Modifiers to Caster Level Checks


Rules Questions


Does anyone know of any feat, spell or class abilities that give modifiers to caster level checks?

The only ones that come to mind are Spell Penetration and Greater Spell Penetration but I was wondering if anyone had come across others,

I see lots of spells and effects that modify skill checks, ability checks, etc. but nothing that specifically calls out caster level checks.

For example, sickened condition gives a penalty to all attack rolls, weapon damage rolls, saving throws, skill checks, and ability checks but seems to not modify caster level checks.

Thoughts or comments?


there are plenty of abilities that modify them, but they are worded as "increase your caster level by X" (which subsequently also increases caster level checks when you use the specific spell/action/trigger/whatever)

Lantern Lodge

Any feat or ability that modifies your Caster Level will modify any caster level check, including concentration checks (which are based on caster level):

Varisian Tattoo (+1 CL one school of magic)
Spell Specialization (+2 CL one spell)
Pyromaniac Gnome Racial Trait (+1 CL with Fire Spells)

Those are just the ones off the top of my head.

Spell Penetration and Greater Spell Penetration only modify caster level checks to penetrate SR.

Spell Perfection also has an effect (double any set numeric bonuses from feats).

So a Level 15 Wizard with Spell Specialization (Delayed Blast Fireball), Varisian Tattoo (Evocation), Spell Penetration and Greater Spell Penetration, absent other modifiers, has an effective caster level of 22 to penetrate SR with his Delayed Blast Fireball.

If our Level 15 Wizard also has Spell Perfection (Delayed Blast Fireball), he gets to double all set numerical bonuses from feats, so would then have an effective caster level of 29 to penetrate SR. Of course, this marvelous number only applies to the one spell, and it takes you 15 levels and 6 feats to pull off...

Sovereign Court

There are many of them, actually probably too many.

Let see from the top of my head:

-Menhir savants can increase their caster level once per day just because.
-Deathwine increase the CL of the next necromancy spell you cast
-Bead of Karma for divine characters, for +4 CL
-Orange ioun stones.
-Death knell increases your CL after using it.
-Some mythic abilities.

I'm sure there are many others but just the ones in my head at the moment.


Thanks for the responses. That helps.


Spell Sage archetype wizard can cast at +4 CL once/day.

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