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Disambiguation icon This page is about the wizard version of the spell. For the priest version, see Dispel Magic (priest). For the inquisitor's variant, see Dispel Magic (inquisitor).

Dispel Magic may remove magical effects from spells, potions and some magical items from everyone in its area of effect, although with a probability of success based on various factors.

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.

Gameplay[]

  • 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.
  • Although this spell is a level 3 Wizard (arcane) 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 Protection" (secondary type).
  • 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.
  • Regardless of the success or failure of the Dispel Magic in dispelling an effect on an enemy creature, the information box on the tactical screen will display a text message "Dispel Effects".
  • In cases where a Dispel Magic spell is cast from a dual or multi-class mage, the current mage experience level is used to determine the spell casting level. For example, a 4th level Mage 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 "Wizard" spell. When cast from a spell scroll, it will use the default scroll level (6 in BG1, 10 in BG2).

Where to obtain its scroll[]

The Black Pits[]

Sold by[]

Baldur's Gate[]

Shadows of Amn[]

Throne of Bhaal[]

Gallery[]

Mod content[]

Mods icon This section is about unofficial content that is only available via fan-made mods.

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[]

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