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Can You Counterspell a Spell Cast from Invisibility? A Comprehensive Guide

Yes, you can Counterspell a spell cast from invisibility, but it hinges on a crucial element: seeing the spell being cast. The Counterspell spell requires you to see the creature casting the spell you wish to interrupt. The invisibility condition generally prevents this, but exceptions exist. If you can circumvent the effects of invisibility through other means, you can then Counterspell the spell.

Let’s delve deeper into this interaction, exploring the nuances and related scenarios.

Understanding the Core Mechanics

Counterspell: A Reaction-Based Interruption

Counterspell is a reaction spell that allows you to interrupt another creature’s spellcasting. The spell description clearly states that you must see the target casting the spell. This is a fundamental requirement.

Invisibility: Concealment, Not Complete Obscurity

Invisibility grants a creature the invisible condition. This means the creature is heavily obscured. Attack rolls against the creature have disadvantage, and the invisible creature has advantage on attack rolls. However, invisibility is not absolute concealment from all senses or magical effects.

The Interplay: Sight and Perception

The core issue here is perception. Can you perceive the act of spellcasting despite the invisibility? If so, you can Counterspell. Several factors can influence this.

Truesight: This ability allows you to see things as they truly are, including invisible creatures and objects. If you have Truesight, invisibility is no longer a barrier to Counterspelling.
Blindsight: Blindsight allows you to perceive your surroundings without relying on sight. While blindsight doesn’t necessarily grant visual perception in the traditional sense, it does allow you to “see” the creature casting the spell. The Dungeon Master (DM) will likely rule whether the “seeing” aspect of Counterspell is fulfilled by blindsight (many DMs would allow it.)
See Invisibility: This spell allows you to see invisible creatures and objects within range. If you cast See Invisibility, you can then target the invisible spellcaster with Counterspell.
Circumstantial Clues: Perhaps the invisible spellcaster is emitting a noticeable sound while casting, or their spellcasting produces a visible effect (a ripple in the air, a sudden chill). The DM might allow a Wisdom (Perception) check to pinpoint the location and activity of the invisible caster, potentially enabling a Counterspell.
Spell Components: Some spells require verbal, somatic, or material components. If you can hear the verbal components or observe the somatic gestures despite the invisibility (perhaps through dust particles reacting to their movements), the DM may allow a Counterspell.

The Limitation of the Invisibility Spell

The Invisibility spell itself has a specific limitation. The spell ends when the invisible creature attacks or casts a spell. Therefore, if a creature is relying on the Invisibility spell to hide, casting another spell (which you intend to Counterspell) will automatically end the invisibility, making them visible and a valid target for Counterspell.

However, other forms of invisibility, such as that granted by a magic item or a class feature, may not have the same limitation. Therefore the invisibility would not break when the creature casts the spell, and so you would need to perceive them using one of the methods above.

FAQs: Counterspelling and Invisibility

Here are some frequently asked questions to further clarify the interactions between Counterspell and invisibility:

Can I Counterspell if I know the general location of an invisible creature? No. Knowing the general location is not sufficient. You must see the creature casting the spell. General location might allow for area-of-effect attacks, but not a targeted spell like Counterspell.
If an invisible creature casts a spell with a loud verbal component, can I Counterspell it? This depends on the DM’s ruling. The DM might allow a Wisdom (Perception) check to pinpoint the spellcaster’s location based on the sound, and if successful, you might be able to Counterspell.
Does See Invisibility automatically allow me to Counterspell any invisible creature? Yes. See Invisibility allows you to see invisible creatures, removing the primary obstacle to using Counterspell.
Can I Counterspell a spell cast through a familiar while the familiar is invisible? No. The familiar being invisible is irrelevant. You still need to see the original caster of the spell (who is likely not invisible) in order to use Counterspell.
If I am blind, can I Counterspell? Generally, no. Counterspell requires you to see the spell being cast. However, if you possess blindsight or truesight, you might be able to Counterspell, subject to the DM’s interpretation.
Does True Seeing grant the ability to Counterspell an invisible creature? Yes. True Seeing reveals all things as they truly are, including invisible creatures and illusions. This removes the invisibility obstacle, allowing you to Counterspell.
If an invisible creature uses a magic item to cast a spell, can I Counterspell it? Yes, if you can see the use of the magic item and recognize it as the casting of a spell. Magic items that “cast a spell” are valid targets for Counterspell, just as if they were cast directly from a spellcaster.
Can multiple people Counterspell the same spell cast by an invisible creature? Yes, if each of them can meet the requirement of seeing the spell being cast (e.g., through See Invisibility or Truesight).
If I Counterspell a spell, does that automatically reveal the invisible caster? No. Counterspelling a spell only interrupts the spell being cast. It does not automatically remove invisibility unless the act of casting the Counterspelled spell was the factor that removed invisibility to begin with (like when a creature casts Invisibility on itself, and then casts another spell).
Does the Subtle Spell metamagic affect Counterspell’s ability to target spells cast from invisibility? The Subtle Spell metamagic component removes the verbal and somatic components of a spell. This may impact your ability to perceive the casting of the spell through means other than sight, but it does not affect your ability to cast Counterspell if you are able to see the spell.
Can a creature with blindsight see in fog? Blindsight lets you perceive your surroundings, including environmental phenomena. A phenomenon that impedes only sight (it doesn’t provide cover) doesn’t work against blindsight.
Does blindsight ignore stealth? Blindsight lets you spot an invisible creature in range, but that creature can still try to hide behind something with Stealth.
If a creature is using an ability that breaks invisibility, can counterspell stop the ability from making the creature visible? No. Counterspell is designed to interrupt the act of casting a spell. If the spell ends due to conditions outlined in the spell’s description (like Invisibility ending when the caster attacks or casts another spell), Counterspell cannot prevent the spell from ending.
Can you counterspell a spell like ability? No, Counterspell interrupts the process of casting a spell. Items, status, objects, or creatures already have the spell on them and would need dispel magic to be used to nullify their effects. You can’t counter-spell a SLA as it is being cast, but you can dispel it AFTER it has been cast.
If a spellcaster casts a spell through their familiar, can the enemy counterspell both the spellcaster and the familiar? No. If the familiar is casting the spell, the enemy can only counterspell the familiar. If the spellcaster is casting the spell through their familiar, the enemy can only counterspell the spellcaster.

Conclusion

Counterspelling a spell cast from invisibility is possible, but it requires overcoming the invisibility condition to see the spell being cast. Abilities like Truesight, See Invisibility, and potentially blindsight, along with circumstantial clues and DM rulings, can determine whether you can successfully interrupt the spell. Remember to consider the specific limitations of the invisibility effect being used, as some forms of invisibility are automatically broken when the caster casts another spell.

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Can you counterspell a spell cast from invisibility?