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How does dispelling/counterspelling work?
- Thread starter Zephalon
- Start date
MerakSpielman
First Post
they cancel each other out where they overlap.
But if they're cast on the same object they dispel each other.
But if they're cast on the same object they dispel each other.
kengar
First Post
First off, check out this article.
Second, in the spell description for Daylight it says "Daylight counters or dispels any darkness spell of equal or lower level, such as darkness." Usually a spell will tell you what it counters (if anything).
Third, check out page p.152 of the PHB and the spell description for Dispel Magic.
Reading back, I realized that this might sound like I'm trying to be rude, I'm not. It's a good question and one that can get really confusing during play. My problem is that I'm not familiar enough with these rules myself just to answer you off the cuff, so I'm fobbing you off on a "reading assignment"
Second, in the spell description for Daylight it says "Daylight counters or dispels any darkness spell of equal or lower level, such as darkness." Usually a spell will tell you what it counters (if anything).
Third, check out page p.152 of the PHB and the spell description for Dispel Magic.
Reading back, I realized that this might sound like I'm trying to be rude, I'm not. It's a good question and one that can get really confusing during play. My problem is that I'm not familiar enough with these rules myself just to answer you off the cuff, so I'm fobbing you off on a "reading assignment"
If the areas of light and darkness simply intersect, then they temporarily cancel each other in the region of overlap. Once the sources are moved away from each other, both spells keep functioning normally.
If one is intentionally cast to dispel the other, then both effects end, without a caster level check. Say you have haste running, and I hit you with a slow spell. There is no saving throw or level check; the haste spell automatically ends, and that's the only effect of my casting.
Counterspelling also requires no caster level check. If I ready an action to counterspell you, and you cast haste, I can counter it with either another haste or a slow. Both choices work the same way, and your spell fizzles without effect.
If one is intentionally cast to dispel the other, then both effects end, without a caster level check. Say you have haste running, and I hit you with a slow spell. There is no saving throw or level check; the haste spell automatically ends, and that's the only effect of my casting.
Counterspelling also requires no caster level check. If I ready an action to counterspell you, and you cast haste, I can counter it with either another haste or a slow. Both choices work the same way, and your spell fizzles without effect.
Ok, so they cancel each other out where they overlap or dispel each other if cast on the same target. Thats how I handled it last time.
With dispel magic you need to beat the other caster on a caster level check. Does this also apply here? Automatic dispels seem kind of lame to me. A 5th level cleric dispelling a hierophants darkness spell?
With dispel magic you need to beat the other caster on a caster level check. Does this also apply here? Automatic dispels seem kind of lame to me. A 5th level cleric dispelling a hierophants darkness spell?
Nope. Countering with an opposite spell always works.Zephalon said:
By analogy, I consider the two dispel methods to be like the two ways of opening a lock. Countering with an opposite effect is like using the key; it always works, as long as you have the appropriate key in your pocket (i.e., you have that opposite spell prepared). Dispel magic is like a set of lockpicks; it can be applied to anything, but you need a little bit of skill and luck to make it work.
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