Magic is not just a tool for you—it is a puzzle, a force of nature waiting to be understood. Arcane Theorists dedicate themselves to the study of magical principles, seeking to decipher the hidden laws governing spells and weave magic with unparalleled precision.

Level 3: Fundamental Knowledge

Metamagic Dampening: Your deep understanding of magical theory allows you to manipulate spellcasting. While casting a spell attack, you may elect for the damage to be non-lethal or for the spell to deal no damage.

Spellcrafting Precision: When you cast a spell that requires an ability check as part of its casting (such as Counterspell or Dispel Magic), you can add your proficiency to the roll.

Arcane Intuition

Your deep understanding of magical structures allows you to instinctively sense and react to the presence of magic. You gain the following benefits:

Mystic Awareness: You can cast Detect Magic at will, without expending a spell slot. When you use this ability, you can also make an Arcana check (DC 15) to gain insight into the nature of the detected magic (such as identifying the school of magic influencing a cursed object or recognizing the signature of a specific caster).

Reflexive Counterbalance: When you are targeted by a spell, you can use your reaction to gain advantage on a saving throw against it. You can use this ability a number of times equal to your Intelligence modifier (minimum 1) per long rest.

Laws of Magic

Your studies allow you to bend the rules of magic itself. You gain the following benefits:

Efficiency in Magic: When you cast a spell that has a casting time of 1 action, you can instead cast it as a bonus action. Once per long rest.

Adaptive Casting: When you cast a spell that requires a saving throw, you can change the saving throw type (e.g., from Dexterity to Wisdom). Once per short or long rest.

Energy Conversion: When you cast a spell that deals acid, cold, fire, lightning, poison, or thunder damage, you can change its damage type to another of those types. Once per short or long rest.

Arcane Reconfiguration

You have studied magic so thoroughly that you can exploit its underlying mechanics to alter reality itself, gaining the following benefits:

Spell Transmutation: As an action, you can expend a spell slot to convert it into lower-level spell slots. The new slots must add up to the original level (e.g., a 4th-level slot could become two 2nd-level slots). You can do this once per long rest.

Arcane Bypass: When casting a spell that requires concentration, you can choose to ignore the concentration requirement for 1 minute. You can use this ability once per long rest.

Thaumaturgic Reversal

You have reached a profound understanding of the weave, allowing you to alter the rules of magic itself and gaining the following abilities:

Arcane Dismantling: As a reaction when a creature within 60 feet casts a spell, you can attempt to unravel it. Make an Arcana check against DC 10 + the spell's level. On a success, the spell fails and the caster takes force damage equal to twice the spell’s level. You can use this a number of times per long rest equal to your Intelligence modifier.

Spell Reweaving: When you successfully counter or dispel a spell, you can immediately cast that same spell once within the next minute without expending a spell slot, using your own spellcasting ability. Once per long rest.

Spell Reformation: If you cast a spell that fails (due to being countered, missing its attack roll, or an enemy succeeding on a saving throw), you can automatically cast it again on your next turn without using a spell slot. Once per long rest.