D&D for Kids: Magic and Spellcasting

Magic & Spellcasting

Some characters have classes that allow them to know words and gestures for casting magic spells. You may also find magical books or wands that give you magical powers. Below is a list of some spells you can choose from. You can only cast one spell per turn.

If you have an idea for a spell of your own, you can ask your Dungeon Master about it. If the spell is allowed, he or she will tell you whether it's a Level 1, Level 2, or Level 3 spell. There are two kinds of spells: Arcane spells, which use power from the magic in the universe and the world around you, and divine spells, which use power from beings like spirits, angels, nature, and gods.

Level 1 Spells

Level 1 spells cost 1 action to cast. They are so simple to cast, you can cast them as many times as you want without getting tired.

Level 1 Arcane Spells

• Elemental Bolt. You throw a small ball of fire, ice, or lightning. You can make a magic attack roll against a monster to hurt it, or light something on fire or freeze it.
• Dancing Lights. You can make little balls of light appear around you. They can be any color, and they can light the way in dark places or distract monsters.
• Mage Hand. You can make a magical hand float around and grab things for you that you can’t reach.
• Message. You can whisper to someone who is far away and they can hear you and talk to you in their head.
• Prestidigitation. You can do simple magic tricks like make tiny fireworks appear near you, magically make food warm up, cool down, or taste better; or light a candle.

Level 1 Divine Spells

• Guidance. You can give somebody magical powers to do something. They get a +1 bonus to their next roll.
• Mending. You can fix things that are broken.
• Sacred Flame. You make a blast of darkness or light that can hurt a monster.
• Druidcraft. You can manipulate nature in simple ways like creating flowers, making it rain, predicting the weather, or making plants grow faster.
• Light. You touch something and it starts glowing brightly like a lamp. You can only make one thing glow at a time.

Level 2 Spells

Level 2 spells cost 2 actions to cast. You can only cast a Level 2 spell two times before you get too tired to cast it again. When you rest, you get all of your spells back.

Level 2 Arcane Spells

• Burning Hands. You shoot fire out of your hands. All monsters in front of you have to roll a die to get out of the way, or else they get hurt.
• Sleep. You make a monster fall asleep until it gets hurt.
• Haste. You choose yourself or one of your friends to gain 1 additional action for the next 3 turns.
• Magic Missile. You shoot three magical darts of energy at a monster. It automatically gets a wound, and it can’t defend or dodge out of the way of it.
• Darkness. You make a cloud of darkness that no one can see through.

Level 2 Divine Spells

• Cure Wounds. You can heal someone’s injuries, removing 2 wounds from them.
• Shield of Faith. You create a magic shield that floats around you or one of your friends. If the person who has the shield gets hurt, they can choose to instead let the shield get hurt instead. After the shield gets 2 wounds, it breaks.
• Animal Friendship. You can calm down a mean animal so that it’s friendly for the rest of the day.
• Fog Cloud. You can make a cloud of fog so dense that monsters can’t see through it. You and all of your friends are automatically hidden while you're inside it. The cloud disappears after 3 rounds.
• Goodberry. You can create magic berries that keep you full for a whole day after you eat one.

Level 3 Spells

Level 3 spells cost 3 actions to cast. You can only cast a Level 3 spell once before you get too tired to cast it again. When you rest, you get all of your spells back.

Level 3 Arcane Spells

• Fireball. You make a huge ball of fire explode. Monsters in the blast have to roll a die to get out of the way. If they fail, they get 2 wounds. Even if they succeed, they still get 1 wound!
• Lightning Bolt. You shoot a huge line of lightning out of your hands. Monsters in the blast have to roll a die to get out of the way. If they fail, they get 2 wounds. Even if they succeed, they still get 1 wound!
• Freeze. You freeze a monster with ice so they can’t move or attack! You can use 2 actions on each turn to keep the monster frozen. Otherwise, it melts at the end of your turn.
• Teleport. You instantly transport you and your friends anywhere you want!
• Fly. You and your friends can fly for 10 minutes!

Level 3 Divine Spells

• Heal. You can heal someone’s injuries completely, removing all their wounds!
• Water Walk. You can breathe underwater or walk on top of it as if it were solid ground!
• Guardian of Faith. You summon an invincible angel or nature spirit to protect you or one of your friends for the rest of the combat. While the guardian is next to you, you can’t be hurt!
• Polymorph. You can transform yourself, a friend, or a monster into any type of animal you want for a whole hour! If the animal dies, it turns back into its original form.
• Earthquake. You cause a loud earthquake in the area you’re in that can shake the ground and knock down buildings!