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
I believe bards get to add Half proficiency for counter spell, because of jack of all trades.
If Wizard: Add your Intelligence Modifier.
If Bard/Sorcerer: Add your Charisma Modifier.
Your spellcasting ability is whatever ability score you use to cast spells, so "an ability check using your spellcasting ability" is an ability check made with that ability score.
Yup, it's an ability check. 10th level school of abjuration wizards get to add their proficiency bonus
UNLESS you are an Abjuration Wizard or Lore Bard of high enough level (Peerless Skill applies to Counterspell as it is an ability check)
This does work in RAW as long as you have not cast a non cantrip spell as a bonus action.
The multiple spell rule is specific to bonus action spells. Likewise, a 2 level dip in fighter let's you use action surge to cast 2 spells as an action. So in theory, you can cast 2 spells a bonus action cantrip and counter spell all on your turn if someone tries to counter spell you.
Though the wording is confusing, that's not actually how it works, RAW.
In other words, if you cast any spell as a bonus action, even if it's a cantrip, the only other spells you can cast on your turn are cantrips.
Simple fix if you think it is OP: Just get rid of the bonus for casting at hiring levels. Then any spell over 3rd level will need a d20 roll to determine if it is successfully countered. This would work well if you allow players to decide if they counter after saying what spell is being cast. OR it could be that any counterspell attempt requires a roll to determine success. A first level spell could require a DC 10 or 11 , 2nd a DC12.
This is a secret use of glibness.
This is one of times you might end up burning your reaction during your own turn.
This spell has to be the most annoying spell to play against. However, its so fun to play with.
My fix for counterspell:
You attempt to interrupt a creature in the process of casting a spell of 3rd level or lower. Make an ability check using your spellcasting ability. The DC equals 10 + the opposing casters spellcasting ability. If the creature's spell is of a lower level than your counterspell, you can add the difference to the check. On a success, the creature's spell fails and the counterspell effect listed in the spell description is triggered.
At Higher Levels. When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 4th level or higher, you can attempt to interrupt spells of of a level less than or equal to the level of the spell slot you used.
Examples of counterspell effects:
fireball - if this spell is successfully countered, it explodes in your hands. Treat this, as if you had cast the original fireball centred on yourself.
charm person - if this spell is successfully countered, you are charmed by the target for a minute.
invisibility - if this spell is successfully countered, you are instead only partially invisible, leaving you looking grotesque. You gain advantage on intimidation checks, but disadvantage on all other charisma checks for a minute
polymorph - if this spell is successfully countered, the transformation fails midway through. The target turns into the beast, but lacks any bones. The target is incapacitated and remains in this form until you loose concentration on this spell.
Why I prefer this system:
1) This makes wizard fights much more thematic, instead of a simple war of atricion. (A casts spell, B counterspells, A counterspells the counterspell)
2) multiple low leveled wizards can no longer shut down a high level caster. a few students with a spell or two should not be able to completely remove the lich king from the fight
3) with the original spell, a second level spell from a demon lord was just as easy to counter as that of a 3rd level wizard. That doesn't make sense
Sidenote: Counterspelling a counterspell is still possible, and let's the spell happen as normal. However, it is now more costly, because you can no longer counter a high level counterspell with a 3rd level casting
Too many people are complaining and are too technically. Magic is magic. You are cutting off someone using thr weave of magic for that spell. If this is incorrect, I want to hear it from the game developer themselves. But more as stated in all editions lore make it pretty clear. Stopping a huge spell when fighters barely deal damge in comparison is fine.
you have just changed my entire life
That only applies if you're casting a spell that is a bonus action that turn, not an action. If you cast a bonus action spell and it's countered, then you can't cast counterspell on your turn. But say it's fireball, and as such your bonus action is unused, then you are still able to cast counterspell as a reaction to protect your spell being cast with your normal action. The bonus action clause makes things messy.
Since the spell states you have to be able to "see" the spell to counter being cast does that mean a sorcerer using subtle spell metamagic can not be countered as you can't see it occur?
You can't cast counterspell against someone countering your own spell as you are already casting, counter spells stops the spell as it is being cast. In order for.you to cast it you would have to stop casting the spell to cast counterspell meaning you interupt the spell you were going to cast in the first place there by burning 2 spell slots just to cast a counter.
Correct, that is one of the main uses of subtle spell. You do not see it, you cannot counter it.
You're incorrect. You CAN cast counterspell vs someone counterspelling you while mid spell. It's right in sage advice
https://media.wizards.com/2020/dnd/downloads/SA-Compendium.pdf
You can cast a bonus action spell and a reaction spell in the same turn. You can't cast spells as both an action and a bonus action on your turn, unless one is a cantrip. Using your reaction to cast a spell with a casting time of one reaction is not subject to this limitation--it only applies to action/bonus action. That means that you could use something like Action Surge, which gives you another action, to cast another spell.
As a DM, Counterspell sometimes seems like a real pain in my rear, but it is part of the game and not a "cheat" by the PC who chooses it for their spell list, so I've tried to come up with creative ways to work around it. Having more than one enemy caster who can counter the Counterspell is one option. Another is strategic use of Silence, either as an NPC spell or as an environmental spell effect (maybe runes etched in the floor). You could also have NPC casters hide/conceal themselves using terrain or illusions...Counterspell only works if you can see the creature casting the spell.