Designing Spells

Designing spells for the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game is a complex task that is part art, part science. Unlike magic items — where power translates directly to gold piece cost — spells must fit into one of nine discrete power levels, each defined by the existing spell roster. This section covers what you need to consider when building balanced, playable spells for your campaign.

Spell Research

The game rules for what a caster must do to create a new spell are intentionally vague (see the Spell Research rules). Just as it is not necessary to know whether a wizard is using squid ink or rare plant ink when crafting a scroll, it is not necessary to know which grimoire he is modifying to create a new 1st-level attack spell. Flavor details are fine for a high-narrative campaign, but they do not affect the outcome of spell research, which largely takes place outside of game time. This section therefore covers the game mechanics of designing a new spell — not the in-world requirements of researching one.

Spell Terminology

Before designing a new spell, familiarize yourself with the Magic chapter. Understand each school and subschool, and the purpose of every stat-block field: components, range, duration, saving throw, spell resistance. The sections below address these aspects in order of their importance to balance. Components, for example, rarely affect power level and are covered last.

Intended Level

You typically begin with an idea of the general power level — probably because you have a specific PC or NPC in mind. A two-level range is close enough at this stage. Once you know the approximate level, move on to function. Finalizing the level is one of the last steps.

Function

Function is the most important consideration: the tangible game effect of the spell. Cosmetics — damage type, condition name, bonus type, visual appearance — are irrelevant at this stage. Some sample functions:

A spell can combine multiple functions or offer a choice between options, but multi-function spells should always be less powerful than a single-purpose spell of the same level.

Spell Damage

A typical damage spell deals 1 die (d6) per caster level for arcane spells (e.g., shocking grasp, fireball), or 1 die (d6 or d8) per two caster levels for divine spells (e.g., searing light). Offensive spells are the easiest to design — dozens of examples exist in the core game.

Target

Single-target spells are the simplest baseline. A spell with range “personal” and target “you” is slightly weaker than one targeting any creature — but that slight decrease should not justify a lower spell level. Evaluate caster-only spells at full power, then restrict them to caster-only for design or balance reasons.

Multiple-target spells (bursts, cones, or pick-your-targets like slow) are more powerful than single-target. Burst effects can hit more enemies but risk friendly fire; pick-your-target spells are safer but limited. Choose based on the spell’s theme — but note that picking multiple targets is generally stronger except at the very lowest caster levels.

Damage Caps

Low-level damage spells have a maximum damage they can deal — by design, so they do not rival higher-level spells at high caster levels. Arcane spells cap higher than divine to balance the fact that divine magic excels at healing.

“Single target” means the spell damages one creature, or divides its damage across several (like magic missile or burning hands). “Multiple targets” means the spell applies full damage to each affected creature (like fireball). Arcane spells typically use d6s; divine spells typically use d8s — when reading the divine table, count each d8 as 2d6.

Range

Range significantly affects a spell’s power. Touch spells require the caster to enter or near melee range, risking attacks of opportunity. Close range (at least 25 ft. + 5 ft. per 2 levels) still allows enemies to close in one move or charge. Medium and long range are functionally equivalent in most indoor encounters.

As a guideline: increasing range by one category (touch → close → medium → long) is roughly equivalent to +1 spell level — the same trade-off the Reach Spell feat makes. A spell like cure light wounds at close range instead of touch is appropriate as a 2nd-level spell.

Duration

There are no hard rules for duration — a weak spell may last hours, a powerful one only a few rounds or a single action. Compare your spell’s effect and duration to similar spells of the intended level and spells one level above and below. Be clear on the distinction between “instantaneous” (the effect happens and then is mundane — can’t be dispelled) and “permanent” (ongoing magical — can be dispelled).

Saving Throw

Most spells that directly affect creatures with a magical effect should allow a saving throw. Spells that create nonmagical materials (like ice storm) do not normally require a save. Spells that require an attack roll may or may not require a save as well — but attack effects with no damage roll should always allow a save, or they become obviously dominant choices.

Spell Resistance

SR applies to instantaneous or ongoing magical effects. It does not apply to spells that create nonmagical results — a wall of stone cannot be walked through via SR any more than a castle wall can, because the spell’s magic is already spent. The general rule: most spells allow SR. Only deliberately nonmagical-result spells omit it.

Avoid trick designs that create “nonmagical fireballs” to bypass SR. These unbalance encounters — some monsters (golems especially) are intentionally hard for spellcasters, and circumventing that damages encounter design. Whether a spell allows SR is not an indicator of its power; in most fights, SR is not a factor.

Casting Time

Nearly all combat spells should have a casting time of 1 standard action. Avoid swift- or immediate-action spells — that is just a cheap way to cast two spells per round, which the Quicken Spell feat already enables at a cost. Designing around it devalues the feat and burns through spells faster, pressuring parties to rest instead of explore.

Components

Components rarely affect power level unless a costly focus or material component is involved. Most spells use V and S; new spells should follow this convention.

• No verbal component (Silent Spell equivalent): Devalues the Silent Spell feat if offered as a standard spell option. Using silent variants as deliberate weaker choices (e.g., preparing silent magic missile over acid arrow) is acceptable.
• No somatic component (Still Spell equivalent): Allows casting while bound, grappled, or armored without failure. Devalues Still Spell. Only omit for spells whose theme genuinely implies no gestures.
• Costly material components: Used to prevent overuse of spells that trivialize adventuring — stoneskin, augury, raise dead. If the spell is balanced at its level but too tempting to spam freely, a gp cost moderates frequency.
• Costly focus components: A one-time barrier to entry. Useful for delaying access to a powerful spell, after which it behaves like any normal spell.

School

School does not significantly affect power balance — a 6th-level conjuration attack spell should be about as powerful as a 6th-level evocation one. Choose the school that best fits the effect: energy-area spells → conjuration or evocation; calling/summoning/creating physical matter → conjuration; energy or force → evocation; mind effects → enchantment; fear or undead → necromancy.

Bonus Types

Not all bonus types are equal, and each type is only appropriate for certain statistics. Before assigning a bonus type, check the table below — a dash (—) means there are no appropriate items or spells using that combination, and you should not create one. Mixing bonus types incorrectly (e.g., a deflection bonus to Strength) is both mechanically wrong and makes it trivially easy to stack bonuses.

Writing the Spell Description

The description is the most important text in the spell entry. Keep it clear and concise — players reference it mid-combat. Use separate paragraphs for each complex effect; use labeled list entries for choosable options (see binding as a model). Do not restate anything already in the stat block.

Avoid language that implies effects the mechanics do not support. Do not say “foul necromancy” if the spell has no evil descriptor. Remember that while you may design a spell for one character, it will be used by wizards and sorcerers alike — and sorcerers cast far more times per day, so a spell that is fine for a wizard may be too good for a sorcerer. Also consider scroll and potion availability.

When you finish, have others review it. They will notice gaps, find abuse cases, and ask questions the description needs to answer.

Hierarchy of Attack Effects

When all other factors are equal, attack spells rank by effect type from best to worst:

Core is King

Always compare your new spell to existing spells. If a spell pushes the boundaries just a little, the next one pushes them a little more — and over time the new spells drift dramatically stronger than the core game.

It is acceptable to design a spell that is not the best at its level. Not every spell needs to be an obvious choice — that is exactly why easily crafted scrolls exist, giving parties access to situationally useful spells they would not normally prepare.

Multipurpose Spells

A spell that does multiple things should be weaker than one that does a single thing well — and even more so for spontaneous casters (sorcerers, oracles, bards) who can only learn a limited number of spells. A multipurpose spell is like learning two spells, so reduce its power accordingly.

Examples of poorly designed multipurpose spells:

• A general “emotions” spell letting the caster choose from several emotion effects
• A fire spell that lets the caster hurl fire, ignite arrows, or create a fire shield
• A bull’s strength variant that lets the caster choose which ability score it affects
• A spell that either teleports the caster or sends away an unwilling target
• A spell dealing energy damage of a type chosen by the caster

Keep spells focused. Good multipurpose examples: alarm (two alarm types — still the same function), fire shield (two options with the same mechanical effect), the summon monster line (very versatile but limited duration, with lower-CR monsters than other spells of the same level).

Choosing Descriptors

Descriptors are frequently overlooked but mechanically important — they determine which creature immunities apply, which protective spells counter the effect, and whether certain feats and abilities interact with the spell. Assign the correct descriptors before finalizing the spell. Descriptors marked UM New were introduced in Ultimate Magic.

Benchmarks

Some spells are the gold standard for their level — if your new spell is better than a comparable benchmark, it is too powerful. Each benchmark is listed with the reason it sets the bar. Benchmarks are by sorcerer/wizard spell level.