D&D (2024) Hunter's Mark

[Demetrios1453]

The text of the 2024 version of the spell is as follows:

"You magically mark one creature you can see within range as your quarry. Until the spell ends, you deal an extra 1d6 Force damage to the target whenever you hit it with an attack roll. You also have Advantage on any Wisdom (Perception or Survival) check you make to find it.

If the target drops to 0 Hit Points before this spell ends, you can take a Bonus Action to move the mark to a new creature you can see within range.

Using a Higher-Level Spell Slot. Your Concentration can last longer with a spell slot of level 3–4 (up to 8 hours) or 5+ (up to 24 hours)."


As far as I can see, there isn't any restriction to moving the mark to a non-hostile creature (say an ally or animal companion) at the end of combat so as to "store" it until the next combat (at which point you would presumably move it to a foe again), should that happen during the time limit (1 hour at the base level of the spell). Granted, you'd have to maintain Concentration during that time, but with it being outside combat, that shouldn't be too hard. Is this an acceptable reading of what can be done with the spell?

 

[ECMO3]

The text of the 2024 version of the spell is as follows:

"You magically mark one creature you can see within range as your quarry. Until the spell ends, you deal an extra 1d6 Force damage to the target whenever you hit it with an attack roll. You also have Advantage on any Wisdom (Perception or Survival) check you make to find it.

If the target drops to 0 Hit Points before this spell ends, you can take a Bonus Action to move the mark to a new creature you can see within range.

Using a Higher-Level Spell Slot. Your Concentration can last longer with a spell slot of level 3–4 (up to 8 hours) or 5+ (up to 24 hours)."


As far as I can see, there isn't any restriction to moving the mark to a non-hostile creature (say an ally or animal companion) at the end of combat so as to "store" it until the next combat (at which point you would presumably move it to a foe again), should that happen during the time limit (1 hour at the base level of the spell). Granted, you'd have to maintain Concentration during that time, but with it being outside combat, that shouldn't be too hard. Is this an acceptable reading of what can be done with the spell?

Your ally or companion would have to go to 0 before you could move it again. You can "store it" on the last guy you killed. As long as you keep concentrating and it does not expire you move it from the dead guy you killed a half hour ago to one of the people you are in combat with now.

The only way you can't do this is if a marked enemy runs away or surrenders or something. If he does not go to 0 hps he holds the Mark and you can't move it.

 

[mellored]

... before this spell ends, you can take a Bonus Action ...

The bonus action doesn't need to be on your next turn. It needs to be before the spell ends.

It is "stored" automatically.

 

[Demetrios1453]

Thanks for both answers! I don't know how I missed the "have to drop to 0 HP" part, but the basic premise that once you have it up, unless concentration is blown, you don't lose it in the meantime.