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What is the maximum amount of spells a level 20 wizard, druid or cleric could prepare?
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These three spellcasting classes can prepare a number of spells equal to their relevant ability score modifier + their class level.
This means that at level 20 they could prepare 25 spells assuming they don't multiclass, their relevant ability scores are capped at 20 as per the class rules for Ability Score Improvements and they don't have any additional items or abilities that let them prepare more.
Is there any way to increase the number of spells a wizard, druid or cleric can prepare, whether through magic items, class or racial abilities (including multiclassing), etc. and if so, what is the maximum number that of spells they could prepared?
I know, for instance, that at level 20 a wizard gains the Signature Spell ability that allows them to always have two 3rd-level wizard spells prepared that don't count against the number of spells they can have prepared so that would effectively give them 27 spells prepared. Neither the cleric nor the druid have such an ability in the PHB and I haven't been able to find a magic item in the DMG that does this.
For the sake of this question I'm limiting it to official material only so no Unearthed Arcana or the like.
dnd-5e spells
asked 4 hours ago
Purple Monkey
36.6k7148226
add a comment |
up vote
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These three spellcasting classes can prepare a number of spells equal to their relevant ability score modifier + their class level.
This means that at level 20 they could prepare 25 spells assuming they don't multiclass, their relevant ability scores are capped at 20 as per the class rules for Ability Score Improvements and they don't have any additional items or abilities that let them prepare more.
Is there any way to increase the number of spells a wizard, druid or cleric can prepare, whether through magic items, class or racial abilities (including multiclassing), etc. and if so, what is the maximum number that of spells they could prepared?
I know, for instance, that at level 20 a wizard gains the Signature Spell ability that allows them to always have two 3rd-level wizard spells prepared that don't count against the number of spells they can have prepared so that would effectively give them 27 spells prepared. Neither the cleric nor the druid have such an ability in the PHB and I haven't been able to find a magic item in the DMG that does this.
For the sake of this question I'm limiting it to official material only so no Unearthed Arcana or the like.
dnd-5e spells
asked 4 hours ago
Purple Monkey
36.6k7148226
Ability Mod + Class Level would be 25 at 20th level not 15.
– linksassin
4 hours ago
@linksassin whoops, derp. Thanks for pointing that out
– Purple Monkey
4 hours ago
@AntiDrondert please don’t answer in comments.
– Purple Monkey
2 hours ago
@PurpleMonkey Sorry ._. I should ask, if answer can include multiclassing possibilities or spellcaster in question can't dip at all.
– AntiDrondert
2 hours ago
@PurpleMonkey if this question were renamed to something like "How can you increase the maximum number of spells that a level 20 wizard, druid or cleric could prepare?", would it still suit your needs? I think this phrasing would make the question more helpful to others, since ultimately, you and they are probably just bummed out by not being able to prepare as many spells as you'd like. And I personally would rather google "how to increase prepared spells" than "what's the maximum number of prepared spells", although you might feel different, of course.
– PixelMaster
20 mins ago
add a comment |
up vote
2
down vote
favorite
up vote
2
down vote
favorite
These three spellcasting classes can prepare a number of spells equal to their relevant ability score modifier + their class level.
This means that at level 20 they could prepare 25 spells assuming they don't multiclass, their relevant ability scores are capped at 20 as per the class rules for Ability Score Improvements and they don't have any additional items or abilities that let them prepare more.
Is there any way to increase the number of spells a wizard, druid or cleric can prepare, whether through magic items, class or racial abilities (including multiclassing), etc. and if so, what is the maximum number that of spells they could prepared?
I know, for instance, that at level 20 a wizard gains the Signature Spell ability that allows them to always have two 3rd-level wizard spells prepared that don't count against the number of spells they can have prepared so that would effectively give them 27 spells prepared. Neither the cleric nor the druid have such an ability in the PHB and I haven't been able to find a magic item in the DMG that does this.
For the sake of this question I'm limiting it to official material only so no Unearthed Arcana or the like.
dnd-5e spells
asked 4 hours ago
Purple Monkey
36.6k7148226
These three spellcasting classes can prepare a number of spells equal to their relevant ability score modifier + their class level.
This means that at level 20 they could prepare 25 spells assuming they don't multiclass, their relevant ability scores are capped at 20 as per the class rules for Ability Score Improvements and they don't have any additional items or abilities that let them prepare more.
Is there any way to increase the number of spells a wizard, druid or cleric can prepare, whether through magic items, class or racial abilities (including multiclassing), etc. and if so, what is the maximum number that of spells they could prepared?
I know, for instance, that at level 20 a wizard gains the Signature Spell ability that allows them to always have two 3rd-level wizard spells prepared that don't count against the number of spells they can have prepared so that would effectively give them 27 spells prepared. Neither the cleric nor the druid have such an ability in the PHB and I haven't been able to find a magic item in the DMG that does this.
For the sake of this question I'm limiting it to official material only so no Unearthed Arcana or the like.
dnd-5e spells
dnd-5e spells
asked 4 hours ago
Purple Monkey
36.6k7148226
asked 4 hours ago
Purple Monkey
36.6k7148226
edited 1 hour ago
asked 4 hours ago
Purple Monkey
36.6k7148226
asked 4 hours ago
Purple Monkey
36.6k7148226
asked 4 hours ago
Purple Monkey
36.6k7148226
36.6k7148226
Ability Mod + Class Level would be 25 at 20th level not 15.
– linksassin
4 hours ago
@linksassin whoops, derp. Thanks for pointing that out
– Purple Monkey
4 hours ago
@AntiDrondert please don’t answer in comments.
– Purple Monkey
2 hours ago
@PurpleMonkey Sorry ._. I should ask, if answer can include multiclassing possibilities or spellcaster in question can't dip at all.
– AntiDrondert
2 hours ago
@PurpleMonkey if this question were renamed to something like "How can you increase the maximum number of spells that a level 20 wizard, druid or cleric could prepare?", would it still suit your needs? I think this phrasing would make the question more helpful to others, since ultimately, you and they are probably just bummed out by not being able to prepare as many spells as you'd like. And I personally would rather google "how to increase prepared spells" than "what's the maximum number of prepared spells", although you might feel different, of course.
– PixelMaster
20 mins ago
add a comment |
Ability Mod + Class Level would be 25 at 20th level not 15.
– linksassin
4 hours ago
@linksassin whoops, derp. Thanks for pointing that out
– Purple Monkey
4 hours ago
@AntiDrondert please don’t answer in comments.
– Purple Monkey
2 hours ago
@PurpleMonkey Sorry ._. I should ask, if answer can include multiclassing possibilities or spellcaster in question can't dip at all.
– AntiDrondert
2 hours ago
@PurpleMonkey if this question were renamed to something like "How can you increase the maximum number of spells that a level 20 wizard, druid or cleric could prepare?", would it still suit your needs? I think this phrasing would make the question more helpful to others, since ultimately, you and they are probably just bummed out by not being able to prepare as many spells as you'd like. And I personally would rather google "how to increase prepared spells" than "what's the maximum number of prepared spells", although you might feel different, of course.
– PixelMaster
20 mins ago
Ability Mod + Class Level would be 25 at 20th level not 15.
– linksassin
4 hours ago
Ability Mod + Class Level would be 25 at 20th level not 15.
– linksassin
4 hours ago
@linksassin whoops, derp. Thanks for pointing that out
– Purple Monkey
4 hours ago
@linksassin whoops, derp. Thanks for pointing that out
– Purple Monkey
4 hours ago
@AntiDrondert please don’t answer in comments.
– Purple Monkey
2 hours ago
@AntiDrondert please don’t answer in comments.
– Purple Monkey
2 hours ago
@PurpleMonkey Sorry ._. I should ask, if answer can include multiclassing possibilities or spellcaster in question can't dip at all.
– AntiDrondert
2 hours ago
@PurpleMonkey Sorry ._. I should ask, if answer can include multiclassing possibilities or spellcaster in question can't dip at all.
– AntiDrondert
2 hours ago
@PurpleMonkey if this question were renamed to something like "How can you increase the maximum number of spells that a level 20 wizard, druid or cleric could prepare?", would it still suit your needs? I think this phrasing would make the question more helpful to others, since ultimately, you and they are probably just bummed out by not being able to prepare as many spells as you'd like. And I personally would rather google "how to increase prepared spells" than "what's the maximum number of prepared spells", although you might feel different, of course.
– PixelMaster
20 mins ago
@PurpleMonkey if this question were renamed to something like "How can you increase the maximum number of spells that a level 20 wizard, druid or cleric could prepare?", would it still suit your needs? I think this phrasing would make the question more helpful to others, since ultimately, you and they are probably just bummed out by not being able to prepare as many spells as you'd like. And I personally would rather google "how to increase prepared spells" than "what's the maximum number of prepared spells", although you might feel different, of course.
– PixelMaster
20 mins ago
add a comment |
2 Answers
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4
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The Tome of Clear Thought will increase your Int and Max by 2 giving one more prepared spell to the Wizard.
This book contains memory and logic exercises, and its words are charged with magic. If you spend 48 hours over a period of 6 days or fewer studying the book's contents and practicing its guidelines, your Intelligence score increases by 2, as does your maximum for that score. The manual then loses its magic, but regains it in a century.
The Tome of Understading does the same for Wisdom giving the Cleric and Druid one more prepared spell.
From the Deck of Many Things:
Star: Increase one of your Ability Scores by 2. The score can exceed 20 but can't exceed 24
Wish can increase ability max but be careful:
State your wish to the DM as precisely as possible. The DM has great latitude in ruling what occurs in such an instance, the greater the wish, the greater the likelihood that something goes wrong.
While not technically Prepared Spells, Many magical staffs have a list of spells that can be cast from them.
answered 4 hours ago
ravery
6,3821949
I'd note that with enough access to appropriate tomes a character could boost their spellcasting stat to a maximum of 30.
– Carcer
22 mins ago
add a comment |
up vote
2
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Magic Initiate
In addition to increasing your ability score beyond 20 (see ravery's answer), some classes can gain an advantage by taking the Magic Initiate feat (unfortunately, RAW, not those classes you specified in the question).
The feat states:
Choose a class: bard, cleric, druid, sorcerer, warlock, or wizard. [...] In addition, choose one 1st-level spell from that same list. You learn that spell and can cast it at its lowest level. [...]
Per the Sage Advice Compendium, you can pick Magic Initiate for a class you already have and you can also use spell slots to cast the spell you gain more often, effectively giving you an additional 1st-level spell that you have always prepared.
If you’re a spellcaster, can you pick your own class when you gain the Magic Initiate feat?
Yes, the feat doesn’t say you can’t. For example, if you’re a wizard and gain the Magic Initiate feat, you can choose wizard and thereby learn two more wizard cantrips and another 1st-level wizard spell.
If you have spell slots, can you use them to cast the 1stlevel spell you learn with the Magic Initiate feat?
Yes, but only if the class you pick for the feat is one of your classes. For example, if you pick sorcerer and you are a sorcerer, the Spellcasting feature for that class tells you that you can use your spell slots to cast the sorcerer spells you know, so you can use your spell slots to cast the 1st-level sorcerer spell you learn from Magic Initiate. Similarly, if you are a wizard and pick that class for the feat, you learn a 1st-level wizard spell, which you could add to your spellbook and subsequently prepare.
In short, you must follow your character’s normal spellcasting rules, which determine whether you can expend spell slots on the 1st-level spell you learn from Magic Initiate.
Clearly, this allows classes that have all of their spells prepared (such as Sorcerers or Warlocks) to expand their daily available spell list.
Wizards are explicitly called out to require adding the spell to their spellbook, so (unless you houserule) they won't benefit beyond additional cantrips and getting a free casting once a day.
Druids or Clerics, however, don't have a spellbook and always have all their spells prepared. The rules are, therefore, unclear on whether they can count the spell gained from Magic Initiate as "always prepared". Judging by how Wizards have to prepare the spell, I believe an official rule would lean towards disallowing this.
Personally, I would houserule that the spell gained from Magic Initiate counts as an always-prepared spell, to avoid discrepancies between classes that have all spells prepared (e.g. Warlocks) and those that have to choose (e.g. Wizards or Druids). Especially Druids or Clerics would gain nothing, because - unlike Wizards - they wouldn't even benefit from an expanded spelllist.
You'd obviously have to talk about such a houserule with your DM, though.
Either way, Magic Initiate allows you to cast a 1st-level spell once a day for free, regardless of whether it's prepared or not. So, as long as you don't need the spell more than once a day (for example, choosing Alarm and casting it once a night), it's effectively an always-prepared spell.
Multiclassing
If you're either a Cleric or Druid, you can multiclass one level into the other class to gain a massive increase in prepared spells - in fact, you gain an additional number of prepared spells equal to your WIS modifier. Since the respective spell lists overlap in many cases, you can probably choose most of the 1st-level spells you want to prepare from the lower-level class's spell list, and choose the higher-level ones from your main class's list.
Unfortunately, this trick isn't as convenient if you're a wizard, since there is currently no other class that uses INT for spellcasting purposes (although this opportunity might come up if or once the Artificer or Mystic classes transfer from Unearthed Arcana to an official rulebook).
Multiclassing into a tertiary caster (such as Eldritch Knight or Arcane Trickster) is not viable, since they learn at most as many spells as their level - and every level you multiclass is substracted from the maximum number of Wizard spells you can prepare. In fact, multiclassing more than 4 levels into one of those classes will actually reduce your number of spells.
You can, of course, still multiclass into non-INT-casting classes to gain more prepared spells, but you'll then have two different spellcasting modifiers, which will mean the spells of the secondary class are weaker than those of your primary class.
The PHB states on page 164 on multiclassing:
You determine what spells you know and can prepare for each class individually, as if you were a single-classed member of that class.
answered 40 mins ago
PixelMaster
6,7542380
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
4
down vote
The Tome of Clear Thought will increase your Int and Max by 2 giving one more prepared spell to the Wizard.
This book contains memory and logic exercises, and its words are charged with magic. If you spend 48 hours over a period of 6 days or fewer studying the book's contents and practicing its guidelines, your Intelligence score increases by 2, as does your maximum for that score. The manual then loses its magic, but regains it in a century.
The Tome of Understading does the same for Wisdom giving the Cleric and Druid one more prepared spell.
From the Deck of Many Things:
Star: Increase one of your Ability Scores by 2. The score can exceed 20 but can't exceed 24
Wish can increase ability max but be careful:
State your wish to the DM as precisely as possible. The DM has great latitude in ruling what occurs in such an instance, the greater the wish, the greater the likelihood that something goes wrong.
While not technically Prepared Spells, Many magical staffs have a list of spells that can be cast from them.
answered 4 hours ago
ravery
6,3821949
I'd note that with enough access to appropriate tomes a character could boost their spellcasting stat to a maximum of 30.
– Carcer
22 mins ago
add a comment |
up vote
4
down vote
The Tome of Clear Thought will increase your Int and Max by 2 giving one more prepared spell to the Wizard.
This book contains memory and logic exercises, and its words are charged with magic. If you spend 48 hours over a period of 6 days or fewer studying the book's contents and practicing its guidelines, your Intelligence score increases by 2, as does your maximum for that score. The manual then loses its magic, but regains it in a century.
The Tome of Understading does the same for Wisdom giving the Cleric and Druid one more prepared spell.
From the Deck of Many Things:
Star: Increase one of your Ability Scores by 2. The score can exceed 20 but can't exceed 24
Wish can increase ability max but be careful:
State your wish to the DM as precisely as possible. The DM has great latitude in ruling what occurs in such an instance, the greater the wish, the greater the likelihood that something goes wrong.
While not technically Prepared Spells, Many magical staffs have a list of spells that can be cast from them.
answered 4 hours ago
ravery
6,3821949
I'd note that with enough access to appropriate tomes a character could boost their spellcasting stat to a maximum of 30.
– Carcer
22 mins ago
add a comment |
up vote
4
down vote
up vote
4
down vote
The Tome of Clear Thought will increase your Int and Max by 2 giving one more prepared spell to the Wizard.
This book contains memory and logic exercises, and its words are charged with magic. If you spend 48 hours over a period of 6 days or fewer studying the book's contents and practicing its guidelines, your Intelligence score increases by 2, as does your maximum for that score. The manual then loses its magic, but regains it in a century.
The Tome of Understading does the same for Wisdom giving the Cleric and Druid one more prepared spell.
From the Deck of Many Things:
Star: Increase one of your Ability Scores by 2. The score can exceed 20 but can't exceed 24
Wish can increase ability max but be careful:
State your wish to the DM as precisely as possible. The DM has great latitude in ruling what occurs in such an instance, the greater the wish, the greater the likelihood that something goes wrong.
While not technically Prepared Spells, Many magical staffs have a list of spells that can be cast from them.
answered 4 hours ago
ravery
6,3821949
The Tome of Clear Thought will increase your Int and Max by 2 giving one more prepared spell to the Wizard.
This book contains memory and logic exercises, and its words are charged with magic. If you spend 48 hours over a period of 6 days or fewer studying the book's contents and practicing its guidelines, your Intelligence score increases by 2, as does your maximum for that score. The manual then loses its magic, but regains it in a century.
The Tome of Understading does the same for Wisdom giving the Cleric and Druid one more prepared spell.
From the Deck of Many Things:
Star: Increase one of your Ability Scores by 2. The score can exceed 20 but can't exceed 24
Wish can increase ability max but be careful:
State your wish to the DM as precisely as possible. The DM has great latitude in ruling what occurs in such an instance, the greater the wish, the greater the likelihood that something goes wrong.
While not technically Prepared Spells, Many magical staffs have a list of spells that can be cast from them.
answered 4 hours ago
ravery
6,3821949
edited 3 hours ago
answered 4 hours ago
ravery
6,3821949
answered 4 hours ago
ravery
6,3821949
answered 4 hours ago
ravery
6,3821949
6,3821949
I'd note that with enough access to appropriate tomes a character could boost their spellcasting stat to a maximum of 30.
– Carcer
22 mins ago
add a comment |
I'd note that with enough access to appropriate tomes a character could boost their spellcasting stat to a maximum of 30.
– Carcer
22 mins ago
I'd note that with enough access to appropriate tomes a character could boost their spellcasting stat to a maximum of 30.
– Carcer
22 mins ago
I'd note that with enough access to appropriate tomes a character could boost their spellcasting stat to a maximum of 30.
– Carcer
22 mins ago
add a comment |
up vote
2
down vote
Magic Initiate
In addition to increasing your ability score beyond 20 (see ravery's answer), some classes can gain an advantage by taking the Magic Initiate feat (unfortunately, RAW, not those classes you specified in the question).
The feat states:
Choose a class: bard, cleric, druid, sorcerer, warlock, or wizard. [...] In addition, choose one 1st-level spell from that same list. You learn that spell and can cast it at its lowest level. [...]
Per the Sage Advice Compendium, you can pick Magic Initiate for a class you already have and you can also use spell slots to cast the spell you gain more often, effectively giving you an additional 1st-level spell that you have always prepared.
If you’re a spellcaster, can you pick your own class when you gain the Magic Initiate feat?
Yes, the feat doesn’t say you can’t. For example, if you’re a wizard and gain the Magic Initiate feat, you can choose wizard and thereby learn two more wizard cantrips and another 1st-level wizard spell.
If you have spell slots, can you use them to cast the 1stlevel spell you learn with the Magic Initiate feat?
Yes, but only if the class you pick for the feat is one of your classes. For example, if you pick sorcerer and you are a sorcerer, the Spellcasting feature for that class tells you that you can use your spell slots to cast the sorcerer spells you know, so you can use your spell slots to cast the 1st-level sorcerer spell you learn from Magic Initiate. Similarly, if you are a wizard and pick that class for the feat, you learn a 1st-level wizard spell, which you could add to your spellbook and subsequently prepare.
In short, you must follow your character’s normal spellcasting rules, which determine whether you can expend spell slots on the 1st-level spell you learn from Magic Initiate.
Clearly, this allows classes that have all of their spells prepared (such as Sorcerers or Warlocks) to expand their daily available spell list.
Wizards are explicitly called out to require adding the spell to their spellbook, so (unless you houserule) they won't benefit beyond additional cantrips and getting a free casting once a day.
Druids or Clerics, however, don't have a spellbook and always have all their spells prepared. The rules are, therefore, unclear on whether they can count the spell gained from Magic Initiate as "always prepared". Judging by how Wizards have to prepare the spell, I believe an official rule would lean towards disallowing this.
Personally, I would houserule that the spell gained from Magic Initiate counts as an always-prepared spell, to avoid discrepancies between classes that have all spells prepared (e.g. Warlocks) and those that have to choose (e.g. Wizards or Druids). Especially Druids or Clerics would gain nothing, because - unlike Wizards - they wouldn't even benefit from an expanded spelllist.
You'd obviously have to talk about such a houserule with your DM, though.
Either way, Magic Initiate allows you to cast a 1st-level spell once a day for free, regardless of whether it's prepared or not. So, as long as you don't need the spell more than once a day (for example, choosing Alarm and casting it once a night), it's effectively an always-prepared spell.
Multiclassing
If you're either a Cleric or Druid, you can multiclass one level into the other class to gain a massive increase in prepared spells - in fact, you gain an additional number of prepared spells equal to your WIS modifier. Since the respective spell lists overlap in many cases, you can probably choose most of the 1st-level spells you want to prepare from the lower-level class's spell list, and choose the higher-level ones from your main class's list.
Unfortunately, this trick isn't as convenient if you're a wizard, since there is currently no other class that uses INT for spellcasting purposes (although this opportunity might come up if or once the Artificer or Mystic classes transfer from Unearthed Arcana to an official rulebook).
Multiclassing into a tertiary caster (such as Eldritch Knight or Arcane Trickster) is not viable, since they learn at most as many spells as their level - and every level you multiclass is substracted from the maximum number of Wizard spells you can prepare. In fact, multiclassing more than 4 levels into one of those classes will actually reduce your number of spells.
You can, of course, still multiclass into non-INT-casting classes to gain more prepared spells, but you'll then have two different spellcasting modifiers, which will mean the spells of the secondary class are weaker than those of your primary class.
The PHB states on page 164 on multiclassing:
You determine what spells you know and can prepare for each class individually, as if you were a single-classed member of that class.
answered 40 mins ago
PixelMaster
6,7542380
add a comment |
up vote
2
down vote
Magic Initiate
In addition to increasing your ability score beyond 20 (see ravery's answer), some classes can gain an advantage by taking the Magic Initiate feat (unfortunately, RAW, not those classes you specified in the question).
The feat states:
Choose a class: bard, cleric, druid, sorcerer, warlock, or wizard. [...] In addition, choose one 1st-level spell from that same list. You learn that spell and can cast it at its lowest level. [...]
Per the Sage Advice Compendium, you can pick Magic Initiate for a class you already have and you can also use spell slots to cast the spell you gain more often, effectively giving you an additional 1st-level spell that you have always prepared.
If you’re a spellcaster, can you pick your own class when you gain the Magic Initiate feat?
Yes, the feat doesn’t say you can’t. For example, if you’re a wizard and gain the Magic Initiate feat, you can choose wizard and thereby learn two more wizard cantrips and another 1st-level wizard spell.
If you have spell slots, can you use them to cast the 1stlevel spell you learn with the Magic Initiate feat?
Yes, but only if the class you pick for the feat is one of your classes. For example, if you pick sorcerer and you are a sorcerer, the Spellcasting feature for that class tells you that you can use your spell slots to cast the sorcerer spells you know, so you can use your spell slots to cast the 1st-level sorcerer spell you learn from Magic Initiate. Similarly, if you are a wizard and pick that class for the feat, you learn a 1st-level wizard spell, which you could add to your spellbook and subsequently prepare.
In short, you must follow your character’s normal spellcasting rules, which determine whether you can expend spell slots on the 1st-level spell you learn from Magic Initiate.
Clearly, this allows classes that have all of their spells prepared (such as Sorcerers or Warlocks) to expand their daily available spell list.
Wizards are explicitly called out to require adding the spell to their spellbook, so (unless you houserule) they won't benefit beyond additional cantrips and getting a free casting once a day.
Druids or Clerics, however, don't have a spellbook and always have all their spells prepared. The rules are, therefore, unclear on whether they can count the spell gained from Magic Initiate as "always prepared". Judging by how Wizards have to prepare the spell, I believe an official rule would lean towards disallowing this.
Personally, I would houserule that the spell gained from Magic Initiate counts as an always-prepared spell, to avoid discrepancies between classes that have all spells prepared (e.g. Warlocks) and those that have to choose (e.g. Wizards or Druids). Especially Druids or Clerics would gain nothing, because - unlike Wizards - they wouldn't even benefit from an expanded spelllist.
You'd obviously have to talk about such a houserule with your DM, though.
Either way, Magic Initiate allows you to cast a 1st-level spell once a day for free, regardless of whether it's prepared or not. So, as long as you don't need the spell more than once a day (for example, choosing Alarm and casting it once a night), it's effectively an always-prepared spell.
Multiclassing
If you're either a Cleric or Druid, you can multiclass one level into the other class to gain a massive increase in prepared spells - in fact, you gain an additional number of prepared spells equal to your WIS modifier. Since the respective spell lists overlap in many cases, you can probably choose most of the 1st-level spells you want to prepare from the lower-level class's spell list, and choose the higher-level ones from your main class's list.
Unfortunately, this trick isn't as convenient if you're a wizard, since there is currently no other class that uses INT for spellcasting purposes (although this opportunity might come up if or once the Artificer or Mystic classes transfer from Unearthed Arcana to an official rulebook).
Multiclassing into a tertiary caster (such as Eldritch Knight or Arcane Trickster) is not viable, since they learn at most as many spells as their level - and every level you multiclass is substracted from the maximum number of Wizard spells you can prepare. In fact, multiclassing more than 4 levels into one of those classes will actually reduce your number of spells.
You can, of course, still multiclass into non-INT-casting classes to gain more prepared spells, but you'll then have two different spellcasting modifiers, which will mean the spells of the secondary class are weaker than those of your primary class.
The PHB states on page 164 on multiclassing:
You determine what spells you know and can prepare for each class individually, as if you were a single-classed member of that class.
answered 40 mins ago
PixelMaster
6,7542380
add a comment |
up vote
2
down vote
up vote
2
down vote
Magic Initiate
In addition to increasing your ability score beyond 20 (see ravery's answer), some classes can gain an advantage by taking the Magic Initiate feat (unfortunately, RAW, not those classes you specified in the question).
The feat states:
Choose a class: bard, cleric, druid, sorcerer, warlock, or wizard. [...] In addition, choose one 1st-level spell from that same list. You learn that spell and can cast it at its lowest level. [...]
Per the Sage Advice Compendium, you can pick Magic Initiate for a class you already have and you can also use spell slots to cast the spell you gain more often, effectively giving you an additional 1st-level spell that you have always prepared.
If you’re a spellcaster, can you pick your own class when you gain the Magic Initiate feat?
Yes, the feat doesn’t say you can’t. For example, if you’re a wizard and gain the Magic Initiate feat, you can choose wizard and thereby learn two more wizard cantrips and another 1st-level wizard spell.
If you have spell slots, can you use them to cast the 1stlevel spell you learn with the Magic Initiate feat?
Yes, but only if the class you pick for the feat is one of your classes. For example, if you pick sorcerer and you are a sorcerer, the Spellcasting feature for that class tells you that you can use your spell slots to cast the sorcerer spells you know, so you can use your spell slots to cast the 1st-level sorcerer spell you learn from Magic Initiate. Similarly, if you are a wizard and pick that class for the feat, you learn a 1st-level wizard spell, which you could add to your spellbook and subsequently prepare.
In short, you must follow your character’s normal spellcasting rules, which determine whether you can expend spell slots on the 1st-level spell you learn from Magic Initiate.
Clearly, this allows classes that have all of their spells prepared (such as Sorcerers or Warlocks) to expand their daily available spell list.
Wizards are explicitly called out to require adding the spell to their spellbook, so (unless you houserule) they won't benefit beyond additional cantrips and getting a free casting once a day.
Druids or Clerics, however, don't have a spellbook and always have all their spells prepared. The rules are, therefore, unclear on whether they can count the spell gained from Magic Initiate as "always prepared". Judging by how Wizards have to prepare the spell, I believe an official rule would lean towards disallowing this.
Personally, I would houserule that the spell gained from Magic Initiate counts as an always-prepared spell, to avoid discrepancies between classes that have all spells prepared (e.g. Warlocks) and those that have to choose (e.g. Wizards or Druids). Especially Druids or Clerics would gain nothing, because - unlike Wizards - they wouldn't even benefit from an expanded spelllist.
You'd obviously have to talk about such a houserule with your DM, though.
Either way, Magic Initiate allows you to cast a 1st-level spell once a day for free, regardless of whether it's prepared or not. So, as long as you don't need the spell more than once a day (for example, choosing Alarm and casting it once a night), it's effectively an always-prepared spell.
Multiclassing
If you're either a Cleric or Druid, you can multiclass one level into the other class to gain a massive increase in prepared spells - in fact, you gain an additional number of prepared spells equal to your WIS modifier. Since the respective spell lists overlap in many cases, you can probably choose most of the 1st-level spells you want to prepare from the lower-level class's spell list, and choose the higher-level ones from your main class's list.
Unfortunately, this trick isn't as convenient if you're a wizard, since there is currently no other class that uses INT for spellcasting purposes (although this opportunity might come up if or once the Artificer or Mystic classes transfer from Unearthed Arcana to an official rulebook).
Multiclassing into a tertiary caster (such as Eldritch Knight or Arcane Trickster) is not viable, since they learn at most as many spells as their level - and every level you multiclass is substracted from the maximum number of Wizard spells you can prepare. In fact, multiclassing more than 4 levels into one of those classes will actually reduce your number of spells.
You can, of course, still multiclass into non-INT-casting classes to gain more prepared spells, but you'll then have two different spellcasting modifiers, which will mean the spells of the secondary class are weaker than those of your primary class.
The PHB states on page 164 on multiclassing:
You determine what spells you know and can prepare for each class individually, as if you were a single-classed member of that class.
answered 40 mins ago
PixelMaster
6,7542380
Magic Initiate
In addition to increasing your ability score beyond 20 (see ravery's answer), some classes can gain an advantage by taking the Magic Initiate feat (unfortunately, RAW, not those classes you specified in the question).
The feat states:
Choose a class: bard, cleric, druid, sorcerer, warlock, or wizard. [...] In addition, choose one 1st-level spell from that same list. You learn that spell and can cast it at its lowest level. [...]
Per the Sage Advice Compendium, you can pick Magic Initiate for a class you already have and you can also use spell slots to cast the spell you gain more often, effectively giving you an additional 1st-level spell that you have always prepared.
If you’re a spellcaster, can you pick your own class when you gain the Magic Initiate feat?
Yes, the feat doesn’t say you can’t. For example, if you’re a wizard and gain the Magic Initiate feat, you can choose wizard and thereby learn two more wizard cantrips and another 1st-level wizard spell.
If you have spell slots, can you use them to cast the 1stlevel spell you learn with the Magic Initiate feat?
Yes, but only if the class you pick for the feat is one of your classes. For example, if you pick sorcerer and you are a sorcerer, the Spellcasting feature for that class tells you that you can use your spell slots to cast the sorcerer spells you know, so you can use your spell slots to cast the 1st-level sorcerer spell you learn from Magic Initiate. Similarly, if you are a wizard and pick that class for the feat, you learn a 1st-level wizard spell, which you could add to your spellbook and subsequently prepare.
In short, you must follow your character’s normal spellcasting rules, which determine whether you can expend spell slots on the 1st-level spell you learn from Magic Initiate.
Clearly, this allows classes that have all of their spells prepared (such as Sorcerers or Warlocks) to expand their daily available spell list.
Wizards are explicitly called out to require adding the spell to their spellbook, so (unless you houserule) they won't benefit beyond additional cantrips and getting a free casting once a day.
Druids or Clerics, however, don't have a spellbook and always have all their spells prepared. The rules are, therefore, unclear on whether they can count the spell gained from Magic Initiate as "always prepared". Judging by how Wizards have to prepare the spell, I believe an official rule would lean towards disallowing this.
Personally, I would houserule that the spell gained from Magic Initiate counts as an always-prepared spell, to avoid discrepancies between classes that have all spells prepared (e.g. Warlocks) and those that have to choose (e.g. Wizards or Druids). Especially Druids or Clerics would gain nothing, because - unlike Wizards - they wouldn't even benefit from an expanded spelllist.
You'd obviously have to talk about such a houserule with your DM, though.
Either way, Magic Initiate allows you to cast a 1st-level spell once a day for free, regardless of whether it's prepared or not. So, as long as you don't need the spell more than once a day (for example, choosing Alarm and casting it once a night), it's effectively an always-prepared spell.
Multiclassing
If you're either a Cleric or Druid, you can multiclass one level into the other class to gain a massive increase in prepared spells - in fact, you gain an additional number of prepared spells equal to your WIS modifier. Since the respective spell lists overlap in many cases, you can probably choose most of the 1st-level spells you want to prepare from the lower-level class's spell list, and choose the higher-level ones from your main class's list.
Unfortunately, this trick isn't as convenient if you're a wizard, since there is currently no other class that uses INT for spellcasting purposes (although this opportunity might come up if or once the Artificer or Mystic classes transfer from Unearthed Arcana to an official rulebook).
Multiclassing into a tertiary caster (such as Eldritch Knight or Arcane Trickster) is not viable, since they learn at most as many spells as their level - and every level you multiclass is substracted from the maximum number of Wizard spells you can prepare. In fact, multiclassing more than 4 levels into one of those classes will actually reduce your number of spells.
You can, of course, still multiclass into non-INT-casting classes to gain more prepared spells, but you'll then have two different spellcasting modifiers, which will mean the spells of the secondary class are weaker than those of your primary class.
The PHB states on page 164 on multiclassing:
You determine what spells you know and can prepare for each class individually, as if you were a single-classed member of that class.
answered 40 mins ago
PixelMaster
6,7542380
edited 24 mins ago
answered 40 mins ago
PixelMaster
6,7542380
answered 40 mins ago
PixelMaster
6,7542380
answered 40 mins ago
PixelMaster
6,7542380
6,7542380
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Ability Mod + Class Level would be 25 at 20th level not 15.
– linksassin
4 hours ago
@linksassin whoops, derp. Thanks for pointing that out
– Purple Monkey
4 hours ago
@AntiDrondert please don’t answer in comments.
– Purple Monkey
2 hours ago
@PurpleMonkey Sorry ._. I should ask, if answer can include multiclassing possibilities or spellcaster in question can't dip at all.
– AntiDrondert
2 hours ago
@PurpleMonkey if this question were renamed to something like "How can you increase the maximum number of spells that a level 20 wizard, druid or cleric could prepare?", would it still suit your needs? I think this phrasing would make the question more helpful to others, since ultimately, you and they are probably just bummed out by not being able to prepare as many spells as you'd like. And I personally would rather google "how to increase prepared spells" than "what's the maximum number of prepared spells", although you might feel different, of course.
– PixelMaster
20 mins ago