When does one actually select the monster for summon monster line?


Rules Questions


I have a little bit of confusion with the summon monster line of spells.

The spell itself is a full round to cast which means that it is completed on the following round during my turn. However, when during this process does the exact creature have to be selected?

My understanding is that it is at the completion of the casting is when all of the relevant details for a spell are named, stated, or applied.

So when summoning, does the wizard wait until the spell triggers to decide on what is being summoned, or the level of the spell?

Last session I had decided to summon a few air elementals to help clear a obscuring mist, when between the start of my casting, and the beginning of my next turn, the monsters emerged from the fog. This changes the strategy, and if the summon is chosen at the moment of spell completion then I could have brought in a stronger tank as the air elementals were no longer the optimal choice.

So, how does it work?

Shadow Lodge

Like all spell details, it is chosen at the time the spell is finished casting.


But the actual spell you cast is decided at the beginning, so you can't start casting Summon Monster V, then discover that the fight is over hen your turn comes around and just spend a 1. level slot on SM I.


You make your summon choice at the end of your casting. You can't change the spell you are casting, but you can use SM IV to summon anything on the SM IV, try to summon multiple creatures from SM III or SM II. There is a ton of flexibility, one of the many reasons why the SM line is one of the most effective lines of spells in the game. You can't switch the spell you cast, but SM IV, for instance, will allow you to use to summon a certain number of lower level monsters depending on your feats. In other words, you can't change the spell you cast, but the spell you cast provides a litany of options.

Community / Forums / Pathfinder / Pathfinder First Edition / Rules Questions / When does one actually select the monster for summon monster line? All Messageboards

Want to post a reply? Sign in.