{"id":3672,"date":"2024-02-07T21:44:55","date_gmt":"2024-02-08T04:44:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hill-kleerup.org\/blog\/heroes\/?p=3672"},"modified":"2025-06-13T14:57:25","modified_gmt":"2025-06-13T21:57:25","slug":"dd-5e-rules-spells-spellcasting-per-turn","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hill-kleerup.org\/blog\/heroes\/2024\/02\/dd-5e-rules-spells-spellcasting-per-turn.html","title":{"rendered":"D&D 5e\/5.5e Rules – Spells – Spellcasting per Turn!"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"KnowPart of an ongoing series of 5e (2014)<\/strong> Rules notes.<\/a>\u00a0 See the end of the post for notes on 5.5e (2024)<\/strong> rules.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

So how many spells can you cast in a turn?<\/p>\n

The answer? Everyone say it together:\u00a0It depends!<\/i><\/p>\n

But first, a minor digression (that isn’t)<\/h1>\n

Terminology:<\/p>\n

Round<\/strong>:\u00a0 A cycle round\u00a0<\/strong>the table<\/em>, ordered by Initiative, during which each PC\/NPC takes a\u00a0turn<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Turn<\/strong>: A PC\/NPC’s spot, ordered by Initiative, when the PC\/NPC can move and take actions. Each PC\/NPC gets one turn<\/strong> per round<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

So, each\u00a0round,\u00a0<\/em>your character gets to take their\u00a0turn.\u00a0<\/em>There are parts of the\u00a0round<\/em> that are not your turn<\/em> (but during which you may React).<\/p>\n

This is important in understanding the below.<\/p>\n

Okay, let’s answer the question<\/h1>\n

Let’s start with\u00a0the Sage Advice Compendium<\/a>:<\/p>\n

Is there a limit on the number of spells you can cast on your turn? There\u2019s no rule that says you can cast only X number of spells on your turn, but there are some practical limits. The main limiting factor is your Action. Most spells require an Action to cast, and unless you use a feature like the Fighter\u2019s Action Surge, you have only one action on your turn.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

By default, you can, pragmatically, cast one normal spell per turn, using the Cast a Spell<\/em> Action. Most spells have a casting time of 1 Action. Easy peasy, right?<\/p>\n

But what about spells that you can cast as a Bonus<\/span> Action? There aren’t many, but they say it right in the spell timing. (It’s worth noting “Action<\/a>” and “Bonus Action<\/a>” are not interchangeable; if something is one, it cannot be done as the other.) So if you cast a Bonus Action spell, can you then cast a regular Action spell?<\/p>\n

Yyyyeah, but it\u00a0creates some limitations<\/a>:<\/p>\n

Bonus Action<\/u>
\nA spell cast with a Bonus Action is especially swift. You must use a Bonus Action on your turn to cast the spell, provided that you haven\u2019t already taken a Bonus Action this turn. You can\u2019t cast another spell during the same turn, except for a cantrip with a casting time of 1 Action.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

and<\/a><\/p>\n

If you want to Cast a Spell that has a casting time of 1 Bonus Action, remember that you can\u2019t cast any other spells before or after it on the same turn, except for cantrips with a casting time of 1 Action.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

So, if you cast a spell, such as\u00a0Healing Word<\/i>, with a Bonus Action timing, you can<\/span> cast another spell with your Action, but that other spell must be a cantrip, not a levelled spell.<\/p>\n

But what about Sorcerers?<\/h1>\n

Sorcerers have a metamagic tool, though, called\u00a0Quickened Spell<\/a>.\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n

Quickened Spell<\/u>
\nWhen you Cast a Spell that has a casting time of 1 Action, you can spend 2 Sorcery Points to change the casting time to 1 Bonus Action for this casting.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

So that lets you cast a levelled spell of 1 Action casting as a Bonus Action instead. But that doesn’t<\/span> get rid of the limitation above: “If you want to <\/em>Cast a Spell that has a casting time of 1 Bonus Action, remember that you can\u2019t cast any other Spells before or after it on the same turn, except for cantrips with a casting time of 1 action.”<\/em><\/p>\n

Again, this is confirmed in the most recent\u00a0Sage Advice Compendium<\/a>:<\/p>\n

Does\u00a0Quickened Spell\u00a0<\/i>allow a sorcerer to cast two spells a round of 1st level or higher?<\/b>
\nNo, the sorcerer must follow the rule for casting a spell as a Bonus Action and casting another spell on the same turn; the other spell must be a cantrip with a casting time of 1 Action.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Along this line, there is an Epic Boon that allows a spell you know to be turned into a Bonus Action spell permanently. But we needn’t delve into that right now …<\/p>\n

To sum up …<\/h1>\n

So, what are valid combos?<\/p>\n