Detect Magic

A
Utility

Detect Magic is a Utility spell. Utility spells solve problems outside of combat or provide unique situational advantages.

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 spell that reveals nearby magic, showing faint auras and the school behind spell effects with
swift inspection

Detect Magic is a Action Economy spell. Action Economy spells grant you more choices on future turns.

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 and useful
insight

Detect Magic is a Information spell. Information spells provide ways to transmit, perceive, detect, or reveal hidden or unknown information.

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.

2024 Rules
Level & School
1st-level divination
Casting Time
Action or Ritual
Range
Self (30-foot radius)
Components
V, S
Duration
Concentration, 10 minutes
Classes
Artificer, Bard, Cleric, Druid, Paladin, Ranger, Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard
Source
Player's Handbook (2024)

For the duration, you sense the presence of magical effects within 30 feet of yourself. If you sense such effects, you can take the Magic action to see a faint aura around any visible creature or object in the area that bears the magic, and if an effect was created by a spell, you learn the spell's school of magic.

The spell is blocked by 1 foot of stone, dirt, or wood; 1 inch of metal; or a thin sheet of lead.

2014 Rules
Level & School
1st-level divination
Casting Time
Action or Ritual
Range
Self
Components
V, S
Duration
Concentration, 10 minutes
Classes
Artificer, Bard, Cleric, Druid, Paladin, Ranger, Sorcerer, Wizard
Source
Player's Handbook (2014)

For the duration, you sense the presence of magic within 30 feet of you. If you sense magic in this way, you can use your action to see a faint aura around any visible creature or object in the area that bears magic, and you learn its school of magic, if any.

The spell can penetrate most barriers, but it is blocked by 1 foot of stone, 1 inch of common metal, a thin sheet of lead, or 3 feet of wood or dirt.

Detect Magic 5.5e 2024 vs. 5e 2014 edition differences

It now detects magical effects, not just the presence of magic, and you only learn a school if the effect was created by a spell. Warlock is now on the class list.

How popular is Detect Magic in 5e?

Detect Magic is the #2 most popular level 1 spell (of 82) and the #5 most picked level 1 Wizard spell (of 45).

Among level 1 spells, Detect Magic ranks just below Cure Wounds and just above Healing Word in popularity.

Read about how this popularity data is calculated.

Spells similar to Detect Magic

Detect Magic is featured in