l cast heat metal? Or would l have to be a level 3 forge cleric to cast the second level spells (as a 6th level PC at this point)
There are multiclass spellcasting progression rules on page 164 of the PHB
"SPELLCASTING Your capacity for spellcasting depends partly on your combined levels in all your spellcasting classes and partly on your individual levels in those classes. Once you have the Spellcasting feature from more than one class, use the rules below. If you multiclass but have the Spellcasting feature from only one class, you follow the rules as described in that class.
Spells Known and Prepared. You determine what spells you know and can prepare for each class individually, as if you were a single-classed member of that class. If you are a ranger 4/wizard 3, for example, you know three 1st-level ranger spells based on your levels in the ranger class. As 3rd-level wizard, you know three wizard cantrips, and your spellhook contains ten wizard spells, two of which (the two you gained when you reached 3rd level as a wizard) can be 2nd-level spells. If your intelligence is 16, you can prepare six wizard spells from your spellbook. Each spell you know and prepare is associated with one of your classes, and you use the spellcasting ability of that class when you cast the spell. Similarly, a spellcasting focus, such as a holy symbol, can he used only for the spells from the class associated with that focus.
Spell Slots. You determine your available spell slots by adding togcther all your levels in the hard, cleric, druid, sorcerer, and wizard classes, half your levels (rounded down) in the paladin and ranger classes, and a third of your fighter or rogue levels (rounded down) if you have the Eldritch Knight or the Arcane Trickster feature. Use this total to determine your spell slots by consulting the Multiclass Spellcaster table. If you have more than one spellcasting class, this table might give you spell slots of a level that is higher than the spells you know or can prepare. You can use those slots, but only to cast your Lower-level spells. If a lower levelspell that you cast, like burning hands, has an enhanced effect when cast using a higher-level slot, you can use the enhanced effect, even though you don't have any spells of that higher level."
So - the spells you know come from sorcerer 3 and forge cleric 1. You have the spell slots for a 4th level spell caster or 3 second level slots and 4 first level slots.
Heat metal is NOT a sorcerer spell so you could not learn it from sorcerer. A forge cleric does not learn heat metal until they reach level 3 as a forge cleric. So, your character does NOT have access to the heat metal spell and can not cast it.
P.S. The link posted above only works if you have purchased the PHB on D&D Beyond. In addition, the comment about creating a forge cleric character likely also only works if you have purchased the content from Xanathars.
If,for example,l had a sorcerer 3 forge cleric 1,could l cast heat metal? Or would l have to be a level 3 forge cleric to cast the second level spells (as a 6th level PC at this point)
Edit: ok,l understand now,thanks.
Create a test character and see what options you get ;-)
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https://www.dndbeyond.com/sources/phb/customization-options#Spellcasting
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There are multiclass spellcasting progression rules on page 164 of the PHB
"SPELLCASTING
Your capacity for spellcasting depends partly on your combined levels in all your spellcasting classes and partly on your individual levels in those classes. Once you have the Spellcasting feature from more than one class, use the rules below. If you multiclass but have the Spellcasting feature from only one class, you follow the rules as described in that class.
Spells Known and Prepared. You determine what spells you know and can prepare for each class individually, as if you were a single-classed member of that class. If you are a ranger 4/wizard 3, for example, you know three 1st-level ranger spells based on your levels in the ranger class. As 3rd-level wizard, you know three wizard cantrips, and your spellhook contains ten wizard spells, two of which (the two you gained when you reached 3rd level as a wizard) can be 2nd-level spells. If your intelligence is 16, you can prepare six wizard spells from your spellbook. Each spell you know and prepare is associated with one of your classes, and you use the spellcasting ability of that class when you cast the spell. Similarly, a spellcasting focus, such as a holy symbol, can he used only for the spells from the class associated with that focus.
Spell Slots. You determine your available spell slots by adding togcther all your levels in the hard, cleric, druid, sorcerer, and wizard classes, half your levels (rounded down) in the paladin and ranger classes, and a third of your fighter or rogue levels (rounded down) if you have the Eldritch Knight or the Arcane Trickster feature. Use this total to determine your spell slots by
consulting the Multiclass Spellcaster table. If you have more than one spellcasting class, this table might give you spell slots of a level that is higher than the spells you know or can prepare. You can use those slots, but only to cast your Lower-level spells. If a lower levelspell that you cast, like burning hands, has an enhanced effect when cast using a higher-level slot, you can use the enhanced effect, even though you don't have any spells of that higher level."
So - the spells you know come from sorcerer 3 and forge cleric 1. You have the spell slots for a 4th level spell caster or 3 second level slots and 4 first level slots.
Heat metal is NOT a sorcerer spell so you could not learn it from sorcerer. A forge cleric does not learn heat metal until they reach level 3 as a forge cleric. So, your character does NOT have access to the heat metal spell and can not cast it.
P.S. The link posted above only works if you have purchased the PHB on D&D Beyond. In addition, the comment about creating a forge cleric character likely also only works if you have purchased the content from Xanathars.