A spell scroll bears the words of a single spell, written in a mystical cipher. If the spell is on your class's spell list, you can read the scroll and cast its spell without providing any material components. Otherwise, the scroll is unintelligible. Casting the spell by reading the scroll requires the spell's normal casting time. Once the spell is cast, the words on the scroll fade, and it crumbles to dust. If the casting is interrupted, the scroll is not lost.
If the spell is on your class's spell list but of a higher level than you can normally cast, you must make an ability check using your spellcasting ability to determine whether you cast it successfully. The DC equals 10 + the spell's level. On a failed check, the spell disappears from the scroll with no other effect.
The level of the spell on the scroll determines the spell's saving throw DC and attack bonus, as well as the scroll's rarity, as shown in the Spell Scroll table.
Spell Scroll
Spell Level
Rarity
Save DC
Attack Bonus
Cantrip
Common
13
+5
1st
Common
13
+5
2nd
Uncommon
13
+5
3rd
Uncommon
15
+7
4th
Rare
15
+7
5th
Rare
17
+9
6th
Very rare
17
+9
7th
Very rare
18
+10
8th
Very rare
18
+10
9th
Legendary
19
+11
A wizard spell on a spell scroll can be copied just as spells in spellbooks can be copied. When a spell is copied from a spell scroll, the copier must succeed on an Intelligence (Arcana) check with a DC equal to 10 + the spell's level. If the check succeeds, the spell is successfully copied. Whether the check succeeds or fails, the spell scroll is destroyed.
Variants
Spell Scroll (Cantrip)
Spell Scroll (1st)
Spell Scroll (2nd)
Spell Scroll (3rd)
Spell Scroll (4th)
Spell Scroll (5th)
Spell Scroll (6th)
Spell Scroll (7th)
Spell Scroll (8th)
Spell Scroll (9th)
How a Spell Scroll plays
A spell scroll holds one spell. If that spell is on your class’s spell list, you can read the scroll and cast it with its normal casting time and no material components; to anyone else it’s gibberish. Then the words fade and the scroll crumbles. If your casting is interrupted, the scroll isn’t used up.
The scroll’s level sets its save DC, attack bonus and rarity: DC 13 and +5 for cantrips to 2nd level, 15 and +7 for 3rd and 4th, 17 and +9 for 5th and 6th, 18 and +10 for 7th and 8th, and 19 and +11 for 9th. Cantrips and 1st-level scrolls are common, 2nd and 3rd uncommon, 4th and 5th rare, 6th to 8th very rare, and 9th legendary.
Who should carry them
Casters with a gap. A scroll of Revivify or Remove Curse covers a spell you don’t prepare every day.
Wizards, who can also copy a scroll into their spellbook, which makes scrolls a major way to learn new spells.
Not fighters or barbarians. Without the spell on your class list, you can’t read it. A thief rogue’s Use Magic Device at 13th level is the exception.
Common questions
Who can use a spell scroll?
Anyone whose class spell list includes the spell. It doesn’t matter who wrote it: a cleric can cast Cure Wounds from any scroll of Cure Wounds, and a wizard can’t, because it isn’t on the wizard list.
Can I cast a scroll spell higher than I can normally cast?
Yes, if it’s on your class list, but you make an ability check with your spellcasting ability against DC 10 + the spell’s level. On a failure the spell disappears from the scroll with no effect.
Does a spell scroll use my spell save DC?
No. The scroll’s level sets its DC and attack bonus, from DC 13 and +5 up to DC 19 and +11, whatever your own numbers are.
How does copying a scroll into a spellbook work?
A wizard makes an Intelligence (Arcana) check against DC 10 + the spell’s level. Success copies the spell; either way the scroll is destroyed. You also pay the usual copying cost of 2 hours and 50 gp per spell level.
Do I need material components to cast from a scroll?
No. Reading the scroll replaces all material components, even costly ones.
How much does a spell scroll cost?
It depends on the spell’s level, which sets the scroll’s rarity. The Dungeon Master’s Guide puts common items at 50 to 100 gp, uncommon at 101 to 500 gp, rare at 501 to 5,000 gp and very rare at 5,001 to 50,000 gp; the builder’s Standard Conversion prices them at 100, 500, 5,000 and 50,000 gp.
3rd-level spell: stores a spell in a glyph that goes off when triggered.
Spell Scroll in the 2024 rules
The 2024 Dungeon Master’s Guide revised the magic items, and the SRD 5.2 carries the new text. What changed:
Rarity: Varies → Rarity Varies.
Type
Scroll
Rarity
Rarity Varies
Attunement
Not required
A Spell Scroll bears the words of a single spell, written in a mystical cipher. If the spell is on your spell list, you can read the scroll and cast its spell without Material components. Otherwise, the scroll is unintelligible. Casting the spell by reading the scroll requires the spell's normal casting time. Once the spell is cast, the scroll crumbles to dust. If the casting is interrupted, the scroll isn't lost.
If the spell is on your spell list but of a higher level than you can normally cast, you make an ability check using your spellcasting ability to determine whether you cast the spell. The DC equals 10 plus the spell's level. On a failed check, the spell disappears from the scroll with no other effect.
The level of the spell on the scroll determines the spell's saving throw DC and attack bonus, as well as the scroll's rarity, as shown in the following table.
Spell Level
Rarity
Save DC
Attack Bonus
Cantrip
Common
13
+5
1
Common
13
+5
2
Uncommon
13
+5
3
Uncommon
15
+7
4
Rare
15
+7
5
Rare
17
+9
6
Very Rare
17
+9
7
Very Rare
18
+10
8
Very Rare
18
+10
9
Legendary
19
+11
Copying a Scroll into a Spellbook. A Wizard spell on a Spell Scroll can be copied into a spellbook. When a spell is copied in this way, the copier must succeed on an Intelligence (Arcana) check with a DC equal to 10 plus the spell's level. On a successful check, the spell is copied. Whether the check succeeds or fails, the Spell Scroll is destroyed.
