Confusion on Wizard Spell Level

[Neinty Nein]

So, I'm aware that there are nine different levels of spells for wizards, and I'm confused on when you can or cannot learn these spells. I'm preparing to play Pathfinder for the first time in a few days, so I have no previous experience. My intelligence is 18, so I read that I would be able to cast up to level 8 skills with that intelligence, but am I even able to learn them, or am I not able to learn them until level 8?

[theevilmonk]

The level of spell you can cast is limited based on your class level as shown on the wizard table.
At level 1 you can only learn and cast 1st and 0 level spells. Every other level you will gain another level of spells available.
3rd level level 2 spells
5th level level 3 spells
7th level lever 4 spells Ect
The minimum intelligence is just an extra condition you must meet to cast any level of spell, and is not permissive in letting you know and cast them sooner.

[CampinCarl9127]

Spells wrote:

To learn, prepare, or cast a spell, the wizard must have an Intelligence score equal to at least 10 + the spell level.

You should look at the wizard class. You start with level 1 spells, and at every odd level you can cast spells of a higher level.

Level 1 - 1st level spells
Level 3 - 2nd level spells
Level 5 - 3rd level spells
Level 7 - 4th level spells
Level 9 - 5th level spells
Level 11 - 6th level spells
Level 13- 7th level spells
Level 15 - 8th level spells
Level 17 - 9th level spells

Those are the levels you are able to cast certain levels of spells. You can learn, but not prepare or cast a spell that you are not a high enough level to cast.

Hope this helps!

[TheZombiePunch]

You can copy spells that you do not have the ability to cast yet into your spellbook by paying the scribing costs and making a successful spellcraft check, for example if you came across them in a scroll or another wizard's spellbook. You cannot cast those spells until you gain access to spells of that level through your class though.
ninja* everyone swooped in on that one at the same time.

[darth_gator]

You can't learn 8th level spells as a wizard until 15th level, actually.

No matter what your Intelligence score, your maximum spell level is limited to the table in the CRB:

Level 1-2 = 1st level spells
Level 3-4 = 2nd level spells
Level 5-6 = 3rd level spells
Level 7-8 = 4th level spells
Level 9-10 = 5th level spells
Level 11-12 = 6th level spells
Level 13-14 = 7th level spells
Level 15-16 = 8th level spells
Level 17+ = 9th level spells

EDIT: Ninja'd by CampinCarl

Edit Edit: If you happen to find a wand of a higher level wizard spell, you can use the wand regardless of your level. So, if you found a wand of Fireball in your first session, you can start using it immediately.

[Neinty Nein]

Thanks everyone. I'm trying to figure things out with what I can find online because the GM has the book and is studying it. It makes sense now :)

[darth_gator]

In case you're unaware: d20PFSRD is essentially the Core Rulebook and all the expansions without Paizo specific character or IP references.

[CrystalSeas]

Neinty Nein wrote:

the GM has the book and is studying it. It makes sense now :)

The book is available on line

Core Rule Book

[Avoron]

To elaborate on what others have said:

The table in the wizard class description shows you exactly what spells you can cast at each level. It progresses by your level - at wizard level 1 you can only cast 0th and 1st level spells, and at wizard level 17 you will be able to cast 9th level spells. Your intelligence score minus ten is the upper limit of spell levels, you have to actually be high enough level to cast. There's also a "Bonus Spells per Day" table in the Getting Started chapter of the core rulebook, which shows how your intelligence score adds to the number of spells you can cast in each level, but only if its a level that you could cast some spells from anyway.

So a level 1 wizard with 18 intelligence can prepare three 0th level spells and one 1st level spell based on the table in the wizard class, plus one bonus 1st level spell from their intelligence score, for a total of three 0th level and two 1st level. They cannot cast any spells higher than first level yet.

[Cevah]

darth_gator wrote:

You can't learn 8th level spells as a wizard until 15th level, actually.

Actually, the control is not level, but Spellcraft.

Quote:

Learn a spell from a spellbook or scroll .. 15 + spell level

If you can make the DC at level 1, you can learn the spell at level 1. You may not be able to prepare and cast it, but that is a separate question.

Learning an 8th level spell requires a DC=15+8=23.
Say you have a Int of 18, for a +4.
You put a single rank into the skill, and it is a class skill, so another +4.
If you Take 10, you get 18...not enough. You need another +5.
If you have a familiar, and the wizard who's book you are copying from, also has a familiar, all three can Aid Another for +6, letting you get a Take-10 of 24, thus making the check at first level.

If neither of you have familiars, but you take the feet Skill Focus(Spellcraft), a single Aid Another and the feat net a Take-10 of 23. Again, a success.

/cevah

[WagnerSika]

Avoron wrote:

So a level 1 wizard with 18 intelligence can prepare three 0th level spells and one 1st level spell based on the table in the wizard class, plus one bonus 1st level spell from their intelligence score, for a total of three 0th level and two 1st level. They cannot cast any spells higher than first level yet.

To add to Avorons advice:

If you are a specialist wizard you get one extra spell for each spell level you can prepare. This spell must be from your specialisation school.

So 1st level conjurer gets 3 first levels spells, one from being 1st level wizard, one from intelligence and one from being a specialist.
2nd level conjurer can preprapre 4 first level spells, two for being a 2nd level wizard, one from intelligence and one for being a spesialist.
And for the record, there are really no compelling reasons to not being a specialist.