{"id":4056,"date":"2024-04-17T16:54:38","date_gmt":"2024-04-17T23:54:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hill-kleerup.org\/blog\/heroes\/?p=4056"},"modified":"2025-05-30T16:57:48","modified_gmt":"2025-05-30T23:57:48","slug":"dd-5e-rules-spells-spell-components-and-conspicuous-consumption","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hill-kleerup.org\/blog\/heroes\/2024\/04\/dd-5e-rules-spells-spell-components-and-conspicuous-consumption.html","title":{"rendered":"D&D 5e Rules – Spells – Spell Components (and Conspicuous Consumption)!"},"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

Even though it was pretty late in my first big campaign, the cleric’s acquisition of Heroes’ Feast<\/i> prompted a bit more research on my part about spell components, particularly consumable ones.<\/p>\n

I’ve never been a huge fan of spell components because they are, in normal usage, a Pain in the Ass. Like Encumbrance rules, they are only of play value in edge cases. So using Holy Symbols and Arcane Foci and Component Pouches are a useful way around that.<\/p>\n

Usually.<\/p>\n

Components<\/h1>\n

There are three basic aspects of spell components.<\/p>\n

Verbal (V)<\/h2>\n

Most spells require the chanting of mystic words. The words themselves aren’t the source of the spell’s power; rather, the particular combination of sounds, with specific pitch and resonance, sets the threads of magic in motion. Thus, a character who is gagged or in an area of silence, such as one created by the silence spell, can’t cast a spell with a verbal component. (PHB<\/a>)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Practically speaking, Verbal components only come into play in circumstances when something interferes —\u00a0Silence\u00a0<\/i>spells, the need to be Stealthy, casting underwater, gags, etc. The rest of the time, we ignore them.<\/p>\n

Somatic (S)<\/h2>\n

Spellcasting gestures might include a forceful gesticulation or an intricate set of gestures. If a spell requires a somatic component, the caster must have free use of at least one hand to perform these gestures. (PHB<\/a>)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Again, at my table we only worry about this for cases where something is getting into the way of that “free hand” thing — being bound or restrained, paralysis, etc. I’m sure there are gaming tables where a sword-and-board-wielding Cleric would have difficulties (and, in fact, the Warcaster<\/em> feat has a feature to overcome this), but mine is not one of them.<\/p>\n

Material (M)<\/h2>\n

Casting some spells requires particular objects, specified in parentheses in the component entry. A character can use a component pouch or a spellcasting focus (found in \u201cEquipment\u201d) in place of the components specified for a spell. But\u00a0if a cost<\/span> is indicated for a component, a character must have that specific component<\/b>\u00a0before he or she can cast the spell.<\/p>\n

If a spell states that a material component is consumed by the spell,\u00a0the caster must provide this component for each casting of the spell<\/b>. A spellcaster must have a hand free to access a spell’s material components — or to hold a spellcasting focus — but it can be the same hand that he or she uses to perform somatic components. (PHB 203<\/a>, emphasis mine)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

More specifically answered in\u00a0the\u00a0<\/a>Sage Advice Compendium<\/a>:<\/i>
\n<\/i><\/p>\n

Does a spell consume its material components<\/span>?<\/i>\u00a0A spell doesn\u2019t consume its material components\u00a0unless its description says it does<\/b>. For example, the pearl required by the Identify<\/em> spell isn\u2019t consumed, whereas the diamond required by Raise Dead<\/em> is used up when you cast the spell.<\/p>\n

If a spell\u2019s material components are consumed, can a spellcasting focus still be used in place of the consumed component?<\/u><\/i>\u00a0No. A spellcasting focus can be used in place of a material component\u00a0only if that component has no cost noted in the spell\u2019s description and if that component isn\u2019t consumed.<\/b><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Keeping Focus<\/h3>\n

So here’s the rub. Spell foci \/ arcane foci do a lot of cool things — no need to collect components — but they do\u00a0not\u00a0<\/i>substitute for priced consumables.\u00a0 There is no gold coin slot in the side of your holy symbol to consume the cost of such spells. The actual component<\/em> is needed.<\/p>\n

Focuses are spelled out\u00a0here<\/a>. Note that I tend not to worry about the holy symbol, etc., being something actually manipulated. Rule of Cool fantasy means that the glowing holy symbol engraved on your shield is just fine (as long as a Rust Monster doesn’t consume your shield). But\u00a0consumables are<\/em> the edge case<\/b>.<\/p>\n

Consumables<\/h3>\n

And, in particular, they are the edge case because they restrict “free” use of very powerful and potentially unbalancing spells.\u00a0Heroes Feast<\/i> is an example — its effect can be profound and, as such, is not designed for casual, everyday use. “Every day is a Heroes’ Feast<\/i>\u00a0day” is not<\/em> a common D&D trope, for just that reason. Every cleric at 11th Level has a holy symbol focus, and thus without a consumable restriction, Heroes’ Feast<\/i>s would (with sufficient treasure) be a daily thing for every hero. It’s not.<\/em><\/p>\n

Here is a fun database someone worked up of\u00a0expensive components and when they are consumed<\/a>.\u00a0 \u00a0Interestingly enough, while there are a number of spells so identified, most of them use individual items — a diamond, e.g., for Raise Dead.<\/i><\/p>\n

Note that, again, magic doesn’t let you use 500gp instead of a 500gp diamond. And\u00a0Heroes’ Feast<\/i> is special in having a “Gem-encrusted specially crafted bowl” worth 1000gp; you can’t just substitute 1000gp of miscellaneous booty.<\/p>\n

\"jewel-encrusted<\/a>
A gem-encrusted bowl, for example<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

(Btw, this also explains why, except in powerful bad guy or rich heroic dude lairs, you don’t find\u00a0Continual Flame<\/i>\u00a0on everything — it literally costs a consumed 50gp ruby.)<\/p>\n

But that’s no fun!<\/h3>\n

It does make a few things more fiddly, which, to my mind, is, I agree, not fun. But the spells we are talking about are — well, if not game-breakers, then close to it. Heroes’ Feast<\/i>\u00a0is an incredible spell, as I think everyone admits. Its recipients get for the day (aside from “this complete breakfast”):<\/p>\n