Wizard FAQ
What are the main Wizard class features?
The 2014 Wizard's main features are Spellcasting through a spellbook, Ritual Casting, Arcane Recovery, an Arcane Tradition, Spell Mastery, and Signature Spells. The spellbook can grow by adding spells found during play, prepared spells determine today's active selection, and Arcane Recovery restores some spell slots after a short rest once per day.
The Wizard has fewer named base-class features than many classes. That is because a large portion of its power is contained inside the Spellcasting feature and the spellbook system.
1st level: Spellcasting
Wizards are Intelligence-based prepared full spellcasters.
They eventually gain 9th-level spell slots.
At 1st level, the spellbook starts with six 1st-level Wizard spells.
Whenever a Wizard level is gained, two additional Wizard spells can be added for free, provided they are of a level the Wizard can cast.
Copying spells
The Wizard can also copy Wizard spells found in suitable written form.
Copying requires time and money based on the spell's level.
The cost represents experimentation, notation, materials, and adapting another source into the Wizard's own magical notation.
This allows a Wizard's spellbook to grow far beyond the spells gained automatically by level.
Preparing spells
The Wizard prepares a number of spells equal to:
Wizard level + Intelligence modifier
with the normal minimum and spell-level restrictions.
The list can be changed after a long rest following the preparation rules.
Prepared spells are not consumed when cast.
Spell slots are consumed.
Ritual Casting
A Wizard spell with the ritual tag can be cast as a ritual when it is in the spellbook.
The spell does not need to be prepared.
This gives the Wizard exceptional access to utility rituals.
1st level: Arcane Recovery
Once per day after finishing a short rest, Arcane Recovery restores expended spell slots.
The combined slot levels can be up to half Wizard level, rounded up.
No recovered slot can be 6th level or higher.
This improves daily endurance without replacing the normal long-rest slot system.
2nd level: Arcane Tradition
The Wizard chooses an Arcane Tradition at 2nd level.
The original 2014 traditions correspond to:
- Abjuration;
- Conjuration;
- Divination;
- Enchantment;
- Evocation;
- Illusion;
- Necromancy;
- Transmutation.
Further Tradition features arrive at 6th, 10th, and 14th level.
Later pre-2024 books add other Traditions.
18th level: Spell Mastery
Spell Mastery selects one 1st-level and one 2nd-level Wizard spell in the spellbook.
While prepared, those spells can be cast at their lowest level without expending spell slots.
The selections can later be changed after the study time specified by the feature.
20th level: Signature Spells
Signature Spells selects two 3rd-level Wizard spells in the spellbook.
They are always prepared and do not count against the normal number of prepared spells.
Each can be cast once at 3rd level without expending a slot.
Those free casts return after a short or long rest.
How the features work together
The spellbook determines the potential library.
Preparation determines today's available selection.
Spell slots determine how often leveled spells can be cast.
Ritual Casting gives access to many utility spells without preparation.
Arcane Recovery restores part of the slot pool.
The Arcane Tradition specialises the Wizard.
Spell Mastery and Signature Spells make selected low-level magic increasingly available at the highest levels.