The party memebers strained their eyes to peer around the newly exposed cavern. Before anyone could step inside, the Cleric held out her arm, eyes flashing as she cast detect magic. Surveying the room, she smiled and pointed to an unobtrusive chest in the corner, mouthing the word “Mimic!” to her friends.
What is Detect Magic 5e Spell?
The spell’s text in the Player’s Handbook reads: “For the duration, you sense the presence of magic within 30 feet of you. If you sense magic in this way, you can use your action to see a faint aura around any visible creature or object in the area that bears magic, and you learn its school of magic, if any.
The spell can penetrate most barriers, but it is blocked by 1 foot of stone, 1 inch of common metal, a thin sheet of lead, or 3 feet of wood or dirt.”
Detect Magic 5e Stats
| Level | 1 |
| Casting Time | 1 action |
| Range/Area | Self (30 feet) |
| Classes | Bard, Cleric*, Druid, Paladin**, Ranger, Sorcerer, Wizard & Artificer |
| Components | Verbal, Somatic |
| Duration | 10 minutes |
| School | Divination |
| Attack/Save | None |
| Damage/Effect | Detection |
How Does Detect Magic Work?
Detect Magic 5e allows you to examine objects that might be magic in nature and creatures that could be enchanted. You could see if your party member has been bespelled, check whether that weird thing you found is magic, or find out if that annoying wall in front of you is actually an illusion.
There are a few essential parts of the spell that you should note when using it. To begin with, the spell’s text notes that you can sense the presence of magic within the range, meaning that if an object, spell, trap, or creature is magically hidden from you, you can detect its presence and location. However, that doesn’t mean that you can necessarily see the invisible creature or object.
The following sentence notes that you can see an aura and learn the magic school around a visible creature or object. This is likely because See Invisibility is a separate spell and a level higher than Detect Magic.
Is Detect Magic a Good Spell?
Detect Magic can be a good utility spell at all levels, especially if your party doesn’t have a caster with the identify spell or anyone proficient in Intelligence (Arcana) checks.
Which Classes Can Use Detect Magic?
Detect Magic is available on the spell lists of Bards, Clerics, Druids, Paladins, Rangers, Sorcerers, Wizards, and Artificers. It is always prepared for Arcana Domain Clerics and Oath of the Watchers Paladins.
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