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[]
The caster designates a point on the area map to which the spell's projectile will be directed to, using the targeting cursor.
When the spell casting is complete a sparkling green projectile travels to the designated point and then instantly applies the Dispel Magic effect to all creatures in the area of effect, which is about a 15-feet radius (30' diameter).
All creatures in the area are exposed to the spell, and any dispellable effects present on each creature will be checked to determine if they are in fact dispelled, according to game's formula.
Whether or not any effects are actually dispelled is not said or presented to the player by viewing the combat log, as any creature in the area would produce a text string that reads "Dispel effects" - sometimes it is visually obvious if the spell worked, for example, observing an active Fireshield (Blue) just disappearing.
Notes[]
- This spell groups the effects received from each caster together and treats each group independently. It checks the difference in level between the dispeller and the caster of each group to determine the chance to dispel each group. The chances of dispelling the effects created by a high-level caster are lower than the chances of dispelling the effects created by a low-level caster even if they are all present in the same character.
- Potions and scrolls all use a default caster level of 10 (6 in BG1), so their effects can easily be dispelled by high-level opponents. Some other item abilities use higher caster levels.
- Inquisitors cast Dispel at a casting speed of 1 and at a caster level double their class level. This is capped at class level 20, though. After level 20 they keep dispelling as level 40 casters. Single class bards and clerics may naturally achieve the same number. Wild mages randomly access Wild Surge table#99, which means they can potentially dispel up to level 62.
- The only way to block this spell is to pre-cast Spell Immunity - Abjuration.
- Carsomyr applies a level 30 Dispel Magic on its target on any successful hit, as does the Staff of the Magi.
- Arrows of Dispelling ignore spell level immunities and always work, irrespective of level difference. However, they are magical, but not enchanted weapons and thus cannot hit creatures naturally immune to +2 weapons, or those temporarily protected from magical weapons.
- Although this spell is a level 3 Priest (divine) spell, the inner workings and coding of the spell are different than most. All the implemented internal effect codes that make the spell work and attempt to do what it says it should do, have an assigned power level of 0. This feature comes into play and allows the spell to ignore certain protections against magic, such as a Lich's immunity to level 1 through 5 spells, or a Raksasha's immunity to level 1 through 7 spells.
- This is also how a Dispel Magic can ignore a Minor Globe of Invulnerability or a Globe of Invulnerability, which normally block spells between levels 1 through 3 or 1 through 4, respectively. Additionally, these same two spells, as well as other Spell Protections, have a similar feature added to each of their internal effect codes, which is flagged to "Not dispel/Bypass resistance". So, either way, a dispelling effect can't touch a spell or innate spell classified as a Spell protections type.
- As the spell's description states, spell protections (e.g. Spell Shield, Spell Turning, Spell Deflection or Spell Trap) are completely unaffected by Dispel Magic. These are spells that protect against other spells directly, unlike combat protections (e.g. Stoneskin, Mirror Image, Protection From Acid (spell), Chaotic Commands), which protect against damage and particular effects, whether they're a result of spells, weapon attacks, a monster's ability etc.
- In addition to the ability to have a chance to remove any dispellable effect currently present on an enemy creature, the spell also will cure Deafness and Feeblemindedness regardless of the source and spell power level of the deafness or feeblemindedness. This occurs because the spell uses internal "Cure" effect codes.
- In cases where a Dispel Magic spell is cast from a dual or multi-class cleric, the current priest experience level is used to determine the spell casting level. For example, a 4th level cleric dualed to a 7th level Fighter will cast this spell at level 4, not 7. The reason for this, is that the Dispel Magic spell is classified as a "Priest" spell. When cast from a spell scroll, it will use the default scroll level (6 in BG1, 10 in BG2).
- 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.
Trivia[]
The Advanced Dungeons and Dragons 2nd Edition priest spell Dispel Magic has further rules about what it can and can't do compared to the BG video game version.
The PnP spell allows the priest to always dispel his own magic, and the spell can be targeted at specific magical items and possibly render them temporarily inert. A dispel magic can remove the magic from potions in the area of effect.
See the external links for further reading.
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 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.