Ritual casting¶
A spell with the Ritual tag can be cast as a ritual when you have it prepared, unless a more specific feature provides another way. A spell does not become a ritual merely because it has a long casting time.
What changes¶
- Add 10 minutes to the spell’s normal casting time. A 1-minute spell therefore takes 11 minutes as a ritual.
- Do not spend a spell slot.
- You cannot use ritual casting to cast the spell at a higher level, because no higher-level slot is being spent.
The spell still follows its description. Provide its Verbal, Somatic, and Material components, including costly or consumed materials, unless a specific rule waives them. Ritual casting does not generally remove those costs or other restrictions.
For example, Detect Magic normally takes an action. Its ritual version takes that normal casting time plus 10 minutes and does not spend a slot. Detect Magic still requires Concentration after it takes effect.
Concentration during casting¶
Because a ritual takes at least 1 minute, maintain Concentration throughout its casting and take the Magic action on each of your turns while casting. This applies even if the spell’s completed effect does not require Concentration. Starting that casting ends any previous Concentration effect.
If your Concentration breaks during the casting, the spell fails and you must start again. You do not lose a spell slot. After successful casting, continue concentrating only if the spell’s effect requires it.
Preparation and specific exceptions¶
The general 2024 rule uses prepared Ritual-tagged spells. Read your feature for exceptions:
- Wizard: Ritual Adept permits a Ritual-tagged spell in your spellbook even when it is not prepared; you must read from the book.
- Pact of the Tome makes its selected spells prepared while the Book of Shadows is on your person; its level-1 ritual choices can then use ritual casting.
- Ritual Caster: Quick Ritual can allow its specified casting without the additional 10 minutes, subject to that feature’s limits. This is a feature exception, not the normal ritual timing.
A prepared ritual can usually also be cast normally with a suitable spell slot and its ordinary casting time. The Ritual tag provides an alternative; it does not require every casting to be a ritual.
In the workshop¶
Eligible spell cards offer a ritual casting option that spends no slot. Wizard spellbook rituals can be available without preparation. Track casting time, components, interrupted casting, Concentration, and feature-specific exceptions at the table; the workshop does not run a timer or automatically resolve them.
Source: supplied Player’s Handbook (2024), Rules Glossary, Ritual (PDF page 372; printed page 373); chapter 7, Casting Time / Longer Casting Times (PDF page 235); Wizard Ritual Adept and Ritual Caster. Paraphrased reference.
Imported source¶
Original internal-site content. The rulebook citations in the original page are retained.
References to the workshop describe the separate browser application. For a text-only character record, use Character Sheet.