Description[]
| “ | A Protection From Magic scroll invokes a very powerful, invisible globe of anti-magic in a 3-ft. radius from the user. No form of magic can pass into or out of it, but physical matter is not hindered. This will remove spell effects that the caster is currently under. The effect is not permanent, however, and will wear off within 2 hours. | ” |
Gameplay[]
The caster places this scroll in one of their Quick Items slots then selects the item - this in turn brings up a targeting cursor.
Place the targeting cursor over a target creature on the map in range, or self, or a party member's portrait, and click to activate the scroll.
The scroll has zero casting time, and no projectile, so it should immediately render a "bluish globe" upon the designated creature for the duration of the protection effects.
That creature will now be under the effects of the Protection from Magic.
If a player character is under the scroll's protection, an icon is shown (No. 28) titled "Protection from Magic" on their portrait.
Notes - what occurs from this scroll's protection effects[]
Here are some facts and notes about what occurs when a Protection From Magic spell is cast from the scroll.
- In the first opus of Baldur's Gate and in Siege of Dragonspear, the spell is cast on the user of the scroll only. In the second opus, where the scroll is much rarer, one creature within 30 feet can be on the receiving end.
- The spell has no assigned School or Type, such as "Abjurer" or "Magic Attack" as examples. Spell Immunity cannot block the scroll's spell.
- The effects can't be removed or dispelled once cast. The duration of the spell must run its course.
- Feeblemindedness and Deafness are cured.
- The spell will immediately remove all dispellable effects on the target creature. Examples include; Stoneskin, Potion of Power, Potion of Fire Resistance.
- While under the spell, a creature has 100% Miscast Magic upon their Wizard and Cleric spell casting abilities.
- Innate spell abilities selected by the Special Abilities menu button can still be used, such as Enrage, Evasion, or Hardiness.
- The spell bestows the same protections as a Demilich, and more. No spell or effect of level 1 through 9 can affect the creature, unless it is an innate ability that they cast on themselves and it isn't marked hostile or dealing damage. This means, for example, that the character cannot be healed by magic unless it is a self-cast innate ability like Lay On Hands. The single exception is Time Stop, which because of the unique way it functions, Protection From Magic will not protect against.
- Despite the spell's description, magical sources that have 0 (zero) spell level power can affect the creature under this spell, such as a Psionic Blast.
More notes[]
- Instead of self-usage for protection, its guaranteed dispel & spell failure effects are very harmful to enemies as a disabler (but this can only be done in Baldur's Gate II, where only two scrolls exist in the entire game).
- Extended usage:
- Any potion used on self that doesn't have any hostile effects will work as normal - after activating the scroll.
- Can use sequencer, innate powers from special abilities menu, can only be affected by the positive/healing types
- Can trigger contingency, can be affected by both positive/healing and negate/harmful types
- Can still use items, including wands, but can be affected by them in turn
- Cannot block physical attacks, nor the weapon’s elemental damage or on-hit effects
- Cannot block Dispel Magic, but can't be dispelled by it either
- When the scroll is used on a non-party target, for example a mage, dragon, demon, Demogorgon, Kangaax the demilich etc. - these creatures apply some spells via scripting actions that cannot be disrupted nor are they affected by miscast magic or spell failure. This scroll cannot stop these kinds of spell scripting actions from manifesting/casting/releasing spells.
- See Status Effects for more of its uses.
Scroll Locations[]
Baldur's Gate[]
- High Hedge Estate: sold by Thalantyr (×1) (
AR3202) - Firewine Bridge: Bentan carries(50) one (
AR4500|475.425) - Gibberling Mountains: if spoken right to, Hafiz will give one to the party; can be pickpocketed(50)(
AR5500|843.849) - Baldur's Gate, east – Sorcerous Sundries: sold by Halbazzer Drin (×1) (
AR0703) - Baldur's Gate, north – Ramazith's Tower, top level: on the locked(60) table (
AR0138) - Candlekeep Catacombs, 1st level: in the southern octagonal crypt's trapped(50) and locked(60) sarcophagus (
AR2615|2475.1897)
Siege of Dragonspear[]
Unstealable item
This icon indicates an item that cannot be stolen. Northeastern Underground River: Vidyadhar carries one (BD5100|4468.667)
Gladiators of Thay[]
- May be given by Gerrold Darkfellow
Shadows of Amn[]
- Athkatla, Waukeen's Promenade – Adventurer Mart: sold by Ribald (×2) (
AR0702)
Trivia[]
The Advanced Dungeons and Dragons 2nd Edition ruleset describes the "Protection from Magic" scroll in the Dungeon Master's Guide (DMG), and the Encyclopedia Magica sourcebooks.
Protection from Magic - (Reading time—8) This scroll invokes a very powerful, invisible globe of antimagic in a 5-foot radius from the reader. No form of magic can pass into or out of it, but physical things are not restricted by the globe. As with other protections, the globe of antimagic moves with its invoker. The protection lasts for 5d6 rounds.
In the PnP game this scroll has a value of 6,500 gold.
The BG2 video game version of this scroll is much cheaper to purchase, and has fixed duration that lasts significantly longer, and can be cast upon someone other than the scroll reader - these departures from the source material make the video game version remarkably and materially more powerful than the D&D version.
Gallery[]
Bugs[]
As of BG2EE 2.6, The Protection from Magic Scroll is not removing all buffs before going into effect. This is identified and corrected in The Enhanced Edition Fixpack (EEFP). Ref: (scrl07.itm)
Mod Content[]
Installation of the Sword Coast Stratagems Mod makes a few changes to the Scroll and spell (if you install that component, after being asked). These changes are made only if you are not playing with Spell Revisions Mod, as Spell Revisions already implements this. From the SCS Readme:
Allow Spellstrike to take down a Protection from Magic scroll (BG2,BGEE,BGT,EET)
In the original game, the protective sphere produced by a Protection from Magic scroll is completely impenetrable by any spell at all - if you use one, all a hostile wizard can do is run away or fight in melee. This component allows the most powerful mage anti-magic spell, the 9th level spell Spellstrike, to destroy the anti-magic sphere of one of these scrolls. It also allows the anti-magic ray of the Hive Mother beholder to destroy the sphere.
If you are using the Icewind Dale spell system, Spellstrike and the Hive Mother ray can also destroy the Antimagic Shell.