Detect Magic
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
Detect Magic popularity
How popular is Detect Magic? It is one of the most popular spells in the game, and is often chosen over other options when available. This spell is a proven favourite among spellcasters.
- #2 of all 5e spells
- #2 of all level 1 spells
- Top 25% picked level 1 Wizard spell
- Top 25% picked level 1 Sorcerer spell
- Top 25% picked level 1 Artificer spell
- Top 50% picked level 1 Bard spell
- Top 50% picked level 1 Druid spell
- Top 50% picked level 1 Warlock spell
- Top 50% picked level 1 Ranger spell
- Bottom 50% picked level 1 Cleric spell
- Bottom 50% picked level 1 Paladin spell
Read about how this popularity data is calculated.
Spells similar to Detect Magic
Find Traps 2nd-level divination
This first-level-style investigative utility spell helps expose hidden magical dangers, though it works at range and lacks concentration.
Players prefer Detect Magic over Find Traps
See Invisibility 2nd-level divination
Its long-lasting divination effect reveals concealed supernatural phenomena, making it a close investigative alternative.
Players prefer Detect Magic over See Invisibility
Locate Object 2nd-level divination
Both are divination utilities used to detect or investigate significant objects, with concentration supporting ongoing exploration.
Players prefer Detect Magic over Locate Object
Identify 1st-level divination
Both are first-level divinations focused on uncovering information about magical effects, creatures, or objects rather than causing damage.
Players prefer Detect Magic over Identify
Detect Evil and Good 1st-level divination
It shares the same level, divination school, self-centered 30-foot detection area, concentration duration, and information-gathering purpose.
Players prefer Detect Magic over Detect Evil and Good
Detect Poison and Disease 1st-level divination
Like Detect Magic, this is a first-level ritual that scans a 30-foot radius for otherwise hidden conditions over 10 minutes.
Players prefer Detect Magic over Detect Poison and Disease