This page is about the priest version of the spell. For the inquisitor's variant, see Dispel Magic (inquisitor). For the wizard version, see Dispel Magic (wizard).
Dispel Magic removes magical effects from spells, potions and some magical items from everyone in its area of effect at variable probabilities.
Description[]
| “ | A Dispel Magic spell removes magical effects upon anyone within the area. This includes effects given from spells, potions and certain magical items such as wands. It does not, however, affect enchanted magical items or spell protections such as Spell Turning and Spell Deflection. The chance of the dispel succeeding is determined by the level of the caster and the level of the magic being dispelled. The base chance of successfully dispelling is 50%. For every level that the caster of the Dispel Magic is above the original caster, his chance of success increases by 5%. For every level that the caster of Dispel Magic is below the original caster, his chance of success decreases by 10%. However, despite the difference in levels, there is always at least a 1% chance of success or failure. Thus, if a caster is 10 levels higher than the magic he is trying to dispel, there is only a 1% chance of failure. Similarly if the caster is 4 levels lower than the magic he is trying to dispel, there is only a 10% chance of success. Intuitively, this spell is almost useless if the target is 5 or more levels higher than the caster. Note: While this spell dispels the individual effects of Grease, Web, Stinking Cloud, and other such spells, it does not dispel the area of effect. |
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Gameplay[]
- Despite what the Description states, the levels of the magic (spell-level) do not factor in the dispel success rate: only the difference between the level of the two casters matters (a.k.a. the difference between the level of the caster of Dispel Magic and the level of the caster of the effect being dispelled). Mechanically, this spell groups effects received from the same caster together, then checks each group individually. It checks the difference between the dispeller and the caster's levels to determine the chance to dispel each group, so the effects received from a high-level caster are less likely to be dispelled than those from a low-level caster, even when both are present on the same target.
- Inquisitors cast Dispel at casting speed of 1 and at double the caster's level, capped at 40 (Inquisitor level 20 and above); single class cleric may naturally achieve the same number; wild mages randomly trigger Wild surge #99 Spell cast at double level, which may potentially attain higher levels: 31x2=62.
- The only way to block this spell is to cast Spell Immunity: Abjuration beforehand.
- Carsomyr will apply a Dispel Magic effect upon its target on hit. This effect acts as if cast by a level 30 caster.
- The Staff of the Magi can apply the same effect as Carsomyr when it strikes a target in melee.
- Arrows of Dispelling also have the same effect, but ignore immunities and are set to always work, irrespective of level difference. They are very effective against enemies like liches, which are immune to magic with a spell Power level between 1 and 5.
- Note that the in-game description for the spell's Area of Effect isn't technically correct; it is actually closer to a 20' radius when calculating distances in the game engine.
Gallery[]
Mod content[]
- This section is about unofficial content that is only available via fan-made mods.
Spell Revisions mod has changed this divine spell, more accurately describing its area of effect and clarifying the description. See below:
Dispel Magic
Level: 3
School: Abjuration
Sphere: All
Range: Long
Duration: Instant
Casting Time: 3
Area of Effect: 20’ radius
Saving Throw: Special
Dispel Magic removes magical effects upon any enemies within the area of effect. This includes effects from spells, potions, and certain magical items such as wands. It does not, however, affect enchanted magical items or spell protections such as Spell Turning and Spell Deflection. While this spell dispels the individual effects of Grease, Web, Stinking Cloud, and other such spells, it does not dispel the area of effect. Magic resistance does not affect this spell.
The chance of the dispel succeeding is determined by the level of the caster and the level of the magic being dispelled. The base chance of successfully dispelling is 50%. For every level that the caster of Dispel Magic is above the level of the magic he is trying to dispel, his chance of success increases by 5%. For every level that the caster of Dispel Magic is below the level of the magic he attempts to dispel, his chance of success decreases by 10%. However, despite the difference in levels, there is always at least a 1% chance of success or failure. Thus, if a caster is 10 levels higher than the magic he is trying to dispel, there is only a 1% chance of failure. Similarly, if the caster is 4 levels lower than the magic he is trying to dispel, there is only a 10% chance of success. Intuitively, this spell is almost useless if the level of the magic attempted to dispel is 5 or more levels higher than the caster.
Spell Revisions implements the Dispel Magic Fix: This component fixes the chance to dispel magic to match the spell's description (so there is at least a marginal chance of dispelling effects of a higher-level mage) and corrects conceptual problems caused by the automatic dispelling of all magically created items. If installed, there will always be at at least a 1% chance that dispel magic will work, regardless of the opposing caster level.
External links[]
- Dispel Magic (priest) on the Icewind Dale Wiki, a wiki for the first Icewind Dale game.
- Dispel magic on the Forgotten Realms Wiki, a wiki for the Dungeons & Dragons campaign setting Forgotten Realms.