D&D 5E Bard & Arcane Initiate Feat

[Bolares]

I agree the wording is ambiguous, but according to DNDBeyond, which uses "the official ruleset", that isn't how the feat works.

DnD Beyond is notorious for not implementing feats correctly...

 

[Burnside]

DnD Beyond is notorious for not implementing feats correctly...

Well, here's Jeremy Crawford answering the same question in Sage Advice:

"If you have spell slots, can you use them to cast the 1st level spell you learn with the Magic Initiate feat? Yes, but only if the class you pick for the feat is one of your classes. For example, if you pick sorcerer and you are a sorcerer, the Spellcasting feature for that class tells you that you can use your spell slots to cast the sorcerer spells you know, so you can use your spell slots to cast the 1st-level sorcerer spell you learn from Magic Initiate. Similarly, if you are a wizard and pick that class for the feat, you learn a 1st-level wizard spell, which you could add to your spellbook and subsequently prepare. In short, you must follow your character’s normal spellcasting rules, which determine whether you can expend spell slots on the 1st-level spell you learn from Magic Initiate."

So a bard picking up a sorcerer spell through Magic Initiate (sorcerer) cannot use bard spell slots to cast that spell. However, a bard with magic initiate (bard) can do so.

 

[Bolares]

To be more clear about this, here is the sage advice on it:

"If you have spell slots, can you use them to cast the 1st level spell you learn with the Magic Initiate feat? Yes, but only if the class you pick for the feat is one of your classes. For example, if you pick sorcerer and you are a sorcerer, the Spellcasting feature for that class tells you that you can use your spell slots to cast the sorcerer spells you know, so you can use your spell slots to cast the 1st-level sorcerer spell you learn from Magic Initiate. Similarly, if you are a wizard and pick that class for the feat, you learn a 1st-level wizard spell, which you could add to your spellbook and subsequently prepare. In short, you must follow your character’s normal spellcasting rules, which determine whether you can expend spell slots on the 1st-level spell you learn from Magic Initiate.

 

[Bolares]

Well, here's Jeremy Crawford answering the same question in Sage Advice:

"If you have spell slots, can you use them to cast the 1st level spell you learn with the Magic Initiate feat? Yes, but only if the class you pick for the feat is one of your classes. For example, if you pick sorcerer and you are a sorcerer, the Spellcasting feature for that class tells you that you can use your spell slots to cast the sorcerer spells you know, so you can use your spell slots to cast the 1st-level sorcerer spell you learn from Magic Initiate. Similarly, if you are a wizard and pick that class for the feat, you learn a 1st-level wizard spell, which you could add to your spellbook and subsequently prepare. In short, you must follow your character’s normal spellcasting rules, which determine whether you can expend spell slots on the 1st-level spell you learn from Magic Initiate."

So a bard picking up a sorcerer spell through Magic Initiate (sorcerer) cannot use bard spell slots to cast that spell. However, a bard with magic initiate (bard) can do so.

Great minds think alike.... hahahaha

 

[Burnside]

Crawford's post supports the DNDBeyond implementation as correct in this case.

 

[Bolares]

Crawford's post supports the DNDBeyond implementation as correct in this case.

Yes, but we have to always pay attention to what the spellcasting feature in our class says. The EK and AT use wizard spells, so choosing wizard works for them...

 

[Crimson Longinus]

Well, here's Jeremy Crawford answering the same question in Sage Advice:

"If you have spell slots, can you use them to cast the 1st level spell you learn with the Magic Initiate feat? Yes, but only if the class you pick for the feat is one of your classes. For example, if you pick sorcerer and you are a sorcerer, the Spellcasting feature for that class tells you that you can use your spell slots to cast the sorcerer spells you know, so you can use your spell slots to cast the 1st-level sorcerer spell you learn from Magic Initiate. Similarly, if you are a wizard and pick that class for the feat, you learn a 1st-level wizard spell, which you could add to your spellbook and subsequently prepare. In short, you must follow your character’s normal spellcasting rules, which determine whether you can expend spell slots on the 1st-level spell you learn from Magic Initiate."

So a bard picking up a sorcerer spell through Magic Initiate (sorcerer) cannot use bard spell slots to cast that spell. However, a bard with magic initiate (bard) can do so.

That’s stupid though.

 

[Bolares]

That’s stupid though.

I think the designers agree. That's why more recent spell granting feats have different wording, like shadow touched:

"You learn the invisibility spell and one 1st-level spell of your choice. The 1st-level spell must be from the illusion or necromancy school of magic. You can cast each of these spells without expending a spell slot. Once you cast either of these spells in this way, you can't cast that spell in this way again until you finish a long rest. You can also cast these spells using spell slots you have of the appropriate level. The spells' spellcasting ability is the ability increased by this feat."

 

[Crimson Longinus]

I think the designers agree. That's why more recent spell granting feats have different wording, like shadow touched:

"You learn the invisibility spell and one 1st-level spell of your choice. The 1st-level spell must be from the illusion or necromancy school of magic. You can cast each of these spells without expending a spell slot. Once you cast either of these spells in this way, you can't cast that spell in this way again until you finish a long rest. You can also cast these spells using spell slots you have of the appropriate level. The spells' spellcasting ability is the ability increased by this feat."

I’d definitely just houserule the older feats to work that way too.

 

[Burnside]

Bet this is one they'll adjust in the PHB update.