54
votes
Accepted
Is counterspelling a warlock different?
The warlock 'upcasts' naturally
Warlocks don't have the options to choose what level of spell slot they use to cast a spell, as other casters do. Their Pact Magic feature assigns a single spell level ...
- 126k
47
votes
If a spell cast from a Spell Scroll is Counterspelled, is the scroll consumed?
Counterspell causes a spell to fail and a scroll to be consumed
Counterspell works differently than just stopping a spell casting or scroll reading.
“Fails and is wasted”
Jeremy Crawford recently ...
- 26k
47
votes
Accepted
Can I deny a counterspell by readying my spell behind full cover?
Yes, readying a spell behind full cover would prevent counterspell
Counterspell depends on sight and a clear path to the target
Counterspell has a casting time of:
1 reaction, which you take when you ...
- 95.1k
47
votes
Should the DM describe NPC spellcasting so that players can use Counterspell?
The DM should convey "the naga is casting a spell"
Counterspell has a casting time of 1 Reaction...
which you take when you see a creature within 60 feet of you casting a spell
...
- 19.1k
46
votes
Accepted
What happens if you cast Counterspell on a creature that is not casting a spell?
Xanathar's Guide to Everything (p. 86) addresses this issue in the section "Invalid Spell Targets":
If you cast a spell on someone or something that can’t be affected by the spell, nothing ...
- 63.7k
43
votes
Accepted
Can I counterspell a Subtle spell without material components?
No, you can't counterspell spells with no components
Subtle spell is meant to protect against counterspelling. See this unofficial ruling from Jeremy Crawford:
Subtle Spell is meant to protect a ...
- 23.2k
41
votes
Accepted
How can one spellcaster avoid complete lockdown via Counterspell against multiple other casters?
Don't be seen, don't be close. Be Ready.
Unseen
Counterspell requires
which you take when you see a creature within 60 feet of you casting a spell
If they can't see you, they can't counterspell you.
...
- 126k
40
votes
If a spell cast from a Spell Scroll is Counterspelled, is the scroll consumed?
Tl;dr: If you're casting a spell from a scroll and get Counterspelled, the scroll is not consumed.
There is no authoritative definition of what it means for a spell to fail. However, in the specific ...
- 145k
38
votes
Accepted
Can you counterspell Greater Teleport with the Teleport spell?
No, you cannot.
The rules are quite clear about this. Allow me to quote from the rules for counterspells found on page 170 of the player's handbook:
As a general rule, a spell can only counter itself....
- 22.4k
36
votes
Accepted
If your bonus-action spell is counterspelled, are you still restricted to casting a cantrip that turn?
RAW is unclear
Based on the language use of interrupt and spell fails and has no effect, there can easily be confusion in interpreting the final effect of a cast or uncast spell.
This question covers ...
- 126k
34
votes
Counterspelling a counterspell
Yes, you can counterspell a counterspell cast against you. Wizards of the Coast has actually addressed this exact issue in their "Sage Advice Compendium". Page 12, right column, here is the ...
- 341
32
votes
If an Eldritch Knight's cantrip is counterspelled, can they still make a bonus-action weapon attack from the War Magic feature?
Since you used the action, you still make the attack
The ability specifically says that when you use your action to cast the spell, you get to use the BA attack. Counter spell is cast in reaction to ...
- 6,512
32
votes
Accepted
Can you Counterspell a magic item?
If you're casting a spell, you're casting a spell
The "cast a spell" action isn't the only way to cast a spell. There are a number of other ways to cast a spell. Some spells can be cast as a ...
- 62.6k
31
votes
Accepted
Does casting Counterspell on one's own turn contradict the '1-non-cantrip-spell per turn' rule?
You may counterspell on your turn, as long as you have not already cast another spell with a casting time of 1 Bonus Action.
The rule you quote that you say is a contradiction is the "Bonus ...
- 152k
29
votes
Can I cast reaction spells like Shield or Counterspell when I'm in the middle of casting a spell with a long casting time and don't stop casting it?
Casting a Reaction spell does not interrupt a spell with a long cast time, regardless of spell components. (As long as it isn't a Concentration Spell)
The rules for spells with a long casting time are....
- 65.9k
29
votes
Accepted
If the verbal component of a spell isn't visible, can it be Counterspelled?
Yes, it can be counterspelled
1 reaction, which you take when you see a creature within 60 feet of you casting a spell
You are still a creature casting a spell, you can still be seen, and the spell ...
- 129k
28
votes
Accepted
Does a countered spell expend its material components?
Yes
It seems in line with the idea that a failed spell still consumes a spell slot.
So far as I can tell, as per p. 203 of the PHB,
If a spell states that a material component is consumed by the ...
- 5,973
28
votes
Accepted
Does a counterspelled spell still trigger the Mage Slayer feat's reaction attack?
Yes.
The important part is in the description for counterspell:
You attempt to interrupt a creature in the process of
casting a spell. If the creature is casting a spell of 3rd
level or lower, ...
- 9,975
28
votes
Is it possible to counterspell the revised Artificer?
Yes, artificers can be counterspelled
Although the "flavoring" is different, artificers' spells have the same kinds of components that other spellcasters do. In essence, rather than drawing ...
- 50.1k
27
votes
Accepted
Does a countered spell cost a spell slot?
Depends if the countered spell required a slot to cast
No, if the spell did not take a slot to cast
Some classes, such as Warlocks and Monks, can attempt to cast spells without using spell slots. ...
- 1,261
27
votes
Accepted
Is Innate Spellcasting counterspellable?
Innate spells only ignore the components that are explicitly listed
Innate spells follow the normal rules for spell components unless otherwise noted
An innate spell can have special rules or ...
- 95.1k
27
votes
Accepted
How can this statue on Level 23 of the "Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage" adventure be destroyed?
Cast the spell outside the room
For example,
Mordenkainen's Sword and Spiritual Weapon
both can be moved and have a duration of one minute. You can cast them outside the room, move them in, and ...
- 129k
27
votes
Does a Counterspelled spell break Sanctuary?
Your Sanctuary spell ended just as you started casting Hold Person.
The enemy did not have to make the Wisdom saving throw, because Hold Person is a spell that affects an enemy and then one of the ...
- 31.6k
26
votes
Accepted
Is there a way to counterspell a level 20 druid?
Level 20 druids cannot be counterspelled1
As you point out, the spell counterspell specifies that it can only be cast
when you see a creature within 60 feet of you casting a spell.
And since a spell ...
- 79.3k
25
votes
Accepted
Can a readied spell be Counterspelled after it is cast, but before the trigger occurs?
No
Casting Time: 1 reaction, which you take when you see a creature within 60 feet of you casting a spell
With a Ready action, the creature casts a spell on its turn and holds it until the ...
- 213k
25
votes
Accepted
Can a Spell cast with Subtle Spell and an Arcane Focus be Counterspelled?
If you follow Xanathar's Optional rules,
Yes, the spell could still be countered.
From XGtE, p. 85, "Perceiving a Caster at Work":
To be perceptible, the casting of a spell must involve a ...
- 46.7k
24
votes
If somebody Counterspells a Counterspell, is the original spell cast successfully?
Yes, the original spell will take effect
Counterspell has no restrictions on what spell it can counter (beyond the possible ability check for higher level spells).
It states that the...
spell ...
- 28.5k
23
votes
Can you decide to counterspell after another counterspell has failed?
Maybe - it's basically up to DM fiat
You've hit upon a genuinely contentious question. Let's work this one through...
Why you shouldn't allow a second counterspell
Counterspell uses a reaction, and a ...
- 25.1k
23
votes
Accepted
Innate spellcasting x / day: is it x attempts or x successful casts?
The monster can initiate X castings per day
The Monster Manual gives the following explanation for this notation, in the "Limited Usage" section (p. 11):
X/Day. The notation “X/Day” means a ...
- 9,840
22
votes
Accepted
What do I know, when deciding whether to cast Counterspell?
It's mostly up to the DM, but Xanathar's Guide to Everything has some optional rules
In Xanathar's, Chapter 2 has a Spellcasting section that begins with:
This section expands on the spellcasting ...
- 126k
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible