Spellcraft
Full rules text, use cases, and edge-case handling for this skill.
Description
Spellcraft is the academic study of magic — identifying spells as they are cast, deciphering magical writings, learning spells from spellbooks and scrolls, understanding magical effects, and crafting magic items. It is the primary skill of wizards and a near-mandatory investment for any arcane caster.
Spellcraft does not grant magical ability on its own — it is the theoretical knowledge that supports it. A character with Spellcraft but no spellcasting ability can identify a spell being cast but cannot cast it themselves.
Check
| Task | DC |
|---|---|
| Identify a spell as it is being cast (you must see or hear it) | 15 + spell level |
| Identify a spell affecting a target (with detect magic active) | 15 + spell level |
| Identify a magic item's properties (with detect magic active) | 15 + item caster level |
| Learn a spell from a spellbook or scroll (wizard) | 15 + spell level |
| Prepare a spell from a borrowed spellbook | 15 + spell level |
| Decipher an arcane scroll | 20 + spell level |
| Identify the spell being cast for counterspell purposes | 15 + spell level |
| Craft a magic item (must meet all prerequisites) | Varies by item |
detect magic required: Identifying a magic item or a spell currently affecting a target requires detect magic to be active. Simply having Spellcraft ranks is not enough — you need the magical sight to observe what you are identifying.
Identifying items: Using detect magic to identify a magic item requires 3 rounds of concentration on the item. A successful Spellcraft check reveals the item's properties. Failure by 10 or more may give you a false reading at GM discretion.
Action
Identify a spell being cast: No action — you attempt the check immediately as a reaction when you see or hear a spell being cast. You must be able to observe the casting.
Identify a magic item (with detect magic): 3 rounds of concentration.
Learn a spell from a spellbook or scroll: 1 hour per spell level (minimum 1 hour).
Decipher a scroll: No action beyond reading it — the check is made as part of attempting to use the scroll.
Identify for counterspelling: No action — part of readying the counterspell action.
Try Again
Identify a spell being cast: No — the spell finishes casting before you could try again. You either caught it or you didn't.
Learn a spell: No, until you gain at least 1 more rank in Spellcraft. Each failed attempt still costs the hour of study.
Identify a magic item: Yes — each attempt takes 3 rounds of concentration.
Decipher a scroll: No, until you gain at least 1 more rank.
Special
- Trained only: You must have at least 1 rank in Spellcraft to attempt any check. There is no untrained use.
- Magical Aptitude (feat): +2 to Spellcraft (and Use Magic Device); increases to +4 in each with 10 or more ranks.
- Skill Focus — Spellcraft (feat): +3; increases to +6 with 10 or more ranks.
- Wizard: Spellcraft is a class skill and effectively mandatory — used to learn spells, identify magical effects, and meet item-crafting prerequisites.
- Spellcraft vs. caster level checks: Spellcraft is purely an identification and crafting skill. It does not affect caster level checks for spell penetration or dispelling — those use your actual caster level.
- Item crafting prerequisites: Most item creation feats require a minimum Spellcraft rank (typically 3 × the item's caster level). Meeting this is separate from having the right spells and feats.
- Counterspelling: Identifying the incoming spell (Spellcraft DC 15 + spell level) is step one of counterspelling with a matching spell. Dispel magic does not require identification — it works against any spell.
Untrained
No. Spellcraft requires at least 1 rank — theoretical magical knowledge does not come naturally. An untrained character cannot attempt any Spellcraft check regardless of the DC.