Arcane Caster using Divine Scroll


Rules Questions


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Ok...so I know this has come up in a couple different threads, but I haven't seen this exact thing and I'm a little confused.

Can an arcane caster (say, Sorcerer) use a scroll that has a divine spell that is not on his spell list? (Say, Cure Light Wounds) If so, what would be the necessary UMD checks(s)?

Scrolls wrote:

To have any chance of activating a scroll spell, the scroll user must meet the following requirements.


  • The spell must be of the correct type (arcane or divine). Arcane spellcasters (wizards, sorcerers, and bards) can only use scrolls containing arcane spells, and divine spellcasters (clerics, druids, paladins, and rangers) can only use scrolls containing divine spells. (The type of scroll a character creates is also determined by his class.)
  • The user must have the spell on her class list.
  • The user must have the requisite ability score.

This states three criteria...for the sake of simplicity, let's assume that the third bullet point (ability score) is covered by the natural ability of the sorcerer. This leaves the first two bullet points, I'll cover my understanding/confusion in reverse order.

The user must have the spell on her class list.
Ok. This is pretty black and white. The sorcerer does not. So a UMD check is required.

Use Magic Device wrote:
Use a Scroll: Normally, to cast a spell from a scroll, you must have the scroll's spell on your class spell list. Use Magic Device allows you to use a scroll as if you had a particular spell on your class spell list. The DC is equal to 20 + the caster level of the spell you are trying to cast from the scroll. In addition, casting a spell from a scroll requires a minimum score (10 + spell level) in the appropriate ability. If you don't have a sufficient score in that ability, you must emulate the ability score with a separate Use Magic Device check.

So a DC in this case (assuming all Lvl-1) would be 21. Ok, so if my understanding is clear on that...this part would be covered.

The spell must be of the correct type...
This is the part that I'm not clear on. I get the difference between arcane/divine, but does this mean it is outright banned and that not even a UMD check can accomplish the casting? If a UMD check is allowed, would it be the base "Use Scroll" check (above) or would the sorcerer need to make a check to emulate a class feature? If they have to emulate a class feature, does this mean that two checks are made (1 for the class feature, and 1 for the scroll usage)?

Grand Lodge

Pathfinder Adventure, Rulebook Subscriber

If a Sorcerer wants to cast a divine scroll, he must make a Use Magic Device check, in this case DC 21.
He needs to have a Wisdom score equal to 10 + the level of the spell (11 in this case), otherwise he will have to emulate it via a separate Use Magic Device check.
You have to make a separate UMD check for each part you need to emulate.


The "Use a Scroll" section of UMD doesn't specifically say it covers the Arcane/Divine difference that is called out in the bullet point list, but it does say it covers the class spell list. That's the part that I think is unclear. Your statement is implying that "Use a Scroll" encompasses this requirement. Does that mean that one should read the "Use a Scroll" section like this (bolded modifications):

Use a Scroll: Normally, to cast a spell from a scroll, you must have the scroll's spell on your class spell list and be the correct type of caster (arcane or divine). Use Magic Device allows you to use a scroll as if you had a particular spell on your class spell list and were of the correct type (arcane or divine). The DC is equal to 20 + the caster level of the spell you are trying to cast from the scroll. In addition, casting a spell from a scroll requires a minimum score (10 + spell level) in the appropriate ability. If you don't have a sufficient score in that ability, you must emulate the ability score with a separate Use Magic Device check.


TriOmegaZero wrote:
He needs to have a Wisdom score equal to 10 + the level of the spell (11 in this case), otherwise he will have to emulate it via a separate Use Magic Device check.

There's nothing that says divine spells are tied to Wisdom; oracles use Charisma when casting Divine spells after all.

Grand Lodge

2 people marked this as FAQ candidate. 1 person marked this as a favorite.
Pathfinder Adventure, Rulebook Subscriber
Emulate an Ability Score wrote:
To cast a spell from a scroll, you need a high score in the appropriate ability (Intelligence for wizard spells, Wisdom for divine spells, or Charisma for sorcerer or bard spells).

Oracle spells are divine, so to cast such spells, you must have or emulate a high Wisdom, despite Oracles using Charisma.

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