How Spellcasting in Dungeons & Dragons Has Changed in 2024

How Spellcasting in Dungeons & Dragons Has Changed in 2024

As a seasoned gamer with over two decades of experience under my belt, I must admit that the latest development in Dungeons & Dragons’ 2024 Player’s Handbook has me both puzzled and intrigued. For years, I’ve been casting spells haphazardly, thinking I could squeeze a few more into a turn than was actually allowed. The new rule clarification has left me questioning my entire D&D career, but hey, who am I to argue with the creators?


2024’s edition of Dungeons & Dragons has made a slight but impactful adjustment to how spells are cast in their Player’s Handbook. Since the introduction of the 5th Edition ruleset in 2014, there has been some confusion about the number of spells that can be cast during a combat turn. With both a bonus action and an action at their disposal, many players assumed they could utilize both to cast several spells within a single turn. However, the previous rules were somewhat unclear regarding this matter. In the revised guidelines for casting spells with a bonus action, the 2014 Player’s Handbook stated “You can only use a bonus action on your turn to cast the spell if you haven’t already used a bonus action this turn. You cannot cast another spell during the same turn, except for a cantrip with a casting time of 1 action.” In the upcoming edition, it appears that this rule will be made clearer and potentially more player-friendly.

2024 saw the release of the updated Player’s Handbook by Wizards of the Coast, shedding light on some essential rules and throwing in a surprising twist for us gamers. In this new edition, I learned that as a player, I can only hurl one spell with a spell slot per turn, whether it demands an action or bonus action to be cast.

The rule appears to align well with specific abilities for some species and classes introduced in the 2024 Player’s Handbooks. For instance, some classes and subclasses possess class abilities that let them cast spells a set number of times during a short or long rest without using a spell slot. In essence, this implies that a 5th-level Half Elf character could use Misty Step to teleport to a favorable spot first, then cast another spell with an action. The rulebook doesn’t forbid this combination, but players often have more options for their bonus actions during their turn, which might make discovering dual-spell combos less urgent unless in specific situations.

The 2024 Player’s Handbook will be released on September 17th.

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2024-08-15 16:10