Pierce Shield not only lowers the target creatures Magic Resistance, but it also instantly dispels one spell protection of any level.
Pierce Shield lowers a target's magic resistance by a maximum of 30%, at level 20.
Description[]
| “ | Pierce Shield When this spell is cast, it launches a massive attack on an enemy wizard's spell defenses. The target's Magic Resistance will be lowered by 10% + 1% per level of the caster. Next, Pierce Shield will cancel one spell protection of any level. For example, if this spell was cast by a 15th-level wizard, the target creature would lose 25% Magic Resistance from its current total, reducing it to 0 if less than that remains, as well as canceling one spell protection if the Mage currently has one. The list of spells that this includes: Minor Spell Deflection, Minor Spell Turning, Spell Deflection, Spell Turning, Minor Globe of Invulnerability, Spell Immunity, Globe of Invulnerability, Spell Trap, and Spell Shield. Magic Resistance does not affect this spell, nor do any of the spell protections listed above. The resistance remains lowered for 1 round per level of the caster. It cannot be dispelled. |
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Gameplay[]
Pierce Shield is a more potent version of Pierce Magic - it removes all of the spells that Ruby Ray of Reversal does, as well as reducing the target's Magic resistance.
When the spell is cast on a target, a spell removal animation graphic is played over the target, and a text message is displayed on the combat log reading: "Magic Resistance Lowered". This text appears even if the target had no spell protections present, and even if there were multiple spell protections active. Only one spell protection will be removed (from the list in the spell description above).
The duration of the reduced Magic resistance is 16-20 rounds (96 - 120 game seconds), depending on the casters level, or if a scroll is used.
A Spell Shield will block this spell, and then the shield will be consumed.
Spell Immunity: Abjuration will not block this spell, even though Pierce Shield is an Abjuration school spell.
A Pierce Shield may be cast on a target who is invisible, sanctuaried or hidden.
The spell will bypass an illusionary protection such as Reflected Image or Mirror Image, even though the internal spell effects are not flagged to do so.
The spell description is missing Shield of the Archons and Magic Resistance (spell) as spell protections that can be removed by Pierce Shield, but it will remove them.
Spell protections removed by Pierce Shield[]
- Globe of Invulnerability
- Magic Resistance (spell)
- Minor Globe of Invulnerability
- Minor Spell Deflection
- Minor Spell Turning
- Shield of the Archons
- Spell Deflection
- Spell Immunity
- Spell Turning
- Spell Shield
- Spell Trap
Spell removal order[]
When a creature is protected by multiple spell protections, a Pierce Shield spell will remove one of those in the following order:
- Spell Shield (will consume both the Pierce Shield and the shield)
- The spell protection with the highest level (example Spell Trap before Spell Turning.}
- Spell Immunity usually one of the last
If two or more spell protections have equal spell levels, the Pierce Shield will randomly determine which spell protection is removed.
Example: - An enemy mage is protected with Spell Trap, Globe of Invulnerability, and has previously imbibed a Potion of Magic Protection. The level 17 party mage casts Pierce Shield at the mage. The spell removes Spell Trap and lowers the mage's magic resistance from 50% to 23%. The Globe of Invulnerability remains active on the mage.
Where to obtain its scroll[]
Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn[]
Baldur's Gate II: Throne of Bhaal[]
See also[]
Mod content[]
This section is about unofficial content that is only available via fan-made mods.
Spell Revisions mod has changed this arcane spell, revising its effects, and description. See below:
Pierce Shield
Level: 8
School: Abjuration
Range: Long
Duration: Special
Casting Time: 8
Area of Effect: 1 creature
Saving Throw: None
By means of this spell, the wizard may launch a massive attack on a target’s physical and magical defenses. Pierce Shield will dispel one spell protection of any level from the target creature. This will always dispel the highest level of spell protection on the target first. If the target has two or more protections tied for the highest level, the choice will be random. After piercing through magical protections, this powerful spell will breach each and every combat protection on the target creature. The target’s magic resistance, if any, does not affect this spell.
The spell protection spells dispelled by Pierce Shield are: Minor Spell Deflection, Minor Globe of Invulnerability, Spell Deflection, Dispelling Screen, Globe of Invulnerability, Greater Spell Deflection, Shield of the Archons, Mind Blank, and Spell Trap.
The combat protection spells dispelled by Pierce Shield are: Mage Armor, Shield, Armor of Faith, Barkskin, Protection from Missiles, Spirit Armor, Stoneskin, Protection from Normal Weapons, Protection from Magical Weapons, Physical Mirror, Prismatic Mantle, and Absolute Immunity.
With the Sword Coast Stratagems Pierce Shield can't target invisible or hidden creatures (with SCS or SR or both mods) without first exposing or revealing the target creature.
External links[]
- Pierce shield on the Forgotten Realms Wiki, a wiki for the Dungeons & Dragons campaign setting Forgotten Realms.