Using Wands/Staves and Misty Step

[Charlaquin]

If you're the DM, you can rule it the way you want, but the rules don't say that. It's just how you're choosing to interpret it.

The rules do very literally say that. It’s perfectly reasonable to rule otherwise, and to be honest I probably would do so myself if it came up. But, there’s really no ambiguity as to what the rules say.

 

[Dausuul]

This thread is a zombie dog shambling in circles after its own rotting tail.

 

[neogod22]

The rules do very literally say that. It’s perfectly reasonable to rule otherwise, and to be honest I probably would do so myself if it came up. But, there’s really no ambiguity as to what the rules say.

So are your purposely misunderstanding the question or what? Because USING a magic item is not casting a spell. 2 different actions. Just as clearly written in the rules as you're trying to argue.

 

[Tinker-TDC]

I mean, if you use a magic item to cast a spell it indeed is casting a spell. It's right there in the description.

 

[Charlaquin]

So are your purposely misunderstanding the question or what? Because USING a magic item is not casting a spell. 2 different actions. Just as clearly written in the rules as you're trying to argue.

Again, the rule does not prevent you from using the Use an Object action. However, the effect of using the Use an Object action to use a Wand of Lightning Bolts is that you cast the lightning bolt spell, which the rule does prevent you from doing.

 

[billd91]

I mean, if you use a magic item to cast a spell it indeed is casting a spell. It's right there in the description.

Moreover, it elaborates a bit more on casting spells via magic items before the item descriptions on page 141.

 

[toucanbuzz]

Would you allow a spellcaster to cast Misty Step and then use a Wand of Lightning Bolts, for example?

No. Wands explicitly state one "casts" the associated spell. This choice of language is purposeful.

The DMG page 141 answers your question. Under Spells: Some magic items allow the user to cast a spell from the item. The section goes on to detail that magic items like Wands change the rules for how spells are normally cast, bypassing the need for components and using or having a spell slot (and because features like counterspell require the spellcasting to be perceived, a wand bypasses this...it has nothing to do with whether a wand is a cast spell...it is).

Further, magical items, including Wands, are not considered "Objects" for purposes of the rogue "fast hands" feature (same page and 2020 D&D official sage advice errata). Some future DM screens would list this as "Use Magical Item" for clarification of rules that already existed.

Note: 5E wands vary quite a bit from how wands worked in prior editions. Previously, they independently triggered a spell for spellcasters and those who had a class feature to bypass that requirement. Now, anyone can "cast" the spell. Sage Advice through Crawford felt Wands should trigger class abilities like arcane ward but this never made it into official errata, leaving it a DM question. Not your original point, but worth mentioning I felt.