Known and Prepared Spells – A Simple D&D Spellcasting Guide

Even though spell casting in D&D 5e is much easier than in previous editions, it can still be a point of confusion for many new players. One of the first things a new spellcaster will want to understand before slinging any fireballs is how to access the fireball spell in the first place. So before you go burning any taverns down, we need to look at known and prepared spells. What are they exactly, and what’s the difference between them?

A known spell is a spell your character has learned and has the required level to cast. Prepared spells are selected from your list of known spells at the beginning of each day and can be cast using spell slots. Some classes know all their spells, and some classes do not use prepared spells.

Not sure how to prepare a spell or how to figure out which spells you know? That’s what this guide is for! Keep reading below to learn everything you need to know about preparing spells in D&D 5e.

What are Known Spells

Known spells are the catalog of spells your character can cast. The list of known spells and how you expand it changes depending on which class your character is.

Some classes such as the artificers, clerics, druids, and paladins have access to all their entire class spell list without any effort on the player’s part. Other classes like bards, rangers, sorcerers and warlocks gain additional known spells with each experience level they gain, and the player must select which spells they wish to add to their list of known spells. This is also how subclasses like the arcane trickster and eldritch knight handle known spells.

Wizards are the only class that is significantly different from the rest. Every single spell the wizard has access to must be physically written down and kept in their spellbook. At this time, wizards are the only class that has to use a spellbook. At 1st level, they are given six known spells to put into their spellbook and add two known spells for every class level gained after that. However, their maximum number of known spells is flexible as they can copy down any spells they find; for each level of a spell learned this way, the copying process takes 2 hours and costs 50 GP.

Below I’ve taken the liberty to list every spellcasting class with experience levels ranging from 1 to 20 to showcase how many known spells are available to each class at each level.

Known Spells Table

What Are Prepared Spells?

If known spells are like a contact list, then prepared spells are your speed dial.

The idea behind prepared spells is that your character makes a mental note at the beginning of their day to ready themselves to cast a subset of their known spells. This could be through practicing the somatic components of the spell or brushing up on the verbal incantation. Whatever it is, your character can only memorize and prepare so many spells at a time. the time required for preparing a spell is 1 minute per spell level for each spell on your list.

Prepared spells are selected at the beginning of every day and are kept until your character finishes a long rest. After this, you reselect your prepared spells from your known spells list. There aren’t any restrictions on which spells you prepare, so long as your character has the spell slots available to cast them. You can keep your prepared spells the same everyday for a week or change the list to an entirely new list of spells every morning.

Not every class has to prepare spells, in fact there are only five spellcasters that are required to prepare their spells. Every other spellcaster has access to their entire known spell list and can cast from it at any time as long as they have the spell slots available.

How Many Spells Can Each Class Prepare?

Artificer

Artificers can prepare a maximum number of spells equal to their intelligence modifier + half of their artificer level, rounded down (minimum of one spell). These spells must be of a level for which the artificer has spell slots and must be from the artificer spell list.

For example, a 4th level artificer with an intelligence score of 16 (+3 modifier) would be able to prepare five spells each day.

2 (artificer level halved) + 3 (intelligence modifier) = 5 total

Bard

Bards don’t prepare spells and can cast any spell from their list of known spells at any time, provided they have the spell slots available.

Cleric

Clerics can prepare a maximum number of spells equal to their wisdom modifier + their cleric level (minimum of one spell). These spells must be of a level for which the cleric has spell slots and must be from the cleric spell list.

For example, a 4th level cleric with a wisdom score of 16 (+3 modifier) would be able to prepare seven spells each day.

4 (cleric level) + 3 (wisdom modifier) = 7 total

Druid

Druids can prepare a maximum number of spells equal to their wisdom modifier + their druid level (minimum of one spell). These spells must be of a level for which the druid has spell slots and must be from the druid spell list.

For example, a 4th level druid with a wisdom score of 16 (+3 modifier) would be able to prepare seven spells each day.

4 (druid level) + 3 (wisdom modifier) = 7 total

Paladin

Paladins can prepare a maximum number of spells equal to their charisma modifier + half of their paladin level, rounded down (minimum of one spell). These spells must be of a level for which the paladin has spell slots and must be from the paladin spell list.

For example, a 4th level paladin with a charisma score of 16 (+3 modifier) would be able to prepare five spells each day.

2 (paladin level halved) + 3 (charisma modifier) = 5 total

Ranger

Rangers don’t prepare spells and can cast any spell from their list of known spells at any time, provided they have the spell slots available.

Sorcerer

Sorcerers don’t prepare spells and can cast any spell from their list of known spells at any time, provided they have the spell slots available.

Warlock

Warlocks don’t prepare spells and can cast any spell from their list of known spells at any time, provided they have the spell slots available.

Wizard

Wizards can prepare a maximum number of spells equal to their intelligence modifier + their wizard level (minimum of one spell). These spells must be of a level for which the wizard has spell slots and must be from the wizard’s spellbook.

For example, a 4th level wizard with an intelligence score of 16 (+3 modifier) would be able to prepare seven spells each day.

4 (wizard level) + 3 (intelligence modifier) = 7 total

Arcane Trickster

Arcane Tricksters don’t prepare spells and can cast any spell from their list of known spells at any time, provided they have the spell slots available.

Eldritch Knight

Eldritch Knights don’t prepare spells and can cast any spell from their list of known spells at any time, provided they have the spell slots available.

Spell Slots

Spell slots are fuel for a spellcasting class. In order to cast most spells, you’re going to need to spend some spell slots.

Each class is given a finite number of spell slots at various levels. The total number of spell slots and their levels is determined by the character’s current class level.

The level associated with a spell slot is directly related to the level of the spell you can cast with it. To cast at least a 1st level spell, you need to expend a 1st level spell slot. To find out how many spell slots your character has available, refer to your class’ leveling table. This can be found in your class section of the Player’s Handbook.

Once you spend a spell slot, you cannot use it again until it’s replenished. The most common way to recharge your spell slots is by finishing a long rest, or short rest if you have a class feature that allows it. There are some magic items and class features that can restore spell slots as well.

Cantrips are the exception as they do not consume a spell slot and can be used as often as you like. They are considered elementary forms of magic that can be cast without much thought.

You can also upcast a lower-level spell with a higher-level spell slot. For example, if you want to cast a 1st level spell but have no more 1st level spell slots, you can use a 2nd level spell slot to cast the spell. Most spells gain extra power when cast with a higher level spell slot than required. This is usually the last note in the spell’s description, so pay close attention when you cast with a higher level spell slot. You want to make sure you’re not missing out on increased damage or additional effects for casting a more powerful version of the spell.

Ritual Casting

Ritual casting is a method in which a spellcaster can cast a spell without the need to expend a spell slot. The catch is that you must add 10 minutes to the spell’s casting time. Ritual casting still requires any verbal, somatic, or material components needed to cast the spell.

Not all spells are able to be ritual cast but if they are ritual spells you can easily find out by looking at the description of the spell and checking for the ritual tag. The ritual tag is normally found bracketed beside the spell level and school. For example, take a look at the alarm spell on Roll20 by clicking here.

Due to the fact ritual spells take 10 minutes longer to cast versus consuming a spell slot, chances are you won’t be ritual casting in the heat of combat. Instead, where ritual casting shines is outside of combat, where you can afford to take the extra 10 minutes. Casting speak with animals in a strange forest to learn more about the lay of the land is a valuable tool, even more valuable when it doesn’t cost one of your precious spell slots.

In Conclusion

TLDR: Known spells would be comparable to writing down a grocery list and prepared spells would be like forgetting that grocery list when you get to the store and having to pick up your groceries based on your memory. Sure somewhere deep in the crevices of your brain, you know what groceries you needed to pick up but there are only certain items you remember. Unlike the grocery list analogy, you get to pick what spells you prepare and aren’t at the mercy of your lizard-like brain.

Spellcasting in D&D 5e can initially seem intimidating, but once you play a spellcasting class for a bit, you’ll start to get the hang of how everything works. Spellcasters are some of the strongest and most enjoyable classes to play in my opinion. I’ve personally been playing an eldritch knight for about three years, and I don’t think I could have played a fighter for that long any other way.

Let me know what experiences you have with spellcasting classes, or if you haven’t played one yet, which class you think you will try out first in the comments below!