D&D 5E Are Cantrips Considered Spells?

[KarinsDad]

I don't have my books in front of me, but I was wondering if for the purposes of feats and other spells whether a cantrip is considered a spell.

For example, could a caster use Counterspell to counter a cantrip (not that anyone would necessarily want to)?

 

[Henrix]

It feels like they sometimes are lumped with spells and sometimes not.

They are listed in the same way as spells in chapter 11 of the PHB, and I can see no reason that they should not be spells.

 

[Paraxis]

They are spells, just not spells of 1st level or higher. Most everything that is meant to keep cantrips in check uses that language, you can't use spell slots on them, you can't add them to spell books, stuff like that, because they might be spells but they are not 1st level or higher.

Under the Spellcasting section of the PHB it talks about cantrips being 0 level spells.

 

[KarinsDad]

Thanks guys!