Dispel Magic, target: creature with multiple spells active, including one of your own.


Rules Questions


I searched the rules forums, didn't really find what I was looking for, situation: Gulthius, wizard 13, has multiple spells active on him all at his caster level. Gulthius attacks a group of 11th level players. Life Oracle successfully hits Gulthius with Dimensional Anchor so he can't flee. Later the Life Oracle decides to remove any buffs from Gulthius he can, so he targets Gulthius with Dispel Magic, needs a 24 to remove any one of Gulthius' spells, but gets a 23, which IS enough to end Dimensional Anchor (cast by the Life Oracle (11th) earlier).

Against my better judgement, I let the dimensional anchor remain in place, as it does seem counter intuitive to remove your own spells when trying to remove buffs, but when simply targeting a creature, rather than the buff spell itself, I'm pretty sure the rules side on my first thought that it would indeed have ended dimensional anchor (caster level 11th) with a dispel roll of 23, since no specific spell was targeted, it's just going to break the first thing it can. (yes, I'm just looking for confirmation is my original decision so I can so "Never Again!") thank you.


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Pathfinder Adventure Path Subscriber; Starfinder Charter Superscriber

If you start from the spell with the highest caster level that is affecting the wizard and work your way down until he successfully dispels a spell or fails to dispel any spells. You just roll one dispel check and then go down the list. If all of the spells are at the wizard's caster level of 13, then he cannot dispel any of them with the roll he had.

PRD wrote:
Targeted Dispel: One object, creature, or spell is the target of the dispel magic spell. You make one dispel check (1d20 + your caster level) and compare that to the spell with highest caster level (DC = 11 + the spell's caster level). If successful, that spell ends. If not, compare the same result to the spell with the next highest caster level. Repeat this process until you have dispelled one spell affecting the target, or you have failed to dispel every spell.

He can dispel his spell that was on the wizard and he does not even have to roll.

PRD wrote:
You automatically succeed on your dispel check against any spell that you cast yourself.

So it appears that he would have dispelled his Dimensional Anchor. The safer way to go is to use the targeted dispel to dispel a specific spell instead. That way there is no chance he will get his own spell.


I'd say your initial instinct makes sense.

Since the target was Gulthius, and not a specific spell effecting Gulthius, then dispelling the only effect that the dispel roll could interact with, regardless of who cast it or what it was, seems to fit with the way Dispel Magic is written.

I'd have dispelled the Anchor.

And...ninja'd.


Oh but you can hear the weeping now, can't you? But, pathfinder put that clause about naming the spell you want to get rid of for a reason, thanks for the reply!


Heh. Let the weeping commence. If this situation came up at my table I'd probably have the caster make an INT/WIS check before they cast Dispel.

Perhaps the character should have a chance to know the spell inside and out, even if the player hasn't parsed all the lines in the spell description thoroughly.

Pass check > DM: "It occurs to you that you may end up dispelling the Anchor if you use Dispel Magic this way. Is that a risk your character is willing to take?"


Yes, that is very reasonable, Spellcraft, the art of understanding the technical aspects of spells would be very appropriate for that, something like 10+ spell level to know the consequences of what your spell is about to do, yes, I agree.


Pathfinder Adventure Path Subscriber

Funny, this sounds exactly like a scenario that happened with my group. Our dm ruled the same as op.

Liberty's Edge RPG Superstar 2008 Top 32, 2011 Top 16

This is why it's better to dispel a few buffs first, then hit him with dimensional anchor.


"This is why it's better to dispel a few buffs first, then hit him with dimensional anchor."

Of course, but the first thing you want to do is make sure that they cannot escape.

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