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Can You Change Your Spells When You Level Up in 5e?

Yes, absolutely! The ability to change spells when you level up is a core mechanic in Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition (5e), but it doesn’t apply uniformly to all spellcasting classes. Understanding how and when you can swap out your spells is crucial to optimizing your character and adapting to the challenges of the game. The rules vary depending on whether your class uses Prepared Spells or Known Spells, so let’s dive into the specifics.

Prepared Spells vs. Known Spells

The key distinction lies in how your class handles its spell list:

Prepared Spellcasters: Classes like Cleric, Druid, Paladin, and Wizard utilize a system of preparation. They have a pool of Known Spells available to them based on their level, but each day, after a long rest, they choose a subset of these spells to prepare for that day. They can only cast spells that they have actively prepared. When you level up, you can change which spells you prepare and also increase your pool of known spells, giving you more options to select from each day.
Known Spellcasters: Classes like Bard, Sorcerer, and Warlock operate with known spells. They learn a limited number of spells from their class list and are restricted to casting only those. When you level up, you have the ability to replace one of your Known Spells with another available to you at your new level. This allows you to keep your spell repertoire fresh and suited to your evolving character.

How Spell Changes Work on Leveling Up

Here’s a breakdown of how spell changes work for each category:

Prepared Spellcasters (Cleric, Druid, Paladin, Wizard)

For these classes, leveling up brings two main opportunities:

Expanding Your Spellbook/Known Spells: When you level up, you usually gain access to new spells. Wizards, for instance, add two new spells to their spellbook, while Clerics, Druids, and Paladins gain access to more spells from their respective class lists.
Changing Your Prepared Spells: While not directly tied to leveling up, the act of resting presents a chance to change prepared spells. After a long rest, you can change your prepared spells from among your Known Spells. This requires time spent in prayer/meditation (Clerics and Druids) or studying your spellbook (Wizards) – at least 1 minute per spell level for each spell on your list.

Essentially, these classes have the flexibility to swap out spells daily, and leveling up simply gives them a bigger pool of options.

Known Spellcasters (Bard, Sorcerer, Warlock)

These classes have a more direct change mechanism upon leveling up:

Replacing One Spell: When you level up, you can replace one spell you already know with another spell available to you at that level. This allows you to make adjustments to your spell list and tailor it to your character’s needs. You cannot replace cantrips. The replaced spell can only be swapped with one of a spell slot level that you are able to cast at that level. You don’t have to swap a spell at every level, it is optional.

Important Considerations

Cantrips: Note that cantrips cannot be changed at level up for any class. Once a cantrip is chosen it is a part of the character forever (except through multiclassing).
New Spells Learned: In addition to possibly changing your spells, your character will typically learn new spells each time you level up. Wizards have a unique benefit of acquiring more spells through adventuring and adding them to their spellbook.
Spell Slots: When you change or prepare spells, you are still bound by your spell slots. You can only cast a spell of a level for which you have spell slots. For example, you can only cast level 2 spells once you have access to level 2 spell slots.
Spell Level Restrictions: When replacing spells at level-up, you must choose spells of a level you have spell slots for. You cannot replace a lower-level spell with a higher level spell if you do not have the spell slots to cast it.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are 15 common questions related to spell changes in 5e, covering various scenarios and specific class concerns: