How do spell attack and hit dice change as you rise in level?


Pathfinder Second Edition General Discussion

Grand Lodge

OK, this is going to seem like a rather PFS 101 question. I have a character that has several Cantrips, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd level spells. What are the rules for:
1. Casting Cantrips that has a 1d4 damage as a 6 level spell caster? Is the spell cast as if it were 3rd level aka 3d4? Does that take a 3rd level slot?

2. When casting a 1st level spell (1d8 damage) with a Heightened +1 as a 3rd level spell become 3d8 or 2d8 damage? I know that this will use one of the 3rd level slots up.


Pathfinder Adventure Path, Lost Omens Subscriber

Based on the terms used, you must mean 2nd edition.

Cantrips are a special type of spell and do not take a slot. They are automatically heightened to a spell level equivalent of half your level, but they still do not take a slow and can be cast over and over.

1. No

2. It depends on the phrasing of the Heightened information.

If it says: "Heightened (+1): You deal an additional 1d8 damage" (or something to that effect), then, yes, as a 3rd level spell it would deal 3d8 damage.

These aren't PFS questions but general rules questions.

Grand Archive

Right so, to further clarify Blake's's response...

1. CRB: "A cantrip is always automatically heightened to half your level, rounded up."

So, if the cantrip has the "Heightened (+1) The damage increases by 1d4.", then yes, it will do 3d4 when cast by a level 6 character.

As cantrips don't use spell slots and they are auto heightened, they will be cast and treated as higher level spells and not use the higher level spell slots.

Silver Crusade

It might be worth adding that Focus spells are also auto-heightened in the same way as cantrips.

Horizon Hunters

This is a general rules question rather than a society specific question. The rules for Cantrips are here and the rules for heightened spells here.

Grand Lodge

Thanks for the help everyone!

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