Spell Slots And Preparation
Leveled spells use spell slots. A spellcaster either prepares spells from a wider class list or knows a narrower set permanently, then spends slots to cast those spells during play. Cantrips are separate: they do not consume slots and remain the caster’s baseline magical action.
Cantrips
At-will spells that define a caster’s reliable floor when conserving higher resources.
Prepared or Known List
Determines which spells are available to cast before slot expenditure is even considered.
Spell Slots
The expendable resource used to cast leveled spells, including higher-level versions where the spell allows scaling.
Prepared casters choose flexibility day by day. Their available spell menu can change after a long rest or other class-specific recovery point.
Known casters choose identity and consistency. Their spell selection is narrower, but easier to manage in play because the choices are more stable.
Slot level controls power ceiling. A caster cannot use a lower-level slot to cast a higher-level spell, but many spells improve when a higher-level slot is spent.
Class rules still matter. The general spellcasting model is shared, but class features decide exactly how many spells are prepared, learned, or replaced over time.
| Question | What to check |
|---|---|
| Can I cast this? | Check whether the spell is prepared or known and whether the caster has an appropriate spell slot available. |
| Can I upcast it? | Read the spell entry. Some spells gain damage, targets, or duration from a higher slot; others do not. |
| When do slots come back? | Usually after a long rest unless a class feature or specific rule says otherwise. |