Spells Underwater


Rules Questions

Scarab Sages

Can you use spells like Glitter Dust, Burning Hands, Ray of Enfeeblement, etc... underwater?

Seems like water should stop burning hands. But I'm not finding anything that says it does.

Will Glitter Dust still fill the area and stick to things possibly blinding them? I can see this one ruled either way.

Does the water stop the line of effect of a ray spell? I think I can remember people saying it doesn't. But I also remember people saying being in the water provides cover from rays. Which would mean that it does.

Are there rules for spells underwater and I just missed them somewhere?

Liberty's Edge

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PRD wrote:
Ranged Attacks Underwater: Thrown weapons are ineffective underwater, even when launched from land. Attacks with other ranged weapons take a –2 penalty on attack rolls for every 5 feet of water they pass through, in addition to the normal penalties for range.

Rays are considered weapons.

PRD wrote:


Attacks from Land: Characters swimming, floating, or treading water on the surface, or wading in water at least chest deep, have improved cover (+8 bonus to AC, +4 bonus on Reflex saves) from opponents on land. Land-bound opponents who have freedom of movement effects ignore this cover when making melee attacks against targets in the water. A completely submerged creature has total cover against opponents on land unless those opponents have freedom of movement effects. Magical effects are unaffected except for those that require attack rolls (which are treated like any other effects) and fire effects.

Fire: Nonmagical fire (including alchemist's fire) does not burn underwater. Spells or spell-like effects with the fire descriptor are ineffective underwater unless the caster makes a caster level check (DC 20 + spell level). If the check succeeds, the spell creates a bubble of steam instead of its usual fiery effect, but otherwise the spell works as described. A supernatural fire effect is ineffective underwater unless its description states otherwise. The surface of a body of water blocks line of effect for any fire spell. If the caster has made the caster level check to make the fire spell usable underwater, the surface still blocks the spell's line of effect.

Spellcasting Underwater: Casting spells while submerged can be difficult for those who cannot breathe underwater. A creature that cannot breathe water must make a concentration check (DC 15 + spell level) to cast a spell underwater (this is in addition to the caster level check to successfully cast a fire spell underwater). Creatures that can breathe water are unaffected and can cast spells normally. Some spells might function differently underwater, subject to GM discretion.

All in the environment section of the rules.

Scarab Sages

Aha. Ok, thanks.

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