Dispelling a Dispel

[plavi]

Take the following situation:

I have cast a spell that remains in effect for several rounds, which spell is of no importance.

I KNOW the enemy spellcaster will try to dispel it. Can I ready an action with my own Dispel Magic, so I can disrupt/counterspell his Dispel Magic with mine?

I know I could counter his Magic Missile with my own Magic Missile automatically, but could I dispel his dispel in the same way?

Regards

 

[Zhure]

Yes.

 

[Li Shenron]

Of course you can: Dispel Magic is a spell itself, and there is no spell which can't be counterspelled, as far as I know.

 

[plavi]

Based purely on the rules, of course it can. Though even then you can think of 2 different ways to interpret it:
- automatic dispel, as if casting a magic missile against a magic missile
- roll the dice, as is given in casting a dispel magic against any given spell.
I am inclined towards the first though.

However, the thought of using some form of anti-magic to counter anti-magic just sounds not good from a roleplaying perspective.

If you have any other (not rules but roleplaying) interpretations, please let me know

Regards

 

[Li Shenron]

Based purely on the rules, of course it can. Though even then you can think of 2 different ways to interpret it:
- automatic dispel, as if casting a magic missile against a magic missile
- roll the dice, as is given in casting a dispel magic against any given spell.
I am inclined towards the first though.

However, the thought of using some form of anti-magic to counter anti-magic just sounds not good from a roleplaying perspective.

If you have any other (not rules but roleplaying) interpretations, please let me know

Regards

Yes, you can use Dispel Magic normally on a Dispel Magic just as you would do against a different spell, but since the Dispel Magic duration is instantaneous you have to ready an action to dispel the Dispel Magic. So, it is very better to ready and counter (not dispel), which gives you 100% success and eventually doesn't matter if the opponent has metamagicked it.

As a RP idea, I was thinking of an NPC caster who casts a chain of deadly self-researched spells against the party and his apprentice (or bodyguard Rogue, with UMD) with a wand of Dispel Magic ready to dispel any dispelling attempt. Too weird?

 

[Stalker0]

Actually, that's an interesting point. Would it be an automatic counterspell or would you need the caster level check?

My vote is with automatic.

 

[Destil]

Actually, that's an interesting point. Would it be an automatic counterspell or would you need the caster level check?

My vote is with automatic.

You could do either. Since you can always counter a spell with itself automaticly that's one option.

However, if you fail your check to identify the spell you could still try a blind dispel magic as a counter spell, which could stop anything.

 

[Xarlen]

Or, if you can't, just ready an action to peg him when he goes to cast it.