Counterspell
- Level & School
- 3rd-level abjuration
- Casting Time
- Reaction, which you take when you see a creature within 60 feet of yourself casting a spell with Verbal, Somatic, or Material components
- Range
- 60 feet
- Components
- S
- Duration
- Instantaneous
- Classes
- Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard
You attempt to interrupt a creature in the process of casting a spell. The creature must make a Constitution saving throw. On a failed save, the spell dissipates with no effect, and the action, Bonus Action, or Reaction used to cast it is wasted. If that spell was cast with a spell slot, the slot isn't expended.
- Level & School
- 3rd-level abjuration
- Casting Time
- Reaction
- Range
- 60 feet
- Components
- S
- Duration
- Instantaneous
- Classes
- Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard
You attempt to interrupt a creature in the process of casting a spell. If the creature is casting a spell of 3rd level or lower, its spell fails and has no effect. If it is casting a spell of 4th level or higher, make an ability check using your spellcasting ability. The DC equals 10 + the spell's level. On a success, the creature's spell fails and has no effect.
Using a Higher-Level Spell Slot. When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 4th level or higher, the interrupted spell has no effect if its level is less than or equal to the level of the spell slot you used.
Counterspell 5.5e 2024 vs. 5e 2014 edition differences
The 2024 version requires the creature to make a Constitution saving throw, whereas the 2014 version uses an ability check against a DC based on spell level. The 2024 version states the spell dissipates with no effect on a failed save, and the casting action is wasted; the 2014 version specifies failure based on spell level and uses an ability check.
Spells similar to Counterspell
Dispel Magic, 3rd-level abjuration
Both are abjuration options wizards and other casters use to remove or stop magical effects at range and are chosen when you need to shut down an enemy spell.Antimagic Field, 8th-level abjuration
This is a larger, longer-lasting way to suppress spells and magical effects, serving the same purpose of negating enemy magic but on a broader scale.Globe of Invulnerability, 6th-level abjuration
It prevents lower-level spells from affecting an area much like countering a spell, but works as a protective bubble instead of a reactive interruption.Shield, 1st-level abjuration
As a reactionary abjuration used by the same classes, it similarly responds immediately to incoming magical threats to protect the caster.Glyph of Warding, 3rd-level abjuration
A prepared abjuration that can nullify or trigger against magic, it offers a preemptive way to stop or contain spells compared with counterspell's instant interrupt.