Dispel Magic, DC for targeting a spell and DC for counterspell


Rules Questions


I'm not sure I understand what the DC would be when you use Dispel Magic to target a specific spell or when using Dispel Magic to counterspell.

PRD wrote:
You can also use a targeted dispel to specifically end one spell affecting the target or one spell affecting an area (such as a wall of fire). You must name the specific spell effect to be targeted in this way. If your caster level check is equal to or higher than the DC of that spell, it ends. No other spells or effects on the target are dispelled if your check is not high enough to end the targeted effect.

What is meant by "DC of that spell"?

Does it mean 10 + spell level + spellcaster's INT/WIS/CHA modifier? Or is it 11 + the spell's caster level (like the DC for Targeted Dispel)?

Example, if I wanted to target the spell Fly (3rd level spell) that was cast by a 10th level wizard (INT of +5), what is the DC?

PRD wrote:
Counterspell: When dispel magic is used in this way, the spell targets a spellcaster and is cast as a counterspell. Unlike a true counterspell, however, dispel magic may not work; you must make a dispel check to counter the other spellcaster's spell.

What is the DC in this case?


The dispel check in both cases uses "d20 + caster level" vs a DC of "11 + caster level".


My understanding is that the 11 + caster level is the 'dispel DC' to be used in all cases of dispel magic. So to remove Fly, it would be DC 21. This is the same for attempting to counterspell the 10th level wizard casting Fly in the first case.


Searching the Rules forum here, I just found this thread Dispel Magic

There, James Jacobs seems to agree that the DC for targeting a specific spell would be different (mostly lower) that the usual DC = 11 + the spell's caster level.

James Jacobs wrote:

You won't always be able to name a specific spell effect. Being able to name a specific spell effect (in theory because you made your Knowledge (arcana) check to identify a spell effect) requires more skill, and therefore you get rewarded by being more skilled by being able to use your dispel magic against what's probably a lower DC.

Think of the targeting a specific spell effect as "taking careful aim" with dispel magic, I guess.

But I think it would make it easier (rules wise) if the DC was 11 + caster level all round.

As for the counterspell use, maybe I'm just reading too much into the fact it doesn't states that the DC is 11 + caster level.


xris wrote:
As for the counterspell use, maybe I'm just reading too much into the fact it doesn't states that the DC is 11 + caster level.

Yes. How a dispel check works is defined early on in the spell description; it's not necessary to define it again every time the term is used, unless something is different (as in the case where a magic item is dispelled).

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