Level
2nd
Casting Time
1 Action
Range/Area
Touch
Components
V, S, M *
Duration
Until Dispelled
School
Abjuration
Attack/Save
None
Damage/Effect
Utility (...)
You touch a closed door, window, gate, chest, or other entryway, and it becomes locked for the duration. You and the creatures you designate when you cast this spell can open the object normally. You can also set a password that, when spoken within 5 feet of the object, suppresses this spell for 1 minute. Otherwise, it is impassable until it is broken or the spell is dispelled or suppressed. Casting knock on the object suppresses arcane lock for 10 minutes.
While affected by this spell, the object is more difficult to break or force open; the DC to break it or pick any locks on it increases by 10.
* - (gold dust worth at least 25 gp, which the spell consumes)
I think if the makers of this game had any brains at all they would remove the limitation of it applying only to doors. Like honestly, it's arcane lock, not arcane door. Change the name if you're going to give it such a dinky usage with such a high cost; people still won't ever use it as a spell but at least it will be more accurate.
This spell would actually be pretty cool if you could use it on regular locks instead of just doors. Then you could do stuff like locking up your gear in a chest more effectively or locking a spellbook with a key. You could also make manacles actually realistic rather than players having a 5-15% chance to break them every 6 seconds (1 action). Just a thought.
A wizard could expand its usefulness by using it on a trapdoor (since it's a door). They could lock the trapdoor to allow the party to cross it, then speak the password to capture a pursuer.
Otherwise, I think the only reason it's a 2nd level spell is because of the duration. It makes more sense as a 1st level spell that lasts for 8 hours, which is used to secure your room.
Why do artificers get arcane lock but not knock? Why are they not 1 spell anyways? Arcane Lock/Knock
I used this spell to lock a guy in a closet while I burnt it to a crisp. Ahh... Secretly evil characters :)
As an artificer, we are able to change our spells up at the end of a long rest. If i cast Arcane Lock on an item and then remove the spell from my repertoire after a long rest, would the arcane lock be removed from the object?
I know many think it's underwhelming. But think about it. If you spend every spellslot to lock everydoor in a dungeon, you cut down on reinforcements, random encounters, and party members trying to divide the loot equally despite their complaining that "you didn't contribute to the fight" or "maybe you should have saved your wish spell to save the cleric instead of locking another door"..
The effect is still present even if it isn't in your prepared spells anymore. The duration is until dispelled.
I was confused by the spell's wording, as it sort of seems contradictory:
but,
If picking the lock is possible (though at a higher DC), what would the point of picking it be if the spell persisted and the object was still un-openable? Does picking the lock with the higher DC provided by the spell end the spell? Or is it just that the lock itself would be picked, but the object is still un-openable / unpassable b/c the spell persists?
I came to the comments hoping for this exact upcasting feature! Opportunity lost.
Is there anything saying that I can't use this on a person? It does say ANY entryway. So can I clog up someone's artery with a high enough roll, as long as I touch this person? Is this legal to do, genuine question.
Is someone's mouth considered an entryway, and if so, could I cast this on them, completely cutting them off from speaking and verbal spells?
Na use this to for extortion. Is there some bandits breaking into a local business? Offer to protect their shop while also asking for 50gp as payment
Would you count eyelids as an entryway to the eyes, asking for a friend.