Spell casters do not need an open hand 90% of the time, as most spells do not have material components. However, some classes have access to the ability to cast a spell and use spellcasting actions necessary to cast their innate spells. If a wizard attempts to cast a spell without their bonded object worn or in hand, they must make a concentration check or lose the spell. The DC for this check is equal to 20 + the spell’s level.
A spell gains the manipulate trait, which requires either having a free hand to retrieve the focus listed in the spell or already being holding the focus in your hand. As part of the spell, you gain a single 10th-rank spell slot and can prepare a spell in that slot using wizard spellcasting. However, you cannot use 10th-rank slots with abilities.
Dragon wizards can cast spells despite not having hands, and other monsters who cast spells are assumed to be able to do so without having “hands”. Pathfinder only requires the spellcaster to have one free hand to cast spells.
A spellcaster must have a hand free to access a spell’s material components or hold a spellcasting focus, but it can be the same hand that they use. Mage Hand cannot be used to cast or deliver spells on your behalf.
Spells with somatic components can be performed while wielding a weapon, as long as one hand is available to perform the somatic. The key is whether the spell has a somatic component or not, and if somatic components are present, a free hand is needed. With hands full, you can still cast any Verbal-only spell or anything with no components at all.
📹 Pathfinder 2e Spellcasters in 7 Minutes or Less
A spellcasters’ supplement for the video tutorial series on Pathfinder 2e combat. This series is made for new players or D&D 5e …
📹 Pathfinder 2E Spell Casting Explained
Welcome to the D6Damage Pathfinder 2E Spell Casting Explained. Today I will be explaining the ins and outs of spell casting in …
They changed healing to be necromancy – well, now in Pathfinder is as it was in AD&D: all healing was necromancy then too. I have no quarrel with that. Too be honest – having cure spells under Conjuration seemed counterintuitive for me – how your healing spell has anything to do with conjuring something? Even in P1 (Pathfinder 1st ed) Necromancy school was described as “Necromancy spells manipulate the power of death, unlife and life force”, but the only “life” spell per se was what – False Life? Plus maybe Vampiric Touch, as it “heals” (temp hp) the caster.
I think they put disintegrate into evocation because it deals damage and only transmutes the target if it kills them, much like all evocation spells, while other transmutation spells are mostly damage-free and a failed save results in being transformed regardless of any secondary quandry like hit points.
My two biggest problems with spells in 2E are: 1. They got rid of or nerfed most buff, debuff, control, and field spells. The damage spells are still just as potent as ever, but it seems like that’s mostly all the casters have until higher levels, when they’re just as powerful as ever. 2. They don’t play well with the new action economy. With almost all spells being 2 actions, including cantrips, that leaves you with one action to move…. or shoot your crossbow? Basically, they’re back to Standard Action Spell, Move Action movement. I wish there were more 1 action spells that could mix up play more.
As someone who’s played 5e and Pathfinder 1e, they really fucked up prepared casters. Having to choose the amount of each spell you’ll cast at the start of the day is a horrible mechanic that 5e got rid of from it’s earliest editions because of how damning it is. “I prepared Feather Fall in case I fall off a cliff. Oh, I never fell today? I guess I just permanently lose a spell slot for the whole adventuring day.” “Oh, someone ambushed us at camp before we could sleep! Luckily I still have a spell slot left! It’s Featherfall… GUESS I’M FUCKED!”
This edition really nerfed the spells, be prepared for lackluster utility. You can’t hide the rope in rope trick, unseen servant only lasts for 10 minutes, the creature has to agree to be planar bound, guidance only a +1 and then they’re immune for a long while. I’m sorry but I can do all of these things the right way in 5e while still being balanced with Martial characters. Don’t get me wrong, I’ll still be playing Pathfinder 2e, it will just never be a magic user
Honestly I do not like how they handled prepared casting in PF2. Its just to rigid to use. Spontaneous heightening should always be possible if you have a remaining higher spell slot. And spell slots should not be consumed on preparation but on cast. How can you predict that you would need a second casting of a spell for the next whole day?