Level
3rd
Casting Time
1 Reaction *
Range/Area
60 ft.
Components
S
Duration
Instantaneous
School
Abjuration
Attack/Save
None
Damage/Effect
Negation
You attempt to interrupt a creature in the process of casting a spell. If the creature is casting a spell of 3rd level or lower, its spell fails and has no effect. If it is casting a spell of 4th level or higher, make an ability check using your spellcasting ability. The DC equals 10 + the spell's level. On a success, the creature's spell fails and has no effect.
At Higher Levels. When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 4th level or higher, the interrupted spell has no effect if its level is less than or equal to the level of the spell slot you used.
* - which you take when you see a creature within 60 feet of you casting a spell
Upon rereading it, you're correct. It can still be highly tactically advantageous, especially to a necromancer with the troops to force people to stay outside the bubble.
Your spellcasting bonus is used to make the check, this is your spell casting modifier + proficiency bonus since you are a spell caster if your casting counter spell
My Reply was for this
Now does a countered spell consume its costly components? If yes, I'd like more proof than just extrapolating from "it still consumes a spell slot".
If you lose by 5 or more, does the counter spelling wizard also take 1D6 force damage per spell level.. doubled for a natural 1, by either side.
Is that going too far??
The lich begins to cast Power Word Kill (the wizard recognizes the spell, her eyes widening with fear).. "Hahaha, fool wizard. Too bad you won't be around to see your friends die". Reacting instinctively, the wizard (INT= 20) casts *Counterspell*
This will get the party on the edge of their seats as the wizard needs to roll a 14 or higher... a 35% chance of success. The DM grins
Counterspell is too overpowered? That's patently foolish. If you're whining about people casting it at a higher level, maybe you need to talk to your DM about them telling you WHAT SPELL they're using, because there's a pretty good chance you wouldn't even know. Unless you're staring at the enemy caster you wouldn't even be able to make an Arcana check to see if you can figure out what spell they're casting, but then again, that could be your bonus action doing that (which is what I would do as a DM to someone wanting to know what the enemy is casting.) Now, should you fail the Arcana check or simply fail to tell me you're staring down the enemy caster, you don't know what spell they're casting, so you have two choices. Third level Counterspell, which may or may not work, or higher level. Is it overpowered still?
Lets look at what DelugelA said should happen. "Opposing Arcana checks, and if they fail by five or more, you nuke their brain, YAY!" So what you're telling me is you want your Wizard to take proficiency and Expertise in Arcana so that at 5th level they have a modifier somewhere between +7 and +11. This could be even worse if they're a Divination wizard and drop a Portent on the enemy caster. Whoopsie-doodle, you rolled a 1, LAWL! And oh, look! What happens if it's an Arcane Trickster!? At that point you will likely be staring down a minimum roll of 17 to 21 due to Reliable Talent at level 7. Do you see how bad this idea is? Counterspell was perfect. It let you shut down the enemy caster at the cost of your own turn and a spell slot of at least level 3. And why not get your brain nuked if you fail by five or more, what, is the opposing caster just that much worse than you?
(P.S. You're lucky I didn't even mention Silvery Barbs, because that could be dropped anywhere between 1 and your maximum party size per turn on someone making their Arcana check. This is such a terrible idea.)
Anyone notice that Lizards of the Post made it so that you can't use the Legacy spells with 2024 edition Wizards? Thanks, Snickers of the Ghost!