D&D 5E Spellprepared/known for multiclassed spellcaster

[Pauper]

Staffan is correct:

"You prepare the list of cleric spells that are available for you to cast, choosing from the cleric spell list. When you do so, choose a number of cleric spells equal to your Wisdom modifier + your cleric level (minimum of one spell). The spells must be of a level for which you have spell slots." (Basic Rules, p.22)

So, while the multiclassing rules do say you prepare spells as a caster of your class level, a wizard19/cleric1 does have ninth-level spell slots (see the chart for determining your spell slots as a multi-class caster), and thus could prepare ninth level spells. You could likely only prepare a total of 6 cleric spells as a first level cleric (as ccooke notes, with a Wis of 20 and one cleric level, that gives you a list with six cleric spells), but nothing in the multiclassing rules prevents you from preparing a ninth level spell, or any other non-cantrip for that matter, in that list of six spells.

Likewise, a cleric2/wizard3 could include 3rd level spells on his list of prepared cleric spells, since
he has third level slots, but could only contain 3rd level wizard spells if he had 3rd level wizard
spells in his spellbook (which is possible if he finds a scroll with a 3rd level spell and scribes it into
his spellbook).

 

[Pauper]

Note, though, that a cleric2/wizard2 gaining a level of wizard could not add 3rd level spells to his spellbook -- the 'Learning Spells of 1st Level and Higher' rule adds a critical phrase:

"Each time you gain a wizard level, you can add two wizard spells of your choice to your spellbook for free. Each of these spells must be of a level for which you have spell slots, as shown on the Wizard table."

However, under Your Spellbook:

"When you find a wizard spell of 1st level or higher, you can add it to your spellbook
if it is of a spell level you can prepare and if you can spare the time to decipher and copy
it."

So the same wizard, after leveling up, could scribe 3rd level spells from captured
spellbooks or scrolls into his spellbook by spending the required time and materials to
do so; he just doesn't get those spells for free until he qualifies for them as a straight-
class wizard.

--
Pauper

 

[spectacle]

Keep in mind that multiclassing is an optional rule, and the rules for each class are not written with multiclassing in mind.

While the rules for multiclass spells known/prepared could be clearer, the example given makes it obvious what is the correct interpretation: a Ranger 4/Wizard 3 has 2nd and 3rd level slots, but the example explicitly states that the character only knows 1st level ranger spells. Any reading of the rules that would let the ranger know higher level ranger spells must be wrong.

So by the rules a cleric 1/wizard 19 can only prepare 1st level cleric spells.

 

[Prism]

Staffan is correct:

"You prepare the list of cleric spells that are available for you to cast, choosing from the cleric spell list. When you do so, choose a number of cleric spells equal to your Wisdom modifier + your cleric level (minimum of one spell). The spells must be of a level for which you have spell slots." (Basic Rules, p.22)

So, while the multiclassing rules do say you prepare spells as a caster of your class level, a wizard19/cleric1 does have ninth-level spell slots (see the chart for determining your spell slots as a multi-class caster), and thus could prepare ninth level spells. You could likely only prepare a total of 6 cleric spells as a first level cleric (as ccooke notes, with a Wis of 20 and one cleric level, that gives you a list with six cleric spells), but nothing in the multiclassing rules prevents you from preparing a ninth level spell, or any other non-cantrip for that matter, in that list of six spells.

The multi classing rules state you can only prepare spells that you know, and a first level cleric only knows 1st level spells. The example given of the ranger/wizard is pretty specific. There has been some debate over the wizard since they can have higher level spells in their spellbook should they find and copy them. I seriously doubt though that the intention was to make wizard multiclass better than every other multiclass

 

[Sage Genesis]

and a first level cleric only knows 1st level spells

That is very much open to debate. Clerics can't prepare spells of certain levels, sure, but that's not the same as not knowing them. It's not even certain if the the game mechanical sense of "knowing" spells is even applicable to Clerics in the first place. The term "knowing" spells seems to apply only to their cantrips.

Regardless, I think we can all agree on what the intent is of the multiclassing rules with regards to Clerics. There doesn't appear to be consensus on how the RAW can be explained due to some wording issues, but since none of us advocate to actually play that way it's probably a moot point.

 

[Prism]

That is very much open to debate. Clerics can't prepare spells of certain levels, sure, but that's not the same as not knowing them. It's not even certain if the the game mechanical sense of "knowing" spells is even applicable to Clerics in the first place. The term "knowing" spells seems to apply only to their cantrips.

Regardless, I think we can all agree on what the intent is of the multiclassing rules with regards to Clerics. There doesn't appear to be consensus on how the RAW can be explained due to some wording issues, but since none of us advocate to actually play that way it's probably a moot point.

I agree it would be a very odd way of thinking about it if a 1st level cleric knows all clerical spells up to 9th level but simply cant cast them until they get the magical slots. As you say I'm not sure why anyone would play it that way. If true it would mean a 19th level wizard who takes their first level in cleric at 20th can suddenly prepare and cast true resurrection. A 19th level cleric taking their first wizard level could copy a scroll of meteor swarm into their book, prepare and cast

 

[Pickles III]

The multi classing rules state you can only prepare spells that you know, and a first level cleric only knows 1st level spells. The example given of the ranger/wizard is pretty specific. There has been some debate over the wizard since they can have higher level spells in their spellbook should they find and copy them. I seriously doubt though that the intention was to make wizard multiclass better than every other multiclass

To agree with your intent if not the form. The below seems to be using one sentence to cover both classes that know spells & also classes that prepare spells.

"You determine which spells you know and can prepare for each class individually as if you were a single-classed member of that class. If you are a ranger 4/wizard 3, for example, you know three 1st level ranger spells based on your levels in the ranger class."

Becomes for a cleric as knowing is irrelevant:-

"You determine which spells you can prepare for each class individually as if you were a single-classed member of that class. If you are a Cleric 4/wizard 3, for example, you can prepare (4 plus wisdom mod) first or second level cleric spells based on your levels in the cleric class."

The 19/1 character in question may have 9th level spell slots available but he cannot take them into consideration as he is preparing spells as though he was a first level cleric.

 

[Pauper]

The multi classing rules state you can only prepare spells that you know, and a first level cleric only knows 1st level spells.

Except, as already noted, clerics don't 'know' spells in the same way that bards 'know' spells -- clerics don't have a 'spells known' list; they effectively 'know' all the spells on their class list. The rules for preparing spells, meanwhile, state that you can prepare spells of a level for which you have spell slots, of which a Wizard19/Cleric1 has 9th level spell slots.

I seriously doubt though that the intention was to make wizard multiclass better than every other multiclass

I don't see how the Wizard multiclass is 'better' because of this rule -- the one-level cleric dip might be better than a one-level dip in a different class (though I'd still take two levels, to get the domain abilities and domain spells), but every 9th level cleric spell you cast is a 9th level wizard spell you can't cast that day.

--
Pauper

 

[Dausuul]

The rules for preparing spells, meanwhile, state that you can prepare spells of a level for which you have spell slots, of which a Wizard19/Cleric1 has 9th level spell slots.

No. The rules for preparing spells as a multi-classed spellcaster state that you "determine what spells you know and can prepare for each class individually as if you were a single-classed member of that class."

If you're a wizard 19/cleric 1, you determine what wizard spells you can prepare as if you were a 19th-level wizard, and you determine what cleric spells you can prepare as if you were a 1st-level cleric.

 

[Pauper]

No. The rules for preparing spells as a multi-classed spellcaster state that you "determine what spells you know and can prepare for each class individually as if you were a single-classed member of that class."

If you're a wizard 19/cleric 1, you determine what wizard spells you can prepare as if you were a 19th-level wizard, and you determine what cleric spells you can prepare as if you were a 1st-level cleric.

You are correct. What you are missing is that the rules for preparing spells as a cleric (as quoted above) specifically tell you that you can prepare any spell for which you have spell slots, and the rules for multiclassing do not distinguish between classes for the purpose of determining your spell slots -- you don't have 'wizard spell slots' and 'cleric spell slots', you have spell slots.

So as a Wizard19/Cleric1, you prepare spells as a 1st level cleric who also happens to have 9th level spell slots. You are limited in the number of spells you can prepare (since that's based on your cleric level, as noted in the multiclassing rules), but not in the level of spell you can prepare (because you have the spell slots of a 20th level caster, not those of a 1st level cleric).

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Pauper