Can you copy a Cantrip into a spellbook?
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Cantrips are a special type of spell that can be cast at will, without using a spell slot and without being prepared in advance, and the answer to whether you can copy a cantrip into a spellbook is generally no, as cantrips are different from other spells and have their own set of rules. According to the PHB 114, you can only copy spells of first level or higher into your spellbook, which implies that cantrips, being 0-level spells, cannot be copied into a spellbook.
Understanding Cantrips and Spellbooks
To fully understand the rules surrounding cantrips and spellbooks, it’s essential to delve into the specifics of how cantrips work, how spellbooks are used, and the process of copying spells.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are some frequently asked questions that provide additional information on cantrips, spellbooks, and related topics:
- Can you cast a cantrip as a spell? – A cantrip is a spell that can be cast at will, without using a spell slot and without being prepared in advance.
- How much does it cost to copy a spell into a spellbook? – For each level of the spell, the process takes 2 hours and costs 50 gp.
- Can you copy a spell scroll into a spellbook? – Yes, a Wizard spell on a spell scroll can be copied just as spells in spellbooks can be copied.
- Do cantrips count as spells in your spellbook? – Cantrips are different from other spells, and nothing that counts for cantrips counts for leveled spells and vice versa.
- Can a Wizard learn a new cantrip? – The Wizard class learns 5 Cantrips by 10th level and does not learn any more by leveling.
- Can you destroy a spellbook? – Spellbooks have no special protections, and they can be destroyed by fire or other means.
- Does transcribing a spell scroll destroy it? – When a spell is copied from a spell scroll, the spell scroll is destroyed, regardless of the success of the Intelligence (Arcana) check.
- Can you cast a spell from a spellbook? – You can’t cast spells directly from your spellbook; you must first memorize or prepare them.
- Can you add non-Wizard spells to your spellbook? – Per the rules, you can only add Wizard spells to Wizard spellbooks.
- Are cantrips worth it? – Cantrips make for reliable damage dealers or indispensable utility and don’t cost any of your precious spell slots to cast.
- Can you ever swap cantrips? – Generally, no, there is no way to change cantrips in all classes, though there are some variant rules and homebrew options that may allow it.
- Can you cantrip twice? – Yes, you can cast as many cantrips as you have actions for, making them very versatile in combat.
- Can you twin spell a cantrip? – Yes, you can use the Twinned Spell feature to target a second creature with a cantrip, spending 1 sorcery point.
- Can you quicken cantrips? – Yes, you can use Quickened Spell to cast a cantrip as a bonus action, but it’s often more beneficial to quicken a leveled spell.
- Is fireball a spell or cantrip? – Fireball is a spell, specifically a 3rd-level evocation spell, and not a cantrip.