Hi. I'm looking through some iconic monsters in 2E Bestiary in consideration of converting from 1E to 2E. I got some questions about the balor's innate spells...
Divine Innate Spells DC 44; 10th dimension door, divine decree (x2); 8th dispel magic (at will); 6th dominate (at will); 5th dimension door (at will); Cantrips (10th) telekinetic projectile; Constant (6th) true seeinghttps://2e.aonprd.com/Monsters.aspx?ID=104
1. What's the use of 10th-level dimension door?
Dimension door spell only has a 5th-level heightened effect and the balor can already use 5th-level version at will.Heightened (5th) The range increases to 1 mile. You don't need to be able to see your destination, as long as you have been there in the past and know its relative location and distance from you. You are temporarily immune for 1 hour.https://2e.aonprd.com/Spells.aspx?ID=69
2. Can the balor lower its dimension door to 4th-level to avoid the immunity effect of a 5th-level dimension door?
Or the balor can only use dimension door once every hour, even though it's at will?3. Can the balor dominate an unlimited number of targets for an unlimited amount of time?
#1: Makes it really hard to counteract. Basically guarantees it the ability to dimension door no matter the circumstances.
#2: RAW, I don't think so. Though if I were running the monster, I'd probably do it anyway if it made sense.
#3: I would say yes.
In short, Balors are level 20 and terrifying. I'd err on the side of it being terrifying in the case of any ambiguity.
1. What's the use of 10th-level dimension door?
The counteract level of a spell is based on its spell level. So the 10th level dimension is comparatively much harder to shut down. A 7th level counteract effect needs to crit succeed to counter 10th level dimension door, while it can counter a 5th level dimension door as long as the check isn't a crit failure.
2. Can the balor lower its dimension door to 4th-level to avoid the immunity effect of a 5th-level dimension door?
I don't think they can.
The rules for heightening say:Read the heightened entry only for the spell level you’re using or preparing; if its benefits are meant to include any of the effects of a lower-level heightened entry, those benefits will be included in the entry.
Which suggest that you can't choose to downcast a heightened spell.
Can the balor therefore refrain from regaining that specific dominate spell and keep the target dominated indefinitely?
The problem is there's no 'that specific dominate' to not prepare. I don't think 'at-will' is equivalent to having infinite spell slots. So the clause about not casting it from a spell slot kicks in.
Balors have Dimensional Dervish, a pointless ability if it only works once per hour while also robbing the Balor of its getaway spell. He's supposed to dimension-hop & whirl around in combat, like a Dervish.
It's not about downcasting which involves using a different, lower slot. It's about whether casting at a higher level gives you access to lower level effects/options or not (on their own, not concurrently with the higher level option). The same question comes up with Wild Shape & other polymorph spells.
Can I really not choose to turn into a medium wolf anymore now that I'm better at this?
Same thing with Cantrips, though that's just a matter of degree. High-level mages are terrible at starting campfires, destroying the whole woodpile w/ Produce Flame!
I haven't seen/found any clarification, yet I think the Balor serves as an excellent example that yes, you can choose a lower-level effect even if casting at a higher level. Or it's a severe oversight that needs an errata, especially since it's nearly a given to face one as the party gets to 20th.
And it does seem like the Dominate would last forever as long as the Balor has the opportunity to renew it by using another of its infinite uses. Nice catch and *gulp*.
As to the Dominate, I would actually split the baby on this one. I would say that the Balor can probably have an infinite number of dominated creatures, but can probably only maintain one for the next day.