D&D 5E Can an Arcane Trickster change a cantrip as his spell to change when he gains a level?

[ECMO3]

"Whenever you gain a level in this class, you can replace one of the wizard spells you know with another spell of your choice from the wizard spell list. The new spell must be of a level for which you have spell slots, and it must be an enchantment or illusion spell, unless you're replacing the spell you gained at 3rd, 8th, 14th, or 20th level from any school of magic."

RAI it appears this is talking about leveled spells not cantrips, but RAW cantrips are spells and you get your cantrips at 3rd level, meaning the requirement for illusions or enchantments would not apply either.

Would you allow it?

 

[Charlaquin]

The quoted passage is from the section “spells known of 1st level and higher,” so no, it does not refer to cantrips.

 

[aco175]

All I see is that you gain another cantrip at 10th level. Now I would likely allow it at my table, but not sure how many cantrips are enchantment or illusion.

 

[Maxperson]

The quoted passage is from the section “spells known of 1st level and higher,” so no, it does not refer to cantrips.

This is true, but I'd still allow it.

 

[Charlaquin]

All I see is that you gain another cantrip at 10th level. Now I would likely allow it at my table, but not sure how many cantrips are enchantment or illusion.

I believe ECMO is trying to replace a cantrip (which is technically “a wizard spell [they] know”) with another wizard spell that is not a cantrip when they gain a level in the class.

 

[Maxperson]

I believe ECMO is trying to replace a cantrip (which is technically “a wizard spell [they] know”) with another wizard spell that is not a cantrip when they gain a level in the class.

Ahh, that I wouldn't allow. If a player wanted to swap cantrips, that's fine by me. Or maybe I would. Another spell known isn't all that big of a deal.

 

[Charlaquin]

Ahh, that I wouldn't allow. If a player wanted to swap cantrips, that's fine by me. Or maybe I would. Another spell known isn't all that big of a deal.

Oh, yeah, I would totally allow swapping a cantrip for another cantrip at level up (even though the wording doesn’t technically allow for that either).

 

[Maxperson]

Oh, yeah, I would totally allow swapping a cantrip for another cantrip at level up (even though the wording doesn’t technically allow for that either).

Is it really that big of a deal to swap a cantrip for a 3rd level spell known or whatever?

 

[Charlaquin]

Is it really that big of a deal to swap a cantrip for a 3rd level spell known or whatever?

I don’t know, which is the problem. It might be fine, but it might cause unforeseen issues. And since it seems counter to the design intent as well as the wording I’d rather just not allow it, personally. That’s just me though.

 

[Maxperson]

I don’t know, which is the problem. It might be fine, but it might cause unforeseen issues. And since it seems counter to the design intent as well as the wording I’d rather just not allow it, personally. That’s just me though.

The game is robust enough to survive a little imbalance. They still only get so many spells to cast a day. A little more variety up top isn't going to break things.